a little debate

rmpilot
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rmpilot
Edited Date/Time 6/24/2014 4:28am
which do you guys think took more skill to race at a pro level- 125 or 500? I have always thought of it this way a 500 took a MAN to race it while a 125 takes a MAN to make everything work at the highest level possible.
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jeffro503
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jeffro503 6/23/2014 8:24pm
6/23/2014 8:24pm
rmpilot wrote:
which do you guys think took more skill to race at a pro level- 125 or 500? I have always thought of it this way a...
which do you guys think took more skill to race at a pro level- 125 or 500? I have always thought of it this way a 500 took a MAN to race it while a 125 takes a MAN to make everything work at the highest level possible.
BOTH man classes! BUT.....back in the day....the 125 was considered the " Kid's class ".........the 500's were always considered the man class. The 500's were no joke......and took a lot of experience to ride them well. Same goes with the 125.....but the consequences weren't near as painful when you screwed up.
KennyT
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KennyT 6/23/2014 8:30pm
6/23/2014 8:30pm
Although I agree that the labeling of "man" class to the 500's is accurate. To me the hardest class to ride successfully were the 125's. Shifting like crazy and having to hit everything perfect to keep your momentum up. To me the 500's were more of a lazy mans class....although it did take very large Huevos to ride those things
Tumblin
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Tumblin 6/23/2014 8:31pm
6/23/2014 8:31pm
The top 125 contenders were also there when they moved to the big bores. But there were more unproven125 racers that still went to the top on the big shakers.
Is it seasoning, competitive equipment? I don't know, but I do know I had an easier time on the big bike when I was in the fast class. Nice topic.
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 6/23/2014 8:34pm
6/23/2014 8:34pm
Having owned and raced both, the 500 no doubt. I was always blown away how 125 class riders could hop on the 500 and ride the shit out of them, those bikes command a lot of respect and a lot of rider input to muscle them around the track at race speed. For a smooth rider like Bayle I'm sure it came a lot more naturally.
You can ride a 250 like a 125 but don't be trying that shit on a 500 unless you like pain!

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dboivin
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dboivin 6/23/2014 8:40pm
6/23/2014 8:40pm
i think back then it proved just how good someone like Jeff Ward really was. he mastered each one of those bikes/classes. Thats a real "man", lol.
burn1986
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burn1986 6/23/2014 8:44pm
6/23/2014 8:44pm Edited Date/Time 6/23/2014 8:46pm
I could just go faster on a 125. I never really felt in control of the 500. I think Bayle was an anomaly on it. I even think Johnny O backed off a little at the 86 mxdn so he didn't pass Johnson and make him look bad. 125s take skill to go fast on, but they lure you to go wfo 100% of the time.
DDMX18
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DDMX18 6/23/2014 8:46pm
6/23/2014 8:46pm
I'm trying to remember, but back in the day (late 80's early 90's) i thought that whilst the AMA nationals for 250cc class ran about 8-10 rounds, they were supported by 125's for about 6 rounds and then 500's for about 4. I think that some of the 125 class riders finished off the year on a 500?. Could you imagine racing a 125 and then jumping on a 500 for the remainder of the year, that would be a big shock. I think Steve Lamson did this for a while, Mike Laorocco too, just to name a few.


Anthony Siracuse 6/23/2014 9:05pm
6/23/2014 9:05pm
With the 125 you have to carry a lot more momentum then the 500 but the 500 is some crazy power.
scott_nz 6/23/2014 9:14pm
6/23/2014 9:14pm
DDMX18 wrote:
I'm trying to remember, but back in the day (late 80's early 90's) i thought that whilst the AMA nationals for 250cc class ran about 8-10...
I'm trying to remember, but back in the day (late 80's early 90's) i thought that whilst the AMA nationals for 250cc class ran about 8-10 rounds, they were supported by 125's for about 6 rounds and then 500's for about 4. I think that some of the 125 class riders finished off the year on a 500?. Could you imagine racing a 125 and then jumping on a 500 for the remainder of the year, that would be a big shock. I think Steve Lamson did this for a while, Mike Laorocco too, just to name a few.


it was the other way around, the 250's raced 8 rounds, then the 500's raced 4, the 125's raced all 12, it was not unusual for the suzuki guys who raced 250's to race the last few rounds on 125's.
mrquick
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mrquick 6/23/2014 9:17pm
6/23/2014 9:17pm
I could ride the wheels off a 500. I never could get a 125 going. It would be in the wrong gear every time and bog in any gear
but 1st. So I would have to say for me the 125 was the hardest to ride.
JM485
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JM485 6/23/2014 9:28pm
6/23/2014 9:28pm
I think they both have their benefits, and their weaknesses. 125s are all about finding the power, while 500s are all about managing the power. Corner speed and momentum seem a lot more important on the 125 since you can't make up a lot of time on the straights and jumps (especially since it is damn near impossible to clear some jumps with them depending on track layout), while a 500 makes up for its slower cornering with sheer speed. Both are a lot of fun to ride though!
KennyT
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KennyT 6/23/2014 10:04pm
6/23/2014 10:04pm
I should clarify too that I was racing from 1968 to 1980. The 500's in the early part if my racing were pretty mellow....CZ's, Maicos, bultacos. They had incredibly mild power bands and required very little shifting with the torque they had.
Back in those olden days, to me at least, trying to keep a honda/Penton 125 going fast was a lot more work.

The 500's from 1980 on were another story,,,,,scary fast. I am glad I was more into raising my kids by that time as I would want nothing to do with that kind of HP.
rmpilot
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rmpilot 6/24/2014 3:54am
6/24/2014 3:54am
this all very good stuff. I have raced 125s, 250s and 500s and honestly although most of it has been on a 250, the 250 doesn't interest me. I have loved my 490 and 125s because it is much more of a game to ride them right. although I haven't been riding the year or so just because of money issues and idea I have wanted to try is showing up with a 125, 250 and 500 for a race day.
Jack mehoff
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Jack mehoff 6/24/2014 4:28am
6/24/2014 4:28am
Having raced bolth the 125 you bought it turned the throttle towards you and held that thing wide open , untill you hit the checkers or the ground , the 500 you put that thing in third gear to start the race used fourth and fifth on long strait always , if you race a modern 450 the experience is close ,the only diffrence is the 500 was more like a Yamaha 426 a big fat pig , probably the most crazy part was back in the day the 250 series was 12 rounds but the 125 was 6 rounds and the 500 series was 6 rounds so most off your 125 pilots where hopping on that machine , I would put it this was you better have a ton off respect for the 500 and none for the 125

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