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1998 YZ400 was the future we got.
2. 1991 RM series
3. Bartolini's 1991 Husaberg
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Kx 500
JMB's CR500
Larocco's KX500 - The last bike/rider to win the 500cc championship, meaning he's been undefeated for 23 years
When this bike came out, I couldn't believe how cool it was. I was just about to turn 10 and we were looking for an 80, and then this came out and changed my life. For what seemed like years (was only like 1 month), I couldn't get enough of reading about it. I couldn't wait to see one in person, to throw a leg over it, to go ride it. When I finally brought it home I would spend hours looking at it, marveling at how cool it looked. It looked just like Bradshaw's bike!
Life changer for a 9 yr old.
YZM500 : 87/88
RC500 - as it's got Thorpes #1, it would be his 86 - well, unless it's his 85 with the #1 put on it after he won his first World Championship. . His 87, that he ran #1 on, was a sadly, more 'production' looking bike.
Sidecars lot were cool - I remember Dirt Bike doing a short comparo between Bartolini's 'Berg, and , Steve Lamson's CR500 (prior to his Team Honda days). At a time when Bartolini (and his brother) was The holeshot master in GPs.
The bikes were the complete opposite to what people thought they'd be - the 'Berg a high strung rev monster (by those days standards) that required perfect and constant maintenance, and being on the ball during riding at all times. Fair enough, it was being campaigned hard , in the World Championships. Lamsons CR500, a comparative, grunt mobile, that still had the same (or was it the 2nd?) piston in it throughout a season of racing. That's not knocking the 'Berg - I have a special place in my heart for them, being as I worked in OZ's biggest ( small shop at the time, though, that is now quite, quite big) 'Berg dealership. The owner, and my youth days (and still) friend, Chris Sutton, won a trip through Europe, travelling with Joel and his Kiwi Mechanic ( Glen?) for a few weeks, from us selling the most Husabergs, He came back with some interesting tales from that, he did.
Both the Honda RC Tanks , and the Husaberg tanks were a major influence in my obsession with making drop tanks - I use the same style Vacuum fuel pumps on my tanks as Husaberg did. I found it strange how Smets / Husaberg eventually went to a conventional, fuel up high tank. Made for his requirements / feel ultimately, I guess. Though, the drop tanks could be quite a bitch of a thing to get back on, especially if you had them off for a while, in hot weather. At times, you had to hold your tongue just right, and give the tank a perfectly placed 'whompo'with your hand, it get it on.
The 97 cr250 was up there. I don't think either of those were great performers though.
The 98 yz400 was huge but to me back then it didn't really register as groundbreaking mostly because locally no one was really dominating on it.
purely performance wise I think the 93 cr250 hands down.
also, that '93 YZ80 was a game changer in the 80 class. i remember when i was younger i was racing a '93YZ for a couple years and then my dad got me a '95CR, that thing was lightyears behind the YZ everywhere but the motor. the motor was a rocket ship. those '93YZ's though were the definition of cool to a 12 year old
93 CR 250 and KX500. Great bikes and low maintenance
The Glen you speak of is Glen Woodman, he's still about, builds really quick husky motors for sidecarcross GP teams, Google AMS Husqvarna sidecar or WSP Husky.
Here's my Husaberg.
Guess it depends on what kind of Icon you're talking about? That bike was an icon for being the king of vibrating ill handling bikes with an ultra rigid frame. Of course, was also the bike that drove McGrath away from Honda...he wanted no part of it.
Pit Row
Husqvarna 633cc from Jacky Martens in 1993 - First 4 Stroke World Championship bike
Honda 420-460cc 2 stroke (1998) Custom Made MX of Namur edition for Stephan Everts
The third bike is bit in doubt. I would go for one of the Kawasaki' tuned by the late Jan de Groot. Just because he was such a iconic two stroke tuner. But also the Husaberg and the CR250 from 1997 with the L&M colors was pretty fabulous.
1-800-COLLECT 1996 CR 250
And the G&$ D*&$* YZ 400F...
It was to go to sydney motor show, but Dack’s Mx team was flogging it at a private track before hand. I remember it out pulling a 250 banger up the long straight easily. Right then we all new the times had changed!!!
1996 CR250
1998 CR’s
I remember a Brit rider - I've temporarily forgot his name , he ran (as in, Organised / ran) the Belgian Nationals for quite a few years after his retirement from GPs. In an interview with him he said he'd run a de-bored CR500 engine in his last couple of seasons as a Privateer in the GPs, and rated it as the best engine he ever had. It makes sense, as some of the best open class engines with (more than) 'sufficient' power have been 400s / 430s/ 440s / 465s.
A modern, around 400cc 2T, would be the absolute Ducks Guts as an engine / bike set up..
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