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I got to ride this as a 7 Y/O when my brother got a DT 125. My first bike that was all mine was a used 78 YZ 80
1981 YZ80
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I can understand how he was worried you could get hurt- I think if I had a son I wouldn't want him to race either. Boy though- I bet that was kind of frustrating for you being young and not being able to when you saw your Pops doing it.
Anyway all well that ends well and you did get to race!
Credit to your Dad for beating the big 'C'- thats the very best thing of all!!
He sounds one tough and very caring man.
Super stories and pics in this whole thread! Luvin' it!
Then I had to upgrade to a kx100.
My dad's mechanical ability was limited to oil changes, spark plugs, etc. So getting the Mini Enduro running was a bit of a challenge. Before the bike was even running, I would coast it down our gravel driveway, push it back up and repeat the process. Considering that I weighed about half of what the bike did, that was quite a workout.
Eventually we got it running, and I had the time of my life on it. Still had the stiffest functional throttle I've ever felt, and I eventually seized it spinning doughnuts in the middle of summer. Dad later took it to the dump.
At some point I'll have another JT1, just to have in the garage and occasionally putt around on.
He got it for cheap and had to look for an engine. He found a Sachs 504 engine and fitted it into the chassis.
Later when I was a bit more experienced he put a 80cc kit on it.
He sold the bike but two owners later I bought it back.
In the last couple of weeks I rebuilded the bike and now it sits in our living room.
However, if I may break the rules a bit, my first motorized toy was a 1984 ATC70 that was a hand-me-down from my brother. My dad bought it new for my brother (who was 3 years old at the time) for Christmas. I'll never forget riding the pit at Little Mill in Blackwood, NJ (now Trump National Golf Course). My dad eventually sold it for next to nothing at a yard sale some years later - wishing now that we still had it in the family.
He's a pic of me riding it in the snow out front of the house, duct tape seat and all. I had just turned 5 years old.
Pit Row
On this subject sometimes Sachs engines would also be used in Aspes in the 1970's.
Loving your pic Dropbear of your YZ80 Noguchi- you look one fast rider and that must have been one rare a special bike. That pic on the Noguchi is amazing! You look a pretty talented rider- loving the concentration on your face!
I also had a YZ80, mine was a YZ80B but was totally standard but don't think I would have been nearly as quick as you!
First race, Austin day track 1974-75?, rubber band start, I am on the last position on the right when the rubber band smacks my helmet, turning it sideways which caused me to loop it almost all the way out (feet dragging).
I got lapped twice by the leader on his big bore XR75 (Bucky Houston) I was always good at sports and never sucked this bad. I was hooked from that day on.
Thats nuts that your 1974 Noguchi YZ80A was better than the 1975-1977 models even! Like my YZ80B the YZ80A only had the 72cc engine where as the 1976-1977 had 79cc. Yet it was still quicker you say!
Did you ever ride a RM80B 1977? Was the Noguchi quicker than one of those? I had a quick go on one in 1977 and it ripped compared to my 1975 YZ80B, was surprised how it really lit up when it hit the powerband.
I still liked the YZ80B even in 1977, at times I did okay on it and think some of the kids were older than me that I ran with.
This is what it looked like new
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