My latest video is a look back at Yamaha's all-new 1986 YZ490

Great video! 

I never owned that gen 490, but I rode several. With a recut cyl head and good jetting they ran pretty good, and with basic suspension setup they handled pretty good. They didn’t have the cool factor of the water cooled red and green bikes, but for most riders they worked great. I owned an 86 KX500, it was more responsive and had a lot more bottom end power, but it was a lot harder to ride with any aggression unless conditions were soft. As much as I hated to admit it, I was faster on a 490 than I was on my KX, and that included the 88 and 92 KX500s I rode until the late 90s. 

Tony, it would be cool to see you do more than post your YouTube vids here.  

You have a lot of posts, so you must have engaged and discussed more in prior years, but now it looks like Vital is merely an avenue to promote your YouTube presence. Your replies to topics you've started are few and far between.

Hey Tony!

Thanks for doing these videos! We will take them anytime you can get around to doing them…We LOVE the trips down memory lane & the killer blast from our distant youthful past! Ha! I always dug the change to the Red/white scheme we got in the U.S. in 1985 but I never had a 490 back in those days! I came across this pristine 1983 YZ490 and bought it several years ago (2016-ish) raced it in numerous vintage events and I truly RUE the decision to this day that I sold it to another vintage buddy, to finance yet another vintage project! (How many of us have that in the “regret” bank!? 😝) 

Anywhoo…thanks again for doing these killer videos & keep ‘em coming whenever you can! 🫡 ❗️😎 👍❗️

Great video Tony! Do you happen to know who wore this butt patch? 

I owned and raced an ‘82 490, it often tried to kill me. 

The 82’s were the original blue pigs, they just didn’t have the color right yet..

Thank you Tony! Reminds me so much of reading the magazines with my dad as a kid

I ran a lowered 84 YZ490 when I was 14, racing the Open Novice class, and won a lot of races. Ported, jetted, BASS system removed, and lightened flywheel, It was actually really fast, and handled well.

thanks blaze! appreciate any content you put up!

I will get a look at the youtubes here shortly. 

I have always been fascinated by the YZ490....

The only 490 I ever rode was one of the last year IT490. 1984? 

Pulled my hamstring pretty bad when kickstarting it. Found it gurgled on a super rich low end and then had a hit that yanked the front end up... not exactly a technical trail weapon lol

Tony

Thanks for the videos and Classic Steel articles. I always look forward to new ones! I like that you mix it up. Can we get a 1994 or 1995 125cc shootout article!?

I rode a YZ490 once. One lap. I was 16 and prob weighed 115 lbs. It was an 86-90 model, but I don't know which year. Prob 88-90? I just remember the vibration and arm pump. It was prob the second loudest 2 stroke I'd ever heard, as well. First being the same guy's 83 Maico 490.

Beautiful bike!

Took a spin on an 89, 2 laps.  That was all I needed, that and a trip to the dentist to replace fillings that came loose.....  I literally felt like I had already ridden a moto just getting it started.  But I'd love to have one now!