Up until recently I raced with a vintage group here in Arizona. I think the club was averaging about 75 to 100 entries an event and everyone was having a great time. Vintage racing really requires an old school track and the bikes are getting pretty used up so the sport really (at least here in AZ) is kinda up against a wall and the program/club has all but gone away. While the racing was fun and seeing bikes from my youth was a hoot, my question though isn't really specifically about vintage MX but more about bikes that are air cooled, have limited travel and tech and would be considerably more affordable (think something around mid 70's to early 80's bikes at around a 3 to 5 thousand price range). If several motorcycle manufactures were to produce bikes like this and the local track in your area was up to creating an appropriate track, would you consider purchasing and racing that sorta bike?
If I could buy a "new" RM125X or '83 YZ100, I'd have them in my shop right now. I enjoy the older bikes much more than the latest computerized offerings. Heck, I'd even get another '81 KX125 (last year air-cooled). An '81 YZ250 would get a Hannah Replica kit installed before it got comfortable on the work stand.
Edit: that's assuming they weren't ridiculously priced and parts were readily available.
Aren't you basically just describing the Mad Dog and pitbike classes? The answer is that racing air cooled bikes with limited travel and drum brakes is an absolute blast.
The problem is that almost immediately people start modding the shit out of them, so youre right back to where you were on cost except now the damn thing never works properly.
If they would enforce a stock class, it would keep it more fun
No, you can buy a good condition used modern bike for $3000-$5000.
I think what you’re describing is exactly what the sport needs right now. 9-10” of good travel, air cooled, 25-35hp, disc brakes (because they’re so much better and don’t really cost more..) and good handling / ergonomics. Kickstart might be the right choice, not sure about that..
The current entry level bikes are sort of close, but they aren’t there yet.
I’d buy one
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I've long believed a bike based on something like the '86 IT200 would be the Z50 of full-sized bikes. Like a modern KDX - plenty for a beginner, super light and has the bones to be made into a racer if desired; all at a price that woudn't break the bank. 👍
Another one I'd buy.
1980 CR125R
1983 CR125 R
1987 CR250R
1989 KX125
The ‘89 KX was an awesome “all around” bike…great off-roader…for a 125.
1980 CR125R - Absolutely gorgeous and wanted one so badly. Had friends that had them and the 250 and the bolts would often break while attempting to torque them. 😄 Redefined "pot metal".
1983 CR125 R - Another one that I had to admire through friends (though I did get to rid the '83 250 a good bit). Finally got the '85 model and rode it until I belled out the shock body (this was pre hard anodized stock bodies) and the stator started acting up (fouling plugs with great regularity).
1987 CR250R - Legendary. Spent a fair number of hours on one. One of my best friends had one when I had an '88 CR500 and then an '89 KX500 and he would often want to swap off.
1989 KX125 - Didn't have one but loved the forks so much that I grafted an '89 KX front end on one of my '93 CR250's to rid my self of those putrid USD forks. It was like a works bike after that and made me understand why MC loved it so much.
What brand is that? I’m not trusting the chineseium brands yet, but they look better every year.
Pretty sure that's a GPX.
They have/had a model with the old liquid-cooled WR200 engine (with the electronic PV) that looks promising for a buddy bike but I've never found a convenient, reliable parts source I'm comfortable with.
You have Japanese options too! (Don't ask where they are made).
Point being, we already have "bikes that are air cooled, have limited travel and tech and would be considerably more affordable (think something around mid 70's to early 80's bikes at around a 3 to 5 thousand price range"
I currently own a TTR230, it’s a decent bike but it needs better suspension, geometry and ergos to be what I’m talking about. The geo and ergos are mostly no cost changes at the design level, and by better suspension I mean the equivalent of 1985-1995 conventional cartridge forks, not the stuff we have today. A new IT175 is the best example I can think of..
The Honda 300 is a step in the right direction, I’ll take a closer look at that..
yeah - I'd like another crack at my 81 yz 465 -- so much fun
All I know is I would love to have a 1981 - 83 RM125. Best bike I ever rode.
The Chinese bikes are decent, but getting parts is a pain
It would be fun to race an air-cooled, twin shock MX bike on a "classic" MX track, but there's no way in Hell I'd pay $3K-$5K for it. I paid $5K for my '24 YZ250. I might be swayed by a new, vintage-style bike instead of a pitbike, for instance, but I also don't own one of those. Why don't I? Because those are too expensive, too.
I'd way rather spend $3K on a helmet paintjob, Enzo Suspension, and a pipe & silencer. Or a toward a UTV.
not only would I, I have bought many of them and raced them. I would continue racing vintage if it was still viable locally. I hung onto a bunch of bikes thinking the Vintage MX idea would not die and eventually roar back to life. Sadly it hasn't happened and I have multiple bikes and projects I need to get rid of instead of sitting on them
Pit Row
That's been my concern. Hate to have a bike that is incapacitated because a $10 OEM-only part is unavailable. I'd rather buy a nice used CRF-F for a buddy bike than see an otherwise good bike rot for the lack of parts.
The 300f is cool, but it's 270+ pounds. KLX140R F is the best cheap bike out right now in my opinion. Disc brakes and a full size wheels.
A class full of 79/80 RM125’s, 79 KX125’s, 80 YZ125’s and 80 CR125’s would be an absolute blast. Air/Drum and basic, but decent suspension and power. Vintage, but fast enough to get after it.
I loved my 81 YZ250H
There should be classes for TTRs, CRFfs, KLX type bikes, less agressive tracks, and no mod rules.
I THINK THE CURENT HONDA CRF TRAIL BIKES ARE CLOSE TO THIS. IF THEY WOULD JUST ADD REAR DISC BRAKES AND A LITTLE BETTER SUSPENSION LIKE USE FORKS AND SHOCKS FROM THE OLDER CRF MX BIKES. I THINK THEY COULD DO THIS AND KEEP THEIR CURRENT PRICES.
Apparently Tyler is there for an extended visit or you two are BFFs and were trying to keep it a secret.
What kind of OEM only parts are needed to revitalize vintage racing?
XR400R is a good example of a basic, user-friendly, and reliable motorcycle, even today. Honda shouldn't stop selling it.
Got 2 of these, great fun on firm and hardpack, the motor struggles with Fl sand and the 16inch rear. Yep have the bbk 212 and jetting is great, just have to gear it correctly to make it work.
The YCF looks fun, any idea how much power it makes?
An XR400 with updated ergonomics would be a great bike, the swayback seat/high tank on the old model was a little awkward, but not a deal breaker.. it’s been gone for a while, and if I remember pricing correctly it would be a $7-8k bike today. They were $4k when a CR250 was $5k?
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