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In light of the long awaited Kawasaki smoker (that actually is going to come out allegedly) I find myself looking back to the YZ150F. I remember seeing this beauty in MXA when I was 12 years old and drooling over it for months. A few years later the CRF150R comes out and it’s a bit lackluster, didn’t matter to me though as I was already on big bikes.
The YZ was one I always dreamed of riding….
What bikes can you recall that never happened? 
The new Kawasaki 2 stroke
Doug Dubach’s kid had one they did a lot of testing on.
I would have done a lot of things I’m not proud of to ride it!!!!
It’s my understanding Yamaha developed a 150f but didn’t bring it to market because the AMA wouldn’t give them the green light to race it in the 85 class.
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A few that come to mind:
1971 Monoshock produced by Lucien Tilkens for Suzuki years before he sold the design to Yamaha
1988 YZM500, Yamaha's liquid cooled big bore early-aluminum framed monster:
Buell/Harley 450 motocrosser:
The aluminum KTM prototype frame:
Ossa Enduro 250i reverse-engine crankcase-injected 2-stroke:
Mugen/Honda Erex/Electric CR that we have seen pop up in various forms at trade shows and Japan nationals for nearly a decade now:
All the 125 twins everyone was toying with before they were banned:
In 1988 I would have put money on the YZM500 going into production.
The gen 4 alu framed CR that never made it to production.
If you think about it, despite 2-stroke big bores decline in that era, the KX500 continued to be produced and sold virtually unchanged for another sixteen years after 1988. Knowing what we now know about how Yamaha handled their two-stroke line over the ensuing three decades, a not-all-too-updated YZM500 could still be in production today. Building that thing would have paid for itself 10x over.
The KX450 was originally set to debut in 2005 with this steel frame, if I recall. Word is it broke
That YZ150F pic just accessed a fold deep in my brain that hasn't fired in like 20 years, lol
Wait, what am I missing here? Would this have been an 08' on cr250 or something?
I got into moto in 04'~05' so forgive my ignorance.
Could have? Or will be? What is taking so long??
I've always wondered how pissed Broc Glover was when that bike came out. He spent years chasing Bailey and his RC500 on a YZ490, and Yamaha waits until the year he leaves to introduce a water-cooled YZ500. Had to sting a little bit.
Oh shit I dont remember this. Pretty badass! If the 150s had kept pace with 250f development we probably could have had a couple screamers by now.
Pic I found of the other side
Well, he couldn’t have raced that after 1985 or so, right? Would have been interesting if they’d have given him something like that for the GPs, though!
If you meant 1989 he was riding the GP's on a KTM.
Yeah, but it would have been better, in hindsight of course, if he’d have gone over a year or so earlier and rode the 500 class for a couple of good years.
Ha hadn’t thought about that before, but fair call.
Was much the same for Aussie legend Stephen Gall who spent years competing against HRC on the Yami air hammer, was a factory Yamaha test rider and retired in the late 80s as well.
They were certainly up against it.
Pit Row
I was fascinated with the BBR yz400 back in the day
US Highland Motors story at DirtBikeMagazine
The frame in that photo is aluminum....
As a mini(1 65 & 2 85s) dad, I am grateful the 150 thing did not take off.
No, that's a steel frame painted aluminum silver.....
Not all steel is round.
The pre production 05 cr125 Double Boost Port DBP. The much anticipated DBP was scrapped at the last minute. Because of the Profeshenal level power out put it & the violent nature of the DBP.
The Fuel Injected CRF150R FC built always intrigued me. Always wanted to build on for a play bike, and from the ones I’ve rode I think fuel injection would’ve benefited those bikes greatly.
Mk15
Cappra prs
What bikes can you recall that never happened?
YZ350f comes to mind (never happened)
BMW motocross bike (better if it didn't happen)
A-Loop (Freestyle specific bike, can't remember if it happened)
Wasn’t A-Loop the company that made the body kits for the XR250/400s?
Villa built a FI 125 MX bike... We could use a few more 125's.
NEVER SAW OR HEARD ABOUT THIS. SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME THE SHORT VERSION OF ITS STORY
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