Messages

16

For Sale / 1999 CR 250 and 2001 YZ 250 $1500 each

« on: January 29, 2011, 05:41:35 AM »

Both bikes are in good running condition. The CR was bought brand new in 99 and has some nice upgrades. The YZ just needs new plastic to be nice.  I need to make room. Email me at pgp540x5@msn.com for photos and more info.
                               Paul

17

Photos & Videos / Re: 250 Vs. 250f

« on: January 23, 2011, 07:48:03 AM »

Just seen the whole thing, and I must say, that is the smoothest track I have ever seen. The tracks in 1977 up here in New England were rougher in their smoothest sections than anywhere on that track. In fact, my vintage track is rougher. Only the jumping is technical. Pathetic!
    That is definitely a better track for a lower horspower bike with flywheel effect, which is why the rider on the fart machine had a chance. I stopped watching pro races 6 years ago because they were boring, they changed the tracks to suit the 4 strokes, and too loud.

18

For Sale / Re: 1987 CR500 pipe

« on: December 09, 2010, 10:03:25 AM »

I have a decent Pro-Circuit pipe to fit an 86 CR500, I am pretty sure it will bolt right on without much hassle. My email is pgp540x5@msn.com if you want photos.
           Paul

19

Vintage Two Strokes / Re: Montesa Cappra 414

« on: November 26, 2010, 05:51:52 AM »

I have a 74 GP 250 Maico that I have compared the Montesa's to. The VR handles very similar to the Maico; great in the turns and stable as a rock on the fast whoops. The seating position, peg postion on the VR is easier to get used to for someone jumping off a modern bike. And the VR is a hands down faster motor, from low end, mid-range, and top end power.
   Older Maico brakes can be set up to work properly without spending money on a new wheel. The rear brakes are as good as any other brand, but the front brake needs to be bolted right when you tighten the axle. I know the way to do it, and it makes a big difference. Also, the Maico's have a lot of flywheel inertia, which makes the stopping feel different than a bike with no flywheel inertia, like all the Japanes bikes of that era. Maico used the same rear brakes on the 81 83 models as it did the 70 71 models. I have to be careful not to lock the rear brake on my 81 490.

20

Vintage Two Strokes / Re: Montesa Cappra 414

« on: November 25, 2010, 07:12:23 PM »

I am a big Montesa fan, I have a dozen of them. I've been riding and working on them since my first Rickman I bought in 1972.
   Sachs is right, the VR's are much better bikes than the press gave credit for, they just did not have the money to pump them up with the press. I still ride my VR and would not hesitate to say it is probably the best 250 mx bike of 73 and 74, power-handling-brakes-durability-attention to detail. And I can't leave out the looks.

21

General Two Stroke Talk / Re: The first Honda 2 stroke motocross bike

« on: November 24, 2010, 01:13:09 PM »

I have, real garbage on wheels. I tried a stock TM 250 and two with all the mods one day back in 73, all within 20 minutes of each other. I could not tell the difference between them, they all sucked. The bikes are born swappers, jump nosedivers, and you could not come out of a smooth corner without the thing bouncing and fishtailing. Of course, that is if you didn't loose the front wheel in the corner and go down.
   The only Japanese bike I liked from the 1970-77 era was the 74 YZ250, the first expensive one, and I still could not ride that as fast as I could ride my Rickman Montesa. The Jap bikes were way overrated, including the Elsinore's. I'm talking every brand/model year of the big 4 up to about 77.
  The TM400's had a cut crankshaft to reduce flywheel effect. The best option was to use the TS400 crankshaft with the TS400 ignition. That would help keep it from stalling when you chopped the throttle, much like a modern 4stroke. That didn't help it in the handling department though.
I had a magazine from back in the day where thay set out to build the ultimate TM400/250. The only parts that remained original was the motor and wheels. The motor had the crankshaft and ignition replaced with TS parts. The cost for the chassis and all the mods alone were double the initial cost of the bike, and it was still nowhere as good as a standard Euro bike.

22

Vintage Two Strokes / Re: $10,000 Maico 125

« on: November 17, 2010, 05:58:48 AM »

Hi John,
      I am interested, but the bike will be leaving to it's new owner sometime next week. I have lots of photos of the rebuild and a few 'Before' photos.
    I will try to post some photos.
                                         Paul

23

Vintage Two Strokes / Re: $10,000 Maico 125

« on: November 16, 2010, 09:25:32 AM »

The 125 Maico that sold was mine. The bike is really an eye catcher. The new owner already has a few big-bore Maico's and is definitely a Maico enthusiast.
   The differences between this 79 125 and a 79 250/400/440 frame are the footpeg placement, about an inch rearward, the swingarm is one inch shorter, and that's it. This year motor goes right in the 250 400 frame. The rear hub ans sprocket are different, the front wheel is identical. Fenders, seat, gas tank, forks, shocks, plastics, bars and controls, are all the same.
   The early 70's 125's shared much less with it's bigger brothers. I had a 72 125, other than the motor mounts, the frame was identical to the larger frames. It weighed the same, too.
  As far as buying a new Maico before this one, it depends wether you plan to race or invest. I believe this will appreciate in time. I also believe had I sold it 4 years ago when the economy was better it would have sold for even more, although I am content with the price it sold for.
  The 77 AW that sold a week before mine did not have the 125 rear hub, swingarm, controls, pipe, OEM tires, front wheel, was never started and it sold for $7800.
            Sachs, if you'd like some photos, I have taken quite a few of this bike.
                                               Paul

24

General Two Stroke Talk / Re: Pretty good article 86 MXdN

« on: September 26, 2010, 05:55:19 AM »

Honda canned O'Mara after that race! I remember Thorpe's interview in Cycle News saying he was nervous about getting the ax from Honda.

25

Vintage Two Strokes / Re: Maico 490

« on: September 20, 2010, 05:28:10 PM »

Ronnie Smith from US MAico sponsored me for 4 years in the 90's with Wulfsport gear for the AMA pro-hillclimb series. I was on TV a lot with that gear on. I still have all the gear including a new pair of boots. The Enduro jacket, shirts, boots are all top notch stuff.
  Intersting info on the Zabel, Maico, and Maisch brothers. I remember Hans holeshoting the very first Unadilla 250 GP in 78 and leading for a while. He looked like he was 8 feet tall on his bike.
                                             Paul

26

General Two Stroke Talk / Re: Interesting......

« on: September 11, 2010, 04:39:41 PM »

They will sell them all in the NorthEast. Went riding last weekend, was the only 2-stroke rider. One 450 scattered it's guts on the trail (literally). His riding is done until he gets another bike! It was that bad. Also, I could not believe how many kicks it took all the other 4T riders to all get going at the same time! It was like a Keystone Cops comedy.
    One kick all day long with my CR250. All of them (6) said they want a 2 stroke again.                   
                                                      Paul

27

General Two Stroke Talk / Re: Cycle News Closes

« on: September 04, 2010, 03:04:23 AM »

Bad news for the entire motorcycle industry. Lots of bad news since the 4T takeover! I also heard DeCoster is going to KTM. Hopefully he'll help the 2T models.

28

General Two Stroke Talk / Re: Best VP Race Fuel

« on: September 04, 2010, 02:56:00 AM »

I've heard from a reliable source that the fuel the AMA requires the pro's to run hurts the power output of the 2 stroke's, but not the 4T's. Thus, another disadvantage to the 2 storke pro-rider. There are fines for not using the proper fuel, like what happened to RC a few years back.

29

General Two Stroke Talk / Re: Questions about HorsePower and Torque on MX bikes.

« on: August 30, 2010, 04:01:59 PM »

Trying the 03 model of John Dowd's was a treat. I sure would like to try the 2010 model. JD's had the Boyesen Rad Valve, an FMF pipe, and the suspension was set up for him. It fit me very well, I was told I looked good on it, even for an old man.
   I had a CR250 there that day and it did not have the smooth punch his KTM had. The CR was not as fast anywhere, and handling was stable. The KX's feel very mellow compared to my CR, the YZ's have a nice motor, but they feel like the shifting is still notchy even after all these years.
     Quality is very good on the KTM's, and that's one reason they are so popular in off-road events. Off-road events are much harder on equipment than motocross, as the offroad events are usually a couple hours long, unless it's an enduro 6 day, then it's worse. I have bought a few used enduro bikes cheap, but everything is usually trashed on them from the ground up.
   

30

General Two Stroke Talk / Re: Southwick update - Project Two 50

« on: August 30, 2010, 05:34:34 AM »

Jetz, you must be pretty young, info you have has been second handed quite a few times.
  AKe's bike had the short reach plug fall out near the end of a 45 minute moto. They tried spot welding the plug for the second moto, but it failed again. ( from an interview in 72) The win streak was the 72 Trans-Am. He won 9 overalls out of 11 proving the bikes were not fragile like the magazines were hyping them to be.
      Sorry to hear about the problems from Southwick. I had a bummer year like that back in the 70's. I went to the first 6 events in NESC 250 expert and got taken out in qualifiers in every one after very promising speed in practices, even flat out passing the point leaders. Then the bike blew and that was it for my season.
      Use every event as a learning experience.
                           Paul