OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rossvickicampbell on December 27, 2010, 05:59:59 pm
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Gents - what was the weapon of choice in the Open class for pre 78. Suzuki finished this period with the 370B didn't they - was the YZ400D a 77 model. Honda didn't have anything. What did Kwaka have? And I have no idea on European models? And yes I know it's a bit like a piece of string as to which one was best but heck things are quite at the moment so no harm in asking ;D
cheers
Rossco
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I asked the same question and was told the rm370 was the go. I then bought one and raced it for a while and it was very good.
For some reason I did a trade for another bike. I then bought a Maico 400 '77. No contest. The Maico is a fair bit better again as far as I'm concerned.
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Rossco, in my opinion it was the 77 MC or AW400 or 440 Maico's. I raced one in 77 and thought it was a great bike. Easy to ride, plenty of power and for me ultra reliable. Still have it somewhere i think ;D
Regards Stan.
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the 77 maico is a nice bike (a bit rare and hard too find) ;)
back in the day the rm370 won nearly everything
and yamaha 400d wasnt far behind
with all the modern technology we have to improve these bikes (suspension pipes ignitions etc etc )
then any one would be a good choice
i have raced a rm370 and a yz400d
both good bikes but i would lean towards the rm (not cause i own one) ::)
kawasaki stopped making kx400 in 76 it wasnt in the same race with the above bikes
special mention husky 390 very nice handling bit of gear
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Like Rusty said the RM's were the most popular followed by the YZ but they weren't necessarily the best compared to the Maico and Husky. Just cheaper to buy and easier to maintain for the average punter.
Although Suzuki did win most of the titles in Aus in that era.
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These blokes have covered it :D i love the RM 370 (just picked up another one today 8)) but afyer riding Brads Maico no contest .
It could be that Brads bike is particulary well sorted but it is a great bike :) i would own one in a heartbeat :)
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Don't forget the VB360 Montesa either ;). Not only was it one of the nicest looking motocross bikes ever made , it was also very advanced for the time. I have ridden a well set up '77 AW 400 Maico, but in my opinion, I think that the '77 CR390 Husky is a better bike .
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How about a Canam 250 or would that be unfair.........to the rest of the field? :D
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I think that the 250 Can Am had a fast motor that would give most big bores a hurry up, but they reportedly didn't handle too good. Isn't that why they called them black widows, because they tried to kill their riders :D ?
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Or a HL 500 ;D
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the Maico and the Husky would demand a pretty penny also wouldn't they - being not so readily available?
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For the amount of rm370's that were around back in the day, they certainly aren't falling out of peoples pockets.
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and it doesn't help if Bill is buying up the lion's share either!
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For the amount of rm370's that were around back in the day, they certainly aren't falling out of peoples pockets.
So many RM370's must have ended up at the wreckers years ago because they really are scarce these days.
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he Maico and the Husky would demand a pretty penny also wouldn't they - being not so readily available
Rossco, the Maico and Husky achieve the premium because they're arguably the best tackle for the pre '78 class not because they're especially rare. I see just as many Maicos and Huskys on the market as I do RM's these days.
My choice would be an AW400 over the gruntier and therefore harder to ride 440. I haven't ridden a pre '78 360 Husky but have ridden a '79 and loved it. Another good choice would be a CCM but the price they're going for puts them into the rich collector division....not many see serious race action any more unfortunately. The 400 Yamaha had a good engine but by '78 the old monoshock was losing it's grip.
I seriously can't see any of the Japanese bikes topping the Euro bikes at this stage in motocross evolution but within three years that had all changed forever. ;)
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Firko's on the money..
In the last couple of years i've ridden a '77 400 Maico and a '77 CR390 Husky both well setup and they're both very good bikes and hard to split. I'd have to say they have the edge over my RM370 but the Suzuki is still a great bike.
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Fairly useless post:
Shoey's 76(?) Husky CR360 is a f%^king weapon. It's like a big 125 in its power delivery, but the sheer grunt is clearly superior to a '99 Husky 360. With the right track and the right rider, I can't imagine it being beaten.
The flip-sdie to the qustion would be "What's the worst '77 model open classer?" - there aren't any dogs of bikes that spring to mind.
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Nathan - I was probably wondering when I wrote this - and must admit hadn't given the AW and Husky a thought - as to how good say a YZ400C or MX 400B would be in this group. Of course even if they weren't too far behind the later YZ's and RMs sounds like the gap back to them from the Husky and Maico would be even more. So maybe they would be the dogs in this class. I think as much as I would like an 84 big bore the movement towards longer races and later style tracks might mean this old body will stay pre 78 - hence what should I look at. It also part of the VMX thing - since I currently don't have one I can look at whatever I want ;D - and I always wanted an RM 370 but the YZ 400 D did nothing for me - no Husky's - did they still have reliability problems with these later ones :D
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Rossco the 76 KX400A3 would be a better pick than the YZ 400C or the MX 400B IMO . They are all well behind the 8 ball but i believe the KX is the best of the worst ??? or am i biased ;)
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the yz400D Yamaha has turned out a great bike for me, I think changing the rear shock to period Fox Airshock changed the bike completly and made it so much more rideable, so i guess a few tweaks to anybike fromm the 77 coffers would do the same.
pre 78 is the future!
Cheers Worms
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Rossco the 76 KX400A3 would be a better pick than the YZ 400C or the MX 400B IMO . They are all well behind the 8 ball but i believe the KX is the best of the worst ??? or am i biased ;)
Hey Bill you didn't happen to buy a KX400 recently by any chance, ;D
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No Marc ;D i thought you bought it ??? my biased was directed at the fact theres more green than white in the shed ;D I would love that 400 but :( :(
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My choice for the worst pre '78 open class bike would be the '76 TT500 Yamaha, in standard trim . In saying that , I have seen some people ride them very, very fast ;).
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Rossco Ive got both the 400c + 400d the D is by far the better bike and with the shock done by radar , its by far my favorite of all my bikes
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The AW 400 is great bit of kit but the best pre 78 open class bike is the KTM of all the vintage bikes I have ridden over the years this is the best pre 80 I have rode, if you cant win a race on one of these its because your not twisting the wire.
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You say pre 80. Do you mean a '77 400 KTM? I have never ridden one to compare, must be awesome to be better than the Maico. I take it you have ridden both?
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No Marc ;D i thought you bought it ??? my biased was directed at the fact theres more green than white in the shed ;D I would love that 400 but :( :(
I would have liked the KX 400 as rare bird. Along with the other Euros you also have Bultaco in there some place... turns out you are spoilt for choice for open class pre 78 bikes.
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special mention husky 390 very nice handling bit of gear
1978 Broadford National MX Series achievments for the Swede Husky rider Pelle Granquist taking out the 250 and 500 class. :P
Gary Flood on a KTM 3rd in the 500cc,Graeme Smythe Yamaha unlimited 1st place,yes spoilt for choice in 78 8
cheers A
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You say pre 80. Do you mean a '77 400 KTM? I have never ridden one to compare, must be awesome to be better than the Maico. I take it you have ridden both?
I have ridden both and the Maico vibrated badly and oddly wasn't as smooth as the K-Toom. At last years CD7 you could ride the whole track in 3rd on the KTM and I find the 77 bikes to ride nicer than pre 80 as the bikes became quirky with longer travel at first and didn't corner as well as. Post 80 the Maico is king with a good KTM 390 a close-ish second. I guess not many have ridden them because of there rareness. Anyone who has ridden one gets off and says that's the nicest power I have ever felt.
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My Maico doesn't vibrate so maybe it wasn't the best comparison. Sounds like we need to do a swap at CD8 to compare. I certainly would like to have a run on the KTM if you are up for it.
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If a 400 Maico vibrates to the point it's worth commenting on, somethings loose or an engine mounting is flogged out. The 440 is another situation altogether though.....they shake and shimmy like a 5 speed dikomatic but like most things, it can be improved by altering the balance factor a tad.
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Sadly a 400 77 KTM is not in my collection right now. Last year I borrowed one from Brad Lewis. I do have a 77 250 thou you be welcome to try.