OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Doc on August 11, 2011, 08:41:21 am
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Whilst it never made it down here, full size 50cc MX in Europe was standard practice in years gone by. The vintage 50cc mx is still popular as a fun class. Rules for 50cc vintage racing are simple, twin-shock, aircooled drumbrakes and pre-84. What parts or bikes or combination of either you decide to use is of personal preference so long as it falls within the above rules. A Facebook friend of mine is Christer Jansson of Sweden who runs the http://www.classic50mx.com/ (http://www.classic50mx.com/) site. He recently sent me a couple of pictures of his latest bike which he raced only last weekend. Some might see it as sacrilegious but no matter, the point is they have a ball riding these tiddlers. Being of small stature personally and having a bit of an affinity for sub 100cc bikes, I'd like to have a go at building myself something outside the square in the not too distant future. Top picture is Christers bikes he's just finished, a Puch 50 in a modified RM125N chassis with '83 model wheels, '77 RM125 tank and Maico plastics. Second picture is his friends bike, simply an RM50 in an RM100 chassis. Christer wanted a 6 speed box hence they went in different directions with the builds. The last pic is from the US, something for which I have all the ingredients being a slightly modded TS50 using some RM80 parts. A woftam to some perhaps but I certainly wouldn't mind any of them taking up space in my garage ;)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/923869/Christer%20Jansson%20Puch%20Suzuki%2050cc%20MX.JPG)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/923869/14640_101624993195359_100000435766639_42003_6412302_n.jpg)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/923869/004.jpg)
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I like the idea of a 100cc class here as long as Honda's are not allowed. It seem to be such a fun class in the states.
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There was both a modern Beta 50 and a watercooled DT50 at Harrow this year. Didn't see either of them in action, though.
While the idea of racing an 80 appeals to me, I think my beer belly might be a bit much for a 50...
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I'm mostly a lover of open class bikes but have to admit that these little tiddlers are sweet. A friend has a Kreidler 50cc road racer and it's a minature work of art.
I like the idea of a 100cc class here as long as Honda's are not allowed. It seem to be such a fun class in the states.
Marty Tripes 100cc class looks to be going gangbusters in the USA. I still believe it'd work here but after the cyber race overload from when I proposed it a couple of years ago I reluctantly admit it's not going to happen here. Perhaps with the splitting of the Nats we might now have space for the 100 class at the big meetings.
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The bikes that fit into the 100cc class would be cool even Suzuki 90 Honcho's and Kawa KT 100 and the Sachs powered 100cc bikes the list would be endless and cool.
If the rules were just a suspension limit air cooled drum brake it would be very open.
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Love the little bikes and loved racing them against the big bikes a few years back in the VCMR. It would be a great class and would sure bring out some weird things that normally wouldn't get a guensey at a race meeting. Yes mine is a Honda and i say bring it on.....
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Great idea. Most fun I ever had was racing a 125 in enduros when others said it couldn't be done. Tiddlers would be fun and need lots of technique (none of this "grabbing a handful" stuff).
Love that little RM!
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Great idea. Most fun I ever had was racing a 125 in enduros when others said it couldn't be done. Tiddlers would be fun and need lots of technique (none of this "grabbing a handful" stuff).
Love that little RM!
Tim you must move in different circles mate :) they have been racing 125s in enduros forever ;)
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Yeah, this was in South Africa Bill where they had a funny idea that it had to be at least a 200. That guys like Paul Edmundson in Europe were as fast a greased lightning on a 125 seemed to have escaped them.
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Japanese VMX runs up to 50cc 2 stroke and 100cc 4 stroke class, it is run on a 1 hour endurance format and is the biggest class and total hooter.
Variety of bikes is huge, the whole rainbow from long travel monkey bikes, the predicatble XRs, Peewees and anything else that is considered in the spirit. No big complicated dramas, it is treated as learner and beginner class ... you could probably run later XR if you bought one along.
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Yeah, this was in South Africa Bill where they had a funny idea that it had to be at least a 200. That guys like Paul Edmundson in Europe were as fast a greased lightning on a 125 seemed to have escaped them.
Remember Shane Watts won the 6 Days outright on his KTM125. Should have seen him in the forest - just magic - I can still remember the sound. Then to rub salt into the wounds he had the fastest time for the final motocross - beating Joel Smets et al.
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Yeah, this was in South Africa Bill where they had a funny idea that it had to be at least a 200. That guys like Paul Edmundson in Europe were as fast a greased lightning on a 125 seemed to have escaped them.
Remember Shane Watts won the 6 Days outright on his KTM125. Should have seen him in the forest - just magic - I can still remember the sound. Then to rub salt into the wounds he had the fastest time for the final motocross - beating Joel Smets et al.
I read some interview with Shane, about that time he had spent a year in Europe living at the back of a workshop in Italy, only riding , training and eating cheap pasta. I think he didn't even bother changing tyres for the whole enduro.He's as hard as nails.
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Yeah, this was in South Africa Bill where they had a funny idea that it had to be at least a 200. That guys like Paul Edmundson in Europe were as fast a greased lightning on a 125 seemed to have escaped them.
Remember Shane Watts won the 6 Days outright on his KTM125. Should have seen him in the forest - just magic - I can still remember the sound. Then to rub salt into the wounds he had the fastest time for the final motocross - beating Joel Smets et al.
I read some interview with Shane, about that time he had spent a year in Europe living at the back of a workshop in Italy, only riding , training and eating cheap pasta. I think he didn't even bother changing tyres for the whole enduro.He's as hard as nails.
Yeah Lozza,
The euros couldn't work him out. An aussie with no cash sleeping in a swag at race meetings.
But he did change tires during the Six Days, I watched a number of his work periods - makes my workshop time look like I am standing still- he even did a top end [just to be sure] at the end of day 4 during the 10 minute allowance.
Great stuff.
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A Facebook friend of mine is Christer Jansson of Sweden who runs the http://www.classic50mx.com/ (http://www.classic50mx.com/)
If you go to Doc's mates site and click on 50cc in the menu the photos are brilliant .
So many different bikes. :)
Check out the 5th one down in the MX section.
Flat track , speedway ?
Rubber bands ?
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If you go to Doc's mates site and click on 50cc in the menu the photos are brilliant .
So many different bikes. :)
Check out the 5th one down in the MX section.
Flat track , speedway ?
Rubber bands ?
Did that .. awesome pics and some really trick looking bikes much to my surprise 8) 8)
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Remember Shane Watts won the 6 Days outright on his KTM125. Should have seen him in the forest - just magic - I can still remember the sound. Then to rub salt into the wounds he had the fastest time for the final motocross - beating Joel Smets et al.
Wattsy's performance at the Taralgon 6 day was electric. I was in the forest with some Euro photographers (and Clubby) and Shanes speed through the section amazed even the hardened old Italian journo standing next to me whom I assume had seen it all in his time. After Wattsy flew past us the Italian looked at me with a big smile on his face and just shook his head in awe. Benny Grabham was pretty damn quick through that same section too.
Sorry Doc, the Shane Watts Appreciation Society seems to have hijacked your tiddler thread. To make up, here's a shot of an antique tiddler from the Klub Kevlar Kollection. The ex Bill Thomas BSA Bantam.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/bantam%20ray2.jpg)
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Doc - yet again I agree with nathan - I think it would be sacriledge for some of us to even throw a leg over a 50cc - throw another zero in and it might be able to haul me though :o
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Did that too! :)
these guys are having fun i'm sure!
got my DT100 up on wheels and getting excited about it once again but these 50's 8)
the euro's sure have some cool stuff 8)
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My TS90 Honcho's a weeks work from ready (as it has been since this last grew legs)but 130kg of me might kill the forking thing!
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ahh memories , memories of a borrowed ts90 come flooding back trying to jump a dam wall decoster style , 10' in the air landing vertical with the bike pipe (baffle out of course) ripping a hole in my calf muscle the size of a beer can and the little brother huskibul doubling me 5k's to the hospital flaaat ouut ! on the highway looking back at the wound trying to get more outa the little suzi , we were flyin 120 stiches later and 40 ys of counselling i think im ok now , dont know about little bro but?????
no way im not getting on another bike under 100cc
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My TS90 Honcho's a weeks work from ready (as it has been since this last grew legs)but 130kg of me might kill the forking thing!
You got me going now Firko , TC90 under the house , now if I can just find a TS bottom end ;D
I only weigh 80kg sooooo I rekon ;D ;D ;D
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Small bikes level the playing field. You just hold them pinned and hang on. Makes for exciting racing as everyone is banging bars.
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no worries with any thread hi'jacking from me Firko..God knows I do enough of it myself and I entirely agree, Shane Watts on a 125 is legendary :o 8)
As for the tiddlers I reackon they are great for leaning how to hold corner speed..riding the RM400 for so many years made me very lazy. When I jumped on the 125's a few years back it all came flooding back to me after the 1st corner ;) Comparing the 125's to the big bores really is chalk and cheese..I 'd forgotten how much fun cheese can be. I haven't ridden the 400 since ::)
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<hijack=on> Why's Wattsie so unpopular with the establishment here?
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You guys have to think outside the square(triangle-rectangle) you live in and spread the love.
Imagine building a 50cc crosser and finding a local kid to ride it for you rather than trying to fit your own fat bum on the thing.
Then you could be like a local Bart Cummings type and put your jockey on your little pony and we could maybe run a book, have a betting ring and put on a show at the same time.
There is a lot to be said for watching your bike go round (in my case my Wasp) and watching it do good things.
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EML I am thinking inside the square, rectangle, triangle, circle..my fat bum only weighs 55kgs..hence my liking of the wee little bikes ;D I seriously doubt there will ever be a class suitable so it's hypothetical either way ;)
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(http://circa74.lefora.com/composition/attachment/b986300e2727510123f6d1f1f09298a7/950120/simonini%2520sf1%25201978.jpg)
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Oops, sorry about size, but I like the look of this...
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(https://by1.storage.live.com/items/86267C09A3452A71!6288:Scaled1024/simonini%20sf1%201978.jpg?psid=1&ck=0&ex=720)
ola's pic reposted...beautiful!