OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: Tahitian_Red on January 27, 2016, 09:45:23 am

Title: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Tahitian_Red on January 27, 2016, 09:45:23 am
I am sure this has been asked before, but I could not find it using the search button. 

I have a Pre-78 125 (RM125b) and a Pre-78 Open Bike (YZ400d) and I think I want a 250.  Which bikes from the list of Pre-78 250 MXers are the best?  I think there are a bunch that are good, but could you please rank them for different rider levels (Beg/Nov, Int, Exp)?

  :) Thanks!
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Oldfart on January 27, 2016, 12:00:34 pm
I think a thread very similar to yours was discussed at length some time ago.
I'm petty sure if you do a search in top Rh corner it might come up .
Rm 125 b got the nod hands up from memory
Rm 250 a -had the better motor over a B ....
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Tahitian_Red on January 27, 2016, 12:06:11 pm
thanks OF,

I did search and could not find what I was looking for.  I am just a race for pleasure Novice rider and was wondering which of the bikes might suit me best.  I think something like the 76/77 KTM MC250 is one of the top Pre-78's, but probably not number one for a Novice. ???
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: bigk on January 27, 2016, 12:55:04 pm
'77 Husky CR250, light, fast & reliable. No crap on them that doesn't need to be there. Smooth, torquey power that will seem slower than an oriental 250, but the stopwatch will tell a different story. Excellent handling & suspension out of the box, but can be even further enhanced with today's knowledge. Shouldn't be too hard to find one over there either. I'm in the middle of doing a '76 model now, as I like the slightly lower seat height (jumps for show, corners for dough).
K
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on January 27, 2016, 02:19:23 pm
77 Honda CR250 - but as K was hinting at ( ;D) might need a bit of work to fix the flaws that were identified alter - but absolutely shiteloads of bits and pieces around for them.  And go like the clappers.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Gippslander on January 27, 2016, 02:40:57 pm
Have a 77 KTM 250 – and I'm certainly not an expert rider but it is easy to ride, great bike.
But 77 KTM's are hard to come by and the parts don't grow on trees -- you have to go digging for the bits, and as I have said on here before they are not so easy to work on – very particular the way things are set up.

The Huskies are a lot easier to find and are definitely easier to work on and parts are easier to come by both secondhand and new old stock and even some reproduction stuff, the Husky is the one to go for
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Slakewell on January 27, 2016, 06:23:04 pm
KTM came first second and third in the 77 GP's for a good reason. Real motorcross Huskies for 77 are hard to find as well. I have a KTM so I am a bit biased I guess. Great bike and worth the hunt to find one.

(http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q747/Slakewell1/7705s_zps9de06466.jpg)
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: evo550 on January 27, 2016, 07:48:57 pm
Ossa phantom GP2/3
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Davey Crocket on January 27, 2016, 10:45:14 pm
Hey Ross, I didn't think Honda made a 250 in 77.....well one they sold to the public that you could ride on a MX track......RC's would be a bit thin out their......lol.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on January 28, 2016, 01:34:03 am
ooops - cock up there eh!  Trust DC to see it - ta Davey _ I was thinking 78 :(
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Tahitian_Red on January 28, 2016, 07:59:49 am
KTM came first second and third in the 77 GP's for a good reason. Real motorcross Huskies for 77 are hard to find as well. I have a KTM so I am a bit biased I guess. Great bike and worth the hunt to find one.


Slakewell,

I had one a few years back, but decided it was too much work at the time.  I wish I would have kept the handle bars.  ;D

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g438/Tahtitian_Red/DSC03008_zpsjrekyaiu.jpg)
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Tahitian_Red on January 28, 2016, 08:06:02 am
77 Honda CR250 - but as K was hinting at ( ;D) might need a bit of work to fix the flaws that were identified alter - but absolutely shiteloads of bits and pieces around for them.  And go like the clappers.

I have a 1978 250CR and I love it, but I can not seem to find a nice '77 anywhere near me.  :(

(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g438/Tahtitian_Red/IMG_1695_zps46af7e8d.jpg)

Truthfully I think I am torn between a YZ250D and a RM250B.  Bob Hannah sure torn the rest of the AMA field up riding a "stock" YZ250D during the first part of the '77 season.  ;)
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: bigk on January 28, 2016, 09:33:50 am
Not a Yamaha fan in the slightest (the only good Yamaha has 88 keys), however I found the 2 YZ250D's I've ridden to be pretty good things.
K
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Husky500evo on January 28, 2016, 10:02:44 am
http://forum.ozvmx.com/index.php?topic=31949.msg312280#msg312280

This thread had a bit of info about '77 model 250 MXers. But why would you want a '77 CR250 Husky, when you already have a '78 model ? They are virtually identical bikes, except for the skinnier swingarm on the '77 and the tapered roller steering head bearings on the '78 frame. I would just look around for a '77 CR250 or 390 swingarm . I would be confident that the AHRMA historic (Pre '78) class would allow '78 Husky framed bikes, seeing as how '75 Maico frames fitted with a '74 and earlier 4 speed motor are ok for their pre '75 class.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on January 28, 2016, 10:24:56 am
RM250A for sale on FB at the moment?
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Tahitian_Red on January 28, 2016, 11:51:24 am
http://forum.ozvmx.com/index.php?topic=31949.msg312280#msg312280

This thread had a bit of info about '77 model 250 MXers. But why would you want a '77 CR250 Husky, when you already have a '78 model ? They are virtually identical bikes, except for the skinnier swingarm on the '77 and the tapered roller steering head bearings on the '78 frame. I would just look around for a '77 CR250 or 390 swingarm . I would be confident that the AHRMA historic (Pre '78) class would allow '78 Husky framed bikes, seeing as how '75 Maico frames fitted with a '74 and earlier 4 speed motor are ok for their pre '75 class.

That would be the best case scenario, but the motor is viewed as an upgrade, so no go in the Historic class for the '78 Husky 250CR.  :(
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: bigk on January 28, 2016, 01:00:48 pm
Plenty of '78 Husky's racing pre'78 with '77 swing arms in Oz.
K
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Brian Watson on January 28, 2016, 02:57:51 pm
Not 250 HVA's with 78 cylinders .. there is a very visual difference..
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: KTM47 on January 28, 2016, 03:37:06 pm
No one has said it yet but, the RM 250 B was a very good bike back in the day and very popular.  Of course Suzuki superseded it by the RM 250C part way through 77 but it was basically the same bike with the RM 125 B forks and alloy swingarm on it.

In my opinion the RM 250C should be considered a follow on model for Pre 78.  When the 125 and 400 Cs were released late 77 or early 78 a new 250 was released as well called the RM 250C2.

Also the Maico AW 250 was a good bike also.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Oldfart on January 28, 2016, 04:39:10 pm
Kevin the 250 "B"  had better suspension, but the  "A" motor was the one to have ... more a works motor ( Rh )
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: LWC82PE on January 28, 2016, 05:31:07 pm
Quote
Of course Suzuki superseded it by the RM 250C part way through 77 by it was basically the same bike with the RM 125 B forks on it.

Almost the same, they look the same, but they are not actually the 125 forks. I have both sets and 250C has longer sliders, longer damper rods and more travel than 125B. There's probably a number of bikes out there with 250C forks thinking they are the 125b ones because unless you you know the slider lengths and the different casting numbers on the sliders is easy to mistake the 250c forks for the 125b forks.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: micko on January 28, 2016, 06:13:58 pm
My favourite 76 RM250A
(http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah265/michaelandrew64/Mobile%20Uploads/DARKAN%202015_zpsxqpbpvj5.jpg) (http://s1382.photobucket.com/user/michaelandrew64/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DARKAN%202015_zpsxqpbpvj5.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: John Orchard on January 28, 2016, 06:45:45 pm
I had a RM250B back in the day, it use to SMOKE my mates 250A.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: bigk on January 28, 2016, 07:18:51 pm
Yes Watto, '78 250 engines are easy to spot, not the 390's though. Plenty of '78 frames in pre'78.
K
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: micko on January 28, 2016, 07:23:41 pm
Have not ridden a "B" to compare the two John. Unfortunately in the west there are only a hand full of pre78 bikes in our club (Classic mxwa), generally we have to ride in pre 85. I really thought the 75/76 /77 era was going to be popular but unfortunately it isn't over here. Anyway I have fun mixing it up in the pre85's.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: KTM47 on January 29, 2016, 11:42:21 am
Kevin the 250 "B"  had better suspension, but the  "A" motor was the one to have ... more a works motor ( Rh )

I had a RM 250A in 76 and had a RH in 75.  I got the ride my old RH during 76 when the RM gearbox shit itself.  The RH motor was a lot better than the RM.  Anyway Mayfairs Suzuki swapped the destroyed RM 250 for a RM 370 A.  Now that was a great bike.  B Grade to A Grade in three race meetings.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: KTM47 on January 29, 2016, 11:47:18 am
My favourite 76 RM250A
(http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/ah265/michaelandrew64/Mobile%20Uploads/DARKAN%202015_zpsxqpbpvj5.jpg) (http://s1382.photobucket.com/user/michaelandrew64/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DARKAN%202015_zpsxqpbpvj5.jpg.html)

Are you sure that is an "A"  the swingarm looks like a "B" and the forks are 125 B.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: shelpi on January 29, 2016, 01:16:54 pm
got me self a gaggle of RM's 125B, 250B and 370B So that make me bia's  but any who, get ya suspension working proper and you'l luv it, on saying that see if ya can scab a few rides ona few mounts, youll know wich one is for you!
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: micko on January 29, 2016, 03:26:06 pm
Quote from: KTM47

Are you sure that is an "A"  the swingarm looks like a "B" and the forks are 125 B.
[/quote
Well, it started as an original 'A' your correct it has a couple of add on's  ????
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: craigclayton on January 30, 2016, 07:14:14 pm
Did anybody ride a 77 Maico over here, seem to lead and win a fare few races in the UK, so I would say they would be up there.
Title: Re: Best Pre-78 250's
Post by: Digga on January 30, 2016, 10:42:08 pm
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3872/15016097979_54ca241a72_b.jpg