OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: frostype400 on November 24, 2008, 07:44:21 pm
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Hi im obviously always looking at bikes like you guys but i haven't had much of a go on other bikes and my PE400 is awsome and i will never sell it but i have rode a few different bikes and they dont seem to match up what are the best vinduros how good are yamaha IT's ? im just interested in what other bikes are of equally high standard tell me what you guys reckon are the best enduros of the 70's and 80's and why thanks Michael. :)
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this sort of like asking how long is a piece of string.
different makes and models suited different rider ablilities eg novice, intermediate, expert and differnt regions/terrain etc. each models and good and bad points. i was reading a shoot out between 1982 175 enduro bikes last week and for example they said the Can AM 175 had lots more HP thatn the IT, PE, KDX etc and was more suited to expert riders in the west coast races in the desert regions in USA rather than the tight woodsy regions on the east coast.
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Hi Leith i knew people would probably say that and its true there are different bikes for different riders but im sure there has to be a few select stand out enduro's and i think it would be interesting to hear what people think are the best and why i should have explained that better why can mean anything like power or alround great bikes or bikes that can do anything and go anywhere im having that pe scan laminated but they are apperantley getting a new machine i will show you when i get it back Thanks again Michael. :)
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it depends on the years
probably maicos (cant believe i said that) have to wash my mouth out with soap but they were great enduro bikes 8)
also like it465 yamaha 8)
bultaco matadors were cool 8)
ossa six days 250 8)
most of the husks as well ;D
when i did enduros i had a road rego kx500 in 1989 but that does not count ;D ;D ;)
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Thanks i like the look of the xc500 what do they go like also Bultaco 370 pursang are they good. :)
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yeah the XC500 huskys are very cool bikes. were quite good for Baja 1000 which was their intended use (cross country, long distance) as long as the electrics lasted when they ran the big lights. There was also the CR motorcrosser and there was an enduro version too i think but i cant think of what is was called. probably 500 WR?
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sorry i meant 370 frontera were there there alot of 500 husky's here :)
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My vote would have to go to the '82 WR430 Husky . A beautiful bike with the black alloy tank , Ohlins shocks & a smooth motor with heaps of torque . I would probably prefer one fitted with a Motoplat ignition though , as the standard SEM ignition could be unreliable if it got too hot .
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hi theres one of those in a vmx mag i have they do look very good i would like a few husky's one day. :)
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Although an '81 Maico GS490 would be a great vinduro mount as well . The only thing is that it would be hard to find one now that hasn't been converted to a mx-er .
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I'm not having a shot at anyone, but why is it that everybody's looking for a 465,490 or 500 to ride in enduro's ? Have you ever tried punting one of these giants around in actual scrub for a couple of hours ? I'm 6'4",105 kg and I rode IT400's in enduro's back in the '70's but I'm a lot older now and I reckon you can't go past a 250 or even a 175 for fun in the scrub ! Remember ,WE'RE VINTAGE TOO !!!
Roger.............older,not so wiser!
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The 2 Vinduro's that i rode in this year were fairly tight terrain and not a lot of wide open trails and i rode my missus's IT200 and it was spot on ,light and easy to get through the bush and had a lot of fun .I know this will sound a bit pissweak but i left the IT465 in the carpark as it was not running right and would have been a real handful in the tight stuff and when i finish the IT250K that will be my Vinduro weapon . I looking forward to next season now with 4 Vinduro,s in Vic it will be good Fun .
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Back in the early 80s when I was younger, stronger and a shitload better looking I rode big bore Maicos in Enduros and loved it. Cut to 2008 and although I'm still devilishly handsome, I'm now a less than fit old punter whose best years controlling 500cc dirt bikes are 20 years in the past. As much as I'd like to rip through the mulga on a 490 Maico with the dexterity of Jeff Ballard, the reality would be more akin to Elmer Fudd on a worn out DT1.
I had intended to ride vinduros on my newly aquired ATK 560 but I reckon it'll be a tad too much bike. Riding the buggers is tiring enough but my main concern with my dicky knees and ankle is being stuck on the side of a gnarly hill trying to start it. Therefore I'll be looking for a Yamaha IT250 or even an IT200 or maybe even a PE250/175 to fit in with my current unintentional Suzuki fetish.
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I'm selling my vinduro mount (to finance a new vmx project ;))
$1800
(http://w4.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C11%5C14%5Cbikepics-1482304-full.jpg)
(http://w4.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C11%5C14%5Cbikepics-1482303-full.jpg)
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Yes when i first got to Castella Vinduro and looked at those hills, i thought sh#t i need more pony's to get me around this place, but it was nice and tight with plenty of 1,2,3 riding just right for my DT 175, as it was i kissed some tree's so riding something with loads of grunt might have had me hugging a tree :o
Plus i heard about Black Duck Vinduro being pretty tight aswell so i have brought a PE 175 and a IT 175 that im flat out trying to get parts for and if all go's well i think these two will do the job just fine.
As for the bike i liked most back then, well i had PE 175, IT 250K, and plenty of XR's,,,,,,, for power the IT won that one, for light zip in tight stuff the PE and the XR's reliable allrounda's
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Its a hoot of a time to go help mark the track out,then ya have inside info of what steed to take out for the days riding. ;D
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390 or 420 auto
Guaranteed , once you ride one , you want one
Picture attached is Ribbo on the 420 Auto
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hell I could name the worst. But generally any MXer of the period with Preston Petty headlight and a bash plate, remember those articles in ADB on how to blow up your MXers tank by pouring hot water in it.
Best ever dirt bike though not quite vintage yet, ex Scott Staines 89 KTM 350 with after market Schletchen pipe.
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Here's a few good ones to start with...rise of the vinduro
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/YAMAHA-IT250-IT-250-1978-MODEL-VERY-ORIGINAL-3400KMS_W0QQitemZ350129783356QQihZ022QQcategoryZ102679QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Bultaco-Frontera-370_W0QQitemZ220317206632QQihZ012QQcategoryZ102690QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Montesa-H6-360-Enduro_W0QQitemZ120338557869QQihZ002QQcategoryZ102690QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Ossa-Super-Pioneer-350-enduro_W0QQitemZ220317235604QQihZ012QQcategoryZ102690QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Hi most turn out alright if you have the time and money to spend on them I look foward to seeing some different bikes at the vic vinduros next year my PE400 is pretty quick through the tight stuff and goes pretty good up top too i do like the husky's but any big two stroke is usually pretty good i havent got to ride any smaller pe's or any other bigger enduros i think ill be able to see what the best stuff is at the vinduros. :)
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PE400 was real hard mans motorcycle, reliable as an axe and not much will nail you on the trails, plus you get special tool for opening stubbies after the loop, see Japanese thought of everything.
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im just organising that special tool now it may do stubbies and rear wheal :-\ I try to ride it fast but it just seems that the PE is always that slight bit better than the guy on it ;D.
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I’m not going to enter into what is the best Vinduro bike is, each to his own. (of course my SWM IS the best, oops) ;D.
I’ve mainly ridden Yamahas and Hondas and since I have had a license I’ve always had a registered bike although in 88 I had a very dodgee but fast CB125n 2st ;), IMHO in the late 70s and 80s as far as Japanese enduro bikes went MX bikes were much better race bikes.
The way I look at it, Vinduros are a chance to own and ride bikes you didn’t or couldn’t back then but always wanted too, so here are my best bikes and probably mine alone:
Pre 75: Ossa or SWM6day125
Pre 78: Beta or SWM125gs
EVO: Husky 125, SWM175, Fantic125, IT175 & IT125 :o.
Pre 85: Any Husky & KDX200.
Noel
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I don't know if Vinduros run to classes or eras but I'm building my pre75 Vinduro mount.
A TS185 powered TM125.
Same as I raced in the mid 70's and one of the most fun bikes ever.
Just need to head down to an event one day. This thing will even do double duty as a Pre75 VMX bike.
Versatility plus!!!!!!!! ;)
Brent
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The IT 490 put the biggest smile on my dial (back when I was young and silly). Now I'm old and silly, I have a 74 Montesa 250 enduro which is fun to ride and a Ossa 250 SDR, that should be going soon. They were ment to be good in there day.
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I don't know if Vinduros run to classes or eras but I'm building my pre75 Vinduro mount.
A TS185 powered TM125.
Same as I raced in the mid 70's and one of the most fun bikes ever.
Just need to head down to an event one day. This thing will even do double duty as a Pre75 VMX bike.
Versatility plus!!!!!!!! ;)
Brent
Thats my idea !!!! whoops not very original is it :-[ :-[ at least mine will have the 185 hop-up kit pipe and a DG swingarm ;D ;D
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CG I'm using a TS185 pipe std motor.
I reckon the pipe and heaatshield look great with the yellow tank. And they are so indecently slim through the middle, memories..................................
Brent
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hey ribbo you look fast
must be the bike ;D ;D ;D
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I don't know if Vinduros run to classes or eras but I'm building my pre75 Vinduro mount.
A TS185 powered TM125.
Same as I raced in the mid 70's and one of the most fun bikes ever.
Versatility plus!!!!!!!! ;)
Brent
Hey Brent, wow I thought I had the only one of those TM/TS conversion, you got the power and the handling ???...did the engine swap when I was 17 and still have it. Last time I rode it, it planted me into the back fence, so parked it again. But I have NOS Basani pipe and oil tank rather than the one off a Tas Taka it has at the moment. Its been Enduroised with mudslug self locking clutch lever.
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Must be the done thing at the moment ! I'm halfway through setting up my '72 tm/ts as a vinduro mount also.Moved the shocks forward '70's style,ag model tank,Preston Petty guards and PE seat.Will post progress pics later.
Roger
(Sorry to hi-jack the thread , please continue )
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No worries good to hear other peoples vinduro projects good luck dad had a tm125 when he was younger they are apparently pretty flighty do you think it would turn out to be a good vinduro motor or would it foul up the minute its off the pipe. :)
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CG I'm using a TS185 pipe std motor.
I reckon the pipe and heaatshield look great with the yellow tank. And they are so indecently slim through the middle, memories..................................
Brent
Yeah mine was slim until I fitted 74 TS pipe, chrome heat shield looks good though. None of us are indecently slim in the middle these days. ;D
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When I did mine the first time (about '75) I "eased" the frame tube in to give the pipe clearence and used a different oil tank. I had to make a different airbox as well. I'll keep mine on std suspension but use good shocks and some work on the forks.
Frosty, we're all using TS185 motors so no fouling plugs as we (I anyway) chug around.
Brent
PS I'm building up the TM125 race bike at present but hope to start the 185 over Xmass. I'll try and get some piccies as I go.
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Ok sorry i thought you were going the other the way round that should make a good little vinduro would definetly like to see pics the tm's are weapons i would love to have one. :)
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If one were looking at it from a strictly enduro riding, out of box, no modifications standpoint a 350 Jawa ISDT would be hard to beat.
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remember those articles in ADB on how to blow up your MXers tank by pouring hot water in it.
I tried that in 87 with my KX 125, couldn't get it to work. It may be possible but I nearly scolded myself trying.
The little KX was great in the bush, spose it's considered modern though. My 86 KDX 200 was a great bike too, no, that's modern too.
My vote would go to the infamous KLX 250, considered a slug by many but it had the ability to flow through bush tracks nicely. I could go one of these for Vinduro's
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Husky61 mentioned the 390 and 420 auto Huskies.
In 1978 I trade my IT250D in on a shiny new 390 AMX after seeing Porky Eldridge on his auto Husky at the Cessnock 4 Day over Easter that year. I got it registered (those were the days when registering a MX bike was fairly easy) and rode it for the next 3 years in a variety of enduro events ranging from desert races in Broken Hill (where I lived) through to a couple attempts at the 4 days. In deep sand in the desert races it was not so good as the trannie offten could not make up its mind on what gear to be in and would continually change gears, gennerally between 3rd and 4th. In the tighter, east coast enduro that I rode, it was brilliant, and it was my riding abilities that let me down and saw me not finish an event in two years. The tranny was not up to the longer events like the 4 day, as gennerally towards the end of two days riding the tranny would start to "slip" in first gear, especially if there was a lot of tight going and hills (Cessnock). For the 79 and 80 4 day's, I had organised a spare tranny that I intended to fit during the 10 minute work period at the start of day 3, I had it down to about 8 minutes to do a full tranny swap, however I retired on the 2nd day in both events.
I still have the bike, the engine has been in pieces in a box in the shed for the last 25 years and the frame is fitted with a 500 Yamaha engine. I intend to get the old girl back together again one day, and have bought another frame so I can still have the 500 engine in a husky frame and use the original frame for the rebuild.
During 1978, my cousin bought a 360 H6 Montesa and a friend of my older brother had a 78 GS400 KTM. I rode both these bikes in a couple of events and the Monty was great in the tight and hilly going and the KTM was the typical mixture of awesome and scariy in the desert races as we would gear it for about 100mph flat out in top. My older brother bought the KTM from his mate in 1980ish and it has lived in his garage for the past 25 odd years with out being ridden. I have been trying to talk him into giving/selling it too me for years, but he still hasn't come around, hopfully next year he might relent!
CJ
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All sound like awesome bikes thanks cj its hard to get time to do bikes up its a shame when they sit unridden though i hope you can convince your mates to sell them so they can be ridden my PE400 was sitting under a tree for eight years i have been waiting till i was tall enough to ride it to do it up i did it up last year but im doing it up again i just got plastics back its a fun bike for a 16 year old thanks Michael. :)