what would be the best pre78 bike to have.

[Nathan S]

125s its the RM125B or the YZ125D, depending on how tall and how good you are at keeping the thing singing.

Having said that, a 'hopelessly outdated' '77 CR125 has won the title for the last two years...

In the 250 and 500 classes, it seems that the only Jap bikes to get a serious look-in are the YZ250/400D. Dunno what's wrong with the RMs 'cause everyone raves about the RM370s.

[090]

rm125,rm250,Maico 400. Had an rm370. Maico is a fair bit better.

[SAABCOMBI]

No one has mention the bultaco`s mk 8 & 9. and ccm.

[holeshot buddy]

suzuki of course
rm 125/250/370



hey brad you are comparing a stock rm370 to a nice blinged maico

[090]

The only thing bling is a set of shocks. Polish doesn't make the bike go fast.   

No one has mention the bultaco`s mk 8 & 9. and ccm.

That is because you asked what is the best. Not favourite or best looking.
I would love to get my hands on an Italian 125 such as a TM or Villa or similar. They looked the goods, be interesting to see how they perform.

[NSR]

Thought that SWM was a '78 model?

Nope the first of the RS-GS came out in 77 then went though to 79

[DR]

production '75 RH250..that'd be my choice

[NR555]

My choice would be a CCM.   

[JC]

I had a 78 SWM 250 (which as pointed out is eligible cos its same as 77) but it wouldn't be my choice. Suspension, handling & brakes were great, but power is all wrong for MX. King hit at about 7500rpm means you never got outdragged in a straight line, but give me a fat midrange for MX any day.

I also had (& still have) a MK9 Pursang that I raced back in the day. Much as I love Buls (& the Mk8 was at the pointy end in its day) the Mk9 is a bit outclassed in pre78

My choices would be:

125 - RM-B, by a long way
250 - probably VB Monty, or perhaps a Beta or Villa if I could find one
500 - not really interested, but probably AW400 Maico

[mx250]

I had a 78 SWM 250 (which as pointed out is eligible cos its same as 77) but it wouldn't be my choice. Suspension, handling & brakes were great, but power is all wrong for MX. King hit at about 7500rpm means you never got outdragged in a straight line, but give me a fat midrange for MX any day.

If you can hot up a bike to suit why wouldn't you 'tune down' a bike to suit? It can be as simple as putting more flywheel weight on. Or, in this day and age, why not a programmable ignition.

The SWM would certainly winning the 'prettiest' stake (or at least a close second to the VB Monty  )

[E74]

My little Vintage Factory RC125 Replica will do me for pre-78 

[JC]

I had a 78 SWM 250 (which as pointed out is eligible cos its same as 77) but it wouldn't be my choice. Suspension, handling & brakes were great, but power is all wrong for MX. King hit at about 7500rpm means you never got outdragged in a straight line, but give me a fat midrange for MX any day.

If you can hot up a bike to suit why wouldn't you 'tune down' a bike to suit? It can be as simple as putting more flywheel weight on. Or, in this day and age, why not a programmable ignition.

The SWM would certainly winning the 'prettiest' stake (or at least a close second to the VB Monty  )

Graeme, I did try to some degree. I adjusted the timing of the rotary valve & ignition, it was an enduro model so already had the heavier flywheel, milder disc & presumable milder port timing. From memory I also ran w/out a base gasket dropping the barrell for milder port timing, but nothing made much difference. It seemed to be a result perhaps of the harmonics in the inlet tract & perhaps the bore-stroke ratio of the engine (Very short stroke). Almost every test of that short-stroke Rotax engine said the same thing, no matter what state of tune. Comments I've read on the factory bikes were also much the same. It only seemed to improve when they went to the longer stroke engine of MX4 onwards.

Programmable ignitons weren't readily available when I had the bike & I wouldn't have had the $$ resources anyway. But it is still being raced in QVMX & GB still says he rarely misses the holeshot or is outdragged down the straight.

Personally I think they look a bit gawky. Much perfer the looks of VBs & GP2 Phantoms

[Nitram]

Is there really any choice ?

 

[squirtmoto]

I reckon the YZ 400 d is one of the best in the big bore class, If it wasn't for the useless fat bastard riding one at the 09 Nats and the interevntion of the 6 times national champion riding sooo bloody fast!!!  a YZinger may have won

[mainline]

YZ125C with 125X suspension