The definitive best pre 74 250 thread

[TM BILL]

gets my vote simply for being most overlooked and underrated

Docs nailed it   i dont know much about the Euros   but i have only heard good things   74 KX 250 for me , a little suspension work and its a top contender   YZ 250A overrated over priced silver TM 250   Rode Brads greenstripe 250 at Conondale nats   only thing not competitive on that bike was the rider   great bike. TM 250 just a cheaper yellow YZ with better motor   YZ 250B well thats just cheating   Would love a ride on a Bully , Katie. Ossa and Maico  . If money no object then RH 250 all day  

[JohnnyO]

I have never seen a Maico or Husky with limited suspension nor would I protest I believe that if it came from the factory in 74 like that, it should run as is. The funny stuff with the YZ B is the rear end while no one anything about 9" travel front forks. 

A YZB doesn't have anywhere near 9" fork travel.
Every '74 LTR Maico i've seen racing has spacers on the shock shaft to limit the travel

[Nathan S]

Ossa Phantom, for the looks alone.
Supposed to be a very good thing to ride, but I wouldn't know...

Personally, I think there's a difference between the bike you'd get if it was perfectly sorted and you wanted to win the Nats, compared to the bike you want to live with week-in, week-out (including paying for parts and the nights in the shed). Dunno how this fits with Slakewell's definition of "best".

I had a Cappra that I sold unfinished, and kept my MX250, which probably says a lot about my priorities...

[oldyzman]

You a Yamma Luva Nathan
Brett

[crankpin]

FWIW my top 3;

74 Mag Husky
MK 5/6/7/ Bully.
74 Ossa Phantom.

The mag is a very competitive bike but a real handful. I sold mine because of the lack of bottom end and scary, screaming top end (and, my danglies kept getting trapped between the seat and tank). If I was a fearless 11 stoner, I'd still own it. But Sadly... Also, along with my other choices, probably the best looking trio from any era or manufacturer, EVER.

If competitiveness is a prime goal then MK7. MK5 for looks and MK6 because it's a Bultaco (and red).

I would want a friend to own the Ossa, because I could get a ride one of the most beautiful motocross machines ever created now and then, but wouldn't have to worry about replacement parts.

[ksithumper]

KTM 250? Close, but no cigar.

You need the 400  ...

...with the lighter MX flywheel....

..use a soft crossbar pad and a good full face helmet.

[crankpin]

I also like these http://forums.mxtrax.co.uk/showthread.php?p=4080149&posted=1#post4080149

Am I allowed a 4th choice? (or 1st reserve)

[JC]

There's almost too many at the pointy end to choose from.

Apart from the unobtainium (RH), I'd go w the lightweight weapons - ie any one of the spanish:
'Sang, Phantom or VR perhaps in any order. They had the handles, suspension, power & (lack of) weight.

A hairs breadth behind would be KX (w suitable suspension mods), F11M & YZ-B

A nose further back would be a CZ (tricked out), MAG & KTM

Then a TM-L,  'Snore, DT2M, 73MX, Maico, Cooper & Canam - each w suitable mods

But you could throw a blanket over the whole lot - well, most of them.
Just splitting hairs really. 

I'd be happy with them all...  I mean, any of them. 

Heck, I'd even have a quirky Brit - Rickman or Ajay Stormer. (Probably not a Greeves or Sprite tho!)

And weren't there a couple of Italian stallions who just snuck in before 75?

[Stan S]

Ok I'm a bit confused as the thread asks for the best pre 74 not pre 75 so here is my own opinion.
I raced two TM250's, a CR250 and MC250 Maico in 73 all new models for that year. The hands down winner was the Maico by a long way.
If we are talking pre 75 then I had a new VR250 crinkle cut for a few months before changing to two Mk7 Bultaco's for the rest of 74. I believe the Mk7 250 was the nicest most competetive 250 available in 74, maybe not the most powerful but the best overall package.
The Montesa was very fast but in my opinion didn't handle as well as a lot of other 74 250's but you must remember this was the start of the suspension revolution with either factory LTR available or the countless frame modifications made to other brands.
I can honestly say I didn't see any KTM's win races here in 73 or 74 but I may be wrong. The KTM's were very rare around our area but the ones we saw were beautifly made. There was only a couple of riders doing well on Ossa's such as Steve Cramer and Bernie Ryan but generally most races were won by Mk7's or YZB's in 74.
Funnily enough my choice now is the 74 KX250 which we never considered back in the day as a serious option but now for some strange reason they really appeal to me (Luckily I do have one which I will build soon)
This is only my opinion but it is the way I saw it back then in the day.

Stan. 

[firko]

How could you not put a YZ250A tank and straps on your Frankenbike Firko?....dont know about the Ohlins eithe

As much as I like the YZ tank* John, it's a distinctive bit of gear that's automatically connected with the Yamaha, and with the front wheel being the only Yamaha part used it wouldn't fit the plan. My Frankenbike is defined by its engine so I figure using the Can Am the tank keeps the concept in touch with its movitational force.
As far as Ohlins...shocks are a personal choice, I should have written "add quality shocks of choice".

* clearing up the garden shed earlier in the week I found a fairly straight YZ250A tank that I'd forgotten I had. No, it's not for sale .

[firko]

I have never seen a Maico or Husky with limited suspension nor would I protest I believe that if it came from the factory in 74 like that, it should run as is. The funny stuff with the YZ B is the rear end while no one says anything about 9" travel front forks. 

Mick, you mustn't have been looking too hard as my '74's were always limited as were every '74 that I scrutineered over the years. No limiters, no race. As far as the YZ-B having 9" of travel.....not a chance. They're a smidgen over 7", not enough to worry them in scrutineering. I suspect the first 9" Yamaha forks came with the X model but I stand to be corrected.

[74yza]

  I will take this over any other bike available  although I am biased because I race this one currently.  Fast, Light and trick as hell !

[mx250]

  I will take this over any other bike available  although I am biased because I race this one currently.  Fast, Light and trick as hell !

I think I would too - either bog stock as 'in the day' or as a current day race bike. The basis of good power, light weight, reliability and reasonable suspension are all there and can only be improved with modern thinking, technology and tuning.

And then there's the 'factory' looks and exclusivity .

And the history. This bike was the game changer. Hello Japanese, good bye European .

[Slakewell]

  I will take this over any other bike available  although I am biased because I race this one currently.  Fast, Light and trick as hell !

Yes but what about cleaning the air filter 

[firko]

I love the YZ A model but I'd challenge your statement about them being the bike that changed the game Graeme. As flawed as the Honda CR250 Elsinore was, it really was the first truly competitive Japanese motocrosser. They were cheap, featured beautiful finish and design and went like the powers of piss. They're still the racers choice today....you'll see more Elsinores in the class than anything else.