What Bikes Changed Everything?????????

[firko]

*For me and a million others it was the Yamaha DT1. This bike is literally the Model T Ford of dirt bikes, it opened the door for anyone to afford what we take for granted today.
                                                     
*As far as motocross is concerned, the Honda CR250 Elsinore changed our perspective on Japanese bikes forever. The decline of the European domination of dirt bike engineering started with the introduction of the Elsinore.
                                                   
*Most people credit the release of the Yamaha YZ400F as the beginnining of the modern high tech 4T motocross bike but I give that credit to the '92 Husky 610 TE/TC. Their part in dirt bike history is way underrated.
                                                     

[TT5 Matt]

the 78 model cr250 elsie stood out from the rest in the day, the closest thing to a works bike and had the go and handling to match

[mustanggrahame]

I agree with the DT1 being one of the biggest influences on where dirt bikes are now. Cheap, reliable, cool and great styling. Perfect bike for the time.
What about the 89 Husaberg? First modern era 4 stroke to beat 2 strokes on a level field. Lighter and purer racer than the Husky.
Like it or not the YZ400F is the whole reason modern era motocross is dominated by lightweight high revving 4 strokes. Massive game changer. Still the most reliable.
One of the reasons I love Yamaha's. Inovative.
Cheers, Grahame

[popeye]

A mate of mine has a cannondale and its pretty trick, l haven't ridden it but I'd like to, reverse cylinder, fuel injection, heaps of other goodies on it....

[Rusty]

My brothers RT1


Broke my leg trying to start it and go for a fang while he was away roadracing somewhere - was 12 at the time.


After the RT episode dad got me one of these stripped down and with knobbies on it.  Used to fang around the farm and beat any of the brothers mates on their 125s.


The first real motocross bike I slung a leg over was Bill Flowers Suzuki NZ RH250 - and fell in love with both motocross (still called scrambles here in NZ back then) and Suzuki as a marque.


First motocross bike - 3rd at OCIR in my first race.


The bike that finally gave me the needed tool to beat the FMF and DG CR125s and get to the pro class.


First modern bike when back out of retirement - and the bike I beat tmbill at the Tokoroa SX 

[jerry]

I reckon best rider on best bike changed everything for ever more. Joel Robert, RH 250 and Japanese continuous improvement philosophy. Can be traced back to Edward Demmings teachings and the rebuilding of Japanese economic and socaial culture following WW2. Here's a thought, what if the Japanese had not got involved? Lets try and work out the likely evolution of dirt bikes. This should be good! Cheers Jerry

[Rusty]

[Hardex]

I Recon the xr75 caused a chain reaction to what we have today.

Honda went from this in the 60s
 


To this in the 70s
 


That caused all other manufactures to pull the finger out
and today most significantly is that four strokes rule the world 

[jerry]

If the Japs hadn't got involved would the Euros have still had it all to themselves and just kept muddling along or would the Yanks have fired up(and if so how?) and what if "On any Sunday" hadn't been made? Or was it all just meant to be???J

[TM BILL]

Like it or not the YZ400F is the whole reason modern era motocross is dominated by lightweight high revving 4 strokes. Massive game changer. Still the most reliable.One of the reasons I love Yamaha's. Inovative.
Cheers, Grahame

You have got to be F&%King kidding me  there were more YZF 400s blown up in the first 6 months of ownership than the British expeditionary force blew up machinary at Dunkirk 

And i hear that their 2013 WR 450 is the biggest lemon since 1998 

[jerry]

If my memory serves me correctly Maico were first off with LTR so presumably the suspension revolution would have happened anyway and was it Lucien Tilken (forgive spelling) another Euro that patented the "Monoshock". Having said that didn't BSA have something similiar in the pipeline?

[TM BILL]

Dead right Jerry   Mr Tilkens a Belgian developed the monoshock and Suzuki turned it down before Yamaha picked it up .

BSA like all British manufacturers and industry back then suffered from NIH syndrome (Not Invented Here )  so it was inevitable they would dissapear up their own arse 

[jerry]

Exactly Bill, I'm suggesting the Euro's would have pushed the suspension thing along anyway but perhaps at a reduced pace.Presumably we would have seen the arrival of plastic at some point as well improved quality control. J

[maico police]

When mini's got serious......

[Husky70]

75 Husky 360GP. First generally available GP replica (and before the Suzuki guys whinge, did you try to get hold of an RH or RN back in the day?)