Pro-Tec HL Yamaha

[Marc.com]

I agree Johnny to me its just a trail bike and a over rated one at that .Did it ever win anything ?

A few good MXGP finishes and US 4 stroke nationals, it could be argued that it was hugely successful in MXGP given it was up against open class 2 strokes. Along with the 70s Cheney's and CCMs, the HL was a last gasp  attempt at building a competitive 4 stroke in a race environment dominated by 2 strokes.

The ProTec bikes were special in so far as they were highly developed and had top US riders on them to compete in the 4 stroke nationals so have a place in MX history. The 4 stroke only US events as with the 4 stroke nationals in Aussie were very high profile and had some really top US and Aussie riders for that matter competing on HLs, C&Js and the like.

I agree with Son and Tahitian Red in so far as the C&J was probably a better bike, could have something to do with how the XR motor carries its weight lower, is more compact and like you say 2 years was a long time in the 70s.

The ATK connection with this bike also makes it much cooler. The sister ProTec bike to this one that I beleive Rick Johnson rode, was once on the market at 50K. Saying that it is worth replacement value plus change must be just a comment to wind things up, its like saying there is no value in a bike with race history which is completely not the case.

I see HL reps being one of those things you own, a bit like Cobra reps, because you can and they have a certain iconic status. Also they make pretty practical VMX bikes given the engine is more or less still in production so you can buy as many engine spares as you need.


 

[gdr]

marc.com thanks for the answer .

[crash n bern]

I'm glad you gave me a bit of a comparison between them.. I want a 4stroke Evo bike and i'm tossing up between a few. Where does a '79 CCM fit in? and the other i'm thinking about is another '84 510 Husky(had one a few years back)

John there's that KTM Rotax I listed in the ebay section that's still for sale.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/KTM-500GS-1982-VMX-VINDURO-/160986746230?_trksid=p2047675.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D13%26meid%3D6199008719016607455%26pid%3D100012%26prg%3D1014%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D160978695899%26#ht_1023wt_1178

[Marc.com]

I'm glad you gave me a bit of a comparison between them.. I want a 4stroke Evo bike and i'm tossing up between a few. Where does a '79 CCM fit in? and the other i'm thinking about is another '84 510 Husky(had one a few years back)

With the CCM you are looking at another 20K bike, plus you are buying pretty ancient engine design that was well past its used by date. 84 510 Husky would be cool, though you will buy a CR500 for about a 1/3 of the money.

[JohnnyO]

I'm glad you gave me a bit of a comparison between them.. I want a 4stroke Evo bike and i'm tossing up between a few. Where does a '79 CCM fit in? and the other i'm thinking about is another '84 510 Husky(had one a few years back)

With the CCM you are looking at another 20K bike, plus you are buying pretty ancient engine design that was well past its used by date. 84 510 Husky would be cool, though you will buy a CR500 for about a 1/3 of the money.

There have been a few CCM's go for between 10k-14k in England in the past 12 months and 1 or 2 even cheaper in the US but it is a lot of coin. A C&J Honda would probably cost around 10k also I guess.
Not interested in a CR500 I've got a shed full of 2 strokes

[crash n bern]

John, did you see my post for the Rotax KTM?  Forget all that big dollar stuff and be really elite for a quarter of the cost.  As far as 4 strokes go, can't beat that Rotax.

[JohnnyO]

Yes Bernie only problem is it's a single shock and i want a twin shock for the Evo class..

[Marc.com]

Dont know if its only me , but if you asked me what fourstroke comes to mind first ,if we where talking Classic MX , then the CCM is the one .

I am not really old enough to remember much about CCM and they wearn't really about in NZ, though I have ridden one and seen them out there going pretty fast. 

When I think 4 strokes I think Jacky Martens, pre 90 510 Husky would go down nice, the water cooled 510 engine was a much better motor.

[crash n bern]

Yes Bernie only problem is it's a single shock and i want a twin shock for the Evo class..

Ahh okay. Too easy, Can Am Sonic.

[odd1]

My memory of CCM's is when there going they are awesome but more often than not I use to watch them being pushed up down the pits trying to start them. That said  I would still have one in my shed.

[bishboy]

Yes Bernie only problem is it's a single shock and i want a twin shock for the Evo class..

Maybe you should have bought this and stuck a XL/XR or whatever engine in it.  I thought about it but missed the auction ending 


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/151006428163?nma=true&si=JfNslo2%2BOXIXkxeMqckr5xIiMCs%3D&rt=nc&_trksid=p4340.l2557&orig_cvip=true#ht_500wt_1288

[SON]

John, did you see my post for the Rotax KTM?  Forget all that big dollar stuff and be really elite for a quarter of the cost.  As far as 4 strokes go, can't beat that Rotax.

I was thinking of buying your KTM
If it doesn't sell this time pm me

[mustanggrahame]

Why is an Aberg/NVT/Pro Fab or replica Yamaha considered a hotted up trail bike but a CCM revered as something exotic? The CCM had very humble beginnings.
Neither engine has the race engineering or pedigree of a 510 Husky. That doesn't mean they can't be developed well and put in a nice chassis as has been done.
Cheers, Grahame

[crash n bern]

John, did you see my post for the Rotax KTM?  Forget all that big dollar stuff and be really elite for a quarter of the cost.  As far as 4 strokes go, can't beat that Rotax.

I was thinking of buying your KTM
If it doesn't sell this time pm me

Sorry for the confusion Son, it's not my KTM, I was just referring to my post where I had posted the listing for it. 

[Marc.com]

Why is an Aberg/NVT/Pro Fab or replica Yamaha considered a hotted up trail bike but a CCM revered as something exotic?

HL500 in one form or another won or placed in races in both the World MX champs and US 4 stroke Nationals , amoungst others, so calling it a hotted up trail bike is understating things a bit.

However going down the trail bike path, CCM and HL500 probably share more similarities than differences, both had origins in trail/roadie softer sorts of bikes, but someone saw potential to hot them up and change the frame and have a go at winning a world championship.

The CCM engine had a lot more development time, like a decade at MXGP level than the HL, Clews certainly replaced a lot more parts on the B44/50 than Aberg did on the HL, so it could be regarded as tricker I guess.