500cc motocross shoot-out 1984.

[John Orchard]

http://maicowerk.com/Articles/PDF/1984_500_Shootout_dirt_bike.pdf

[Tahitian_Red]

"In third position is the Honda.  They took a perfectly workable 480, trashed it and brought out an entirely new bike that's not as good as the year-old model..."
 

Broc Glover was 1983 and 1985 US 500cc National Champ on a YZ490 that was closer to stock than the other manufacturer's bikes.

[John Orchard]

The '84 just needed a few years (30 lol) to sort out the set-up ;-) l think the 480 worked due to its shorter stroke; believe it or not, l think the '81 450 was a great bike, regardless of what some press said, its main problem that l thought when l owned one was the weak crancases would implode regularly. First time l ever won prize money was on a 450 back in '81. :-)

[Slakewell]

We knew nothing back then, all these bikes can be winners with what we now know. My memory of the time was the YZ was a pig of thing that never ran right and tried to throw you over the bars. The husky was violent and didn't steer. The RM was worlds better in the suspension.Never rode the Honda at the time. The KTM is my choice today.

[KTM47]

Reading the shoot-out it looked like the Maico won again.

Yes the brakes need work.

[Oldfart]

Kev ...a May go with brakes ...LOL

[80-85 husky]

called a moto villa

[Barra]

Loved the Mr Know-it-all letters in your article John.  He always made me laugh - mini bike letters were the best! ha ha

[Natroy]

Any chance of a 1989 500cc MX shootout?

[James Lee]

Thanks for posting John, loved it. Now I want an air cooled KTM .

[80-85 husky]

for some reason, I cant get the $%# article to load up

[John Orchard]

for some reason, I cant get the $%# article to load up

I had the same problem one time, so l trimmed the tail off the web address to take me back to the home website, then followed their own pages.

[80-85 husky]

riiiiigghhtt good idea

[KTM47]

Kev ...a May go with brakes ...LOL

With modern materials they are as good as any drum brake now.  Also need to re machine the hub to true it up.