I usually don't bother with these bloody threads because they seem to pop up every week, but now we've got people bagging certain mx bikes as "oil dripping" " clankers", and others saying that pretty much anything after 1980 doesn't belong at a vintage meet.
they are all old mx bikes !!!!!!!!!!!!Have a quick squiz at Terry Goods collection, which (on the website at least) spans from 1961 to 1989. Tell me that
every bike he's got isn't one you'd give your left nad for.
http://www.mxworksbike.com/bikes%20a.htmI grew up reading about the 'O' Show, Ricky Johnson, Jeff Ward, David Bailey, Ronnie Lechien, David Thorpe, Eric Geboers, Andre Malherbe, George Jobe, Jacky Vimond, etc etc etc. By the time I got into MX Roger Decoster was working with US Team Honda and I knew squat about him or what he had done. Who gives a shit when you're 15 yrs old?
In the extremely short time I've been into VMX not only have my taste in bikes expanded dramatically, but my interest in the history of the sport has increased immeasurably. I've been buying back issues of VMX mag every other week and devouring every bit of info I can find. I can't remember half of it, but I'm having fun reading about it.
I'm nearly finished the '79 YZ125 I've been working on, and my next project will with be a 76/77 YZ or RM, or an 84-86 KX125, or an 85-87 CR. I don't care which one it is because I like them all.
And as for people buying up 89 model bikes to be competitive in a Pre 90 race, what a wank. If I had the choice I'd be riding an 86 CR because that's what I had in the day, that's what my heroes were riding, and that is my "time" in MX. And if (and that is an unbelievably big if) I could ride, I could beat some turd on an '89 bike who bought it because it was the most modern thing he could buy that would meet the criteria.
I can't believe so many people have a bee in their bonnet about whether a bike (or a car or friggin' anything) is cool or not based on it's age. There is something that can be appreciated in pretty much anything of any vintage, whether it's the aesthetics, a piece of engineering, or just a vibe you get. I'd love a '37 Triumph Speed Twin in my shed as much as I'd like a 916 Ducati, and one of everything in between.
Lighten up people, it isn't like anyone is asking that a 2hr chunk of your next local race meet be dedicated to discussion on the latest Tupperware innovations! they're talking about more bike racing! And if you think more ride time is needed then think about how the meet could be better organised, and chip in and help instead of whinging about it here.