vinage dirt track/MX bike wanted

[Motoman]

Hi all,
I am very new to OZVMX and vintage bikes. An old dude but still addicted to racing. Ex MXer mostly doing dirt track. Currently racing in modern class at Nepean but since the club has removed age categories and trail bike class there are not enough races in the day to satisfy my needs. Therefore I am planning to enter the realm of vintage bikes.

I am looking for a YZ, MX, (maybe a DT), CR, or RM 250cc + and eligible for pre 75.

Either set up for MX or dirt track which I can swap over to do both as I do with my modern bike.

Let me know what you might have which is in running condition and not over $2500.00, in Sydney area.

Motoman

[jimg1au]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/YAMAHA-MX400B-CLASSIC-VMX_W0QQitemZ280333031768QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item280333031768&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Montesa-V-75-Cappra-250-1975-VMX-AHRMA-VR-style_W0QQitemZ220394556249QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item220394556249&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HONDA-CR125-74-ELSINORE-VMX_W0QQitemZ270372165470QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item270372165470&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Yamaha-MX400_W0QQitemZ110377375161QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item110377375161&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1974-maico-250_W0QQitemZ130300285327QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item130300285327&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

or you could look at nathan s mx/dt175 for 1000.00
cheers

[Motoman]

Yeah, thanks for that. Besides addicted to racing, I am also an e bay compulsive looker! I have seen some great bikes on e bay but most are out of the area. I don't think I have the time or inclination to buy something interstate or long distance which I can't see first if possible. The MX400 looks OK. I am watching that one.

I am hoping someone has a bike they wouldn't mind selling but don't want the hassle of listing it on e bay or trading post. I am trying to be patient but like a kid, I can't wait for my new toy!

Motoman

[Freakshow]

I got a MX 250A been used for both MX and recently DT, ( i have my own rear wheel sets to do both)

HAd motor done, new piston, rings etc so, didnt use last season, motor was in my FT bike for 2 rounds then put back in, when i realised the frame numbers matched, before i never put it back.

$2200 and can help organise to get it to sydney or melb if you pay the $350 to get it there.

FWIW - the mx400B isnt pre 75 legal youll need to ride it in pre 78 era

[Motoman]

any chance of a photo?

[Freakshow]

yep but not that i can find on the work PC. well excepting an old phot of the motor after it was done last year, dont look this clean ATm but you get the drift.

ITs a MX250A so just use any yellow A model as a guide, be identical.

if i get a chance before the weekend ill take a current pic

[Motoman]

Thanks for the responses and photos. I am interested in looking at a few more of the 250 if you get the chance. Has the bottom end been done as well? What is the availability of parts and isn't it true that some other Yamaha motors of the same vintage such as DTs have some interchangeable parts? I don't expect a lesson in classic/vintage bikes here but to be honest over the years have had older, not vintage bikes so know what a "joy" ($#@%$&*!!), older bikes can be. I'd hate to get a bike which is not complete and will be hard to finish and be able to use.

I am looking for a bit of an on going project as well so something I could sort of ride straight-a-way then bang a few tools around it for a week or so and ride again is what I think I am looking for. I am missing working on my own bike since I have recently been riding modern 4 strokes. I like the idea of minimal  moving parts. I suppose I also need to consider ride-ability. I mostly only do dirt track but would have a go at a VMX or muck around on a weekend away track ride, so I wonder if I should stay away from bikes larger than 250? I recall riding an RM400 around 30 years ago and do not have any bad memories, likewise had a 1990 RM250, "lightswitch" model which I enjoyed so maybe I shouldn't worry too much about engine size as long as I can get a little bit of reliability and something which might be competitive?

You say you have a spare rear set, is one available for this bike at the price you mention or do you use that with another bike you ride yourself?

Thanks again

[Freakshow]

cant get an easier bike than the yamaha MX for parts, repairs or reliability.

Yes Dt and MX 250 in the 70's interchange parts so youll never run out of bits, if you really needed to you can buy a complete Dt 250 motor for $150 and its fits straight in the frame 74-76 (450 serial numbers)

IF you go for a 250 you can ride it in 250 classes and also run in the all powers, which means at club level you get 2 more classes ( ride in per meet) which you cant with the 360cc

In referance to this bike is complete and was raced last year, could use a new thottle tube and rear sprocket, but would then be race ready.  bottom end was checked last piston rebuild, barrel was ported, honed on last piston, had new fork seals,etc etc.  bike should be complete unless i borrowed some clips or bolts during the year but they are just bolts ( like the ones that fall out all year) so be a snap to have back on the track and over time retore if your so inclined. 

I find i can do my own work on the 2 stroke for a couple of bucks all year, were as the piece of crap 08, 4 stroke yzf, i just bought cost me more in one oil service, than i spent all last year on a 2 stroke, so yes, spark and fuel and youll have nothing else to worry about except hanging on and what youll be buying from the canteen at lunch time.

i race MXa's in both VMX and DT so i have spare rear wheels i use with the tyres already on them and just change them out depending on event the week before.  You can just do the same i use alloys on the mx and old DT steel rims on the Flat tracks as the unsprung weight dont mean much and beats pissing about changing tyres all the time. Dt rims for example are $50

If your a novice to Vintage then a YAmaha would be the best bet, other brands require some knowledge if euro and other pre 75 japs are less on the parts flow.  Yamaha not only have parts out there still, but also have repro stuff coming on.  Yamaha are also a stable commodity so what you pay for it, at worst you should get back the same when you sell it

Your best best for FT would be a MX or DT.

  IMHO

[jimg1au]

freaky
you are very wrong about the 360.
nsw dirt track
125
250
251-500
unlimited
so you get the same amout of rides 250or 360
i know i road a 360 last year in the same club days

[Freakshow]

im not sure what you do up there but im telling you what goes on down here in VMX/VDT pre 75.

im not talking speedway or your long track club stuff, but even at the nationals i dont think there was any thing other than pre 75 - 125, 250, allpowers and 4 stroke ( i dont remember seeing a national under 500 class) so im not sure your comment about being VEry wrong really has legs.  i think your thinking so state based.

IF you do something else up there then you need to explain the classes availvable to this guy if he is in the same club.

OK - down here you ride a 250 in the 250 cc class then back up in the open class( all powers), if i can still count correctly thats 2 rides each round on the 250.  

Now - IF i only owned a 360 i could only ride it in the all powers class. so NO you dont get the same amount of rides here in SA.  Therefore A pre 75 over 263 would only get one ride per round

YOU obviously do things differant up there, but down here in DT we go ( not in programme order)

Juniors demo (Pee wee's)
Junior 80cc
Junior air cooled
Junior 125
Pre 75 to 263cc
Pre 75 all powers
Modern to 263cc
Modern all powers
Side cars up to 750 ( might even be pre 80s)
side cars all powers

thats it.  YOu seem to have a lot of classes, but im guessing they run concurrently ( within the same event) or you have less rides in the day cause you have lots more seperate races or you just have really full feilds in all Capacites.

For exp. If i wanted to run my 125's i would have to ride it in the up to 250 class, there is no sep 125 class due to no: ridders to justify a seperate race.  hence i dont ride it.

[jimg1au]

now the clubs in control run classic ie pre 75 to evo in the 1 race,
we have up to 100 riders,modern and classic

[Freakshow]

oK but thats not what he asked , he said pre 75, and it is a national class segrigation, so you need to be clear your only telling him how many rides he can gets at your club track days.  Not every where else, where pre 75 is a seperate class, not an all in era's race. VIntage is pre 75 so an all in to my mind isnt a vitage class when your next to a pre 85. (IMHO)

All this is going to make a big differance if he decides to go to the nationals so he can choose the right bike now and know what he wants to ride, to be sure he wants to compete in either pre 75, pre 77 or pre 85.

there is not much bpoint going with a 1975 model up against a 1977 LTR, its just not going to be competitive is it.  he might not care, but he should be aware of the national segments just incase.  before he goes down the wrong path or machinary and gets inthe cut off Kasm

[jimg1au]

he knows he wants a pre 75 as he rides same events as me we have a 2day pre75 day only later in the year.i was just telling you what our club did this year.from the nats you were at 263 and over.
we also have all powers as well.the reason to group them all together is ther majority is pre75 with only a hand full of pre78- evo.results are in your machine limits ie 123 pre75 ect.we will now have to hire transponders so all places will be correct.you can come 3rd in the heat but still 1st if you bike is the 1st pre75 over the line

   2008 AUST. CLASSIC D/T CHAMPIONSHIPS                  
   Pre 75 Solo 263cc & Over 16-59 years                  
No   Competitor   Rd.1   Rd.2   Rd.3   Rd.4   Rd.5   Total
52   Peter Lee   25   25   25   20   25   120
6   David Gras   16   22   22   22   22   104
54   Colin Moody   18   20   20   25   20   103
92   Darrell Elliott   22   18   18   18   18   94
190   Ron Davis   14   15   13   15   16   73
152   Kerry Marsh   13   13   14   13   15   68
39   Kevin Crossey   12   12   11   12   14   61
69   Mick Jones   11   11   12   14   13   61
114   Greg McLean   15   14   16   16      61
211   David Tanner   20   16   15   dns      51
                     0
   Pre 1975 263cc & Over 60 years & Over                  0
50   Colin Metcher   25   25   25   25   25   125
166   Bill Pengilly   22   22   22   22   22   110
                     0
                     0
                     0
   Pre 1975 4 Stroke All Powers                  
6   David Gras   25   25   25   25   25   125
92   Darrell Elliott   22   22   22   22   22   110
5   Colin Clark   20   20   20   20   20   100
50   Colin Metcher   18   18   18   18   18   90
69   Mick Jones   16   16   16   16   16   80

[Motoman]

Thanks gents,
According to the St. George MCC class list from last race day, and I suppose for the future events, (not sure about City of Penrith events), I could ride 2 extra RACES in a round on the day either way. I may be interested in doing events outside of the local dirt track events so am interested in something which is class legal at other vintage events.

In regards to scoring in class catagories from transponder results, that would be good and not hard to do I guess. I was hoping the club might have done that with age catagories as well, but at the end of the day I am more interested in riding than collecting small trophies. Riding that is where I can have "battles" with someone, not just circulating. I must say it is satisfying now that I am riding in Modern unlimited and DT450 to have a dice with people who are much younger than me and sometimes on a bigger bike. Mind you that doesn't happen all the time but enough to get some quiet satisfaction!

Thanks again guys.

Motoman

[Freakshow]

having said all that the MX 250 or any yamaha is the best way to go, parts and ease of use in "battle"

see current bike pics as discussed, note the differance in a dirty motor from the smae shot of it last year up the top