What were you riding in the 90's?

[Sting32]

Originally Posted by 2whlrcr

If I was looking for an early 90's bike I think I would stick with GG or Beta, just because those bikes are still available today and I would think part would be easier to get.

There was nothing wrong with my Aprilia in the day (except for being a little heavy and slow steering), but I've heard parts are drying up. And the other big player back then was Fantic, who is still in business, but hasn't imported a bike for a long time.

Fantic is NOT in business. They went tits up in the 90's. But I could be wrong, did they come back to life recently?

[joe cool]

Someone posted over in road warriors of a Fantic tr300es. I've heard rumors of a comeback.

[Sting32]

Originally Posted by joe cool

Someone posted over in road warriors of a Fantic tr300es. I've heard rumors of a comeback.

Cool, I think it is just like Sherco/Bultaco though?

Translated by google, from "origins" page at http://www.fanticmotor.it/azienda/storia.php

"But the prohibition to practice off-road, the economy connected to the world of two wheels and a few mistakes have led the company to close its doors Fantic In 1995 Fantic Motor Barzago... of productive activity ceases, leaving a huge void especially in trials where had carved out a leadership position"

"Now with the purchase of the brand Fantic by industrialist Treviso Fregnan may bring glory to the great history of the motorcycle company Lecco and the cost of the operation suggests that there is only a certain interest dictated from the heart to the brand Barzago. The first to get your hopes are just the fans or aficionados of the Fantic Motor, which have always had the hope of seeing this company resurrected, and now Frederick Fregnan has rekindled hope."

But hey, comebacks are nice, look at OSSA.

[2whlrcr]

Originally Posted by Sting32

Fantic is NOT in business. They went tits up in the 90's. But I could be wrong, did they come back to life recently?

I didn't Google it, but I believe Fantic has remained in business in Europe and other parts of the world, primarily making small displacement bikes. They have not imported in the US since the mid 90's, which I would assume making it hard to get parts here.

[GP MX Fan]

In the 90s I rode a series of Yamaha MX and OSSA Phantoms in vintage motocross.

[EmkIoway]

There's a 92 Aprilia for sale on Des Moines craigslist. Sharp looking bike with rebuilt engine.

[Thumpermeister]

I was riding stuff from the 70's back then. I hope to have something from the 90's soon!

[dentvet]

Originally Posted by EmkIoway

There's a 92 Aprilia for sale on Des Moines craigslist. Sharp looking bike with rebuilt engine.

Is she yours?


Aprilias ran the Rotax motors?

[AteamNM]

Wow, going back to 1985 for me. Started on a Bultaco Sherpa T, painted it several times, it hurt me several times. Then trials nirvana, Yamaha TY350 mono shock. Bought it off Generator George Nadle in Plano Texas. That bike evolved into a John Shirt wonnabe. My first new bike was then on to the Fantic 307, really the best balanced bike I ever owned. I would watch a half hour of MASH every evening in the garage balancing on a dead engine. The KeeRoo sucked, I hated that bike. Then Aprilla's came next, the yellow and blue Climber I called the John Deere. It could climb anything as long as a turn was not required. Then and finally the Gas Gas Klubber came to town with Andrew Codina. Been riding Gas Gas since. Dale Malesak has been incredibly good to me for a long long time, always there on race day. I think I have owned 9 Gasers but really lost count. I think if I didn't ride a Gas Gas, I would ride a Beta but team Sherco is very well organized and Ryan Young is the man.

Trials bikes all look the same upside down.

[Gham]

Originally Posted by AteamNM

Wow, going back to 1985 for me. Started on a Bultaco Sherpa T, painted it several times, it hurt me several times. Then trials nirvana, Yamaha TY350 mono shock. Bought it off Generator George Nadle in Plano Texas.

Hey! I grew up in Plano,never heard of George Nadle though.Must have left before the first Trials bike ever came to town

[Helikoptermann]

I got myself a 1993 Aprilia yesterday...
I guess, it must have been ridden by someone in the nineties

[ADVCoop]

I was riding MX and enduro bikes in the 90's.

I did bring a 1992 Gas Gas GT250 home yesterday so I have a 90's trials bike now. Like Helikoptermann said somebody must have been riding it in the 90's...

[Helikoptermann]

Aaaand, since we´re already here...i have a quick question:
Is there a special trick to kickstarting those big(ger) 2smokers?
I tried to start my Aprilia today (0° Celsius), and it took me ages to get that sucker running. The guy I bought it from yesterday did it fairly quick (3-5 kicks).
So far, I only had experiences with some 50cc smokers. Those I could get started rather quickly.

[ADVCoop]

Originally Posted by Helikoptermann

Aaaand, since we´re already here...i have a quick question:
Is there a special trick to kickstarting those big(ger) 2smokers?
I tried to start my Aprilia today (0° Celsius), and it took me ages to get that sucker running. The guy I bought it from yesterday did it fairly quick (3-5 kicks).
So far, I only had experiences with some 50cc smokers. Those I could get started rather quickly.

You could try this for kicking "technique" :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdM4qkAqywk

Other tips for really cold/hard starting are:

1) Turn fuel on and lay bike over for 30 seconds or so. This insures carb is full.
2) Put bike in 4th or 5th, crack the throttle and roll the bike back and forth a couple of times. Be sure you hear/feel the piston cycle in the cylinder. Stop on a backwards roll so the piston is near TDC. This helps create vacuum to draw fuel into the cylinder before you start kicking.

If I do both of those, bikes start pretty easily for me.

[gybeman]

Originally Posted by ADVCoop

You could try this for kicking "technique" :
1) Turn fuel on and lay bike over for 30 seconds or so. This insures carb is full.
2) Put bike in 4th or 5th, crack the throttle and roll the bike back and forth a couple of times. Be sure you hear/feel the piston cycle in the cylinder. Stop on a backwards roll so the piston is near TDC. This helps create vacuum to draw fuel into the cylinder before you start kicking.
If I do both of those, bikes start pretty easily for me.

Boy, you need to look at your starting/pilot circuit.
- one missed step though, like any 2T, is if it has sat for days/weeks and you didn't add any mixed fuel, give the bike a shake and bounce for a min to make sure its mixed up and not separated.

That early Aprilia is also a possible candidate for a flaky (ducati? ) ignition/stator.