Dirt Bike History 101

[Gordy]

I remember the CZs had 2 coils and 2 plugs and then when we went to electronic ignition we had a spare plug in the head ready to go!

That reminds me.
Anyone put a compression release in their 2 stroke. I did. My 125 Yamaha. It was supposed to be the trick way to go into a corner without braking! We thought they sounded so cool!

[Trailing Jack]

Yeah, the compression release! I knew a guy who put one on a 175 Yamaha enduro. Probably a '70. It was green.
He had all the cool stuff like the wire headlight guard and the Bassani expansion chamber. The coolest part though, was how the handlebar was rolled forward in the clamps (the style of the day) so that his elbows would hit anything within 3 feet of him.

[Trailing Jack]

Originally Posted by kittycactus

Okay, first truely clueless question, who was Super Hunky?

http://dirtbike.off-road.com/dirtbik...tegoryId=35834

click and read Same as it ever was.

[A_Vasiliev]

Originally Posted by nachtflug

just the name when used in the proper context sends chills down the spine.

Husky.

The Italian Husqvarna's are not Husky's.

The ones from Sweden were.

Is that why Husky's are blue and yellow, like the Swedish flag?

[kittycactus]

Originally Posted by Trailing Jack

http://dirtbike.off-road.com/dirtbik...tegoryId=35834

click and read Same as it ever was.

Hey Jack, thanks for the link! I love reading his stuff, good to know cynicism is alive and well.

[dan-c]

Originally Posted by Solaros1

I got to ride one of those once....scared the hell out of me - damn what a machine.

I think that the pro's didn't race the 501 just for that reason. They tended to race the 400's because they were more controllable

[Curvy]

Originally Posted by Gordy

That reminds me.
Anyone put a compression release in their 2 stroke. I did. My 125 Yamaha. It was supposed to be the trick way to go into a corner without braking! We thought they sounded so cool!

Well of course. Didn't all the kool kids?

The neighbors loved it.

[Bake]

If you were racing an RT360 Yamaha they came in petty handy on a dead engine, hand-on-helmet start. Those bikes were actually pretty good when modified. We'd lengthen the swingarm 1.5 ", install a down one tooth CS sprocket, a Bassani or J&R pipe (the Bassani's were for torque, the J&R's were for rev's), couple of Boge shocks, knobbies, maybe a Preston Petty fender....time to go racing. Transmission oil in the forks. Yellow, 3-M weatherstripping sealant on the points cover, because the standard gasket leaked in creek crossings.

Ah those were the days.

The Husky's I remember mostly had silver frames, and polished panels on the aluminum fuel tanks. Blue frames with yellow tanks and fenders were Monarks. Also from Sweden. They made a beautiful radial head 125 I lusted for terribly. I had to settle for my red tank CT-2 reed valve 175 Yamaha. Still, with a Bassani and knobbies, it was a fun bike, just a far cry from a race bike.

[Sal Paradise]

Originally Posted by Gordy

I remember the CZs had 2 coils and 2 plugs and then when we went to electronic ignition we had a spare plug in the head ready to go!

That reminds me.
Anyone put a compression release in their 2 stroke. I did. My 125 Yamaha. It was supposed to be the trick way to go into a corner without braking! We thought they sounded so cool!

CZ's were the Kings of modification. Everyone ever made had the shocks laid down, new bars, plastic tank, carb, tires, airbox, and on and on....

But they were probably the best bike made in the early 70's. The proof is in the VMX racing today, the calvmx vintage class is all CZ's!

[El Hombre]

Originally Posted by dan-c

I think that the pro's didn't race the 501 just for that reason. They tended to race the 400's because they were more controllable

I read back in the day it was a 501 so it wouldn't be legal in the 500 class. Maico wanted to sell the 400's for racing, 501 was the big play bike.

[dan-c]

Originally Posted by Curvy

Well of course. Didn't all the kool kids?

The neighbors loved it.

I had one hang open on my 175 once. Holed a piston 30 miles from home. I pushed that bastige for about 4 miles until some nice old man in a pick up stopped and gave me a ride all the way home. I trashed that sumbeyotch. The farting noise did sound cool though.

[dan-c]

Originally Posted by El Hombre

I read back in the day it was a 501 so it wouldn't be legal in the 500 class. Maico wanted to sell the 400's for racing, 501 was the big play bike.

There was an open class, I don't remember a 500 class

Here's an interesting pic though, a one off twin carb 501

[El Hombre]

Originally Posted by dan-c

There was an open class, I don't remember a 500 class

Here's an interesting pic though, a one off twin carb 501

I've heard it called Open class, but in most places by the early '70s, it was a 500 class.

In the mid '60s when the 250 2 strokes first started running, didn't take long for someone to notice they were lapping faster than the 500 4 stokes. Boring bar and a bigger piston, 251's. They ran those until the 360's came out.

I think the 501 had a wider ratio tranny and was tuned for torque, not the big hit on top like the 400.

Who owns the twin carb? Nice resto.

[Gordy]

Originally Posted by onanysunday

CZ's were the Kings of modification. Everyone ever made had the shocks laid down, new bars, plastic tank, carb, tires, airbox, and on and on....

You had to put new bars on after the first time you looped one. The freaking controls were welded to the bars.

What does that stock tank weigh, about 10 pounds??

[Trailing Jack]

Originally Posted by kittycactus

Hey Jack, thanks for the link! I love reading his stuff, good to know cynicism is alive and well.

Here's his take on the history of Honda dirt bikes.

http://www.superhunky.com/HondaHistory.html