Posts Tagged ‘250’

At one time or another, you’ve sat around with your friends and jabbered about the mythical “composite” motorcycle. You know the one -it’ got the peak horsepower of a breathed·on Pursang, combined with the low-end grunt of a Stiletto. It`s got the plush forks of a Maico, turns like a CZ and tracks like a cut-frame Husky. It weighs less than a good 250 and has the punch of a 400. And the best part-you don’t have to do anything to the bike. just ride it like it was a 350 Honda pseudo-scrambler.

We’ve all dreamed about that kind of a machine, but up until now, it never existed.

A quick look around at the competition mounts of the Staff of DIRT BIKE shows what has to be done to make a motorcycle “right” for competition. No one but a fool rides a Maico in stock trim. Different filters, rims and assorted bozos are a must for the serious rider. Read the rest of this entry »

POKER, IF YOU don’t already know, is a game of both patience and action. Players are dealt cards, and play them out, bidding according to their value and the odds of someone else having something better. Poker is also a game that should  be familiar to just about every motorcyclist.

As a motorcyclist, and therefore always a potential purchaser, you are dealt a new hand each year, by the motorcycle manufacturers, in the form of new and (hopefully) better models. This is true whether you are a street biker buyer or an off-roader.

The Japanese are the most notorious for dealing out fancy hands. The Europeans change little, if anything, from year to year. but the Big Four? WOW!

Read the rest of this entry »

This original test report from 1974 Cycle World tested the first monoshock YZ250b, it was a great bike then and you can see why…..

WE GET ASKED several times a month, through reader letters or at race tracks while testing, what we think is the best 250 motocrosser available today. Our answer has been, “It ain’t been built yet.” Oh sure, the 250 Elsinore is a bullet and it handles well, but trying to turn one is like trying to roller skate on ice.

The first Yamaha YZ was also fast, but it was too pipey, had zilch for tires, a toggle-switch rear brake, and wanted to high side a lot. The Montesa VR was a handling son of a gun, but try to name just three Montesa dealers in your area. Any three. How about two? One? The same goes for Bultaco and Ossa. Nice bikes, but what do you do when one breaks. And they will break, everything does sooner or later.

And what about Husky, Maico and CZ riders? Most of them would be on Japanese bikes if it weren’t for the fact that the only dealers in their counties are a couple of blocks away.

So you see, that elusive motocrosser, the one with the power, the handling, the right carburetion, non-mudding rims, cleated footpegs, gnarly knobbies and the rest of the proper paraphernalia, sitting complete at several dealers’ showrooms right near you just hasn’t been built yet. At least in 1974 it hadn’t been built. Read the rest of this entry »

A very nice 1974 Suzuki TM250 became available which is an active racer that has been well maintained and even has had a few bonus bits. The good thing about active race bikes is you know they can hit the track ok and most riders really look after their race bikes and fix any defects as they occur, a few scratches are normal and at least then  I am happy to add a few more  as well.

It is described as:

• There is a dent in the tank on the left side with some paint flaking off,
• Tank is rust free inside,
• Frame has been repainted, has a few race scratches and rub marks,
• Motor is bore to 1st over,
• New side panels,
• Renthal bars,
• New Renthal grips,
• Motion pro throttle,
• Akront rims,
• Good tyres,
• Works gripper seat,
• Works Shocks,
• New front fork tubes with cartridge emulators,
• Circle F pipe (just repacked)
• Just add fuel and race.
• ……

Well, that meant I had to buy it and I am currently arranging transport to Perth and for the tank to be repaired and repainted over the next month or so.

1974 Suzuki TM250

1974 Suzuki TM250

See the development of the Suzuki TM and RM 250 Models from 1967 over the years. Read the rest of this entry »

This 1975 Yamaha YZ250B bike has been sitting around in storage for a very long time, it is still on ORIGINAL BORE!

It was described to me as still having the original piston, original front tyre, original bars and levers, original throttle, original chain and sprockets. The rims are dent free, straight, and true and the bike runs and shifts perfectly…. wow!

It seemed an easy project and needs a little cosmetic work to freshen up its looks, eg replace some of the nuts, repaint engine casing and do a full mechanical check to prepare it for the race track so I bought it and added it to my “to do” list.

1975 YZ250B Tank

1975 YZ250B

1975 YZ250 Engine

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