Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Which Evo-MX brand has the best parts availability?

I've heard that Yamaha still has many parts available at it's dealerships.

How are the European brands?


J

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#829 The "Factory Novice"

1988 Honda CR250RJ
1983 Honda CR480
1981 Can-Am 250 MX6-B
1979 Honda CR250RZ
1979 Kawasaki KX250 A5
1978 Husky 250CR
1978 Honda CR250R
1977 Yamaha YZ400D
1977 Suzuki RM125B

Only have experience with Hondas and Yamahas of the 1979-1981 era. Both brands have "can't get" parts mainly plastic and rubber. For the most part vintage-specific vendors have stepped in to fill in the gap (thank you Red Racer et al.) Been pleasantly surprised at what you can still get via the dealer network and people like Western Hills Honda and Speed & Sport who seem to keep or buy up old parts stock. There are many more bikes and parts on eBay for Honda than Yamaha...but in balance you need less after-market parts (forks, shocks, swing arms etc.) to make the Yamaha work than the Honda.

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

Red,

I have found that out the hard way! I have spent more for aftermarket suspension than I did for my restored to stock CR125. Well, we live and we learn.

J

_________________
#829 The "Factory Novice"

1988 Honda CR250RJ
1983 Honda CR480
1981 Can-Am 250 MX6-B
1979 Honda CR250RZ
1979 Kawasaki KX250 A5
1978 Husky 250CR
1978 Honda CR250R
1977 Yamaha YZ400D
1977 Suzuki RM125B

I've found KTM pretty good. Most stuff available (except plastics). Found the same with Honda.

There does seem to be a black hole between 1980 where the vintage replica stuff stops and 85-ish where 'current' stuff starts.

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Si

I'm amazed that KTM still has Vintage/Evo parts. Is that at local dealers or resto sites on the web? I've always wanted an 83 KTM 250.

J

_________________
#829 The "Factory Novice"

1988 Honda CR250RJ
1983 Honda CR480
1981 Can-Am 250 MX6-B
1979 Honda CR250RZ
1979 Kawasaki KX250 A5
1978 Husky 250CR
1978 Honda CR250R
1977 Yamaha YZ400D
1977 Suzuki RM125B

I've managed to get everything I need for an 84 KTM 495 rebuild (last of the air-cooled).

Some parts had to come from Austria, most was off the shelf from Jim Aims Motorcycles in the UK (he'll ship internationally).

If you need a number let me know.