Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Which class (40+, Vintage, Evo, 125,250, Open, etc..) in your area has the most riders?

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

40+ open novice.

In AHRMA Mid-Atlantic region there are two classes that are packed. Sportsman 250 Intermediate and Gran Prix Open Intermediate. We don't run the Gran Prix 250 class in our region so the 250cc bikes run with the Open bikes, with the majority of the bikes in this class being 250cc.

The predominant demographic here is a 40+ guy riding the bike of his youth which is a late 70s early 80s EVO or GP machine. Then if one wants to ride open age classes it makes sense to pick a larger displacement bike so we see relatively more Maico 490s, YZ465s and Honda CR480Rs. I would expect these are considered more easy to maintain too.

As an aside we see a very good turnout in the Modern Support classes. I sense these are older children of the 40+ guys who want to race with Dad, riders who have modern bikes too, or "one-off" novice entrants who want to have a race but not kill themselves on the local "supercross" track. Whatever it looks like a good way to get a bigger turnout.

We also run a Decade class that is OK supported at moment but logically will be the 40+/EVO class of the future...

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

Michael,

Do all the associations have Modern Support and Decade classes?

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

No. AHRMA races do not allow riders under 16 - we have classes for juniors on modern and historic bikes - and they cut off at their Ultima class which I believe is around 1984 depending on model. Other "independent" clubs run modern support classes. Also there are 40+ only clubs that allow historic bikes to run against modern, but artificially adjust the skill level of the rider to compensate.

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