Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Do any of you race in a decade class? Does it allow all years from 1980-1989 or just the years that don't qualify for Evo?

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

Here in Southern California SVRG (http://www.svrg.com) runs a Decade class along with the usual vintage and post-vintage ones. I am rebuilding a 1987 CR250R to run it the class later this year (money, time...usual excuses). The Honda weapon of choice would probably be a 1993 CR250R that McGrath fell in love with. There are many good reasons to promote this class to bring in the 30+ rider who wants to ride the bikes of his generation, and they are going to be easier to look after as parts etc. get more difficult to obtain for the late 70s and early 80s bikes.

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

Michael,

So do they race 1980-89 bikes by displacement/age and then 1990-99 bikes the same way?

The reason I ask is because I have had chances recently to buy late 80's bikes that are in great shape, but they are kinda waiting to be the new Evo bikes. I don't want to spend the money if they don't have a future and besides I don't have an emotional/historical tie to these years.

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

The class is divided by ability - novice, intermediate, and expert. But not by engine size. Historically the club has introduced further divisions as and when necessary. However you'd have to be a bit of a nut to race a late 80s CR500R anywhere other than the desert...right?

In my humble opinion (IMHO) you should buy a "historic" bike because you do have an emotional attachment. Unless you are lucky to pick up something really old but cheap and in good condition, the economics are all upside down so that has to be offset by some other "soft" value. I am confident my CR250R project has consumed more time and money than buying a 1 or 2 year-old modern bike. But then there's the cool factor of practicing at Elsinore and no one's old enough to even remember twin shocks, the camaraderie at the club, on these boards etc. I think the sweet spot demographic here is the 40+ guy who wants to re-live his youth, but not kill himself physically or financially. For the Decade class that means we should see an up-tick in interest in the next couple of years...

I also think there is an un-tapped market for guys with responsibilities who want to race but not end up in the hospital from tackling today's new school SX tracks, but that's for another thread!

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