Post Vintage ... your opinions

[Charles Gresham]

Ok, now that I have my vintage class 1974 250 Penton project well underway, I need a post vintage ride for AMA/VMD and AHRMA class competition. Due to cutoff of years between sanctioning bodies at this time, its looks that it needs to be a 75' 76' or 77' model. My intent is to be able to run as many classes as possible. I will be eligible for the 40+ open as of this summer.[)] Humm .. anyway, if you were in my shoes what bike would you like to have ?

1974 Penton 250 Hare Scrambler
1973 Honda CL 100
1983 Honda XL 185
1993 Yamaha RT 180

[brian kirby]

If you want a '75-'77 AHRMA Historic class bike look for an MC5 Penton, a 250 is easier to ride especially in the woods, but the 400s are nice too.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[rob w]

Charles, You know sometimes like Ahrma Natls. - VMX and PVMX are run on different days. So you need to stay the whole weekend. Which is great, if you can afford the time on the road. Just something to consider when you run both.
BobW

[kds449]

The 1977 250 Penton is a awesome bike. Raced one in the ahrma nationals. I recommended this bike highly.

[Lloyd Boland]

I have a late '76 250 MC5.  You also have to consider your size when running the age class.  I am 235lbs and in the PVMX age class you will be running against 400's and bikes in the early 1980's.  I love riding my MC5 but at 235lbs and on a 250, it is difficult, never a hole shot but a lot of fun working my way through the pack.

[tomale]

I really enjoy racing my 250 MC5 but like you I am a bit on the large side...Still, the 250 is plenty fast enough. But of all of the KTM's that I have raced, the 78 400 was a really great bike. If I was to buy another open class KTM, I would go after a the 420 of maybe the 495. As important as picking the right bike is making sure that you set up the bike for you... Most guys do not take nearly enough time to do that... The wrong shocks and springs can turn a great bike into poor bike or transform a bike when set up right, As me how I know!

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)74'
250 hare scrambler (project bike)

[Charles Gresham]

I am about 170 lbs now, so the 250 is way plenty of power!  I figured the 250cc was the most versitle size... I usually am many miles from home so when I go race I want to be able to get as much in as possible  ..  I have a 74 Penton 250 so I was looking for something a little different that is still competitive in the post vintage category.. I appreciate everyone's input ! I am now trying to figure out how to fit a drum brake to the front of my 1993 RT 180 so I can run it in post modern hare scrambles.. any ideas on changing the front setup? What would parts would work?(gotta delete the disc brakes for racing)

1974 Penton 250 Hare Scrambler
1973 Honda CL 100
1983 Honda XL 185
1993 Yamaha RT 180

[Mike Lenz]

If you dont want to go with another Penton the other really good Ahrma historic class bikes are the 77 AW Maico or a 77 RM. Along with the MC-5 these three bikes won the vast majority of races back then and are the cream of the crop for that era. I think the Penton is the winner due to the fact it had the handling as good as the Maico(although a bit different) and it had reliability that even exceeded the RM, both in one package. The Jap bikes didnt quite fully arrive in the handling department until the late 70's, or maybe even until the single shockers, but the RM's were close.

[VICTOR MONZ]

I ride a 72 Six Day in the Vintage and a 1980 RM 125 in the Post Vintage....at times I have had to ride the Six Day in the Post Vintage and short of getting beat up a little, it did the job.

Just my 2 cents in the small bore arena.

Victor

[Tim McKinney]

In response to Mike's take on the best bikes from 77, don't sell the YZ 250/400D Yamaha's short, that is the bike that Hannah won 12 AMA pro races on a production machine and all the tests from that era raved about how good they were if you could get used to the mono's tendency to hop in the back if you let off the throttle when hitting any braking bumps at the bottom of a hill or jump. I have a 400 with race tech forks and Work's Performance mono and it rock's!!. Fast, great power spread and deadly reliable, heck can even still buy piston's for them. Now if I could just come up with the 74-74.5 Mint 400, I'd be set.

OLD BIKES RULE!!!

[Tim McKinney]

[[/IMG]

OLD BIKES RULE!!!

[Tim McKinney]

A couple of pic's  


OLD BIKES RULE!!!

[Britt Boyette]

This was a good one too! This is my beater racing bike.



Britt Boyette
1976 125 MC5
1975 250 HS

[Charles Gresham]

Nice bikes guys! Hey I think Chicago Jerry has a Mint 400 for sale..  Heck I really want a sweet 125.....

1974 Penton 250 Hare Scrambler
1973 Honda CL 100
1983 Honda XL 185
1993 Yamaha RT 180

[joe novak]

I have an all original 1981 Suzuki RM 125 X.  It was the first year for the single shock "FULL FLOATER", water cooled model.  I am the original owner, and raced it for one full season of MX.  The following year, I raced it about one month until I broke my leg in several places.  I raced either two classes (125 and "lightweight") each event, or the "pro class".