Those old bikes. Man...I had a 1978 yz80 that I used to run ragged. That power band was one of the best experiences.
We had a huge concrete Ravine V shaped that ran just a bit under a mile in my neighborhood. Of course the police always tried to catch people riding. Go figure they never showed up this day when I could have used thier help. I think I was 13 at the time.
It had two main Vs running down into the main v for water run off from the roads in the area. Well it has way more run off spots than two but they were way smaller. But the two were really deep V's running perpendicular and you either had to ride a bit lower in the main V just off the water or remember them and watch out for them because they would eat half your front wheel and throw you off.
Once I was riding in almost dark and had the bike wound out. Flying through the V on my way home. I forgot about the big V near the end and my front tire went right in it and I went air born for about 35 foot through the air then slid for about 20 feet on the concrete. I landed on my elbow, side and rolled on the back of my shoulder. I was able to stop my head from slamming though. The bike slid further than i did after flipping.
Needless to say I was messed up bad.
The bikes handlebars were bent sideways and the shifter smashed in and the bike wasn't startable either. I could get it in neutral though.
I had to push that bike home for about two miles feeling like death
I had road burn on my entire hip area for about 16 inches and covered that whole side of my hip area. My elbow had a hole in it about one and a half inches in diameter and really deep that oddly over the decades there is barely a scar there today from it. And my shoulder on the back was rashed up to the point of running blood down my side and my elbow had dirt and small rocks in the hole.
That was close to the worst ER visit ever because they had to clean out the elbow hole. Eek.
I think the elbow hole hit a rock on the concrete. How else could it be a round hole and not just broken skin. It could have been my elbow smashing through the skin and it hurt that badly but it was a bit an inch up from my elbow bone. It probably was the elbow from the impact. I just tried to move that scar to my elbow and it goes all the way. So it must have been my elbow bone that caused it.
I never road fast in the V again.
Soon got an RM 125 in like 88 and I believe that bike was the first year they water cooled them. It was used but the upgrade in power was great at a young age and I was light. Like 130 lbs.
When I was about 41 I moved to Florida and just kept buying bikes and 4 wheelers. I had the Rm450 Rickey Carmichael edition and a yz 125 that some guy gave me when I purchased a 4 wheeler from him. I was blown away. He said they just changed the heads and couldn't get it to start. I tried for about 100 kicks and finally decided to try after unhooking the exhause from the motor and pulling the air box filter off and it started right up. That bike was worth more than the 4 wheeler we bought after that and all it had was a vapor lock.
Also had the 2008 kfx 450 and the 20007 kfx700.
Good times. Then I moved out of Florida and left them all to my brother and his kids. I really got them for his kids because we lived on a dirt road that went back to unreal miles and miles of trails where everyone was free to ride on with no threat of police being called or caring. Much different state Florida was. At least Malabar Florida.
Your bike In that photo Appears to be one that has arear monoshock. I thought the monoshock came out in 82 or 83.
But I could certainly be wrong about that. By 78 had the two rear shocks. It never did well landing a huge jump like those full floater mono shocks once they came out.
Looks like you were having a blast though.
I'm 53 so not far behind you.
I did street bikes(GSXR750) for a while until my vision went and now I just can't do it anymore. I don't trust my own judgment on a street bike because people will run you right off the road while looking at you. Oddly it's happened to me a few times and I thwarted a huge accident. I don't believe I have the sight or reflexes anymore.
Apologies for the book. Lol
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