Best Mini Ever?

Old GA Racer
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Old GA Racer
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 12:17pm
What do some of you old schoolers think was the best mini bike made? I always rode a YZ 80 but i know the 1984 KX 80 was well ahead in the power department. Seems like the 83-85 models were really fast. i always like the way the YZ's rode though. That's what i grew up on though.
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The Sneak
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The Sneak 9/2/2009 1:40pm
9/2/2009 1:40pm
I too rode YZ80s, albeit 87 and 89 models.

I'm going with the 1986+ CR80 as probably the most significant modern one since it's engine is very very similar to the one found in the CR85 and was MUCH faster than pretty much everything else stock for stock.

Another contender is the 1993 YZ80. Instead of a kids bike, it was like a shrunken full size bike. Again, the YZ85 is really just an evolution of this model.

The 86 RM80 sort of, but especially the power valved 92 RM80 were the foundation for current RM85s.

The 82 YZ80 for watercooling a year before everyone else.

The 83-85, 88-90, and 91+ KX80 for popularity across all skill levels and team green being such a force

As for older bikes, the XR75 and orig YZ80 gotta be mentioned.
Dropbear
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Dropbear 9/2/2009 1:49pm
9/2/2009 1:49pm
The bike that I remember the most was the intro of the '78 YZ80E.

The first monoshock. And in Australia they were white and looked so works.
Pat327
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Pat327 9/2/2009 2:13pm
9/2/2009 2:13pm Edited Date/Time 9/2/2009 2:15pm
Kawasaki KX60. It was unchanged for the longest time, but that's because it was perfect. I had a '99 with Works Performance suspension and R&D exhaust. Most confidence inspiring bike I've ever had.


I Photoshopped a replica of mine a while back. Wish I still had it.

krazee1
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krazee1 9/2/2009 8:48pm
9/2/2009 8:48pm
When the 1983 KX80 came out, it was so much better than anything else it was like cheating.

The Shop

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Tbteam
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Tbteam 9/3/2009 9:10am
9/3/2009 9:10am
I carried a brochure for a 1974 XR75 around in my notebook at school until it was so worn you couldn't read it anymore. Finally, my parents helped me buy one. Best day of my childhood.
2
BobbyM
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BobbyM 9/4/2009 10:10am
9/4/2009 10:10am
per competition this was waaay better than the xr75 mark....but for a standalone the xr was the shit.

newmann
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newmann 9/4/2009 10:25am
9/4/2009 10:25am
When Wardy figured out the XR75 just wasn't enough.





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FlashptA10
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FlashptA10 9/5/2009 5:28am
9/5/2009 5:28am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:59am
I agree with the Wardy mini elsinore. It was one of the first super trick and super fast small version of a true motocrosser. I would love to find a wardy mini racer with the sleeved down 125 motor. I am currently looking for a elsinor 100 motor or cylinder kit to build a 100 racer for a new class. I have a mini elsinore MR50 1974. Here is a pic of my 125 DG racer & mini elsinore
.DG racer2

DG racer1
MR 50i

Kevin Politte
bd
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bd 9/5/2009 1:29pm
9/5/2009 1:29pm
1984 KX 80


My 1984 CR 60 was a rocket. It would smoke my buddies 1982 RM 80
Gunsdad
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Gunsdad 10/28/2009 5:22pm
10/28/2009 5:22pm
I have 2.....83 KX 60..totally dethroned Yamaha's strangle-hold on the 60 class and changed the class forever. 83 KX 80..was legal cheating, many kids switched to green mid-season, that mini had a sound all its own.
soren346
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soren346 10/30/2009 6:47am
10/30/2009 6:47am
I had a 1985 KX80 and '87 KX80. The '85 was faster than the '87 stock, but the '87 was a better bike. Had friends that had new '87 CR80, and RM80 and the CR was about the same as my '87 with a pipe. The RM was slower, but it had a good feel to it, I liked it. Oh, another friend bought a new '85 or '86 YZ80... I hated that bike, it was slow, my '85 felt like a 125 compared to it. Come to think of it my '88KX125 felt slower than my 80's....
mr50racer
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mr50racer 10/30/2009 8:15am
10/30/2009 8:15am
1983 KX 80... I remember when we first tested them and it was like holy shiet!!1 That thing was so much better than anything else that year........
peeps sr
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peeps sr 10/30/2009 9:58am
10/30/2009 9:58am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 6:41pm
While it may not be the best in terms of, well, anything really, it certainly was the one that started the "mini" class boon of the 1970's...

1
Suzuki School Grad 10/30/2009 10:01am
10/30/2009 10:01am
mr50racer wrote:
1983 KX 80... I remember when we first tested them and it was like holy shiet!!1 That thing was so much better than anything else that...
1983 KX 80... I remember when we first tested them and it was like holy shiet!!1 That thing was so much better than anything else that year........
Did you run those at Ponca in 82 as pre-production bikes?
mr50racer
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mr50racer 10/30/2009 12:47pm
10/30/2009 12:47pm
mr50racer wrote:
1983 KX 80... I remember when we first tested them and it was like holy shiet!!1 That thing was so much better than anything else that...
1983 KX 80... I remember when we first tested them and it was like holy shiet!!1 That thing was so much better than anything else that year........
Suzuki School Grad wrote:
Did you run those at Ponca in 82 as pre-production bikes?
I didn't trace that year. I sat out from a crash involving Bruce Bunch running over my abdomen(ruptured pancreas) in one of the qualifiers. I rode them a few months ealier. Turpin and Harrington and those guys rode them though..
Suzuki School Grad 10/30/2009 1:19pm
10/30/2009 1:19pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 6:42pm
I remember you from NMA racing during the early 80's, I was on 125's int&pro but a lot of my friends were in the 80 expert class with you. If I remember correctly you went from Team Green to Honda then to R&D. I thought you had the #1 NMA plate at one time too, 84 or 85?
300zx
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300zx 10/30/2009 1:24pm
10/30/2009 1:24pm
peeps sr wrote:
While it may not be the best in terms of, well, anything really, it certainly was the one that started the "mini" class boon of the...
While it may not be the best in terms of, well, anything really, it certainly was the one that started the "mini" class boon of the 1970's...

Good call on the Mini Enduro. Just picked up my 1972 JT2 the other week.

Pit Row

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loftyair
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loftyair 10/30/2009 3:39pm
10/30/2009 3:39pm
1983 kx80. Remember it well, got an '84. Watched Willie Surratt kill it a Indian Dunes. He was quite the big boy, but that kx had the motor and suspension, plus disc brake.
Gunsdad
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Gunsdad 11/1/2009 6:08pm
11/1/2009 6:08pm
Yes, they ran the 83 KX 80 in the mod class at ponca in 82....I think Paul Denis beat the shit outta everyone. That bike was IT in the mini class in 83. But of all people to show up at Ponca in 83 and whip the planet????? Mike Healey.....on a weak little CR 80. Says alot for his skills on the track, but off the track, well..............................
Bobbles
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Bobbles 11/1/2009 6:27pm
11/1/2009 6:27pm
1986.... Ezra Lusk had a $7,000 DMC KX 60. I remember him jumping the infield tabletop at Loretta Lynn's. It was insane.

Aside from that, the 1985 kx 60 was the first water cooled 60 ever. As someone else mentioned, they didn't change much on the bike for years.
CR500Rider
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CR500Rider 11/2/2009 6:48am
11/2/2009 6:48am
BobbyM wrote:
per competition this was waaay better than the xr75 mark....but for a standalone the xr was the shit. [img]https://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/yz80.jpg[/img]
per competition this was waaay better than the xr75 mark....but for a standalone the xr was the shit.

I've got one of those in my garage!
nmachamp
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nmachamp 1/29/2010 2:38pm
1/29/2010 2:38pm
1983 KX 80, Pre production bike i raced at Ponca City in 82.. was as fast as my DMC 105. With way better handling. and it was much lighter.. I made the decision to race the Pre Pro in the 105 class . but ended up costly,, while leading by a mile on sunday, the front hub broke.. Costing me the sweep!!! ( bad move)
Wandell
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Wandell 1/29/2010 2:59pm
1/29/2010 2:59pm
I was on 125's then, but I remember the 83 KX80 was hot when it came out!
AZ35
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AZ35 1/29/2010 6:19pm
1/29/2010 6:19pm
I went from an 82 KX80 to the 83 KX80. I will never forgot that first ride, it was just so far advanced in every category. In 2 months I went from a so-so Novice to winning regularly and then doing well in the Int class. But I got too tall so I talked Mom into getting me a 84 KX125 (which was so far advanced from the 83 KX125 it was another amazing feat by Kawasaki).
I always thought it was kind of odd that Kawasaki would speed the development of the 80 class minicycle a year before they did the same to the 125. Then they did the same with the 250- the 85 KX250 (which I also owned) was way ahead of the 84 version.
Seems like they would have done the bigger bikes first, and then the smaller bikes in subsequent years. But it worked out great for me as I got to grow up racing some of the most innovative bikes of that era!
Back then, you pretty much had to get new bikes every year or you could not be competitive because they advanced so much every year from the late 70's to mid 80's. Now a couple year old bike really is not much different (always love the "Bold new graphics").
HORNETDRIVER 2/16/2010 10:32am
2/16/2010 10:32am
Hands down, the 1976 Yamaha YZ-80C.

Laid down rear suspension...

Nice motor...

You had to heavily modify an XR-75 to keep up with a stock YZ-80C.

It was a true game-changer.

JMHO.
1
89'cr dude
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89'cr dude 2/16/2010 1:17pm
2/16/2010 1:17pm
definitly the 87 cr80r, my friend has one, and it was every bit as fast as my 01 cr80r. when you ride the 87 cr80 it gives you the feel of a bmx bike almost, but the thing is an outright rocket, and has way better power then the new 80's. its actually pretty funny, because the motor to the 87 cr80 is almost identical to the 07 cr85, besides the displacement. there is only one downside to the 87, the rear brake, or lack there of.
mr50racer
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mr50racer 8/23/2010 12:19pm
8/23/2010 12:19pm
Robert_Yorba wrote:
suzuki jr. 50cc BOBBY YORBA WON PANCA CITY GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Hey you and Charley need to hang out........Go over some old racing stories sipping mommy's special hot chocalate.

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