Random 1980s racing pictures

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

couple more race pics

One of the massive bowl turns at Saddleback, you barely even had to slow down for them.



250Rs in anger





"Hey George give us a big smile for the camera!"



For the first time in 31 years the Rotax is a complete bike again.





So that is the first step, now i gotta save up some $$$ and then run down parts to freshen up the engine (piston, new clutch fibers and springs, etc) and figure out who i want to have do the work but that will be later next year before i worry about it.

Rear shock turned out fantastic and i cant thank Milner enough for all his help and input getting it sorted out, it really was a challenge running down the parts and there is next to no information about these early 80s Ohlins. Most shock builders did not even return my calls when i would ask about getting it worked on.

[Jmoozy27]

couple more race pics

One of the massive bowl turns at Saddleback, you barely even had to slow down for them.



250Rs in anger





"Hey George give us a big smile for the camera!"



For the first time in 31 years the Rotax is a complete bike again.





So that is the first step, now i gotta save up some $$$ and then run down parts to freshen up the engine (piston, new clutch fibers and springs, etc) and figure out who i want to have do the work but that will be later next year before i worry about it.

Rear shock turned out fantastic and i cant thank Milner enough for all his help and input getting it sorted out, it really was a challenge running down the parts and there is next to no information about these early 80s Ohlins. Most shock builders did not even return my calls when i would ask about getting it worked on.

That's pretty trick in awesome John. That's truly one of a kind. Whether the motor is redone or locked up that baby is still priceless. It just makes you wonder what the trike racing world would be like if thing wouldn't have turned towards the dark side.

OF1 is a professional in a aspects and does sweet work. I was not surprised when I heard he was handling your shock.

Inner Circle Suspension gets the job done...

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

@Jmoozy27 - Oh there is nothing seriously wrong with the motor, it would likely start right up if i added gas. It just has a few things i want sorted out and gone through so i know its perfect. It did have about a half dozen serious race weekends, 20 lap mains plus all the heats and practice and such, and i do not have a compression gauge or a pressure tester and the cost of buying those i would rather just put towards having the engine rebuilt by a pro.

[onformula1]

Man, that thing has to be worth 50K+ on EBAY or a big auction house with the right advertising.

I love it, I want it!

[onformula1]

John, how did this thing run? Remember the year? 1984? How did it handle?

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

The KTM 125 was awesome and i got to race it in the 200 class at a couple local TT and flat track races and it could easily keep up with and beat fast pros riding 200x's. The trouble was i had a serious growth spurt while it was being built, when we ordered it i was around 5'8 and 160 pounds but when we got it i was closer to 6'1 and 200 pounds so far from a ideal 125 class pilot.

It was a little jewel of a machine and i would loved to have kept it, but it was not really up to me what we sold and what we held on to and it was sold to some extremely lucky amateur rider and i never heard of it again.

[onformula1]

The KTM 125 was awesome and i got to race it in the 200 class at a couple local TT and flat track races and it could easily keep up with and beat fast pros riding 200x's. The trouble was i had a serious growth spurt while it was being built, when we ordered it i was around 5'8 and 160 pounds but when we got it i was closer to 6'1 and 200 pounds so far from a ideal 125 class pilot.

It was a little jewel of a machine and i would loved to have kept it, but it was not really up to me what we sold and what we held on to and it was sold to some extremely lucky amateur rider and i never heard of it again.

Do you have any other pictures?, I would like to see the other side.

[onformula1]

I am trying to figure out the forks on that KTM125, they look like flipped 1983-84 250r forks, but how did franks hook up the disc brake?

[OZQUAD44]

John, this is just a top thread mate. I love the 250r rider complete with factory riding apparel such as the light weight racing jeans, and "hondaline" steel cap safety boots. Ha ha, Different times that's for sure. All about racing and making the most of life. A lot less about which nut bag is planning to end the lifes of others, which unfortunately takes up our thoughts in this day and age.

It's so So refreshing to see this stuff coming out after thirty years of living only in memories. It all just motivates me even more to get my Tecate going, and get out there and "back it in" like in the old days. Perhaps even Show my kids there is more life than "minecraft, and extremism" Well done John, your a legend.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

@onformula1 - The only two photos i have the KTM 125 i posted and that is the only one that clearly shows the bike, sadly. I am not sure it ever had a front brake installed on it before we sold it (bah brakes, they only slow you down).

@OZQUAD44 - Its been a lot of fun getting to share the photos and stories with you guys and while i agree kids get way to much video gaming in these days it is hard to argue with the notion of a free to play game that they will play for hundreds of hours vs buying them a $5000.00 bike they might only ride a few times, like my poor KTM 125.

[Jmoozy27]

I am trying to figure out the forks on that KTM125, they look like flipped 1983-84 250r forks, but how did franks hook up the disc brake?

It look like a 1st gen swinger, 2nd gen forks. Flipped? 2 right side bottoms with the caliper on the left for whatever reason? It's a mystery.

[onformula1]

It look like a 1st gen swinger, 2nd gen forks. Flipped? 2 right side bottoms with the caliper on the left for whatever reason? It's a mystery.

Yes, I see a brake line and the angle looks like it is on the front of the forks, the right side fork is flipped, you can see the pad that normally goes to the inside.

Nothing shocks me when it comes to Kelvin, he was way a head of his time.

The front hub is interesting, steel 3-bolt, with a rotor mount? First gen 250r?

The front tire looks small, I am thinking Honda Odyssey replacement?

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

Here is some weird front brake for you, sweet cable routing and the smallest brake disk known to man.



I like the sticker over the mouth guard, maybe the glue fumes helped George not notice that front brake hack job.

Sure fire cure for the bad front brake is no front brake at all. The sticker on my pull starter is good for at least two horsepower and only tryhards bother grounding both sides of their coil



Jeans crawled up the butt was a fashion back then i guess.

[onformula1]

Your pics are so cool, Thanks!

The rotor & caliper looks exactly like a Grimeca to me.

Popular in Europe, also used on ATK counter shaft sprockets as a rear brake. (They came off Trials bikes, mostly)

More proof that Kelvin was well versed in international components.

[3WW Star-John_Neary]

nah those brakes are our own creation, we did not start working with Kelvin in till later that year and his stuff was never that far off the mark :P