Classic Steel

“Maxxis Tires” – Classic Steel “Print Verdict on the 250 Class of 1986”

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Comments (3)
  1. You are the best Tony! Thank you for these great articles and Podcasts. Memory lane has never been so good. I had an ’86 CR125 (first new bike I ever bought with my own money) and my closest friend had an ’87 CR250. We raced and rode together all the time. We were the ‘coolest guys on the block’. I still ride some of those trails with my kids today and dream that I am as fast as I think I was back then.

  2. This was simply a awesome article for what I feel was the best ever season in motocross history. 1986 was the GOLDEN AGE of motocross for us old guys. Kawasaki had Lechien and Ward, Suzuki had Omara and Hannah, Honda had Bailey, Johnson and Dymond and Yamaha had Glover. Of course the support program had every mini cycle hero of 1984 – 1985 moving up to the big bikes.

    On September 1985, my buddy’s dad was good friends with a off road Honda big-wig (Dave Arnold). Dave allowed us to buy left over brand new 1985 CR 250’s for $1500 bucks or new 1986 CR 250’s for $1700 bucks; Honda’s cost. Both bike looked identical except for the gold rims. I bought the 85 bike because I hated gold rims and I cared more about looks than performance. My. Buddy bought the 86 version. My buddy and I raced the Dodge Dakota Series in Southern California. We raced Ascot Park Friday night, De Anza Park Saturday’s and Perris Raceway on Sunday’s in the Novice Class.

    De Anza and Ascot Park are both closed down and I’m told Perris is still going strong. Anyway, my buddy stored his 86 bike in my garage and he let me ride it whenever I wanted to, as he became a drummer in a band. I can say those forks and engine on the 86 were light years ahead of my 85 bike. I just hated those gold rims and couldn’t get over them. The 87 bike came out and looked just like the 86 bike, gold rims and all. I rode my 85 bike until 1988 were I was allowed to buy a use 1988, albeit one ride (almost new) Honda Cr250 test bike for $2200 bucks ; and No gold rims. What’s funny, I now love those gold rims.

    1986 was a great year for Motocross. Just watch Anaheim 1 with Bailey and Johnson going toe to toe. Yes we lost works bikes this year. But we could buy new bikes without going into debt and we had so many riding areas in Southern California that are all lost to condominiums and strip malls. Without doubt, 1982 – 1989 was simply the Golden Age of motocross.

  3. In France, the 3 biggest dirt magazines tried the maico in the comparison of 250 cross 86 , and also the 250 enduro . Nothing comparable with your review engine question!!!!! It must be believed that we had a 250 MAICO still fresh …or well set! Yet when comparing the 250 cross by “MOTO-REVUE” several of the testers were drivers’ inters “are pros who competed in the French championship and the GP 250: Even they recognized that the Maico with a USD fork like the ktm could have won the comparison!!!!! Do not forget that this brand new valve engine, was built in collaboration with Marc velkeneers …who had -it is the legend that says – carried with him the plans of the GILERA 250 HX engine of GP 84.

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