Classic Steel

For this edition of Classic Ink, we are going to take a look back at an ad for Kawasaki’s high-flying 1993 KX250.  In 1993, Jeff “Chicken” Matiasevich flew the coup to Suzuki but left Kawasaki with one of the most…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going to take a look back at Honda’s first water-cooled Open bike, the mighty 1985 CR500R.  For 1985, Honda beefed up their already potent Open class package with an all-new motor, redesigned…

If it was good enough for the Hurricane you can bet it was good enough for me.  If you follow my writing or videos then you know I was not a minibike kid. My parents hated motorcycles and refused to…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going to take a look back at what the major magazines thought of the 250 class of 1986.  The 250 class of 1986 was a very diverse group comprised of Old World…

Over the fifty odd years of motocross in America there have been a handful of truly iconic images that have been permanently burned into the tapestry of the sport. Bob Hannah launching out of Gravity Cavity in 1979, Keith McCarty…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going to take a look back at Honda’s first liquid-cooled mini racer, the all-new 1983 CR80R.  All-new for 1983, Honda’s CR80R featured works bike styling to go with fairly modest performance. Photo…

Of all the brands Matthes and I have done these top-ten lists for, Husqvarna is by far the most unique. Originally the product of a Swedish arms manufacturer, Husqvarna enjoys one of the most colorful and interesting histories in the…

The nineties were a great time for motocross and a great time for motocross advertising. The magazines were still king and multi-page ads were the norm, not the exception. With colorful bikes in the showrooms and huge personalities on the…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going to take a look back at KTM’s all-new 250 Motocross for 1987.  In the 1980s, KTM was still struggling for acceptance in America. For US riders, their often-innovative designs were held…

Today, America is one of the preeminent powers in the sport of motocross. Our riders are respected for their skill and revered for their aggression. Indoors or out, America is always a threat for the win. That, however, was not…

The gear business can be a tough nut to crack. Over the years, there have been countless companies that have tried to make it the cutthroat world of casual apparel and kidney belts. For every Fox Racing, there are a…

As we celebrate O’Neal’s fiftieth year in motocross, Matthes, Doug Dubach and I are back with another look at the gear that has made O’Neal a staple of tracks around the country over the last five decades. For this installment,…