Classic Steel

For this edition of Classic Ink, we are going to take a look back at Tuf Racing’s crazy colorful lineup for 1991.  In the late eighties, Illinois’ Tuf Racing was one of the major privateer efforts in motocross. Supporting riders…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going to take a look back at Kawasaki’s all-new KX250 for 1987. All-new from the ground up, Kawasaki pulled out (nearly) all the stops to capture motocross dominance in 1987. Photo Credit:…

Today, Suzuki’s motocross program is a mere shadow of its former glory. Once the owners of ten straight 125 World Motocross Titles in the seventies and early eighties, the manufacturer from Hamamatsu has morphed into the purveyor of discounted bikes…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going to take a look back at the shootout rankings for the 125 class of 1986.  People love shootouts and in 1986 we had four of them to narrow down the best…

Today, the full-face helmet is all but universal in the off-road racing world. Everyone from kids on minis to World Champions on 450s run these fully enclosed brain buckets. For most riders, the mere thought of going out on the…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going to take a look back at Suzuki’s all-new RM125 for 2001.  Suzuki’s 125 National Motocross title-winning 125 sported a whole new look for 2001. Photo credit: Suzuki  The late 1990s were…

Love it, or loath it, the internet has irrevocably changed the world we live in. Today, information moves at light speed and people prize convenience over all else. Brick and mortar stores and all forms of print media have taken…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going take a look back at one of the best Kawasakis of the eighties, the all-new for 1984 KX125.  In 1984, Kawasaki released by far the most competitive full-size motocross machine ever…

The story of Donnie “Holeshot” Hansen is one of the great “what ifs” of motocross. A fast kid from Simi Valley, California, Donnie started his pro career as a member of the Kolbe Can-Am team in the late seventies. At…

For this edition of Classic Steel, we are going to take a look back at Kawasaki’s ripping super-mini for 1996, the KX100.  In 1995, Kawasaki bumped up the displacement on their KX80 Big Wheel and made life easier on every…

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…