Showed my grandad this, said it reminds him of when he was younger he bought a yz490 two wheel drive bike and said I was the absolute wildest and most fun thing he's ever ridden 😂❤
@Yngrr024 They appear very similar, but I think the first one I saw, was in Dirt Bike magazine and produced in California. The one I got to ride briefly (during a manufacturer demo to the British army) suffered from front chain jumping the sprocket, but technology has improved.
Great video! I would love to see a part 2 where you put proper tires on it, put it in the hands of a rider that specializes in enduro, take it out to some real enduro trails, and then hear what they have to say about it
I owned and raced one in rally moto and the 2020 Mint 400 state-side, as you can see in my profile picture. Never had any issues with legality in those racing disciplines. I loved racing it when I was still racing up till 2 years ago. It never got stuck or left me stranded.
I found that riding in muddy conditions is about the best balance training you can get. You would find yourself going much faster on hard pack than previously.
Great video Max! Always fun to see one of the old bikes still out there in action! Hit me up and I can help you out with any parts you need to freshen up your bike!
Another bike straight out of left field. I had seen the Yam reviewed back in the day but I hadn’t heard of Christini. It would be great to see an Enduro rider review the bike. Great vlog as always Max!!!❤
I still have my Christini, with a CR500. It could pull though anything, very fun bike. I took it apart a few years ago to make some changes, never finished it.
wesome - what a great great video ( and Sean's reaction when you got the bike is priceless ) what I would do to try that bike in North Minnesota where we very from 6 - 50 inches of snow during our winter months !!! You look like you are having a blast 999 , and who can blame you LOL - thank you for all you and your team do for us 😁
I had a 14’ . Gasgas 300 powered one with a rekluse auto clutch in it. Thing was crazy. Forks on it were Marzocchi on it. Have a short vid of it here on RUclips. Pretty sweet bikes!
Cool video Max. I have sketches in a picture frame on my office wall drawn by my grandfather dated 1929 of a radial engined two wheel drive motorcycle. So the idea dates back even further! Shame I can’t upload it in the comments section.
Another great episode and as soon as you said Billy Bolt l thought Carson Brown and Billy Bolt timed shoot out that would be fantastic you have to try and make it happen thanks again Max great content.
It’s geared a little slow. But that sucker would take you anywhere you want to go! I’d like to see a Yamaha banshee engine in a bike build! Much respect!
What about 2 cylinder 260cc 2 stroke paramotor conversion into a motocross bike? I can't remember what the claimed HP output was, but it was something ridiculous and it's so light weight because it's literally a backpack!
I think they perform so different in corners that years of training on a traditional bike will mean you get slower in the corner. Like, you can't givve it power to slide the rear end around or lift the front wheel. Power is gonna hit that front wheel and probably whip you so quick and sharply that you highside the bike.
i seen a system fitted to a honda years back had a leading link suspension on the front and used chains to drive it looked bizzar,thats well clever that design very good. top vid max
Yep, an Aussie guy in the late 80s did home build 2wd on a CR500. Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine did a test on it in the early 90s. ruclips.net/video/yEHypmEYOBI/видео.html&ab_channel=SamXuereb
Cool purchase Max, loads of content opportunities making it a good bike. I think the jetting would be way off coming from the heat in South Africa so fattening up the pilot, main and maybe even the accelerator pump jet would be a big improvement. Also putting it on a major diet and getting that weight down would help a ton. Keep up the great work mate.
I love quirky bikes. And this sure fits the bill. 👍 Another quirky design you might not of years of Max. Was the Boyesen link design rear suspension system. Tested by quite a few manufacturers, but never made it to production. It got really good reviews at the time. And yes it's the same Boyesen of reed valve technologies.
Cool idea to just flip a switch but, looks like it might pull you down for regular riding. Be a nice option to have in some steep places. Maybe studded on the front because the weight isn't enough? Not sure how I feel about it.
Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't grab the 300 model, but none the less im glad to see and actual review of a christini. All the media on this bike is just promotional. There really isnt a good indepth video
A high ratio hydraulic system would be better or even an electric hub motor on a free wheel bearing? These are potential modern progressions. Christini' are an engineering masterpiece 👌
I'm 36. I remember reading the article in a magazine about an all wheel drive bike. Was probably this company. It was a big name magazine I saw it in at the time. Always wondered why I never saw them mainstream.
We picked one up they CAN be made to haul ass we changed the gearing the cam higher comp tuned etc and it reaaaaalllly woke up plus we pulled all the Enduro bs off to lighten it up alot now it's just an awd mx bike
Weirdly, I was just watching the '24 Erzberg this afternoon, after seeing this, my 1st thought was, this thing would be great. Alot of those rocky, wet, muddy uphill ruts, present real problems for rear wheel drive bikes, where even the Bolts and Jarvis' s of this world struggle. I'd actually love to see someone at their level race this at a Hard Enduro like Erzberg. Especially if someone with money and the engineering knowhow, could pare some of that weight down by machining up some replacement components out of Titanium etc. Even replacing that chain case with Carbon fibre.
A bud I used to ride with has a Christini, he'd bring out once in a while. It had a GasGas 300 2stroke engine. The bike was a novelty for sure, but I don't remember it doing anything impressive or that out normal bikes couldn't do, in fact, seemed more cumbersome than anything else.
I have worked on one of these for a friend just doing overall maintenance. Didnt really get to test it but it was crazy heavy and a pain to do top end work(checking valves and such) and the carb was ungodly difficult to remove(was cleaning the carb). I would love to see a more modern take with an electric bike so it just needs wires to transfer power than the complex chains and spinning shafts. I have seen a surron setup this way. Still a great idea for some cases but I need one thats about 50lbs less than the Christini
It seems like a good idea but 6kg is a lot and what makes is worse is that most of that weight is at the front end, even worse than is some of that weight will be high up around the headstock. With rear wheel drive it allows you to setup 'over steer' i.e hang the back end out to a degree, I wonder whether 2 wheel drive causes the bike to understeer? (Probably not a problem for enduro but might be an issue for MX).
There was a Yamaha YZ 490 ? Back in the late 80s / early 90s chain drive front n rear. If I can find the video & convert it, I'll post it. 👍 If I can find the post being as it's on vhs tape. 😉
I wonder how effective a 2 wheel drive bike would be in a Hill Climb Competition? Maybe with added weight (50 pounds?) on the front of the bike. But regardless the example you have shown us is something I've never seen. Thanks.
There was a Yamaha WR450F 2Trac sold in NZ a couple years ago, 2006 and super tidy sold for just over $10k which is probably just over double what a similar condition standard WR450F would be selling for
I disagree about a flywheel weight, nothing but a power sap dulling the already low power. It will have been jetted lean for the heat in South Africa so sorting the fueling out will help with stalling and low power.
Just adding weight to the flywheel on a 2 stroke turns your bike into an enduro weapon! You can just stand on the pegs and climb mountains and overtake any motocross bike 2stroke or 4 stroke all without putting a foot on the ground and just climbing past them crawling just before power band and your not touching the clutch! They become torque monsters and power band hits like a freight train hahaha 😂 RMX is 👑 especially one that's been modified as far as it possibly can with porting and twin ring Suzuki competition piston 😎 Rooster tail in all 6 gears Disclaimer tyres become much much more disposable as you try to find a brand that won't just tear knobs entirely off but isn't so soft that it dissolves your tyre after a few hours of riding.
Need more mud and a bigger hill .when I was a kid I had a xr 75 that seems like it might be able to keep up with that now the rm 250 vs. That guess who would win
A two stroke engine with the sort of electric motor but only better in the front wheel like electric bicycles have over here in the Netherlands. Sort of hybrid system but you can turn it on and off with the flick of a switch. I think that would be awesome.
I could be mistaking brands but i think ive seen a big wheel version of this bike floating around RUclips as well. Unsure if CC is the same on that one or not. (No im not talking abkut the rokon) lol
How does one even come to a stop as tall as it is?! Cool bike engineering to get at two wheel that is less exposed front drive to rocks and other elements but it's bout as big as a free standing pony.
@999lazer didn't even think of that 🤯🤯🤯🤯 Do you promise you would try to make it happen? And if for some reason it can't happen, at least make that reason known and I will be satisfied.
I wonder if the gutless engine is by design. The torque going to the front wheel has to be very very limited, those thin rotating shafts, the 90 degree transmission inside the fork ends... those all should be very limiting to the torque it can handle.
Now it’s soo easy to have 2wd , but on a stark varg You should do a video on it , and maybe be the first to do it . Invite me for a rido if you don’t mind 😂
Shouldve done all the same obstacles in 1 one Nd then 2wheel to show how effective it really is. I really thought that wouldve been common sense/thoughts.
Thanks for sharing the O'NEAL discount code!!
Showed my grandad this, said it reminds him of when he was younger he bought a yz490 two wheel drive bike and said I was the absolute wildest and most fun thing he's ever ridden 😂❤
Was this maybe a Savard bike from France? They were active from late 70s until mid 90s.
There was also an American Yz based 2wd, in the late '80's. I think it was Sun systems, or something close. It used a chain drive.
@Davepb-n8ithere was a hydraulic drive Yamaha two-wheel drive dirt bike, and I believe it was in the 90s.
@Davepb-n8i that sounds like the one he described bro
@Yngrr024 They appear very similar, but I think the first one I saw, was in Dirt Bike magazine and produced in California. The one I got to ride briefly (during a manufacturer demo to the British army) suffered from front chain jumping the sprocket, but technology has improved.
Great video! I would love to see a part 2 where you put proper tires on it, put it in the hands of a rider that specializes in enduro, take it out to some real enduro trails, and then hear what they have to say about it
next episode with the bike will be in the wild of wales with a pro enduro rider with us too :)
I owned and raced one in rally moto and the 2020 Mint 400 state-side, as you can see in my profile picture. Never had any issues with legality in those racing disciplines. I loved racing it when I was still racing up till 2 years ago. It never got stuck or left me stranded.
Nice one max ,your collection of bikes is growing, gonna have to get yourself a warehouse soon, great video and information on the bike.
Thanks Kevin
I found that riding in muddy conditions is about the best balance training you can get. You would find yourself going much faster on hard pack than previously.
I have the 300 . It’s a gas gas 2 stroke. It will rip your arms out of socket. The slipperier the conditions the more it shines
I was wondering why the 450-4str instead of the 300-2str
@@lorenzosguaitamatti I don’t think there’s too many around.
This edit is so good. I loved all of it. You are excelling at your craft sir. Great vid.
Thank you! Cheers!
Great video Max! Always fun to see one of the old bikes still out there in action! Hit me up and I can help you out with any parts you need to freshen up your bike!
Another bike straight out of left field. I had seen the Yam reviewed back in the day but I hadn’t heard of Christini. It would be great to see an Enduro rider review the bike. Great vlog as always Max!!!❤
thanks, we have some cool stuff planned with the bike... along with a pro enduro rider
I still have my Christini, with a CR500. It could pull though anything, very fun bike. I took it apart a few years ago to make some changes, never finished it.
That's so awesome
wesome - what a great great video ( and Sean's reaction when you got the bike is priceless ) what I would do to try that bike in North Minnesota where we very from 6 - 50 inches of snow during our winter months !!! You look like you are having a blast 999 , and who can blame you LOL - thank you for all you and your team do for us 😁
Thanks Mike, we really appreciate you watching every week.
I had a 14’ . Gasgas 300 powered one with a rekluse auto clutch in it. Thing was crazy. Forks on it were Marzocchi on it. Have a short vid of it here on RUclips. Pretty sweet bikes!
Cool video Max. I have sketches in a picture frame on my office wall drawn by my grandfather dated 1929 of a radial engined two wheel drive motorcycle. So the idea dates back even further! Shame I can’t upload it in the comments section.
wow that sound really cool.
Another great episode and as soon as you said Billy Bolt l thought Carson Brown and Billy Bolt timed shoot out that would be fantastic you have to try and make it happen thanks again Max great content.
haha you never let us down, fair play Max - what a find
thanks :)
Official team rocket bike lol.
PREPARE FOR TROUBLE !!
AND MAKE IT DOUBLE !!
another excellent watch. You must be building up a sweet collection of bikes now.
It’s geared a little slow. But that sucker would take you anywhere you want to go! I’d like to see a Yamaha banshee engine in a bike build! Much respect!
I have the 300 .2 stroke. It’s more than I I need.
What about 2 cylinder 260cc 2 stroke paramotor conversion into a motocross bike? I can't remember what the claimed HP output was, but it was something ridiculous and it's so light weight because it's literally a backpack!
@ that’d be sick too! I’d rip it lol
This was fascinating, looking forward to the wales enduro vid to see if it has any advantage in that environment. 👍❤️🇬🇧
didnt Wally Palmer race one in a ktm chasis in endurocross?
You definitely mix it up Max,your smashing it matey keep them coming 👍🏻
Thanks 👍Will do
I think it would be good in the steep mountains and hills
we will find out soon:) thanks for watching
@@999lazer I would love to see a proper hill climb with this bike!
Great video! I forgot all about the Christini.
Thanks!
I think they perform so different in corners that years of training on a traditional bike will mean you get slower in the corner. Like, you can't givve it power to slide the rear end around or lift the front wheel. Power is gonna hit that front wheel and probably whip you so quick and sharply that you highside the bike.
i seen a system fitted to a honda years back had a leading link suspension on the front and used chains to drive it looked bizzar,thats well clever that design very good. top vid max
cheers :)
Yep, an Aussie guy in the late 80s did home build 2wd on a CR500. Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine did a test on it in the early 90s. ruclips.net/video/yEHypmEYOBI/видео.html&ab_channel=SamXuereb
Cool purchase Max, loads of content opportunities making it a good bike. I think the jetting would be way off coming from the heat in South Africa so fattening up the pilot, main and maybe even the accelerator pump jet would be a big improvement. Also putting it on a major diet and getting that weight down would help a ton. Keep up the great work mate.
The 450 clone was the econo motor for road use . The 300 GAS GAS was for pulling your hair back , much lighter to .
I love quirky bikes. And this sure fits the bill. 👍
Another quirky design you might not of years of Max. Was the Boyesen link design rear suspension system. Tested by quite a few manufacturers, but never made it to production.
It got really good reviews at the time. And yes it's the same Boyesen of reed valve technologies.
not long to wait Jarred;)
Cool idea to just flip a switch but, looks like it might pull you down for regular riding. Be a nice option to have in some steep places. Maybe studded on the front because the weight isn't enough? Not sure how I feel about it.
Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't grab the 300 model, but none the less im glad to see and actual review of a christini. All the media on this bike is just promotional. There really isnt a good indepth video
if only, there are so difficult to get here as there have never been a dealer in the UK
Fair play max awesome bike , be interesting to see how it got on in a more extreme test
Currently Christini offers Electric and hybrid quads as well as a big wheel dirtbike standard as hybrid, with 250 and 450 engine being an option
A high ratio hydraulic system would be better or even an electric hub motor on a free wheel bearing?
These are potential modern progressions. Christini' are an engineering masterpiece 👌
I'm 36. I remember reading the article in a magazine about an all wheel drive bike. Was probably this company. It was a big name magazine I saw it in at the time. Always wondered why I never saw them mainstream.
A great quirky buy and top video!
cheers guy, we must be catching up with your collection of quirky bikes :)
We want to see the 600cc in action what is going on been waiting ages😂
We picked one up they CAN be made to haul ass we changed the gearing the cam higher comp tuned etc and it reaaaaalllly woke up plus we pulled all the Enduro bs off to lighten it up alot now it's just an awd mx bike
Un căcat de motocicletă , mare , grea , scumpă multe lucruri care se uzează și pot provoca probleme 😢😢😢. Respect.
Weirdly, I was just watching the '24 Erzberg this afternoon, after seeing this, my 1st thought was, this thing would be great. Alot of those rocky, wet, muddy uphill ruts, present real problems for rear wheel drive bikes, where even the Bolts and Jarvis' s of this world struggle. I'd actually love to see someone at their level race this at a Hard Enduro like Erzberg. Especially if someone with money and the engineering knowhow, could pare some of that weight down by machining up some replacement components out of Titanium etc. Even replacing that chain case with Carbon fibre.
ruclips.net/video/TE14nCmZzh4/видео.htmlsi=dQB_MmeZ8x5b9gW9
❤ my all wheel drive fat tyre ebike....nice video
This would be an interesting ride on the beach Motorcross in Holland
A bud I used to ride with has a Christini, he'd bring out once in a while. It had a GasGas 300 2stroke engine. The bike was a novelty for sure, but I don't remember it doing anything impressive or that out normal bikes couldn't do, in fact, seemed more cumbersome than anything else.
Outlaw innovation.
Real smart
Now I'm jealous!
I have worked on one of these for a friend just doing overall maintenance. Didnt really get to test it but it was crazy heavy and a pain to do top end work(checking valves and such) and the carb was ungodly difficult to remove(was cleaning the carb). I would love to see a more modern take with an electric bike so it just needs wires to transfer power than the complex chains and spinning shafts. I have seen a surron setup this way. Still a great idea for some cases but I need one thats about 50lbs less than the Christini
Man what a relic of a bike
I have a good friend who owns a Christini, he does off road with it.
I feel that two wheeled drive bike would be perfect for sand riding or even like the Weston beach race
It seems like a good idea but 6kg is a lot and what makes is worse is that most of that weight is at the front end, even worse than is some of that weight will be high up around the headstock. With rear wheel drive it allows you to setup 'over steer' i.e hang the back end out to a degree, I wonder whether 2 wheel drive causes the bike to understeer? (Probably not a problem for enduro but might be an issue for MX).
Can You Tell Me What The WP in the suspension stands for? I know because My 1984' Can-Am MX 250 said it right in Manual 😂
I rode one of these and one with an Ohlins system like 10 years ago? The Ohlins hydraulic system was much better to me than the Christini one.
There was a Yamaha YZ 490 ? Back in the late 80s / early 90s chain drive front n rear. If I can find the video & convert it, I'll post it. 👍
If I can find the post being as it's on vhs tape. 😉
i have seen that too, crazy looking bike
Mate, love your videos. I remember when the Yamaha was introduced here in Australia, yeh cost and a bit too quirky.
Thanks Andrew
Have you taken up Doc Wobs offer to test his AF RM 250? would be great comparison with your original RM 250
I wonder how effective a 2 wheel drive bike would be in a Hill Climb Competition? Maybe with added weight (50 pounds?) on the front of the bike. But regardless the example you have shown us is something I've never seen. Thanks.
we did wonder that ourselves. We hear rumours of a pretty extreme hill climb coming to the uk this year so maybe we should enter?
There was a Yamaha WR450F 2Trac sold in NZ a couple years ago, 2006 and super tidy sold for just over $10k which is probably just over double what a similar condition standard WR450F would be selling for
You need to weight the flywheel and get a pipe! And learn to keep your feet on the pegs and learn to steer bikes with your feet!
He knows how to ride mate he’s been riding since he was a child
@@dill_jleenduro is completely different to mx in how you ride the bike
Or how to suck eggs. Come on.wanker. old mate can ride.
I disagree about a flywheel weight, nothing but a power sap dulling the already low power. It will have been jetted lean for the heat in South Africa so sorting the fueling out will help with stalling and low power.
Just adding weight to the flywheel on a 2 stroke turns your bike into an enduro weapon! You can just stand on the pegs and climb mountains and overtake any motocross bike 2stroke or 4 stroke all without putting a foot on the ground and just climbing past them crawling just before power band and your not touching the clutch!
They become torque monsters and power band hits like a freight train hahaha 😂
RMX is 👑 especially one that's been modified as far as it possibly can with porting and twin ring Suzuki competition piston 😎
Rooster tail in all 6 gears
Disclaimer tyres become much much more disposable as you try to find a brand that won't just tear knobs entirely off but isn't so soft that it dissolves your tyre after a few hours of riding.
The rotating axles on the front look ominous. If any of your clothing or person got caught up in that, you're done.
Hope the next one will be a bloody siedecar!
Around 2007 Fowlers of Bristol had a Two wheel drive nearly new Yamaha up for sale @ £6500
Very cool machine.
maybe for paris/dakar it can be usefull in the deep sand ???
Need more mud and a bigger hill .when I was a kid I had a xr 75 that seems like it might be able to keep up with that now the rm 250 vs. That guess who would win
I love it!
Can’t wait for foxhills 2025🎉🎉
Congrats! Cool to own a rare gem like that. Didn't David Knight do a hard enduro on one at some point?
Great video
Thanks David
A two stroke engine with the sort of electric motor but only better in the front wheel like electric bicycles have over here in the Netherlands.
Sort of hybrid system but you can turn it on and off with the flick of a switch.
I think that would be awesome.
Who don’t remember these. They was always in the dirt bike magazines
My buddy sold his klr to get a 450. It's street legal, but he doesn't ride it on the road much. Off road it's good, in the snow it's unbelievable.
Great video guys, I’d definitely have one of those over an electric motocross bike.
😮 NEVER SEEN THIS STYLE mx DIRT BIKE BEFORE NOW!!!
🏁BAD-A$$🏁
cheers, we love quirky bikes like these :)
Needs a RECKLUSE CLUCH to b more manageable??
Not sure about spelling lol
I could be mistaking brands but i think ive seen a big wheel version of this bike floating around RUclips as well. Unsure if CC is the same on that one or not. (No im not talking abkut the rokon) lol
Just getting to the part where u talk about other models now lol oops
you should try to find a Tiger atc 500 😎
love your videos🔥🔥🔥🏍🏍
Thanks Gavin
@@999lazer I need your help the is a guy selling a Yamaha yz450f at 1000us I need it but I don't have money 🤑 if can help me please
I seem to remember a 2wd yz490 from the past but Iam old and it’s probably wrong
Nope, you are correct. It was in Dirt Bike magazine and adapted to a YZ490. Worked okay.
I think I rode a yz426 with a 2wd system from Ohlins like a decade ago ... probably more than a decade.
Please test an rokon 2wd
On jumps it would be like tapping the front brake needs manual clutch for front drive
It’s not just 5.5kg but added rotating mass
I love your videos
Theres a brand new Yamaha wr450 2005 2trac for sale in Germany! Asking price 18000 euro 😅
Now as a dual sport motorcycle along with proper tires for that progressive this platform of a motorcycle
That bike is just a first gen CRF450x. Christini will convert most bike brands. I rode with a guy that had a converted KTM 500
Never figured out why they didn't move the brakes up onto the unsprung part.
Patents only last 25 years, so this should be open to anyone soon.
Tote gote was around in the sixties.
Odd but cool 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
just how we like them! thanks for tuning in... again :)
Christini perhaps would be better teamed endorsement on how the two are compatible is with Ford then!?.
Sorry I spoke too soon. Rokon
nice thanks xD
Thank you too!
How does one even come to a stop as tall as it is?! Cool bike engineering to get at two wheel that is less exposed front drive to rocks and other elements but it's bout as big as a free standing pony.
Ask Billy Bolt to give it a try why won’t you
that would be cool to see. can you image the stoppie he could do on this thing:)
@999lazer didn't even think of that 🤯🤯🤯🤯
Do you promise you would try to make it happen? And if for some reason it can't happen, at least make that reason known and I will be satisfied.
I’m considering selling my 2014 2wd 300 awd . I have saddle tank and extra rims and parts for it. I typically only drive it in the winter.
Sir. Cristini ... Watch This 🔥
I have ridden one, and it didn’t seem really that much different!
@@victordavis7461 the slippery the conditions the more you notice
I wonder if the gutless engine is by design. The torque going to the front wheel has to be very very limited, those thin rotating shafts, the 90 degree transmission inside the fork ends... those all should be very limiting to the torque it can handle.
It held up to the constant punishment from a YZ490 in Dirt Bike magazine many, many years ago.
The 300 is got rip your arms out power
@kenfarnsworth5239 I know but it's also more modern right?
@@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443 wasn't that a totally different system?
Would be interesting to see how it performs as a Supermoto
I'm from South Africa and I almost bought that bike 😂
Now it’s soo easy to have 2wd , but on a stark varg
You should do a video on it , and maybe be the first to do it .
Invite me for a rido if you don’t mind 😂
Freestyle event for any comers
The wr is close enough to the yz it would chew up and spit out that 2wd as long as the wr doesn't break down
The switch appears to be the bikes Achilles hill.
Shouldve done all the same obstacles in 1 one Nd then 2wheel to show how effective it really is. I really thought that wouldve been common sense/thoughts.
Is it ever not wet in the UK?
haha, not very often