We’ve occasionally discussed Kenny Roberts’ legendary Yamaha TZ750 dirt tracker here, particularly in the context of “one and done” vehicles that were victorious in their only competitive appearance (in KR’s case, the 1975 Indy Mile). It was after this win Roberts famously quipped, “They don’t pay me enough to ride that thing!” The reason the bike still exists today is because of one man’s vision: former Yamaha US racing manager Kenny Clark, who died in the last week of 2021. According to his friend Bill Millburn, Clark “rescued the Kenny Roberts TZ750 dirt tracker out of a dumpster when he had been ordered by a Yamaha Vice President to get rid of it as part of clearing out a storeroom that was needed. Kenny Clark was the TZ750 dirt tracker's guardian for years when no one cared about it. If not for Kenny Clark the Kenny Robrerts TZ750 dirttracker would not exist today. Kenny Clark is the hero of the TZ750 dirt tracker's survival story.” Among his many accomplishments, Clark was at the helm of Yamaha’s racing program when they won 21 national championships during the late 1970s through 1989. Race in peace, Mr Clark.
It’s wonderful to see a multiple world champion (Rossi - a man with literally NOTHING to prove!) looking as excited as a kid watching the bikes for the first time. And I love Kenny’s humility. What a great video
As an Englishman, nobody could understand why KR was my hero in 1977, I was 6 years old and Kenny's life just seemed like this exciting assault on the European scene. Barry was great, but Kenny was the man I wanted to emulate.
Kenny Roberts is a man without fear, most good riders now would piss their pants if they rode that bike. The TZ 750 was an absolute monster that could throw you off in the blink of an eye. I loved those dangerous old 2 stroke streetbikes because they were fast and unpredictable, like going on a date with a crazy girl.
Been Married to a Hot Crazy one for 30 years, ain't nothing changed still Hot and Crazy. You just have to hold on and show her who the Boss is when Riding! Just like a Big 2 Stroke!
Kiwi ;- Ivan Mauger World Champion: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1979 - R/Up 1971, 1973, 1974 New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year (Halberg Award) 1977 and 1979.& still No knighthood. Long Track World Champion 1971, 1972, 1976 R/Up 1974, 1975 World Pairs Champion 1969, 1970 R/Up 1971, 1972, 1978, 1981 Speedway World Team Cup Champion 1968, 1971, 1972, 1979 European Champion 1966, 1970, 1971, 1975 British Champion 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972 Intercontinental Champion 1975 New Zealand Champion 1974, 1981 New Zealand Long Track Champion 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 New Zealand South Island Champion 1977, 1981, 1983 Australasian Champion 1977, 1981 Australasian Grand Prix winner 1970, 1971, 1972 Sunday Times King of Claremont winner 1973, 1980, 1981, 1983 British-Nordic Champion 1968, 1971 British League Riders Champion 1971, 1973 Embassy Internationale Winner 1970, 1971, 1972 Northern Riders Champion 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1980 Provincial League Riders Champion 1963, 1964 Lubos Tomicek Memorial Trophy Winner 1971, 1972, 1973, 1979 Silver Sash Match Race Champion 1968, 1969 Golden Helmet Match Race Champion 1970 Scottish Open Champion 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 Scotianapolis Winner 1969, 1970 Welsh Open Champion 1964, 1973 Westernapolis Winner 1968, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975 Leningrad Cup (USSR) Winner 1969 Lokeren Memorial Trophy Winner 1970 Golden Key of Bremen 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 Australian Long Track Champion 1962 Victorian State Champion (Australia) 1962, 1963 Queensland State Champion (Australia) 1962 Western Australian State Champion 1973 Yorkshire Television Trophy 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980 Lada Indoor International 1979 British Long Track Champion 1980 World Champion of Champions Match Race Series 1989 South Australian 150 Jubilee Trophy 1986
Absolutely brilliant. ...that wasn't a parade lap!...he just put it on the line and pinned it!, and the sound was awesome. I was lucky enough to meet Kenny and chat with him at the festival of speed. ...a charming interesting guy with no airs or graces. He's the real deal! Steve
God would I love to go there just once in my life. But I wanna drive the road course if I do. Mk. 1 Escort or a Lotus-Cortina through Madgwick Corner would make my life almost complete. I'd need to go through Paddock Hill(Brands Hatch) at speed to complete it
Absolute proof of how good Roberts was. To be able to get that much unpredictable horse power to hook up in the dirt and control it is unbelievable. Respect for Roberts and the TZ 750.
I was fortunate to watch Kenny Roberts at Castle Rock. He fell down , got back on and worked his way all the way to the front for a win. His determination and skill was thrilling.
I was their in 1975. and saw kenny roberts winn!! And their to see him again!! LOVED every minute of it!! Its a shame that their will not be any more indy mile! Went their for years with my dad! All good things come to an end!!! Thats life
There was a race in Europe and Kenny was there no other American riders had the balls and it was raining Kenny didn't bring any rain tires and not one of the other riders would help him out so I heard that he got a sharp knife and made his own grooves in his tires and kicked all their asses now that is respect man.... RESPECT!
@Mally mal …...Different Era, bikes now have traction controls sensors up the ying yang. I'd LOVE to see where any of the modern day racers stand if they all road those 500 and 750 two strokes were a 1/4 of throttle was powerband heaven or hell and you ended up pitched off in the rhubarb. You simply could not ride the same style then as you do now. On top of that there was no launch control on those bikes....that in itself is a HUGE "crutch" The fact is King Kenny revolutionized the sport ( and riding style) That said.....Rossi is a one best no doubt about it, dude's amazing.
You guys are idiots. You think rossi grew up riding these computer bikes???? The fucking guy can take anything with two wheels and ride it better then any other man. He has more seat time then basically anyone. Fucking couch potatoes talking shit on a guy who goes 200 mph every weekend of his life for his whole life lol
Hard to describe the electricity Kenny Roberts brought to the track. There have been some greats since him but there’s a reason they called him King Kenny.
This video is abolutely emotional. Like Edwards said, "Kenny is the godfather of motorcycle racing". From Europe i say: Long Live the King Kenny. My greatest respects to him. Unrepeatable.
The pros were entering turn 1 at 103-104mph. Kenny was entering at 100 on a bike that hasnt been run there in 34 years, gets off the bike and says "I wanted to go faster." If thats not enough to make your heart skip a beat, i dont know what is.
Exactly and this is why you will never ever see another two-stroke in the Grand national as AMA band two strokes right there on the spot from every racing on the mile so now we listen to lawn mower engines in the singles but it's fine and Danny with me that Harley-Davidson is still on the dirt track and we wasn't about to let no two stroke beat a Harley-Davidson so the two strokes had to go and as soon as Kenny said they don't pay me enough ding ding ding ding ding there went all of our joy gone forever .. Thanks a lot Kenny 250 350 and 400 twin cylinder two strokes used to dominate road racing and short track but not any more they're too fast ...
My heroes at the San Jose mile in the early 70s were Mert Lawwill, Gene Romero, Dave Aldana....then along came Kenny Roberts, and flat track was never the same. The King!
- A living legend...use to have a poster of him on my garage wall back in the day. The man respects the machines as if they were living. Same with Rossi...these guys always the best.
Kiwi ;- Ivan Mauger World Champion: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1979 - R/Up 1971, 1973, 1974 New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year (Halberg Award) 1977 and 1979. Long Track World Champion 1971, 1972, 1976 R/Up 1974, 1975 World Pairs Champion 1969, 1970 R/Up 1971, 1972, 1978, 1981 Speedway World Team Cup Champion 1968, 1971, 1972, 1979 European Champion 1966, 1970, 1971, 1975 British Champion 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972 Intercontinental Champion 1975 New Zealand Champion 1974, 1981 New Zealand Long Track Champion 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 New Zealand South Island Champion 1977, 1981, 1983 Australasian Champion 1977, 1981 Australasian Grand Prix winner 1970, 1971, 1972 Sunday Times King of Claremont winner 1973, 1980, 1981, 1983 British-Nordic Champion 1968, 1971 British League Riders Champion 1971, 1973 Embassy Internationale Winner 1970, 1971, 1972 Northern Riders Champion 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1980 Provincial League Riders Champion 1963, 1964 Lubos Tomicek Memorial Trophy Winner 1971, 1972, 1973, 1979 Silver Sash Match Race Champion 1968, 1969 Golden Helmet Match Race Champion 1970 Scottish Open Champion 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 Scotianapolis Winner 1969, 1970 Welsh Open Champion 1964, 1973 Westernapolis Winner 1968, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975 Leningrad Cup (USSR) Winner 1969 Lokeren Memorial Trophy Winner 1970 Golden Key of Bremen 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 Australian Long Track Champion 1962 Victorian State Champion (Australia) 1962, 1963 Queensland State Champion (Australia) 1962 Western Australian State Champion 1973 Yorkshire Television Trophy 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980 Lada Indoor International 1979 British Long Track Champion 1980 World Champion of Champions Match Race Series 1989 South Australian 150 Jubilee Trophy 1986
Ever since Mr Roberts sold his ranch in Modesto, I feel like a little piece of motorcycle history died. So much talent and skill was fine tuned there. All that came seeking his wisdom left satisfied. These videos are so important for the industry and sport. Thanks for sharing. It means a lot to us fans. And to Colin Edwards, I remember meeting you at the Indy trade show, I think in ‘’91? South West TZ 250 days?? Anyway. Two wheels rule!
Kenny, you inspired me to race. Always had a number 2 in my numbers. Seeing you sideways again has inspired me again. Get the ice bike out, and get the old race bike up and running for some track days. Long live the King.
I was there that night, something you will never forget!! So was Rossi, Rainey Edwards, Schwantz 60,000 people going crazy, that bike sounded AWESOM E !!!
When I was growing up in Sri Lanka at this.i had the biggest poster of Kenny taking a corner on his knee cap .it was an amazing poster n I loved it .the sparks flying off his knee were awesome a thrill to us who gathered in my room.superb poster
Kenny Roberts is without a doubt one of the greatest motorcycle rider on the face of the earth! He is definitely one of my idols. Mr. Yamaha.............What he did with a 350cc Yamaha in early 70's was amazing!!!!
I saw him race his 500 & 750 GP bikes in 1976 and he slid them sideways. Huge heavy machines ridden like a flattracker. Amazing rider. Watched him and his mechanics work on the 750 before Beating Sheen at Mallory.
Kenny will always be a god of the sport and the Yamaha TZ-750 is proof that 2 strokes will RULE FOREVER, PERIOD !!! MotoGP has never been as exciting since they switched to 4 strokes. It takes a special breed to race and win on a 2 stroke. From Sheene, to Roberts to Spencer, to Lawson, to Gardner, to Rainey, to Schwantz, to Doohan and to Rossi; only the very best of the best have been able to master the 2 strokes.
I can't find the words. Such a Legend. Easily the baddest dude to ever race anything with a motor. !!!!! I was waiting for him to come out with a parade lap, boy was I wrong !!!! That's King Kenny, what the heck was I thinking ? He rang that thing out like a wet towel at a diner !!!!! Total Bad Assery !!!!!!!!! Long Live Kenny Roberts !!!!!!!
answer to SanfranciscoBay question. The 2 strokes like the TZ700/750 had more like 150hp;more than the 125-130hp advertised.Grand National caliber XR's back then were around 75+ The reason that Roberts was bouncing off the hay bales in 75 was because these multi-cylinder 2 strokes have almost no engine braking like a 4 stroke and they basically go faster through the corner after you back off the throttle. if a talent like Roberts was having that much difficulty in the corners;than you can imagine what a lesser caliber rider would be doing. The AMA made the right call even though Harley was at the Forefront of the Ban. If you had a number of these triple digit + missles coming into a corner on a mile track doing over 100mph; your going to eventually have some really carnage. They might be impressive to watch because of the sheer power and speed but nothing is worth getting Riders seriously injured or killed just to please spectators......s.m.
AMA Banned Compression Releases in the early 70's, which would have been a GOD send for a Multi Cylinder 2 Stroke. Carruther's had a kill switch on number 3 Cylinder to try and eliminate wheel spin off the Corners; didn't help that much as it was still spinning the wheel almost as much when running on all 4. You'll never get the same type of engine braking from a 2 stroke engine verses 4. Compression makes a lot of difference. In the old days before the 69 overhead rule (and no Brakes) you could take a Single Cylinder B34 Goldstar farther into a Corner than the H-D KR simply because the KR's had like 7-1 compression verses 10.5 - 11-1 on the BSA's. One reason Neil Keen could never get a handle on the KR in 62 at Ascot because he was use to the engine braking of the Big Single GS and could go deeper in the corner before backing off the throttle. Harder to do with a KR on a non cushioned track like ASCOT was. Tire (Goodyear Eagle) wasn't chunked , it had a little more tread wear because of excessive wheel spin. He turned the Wheel around for the main...
Prior to 1969 before the 750cc overhead rule was implemented; DT Bikes had no Brakes of any kind whether they were on the miles 1/2 miles, ST. Only exception was TT Races where the 40in Bikes could run and HD's XLR. If you told some of the DT Racers of today that they had to remove their rear brake, a lot of them probably wouldn't want to race especially on the Miles. Compression Releases were on the Single 2 strokes; depending where you were, the AMA Referee had the disgression on compression releases. At Sturgis in 68 @ the ST Races you had to take them off...
Hi Steve, I'm interested in the effect the compression release had on the bikes while racing as releasing something that doesn't really seem to exist much anyhow on the 2-strokes doesn't seem to be any big deal to me. How were they being used? Under power off or on? (I noticed your comment about KC's #3 kill switch)
Well a compression release on a 2 stroke basically turns the engine into an Air Compressor. When Racers pulled that lever (usually mounted below the Clutch Handle) entering a corner, it drastically slowed the bike down. I remember a local racer having an OSSA DMR that came with a CR. He won a lot of ST Races with this Bike, based on sheer superior handling over other OEM Framed Bikes. I don't believe he would have won as many or any races if he didn't have that CR. He would pull the lever and hold it through the corner with the throttle still wide open, then release the CR lever just coming off the Apex on to the Straight. The Dick Mann Replica Ossa had such superior handling characteristics compared to other ST Bikes at that time that even an average DT Racer could win races using the method he was using with the compression release. If he was at a Track where the Referee stated no CR's he was at a disadvantage. Since a 2 stroke basically has no engine braking when you enter a corner, your free wheeling through the corner making it feel like your going faster and usually making you go out of the groove. When you back off a 4 stroke coming into a corner, the Compression of the engine slows the bike down enough where most of the time you can get through the corner with much more control. The Kill Switch on Roberts TZ (#3 cylinder) was strictly to make the bike a 3 cylinder coming off the corner to eliminate as much wheel spin as possible. Problem was even with only 3 cylinders firing, it would still over power the track. The only reason that Kenny was able to run down Keener and Jay was he lucked out coming off the last corner and got a line where the TZ actually hooked up and wasn't spinning the rear tire like it usually did most of the time. Just one of those times when everything clicked for a moment and the rest is history...
So let me get this straight Steve - are you saying that as they were running into the corner, on high rpm but with a closed throttle, and with the usual little or no engine braking, opening a compression release device allowed air to be sucked into the motor, as well as out, and provided an engine braking ability?
I don't think there ever was anybody who was better at racing a motorcycle than King Kenny Roberts. I have a friend I grew up with who won the '89 Daytona 200. My friend, Jon Ashmead #37 great guy and heck of a racer.
Respect, what a rider. To come back and give that beast the beans on dirt, unreal. I speak as someone who at 19 Put a TZ 350 G on the road........that was enough!
I don't even ride motorcycles, but I was a huge Kenny Roberts fan in the early 70's. Still am. I loved watching mile, and half mile dirt track. Gene Romero, Jimmy Rice, Gary Scott, Chuck Palmgren were my heroes.
Back growing up and as an entry level motorcycle mechanic I worked for south Dade Yamaha in Miami across from the falls shopping center I had a LG road racing picture of Kenny Roberts on the wall. He's the best and now I'm 63 and love any articles to watch on him . Ps find tge movie "take it to the limit) a motorcycle odyssey you will see Kenny actually racing the tz750 at indy. Blows your mind.
Amazing..King Kenny has always been synonymous with speed on two wheels, thank you so much Kenny Roberts you are an example of character and tenacity that persists to these days.
This belongs to motorcycle pantheon of greatest feats. Winning a flat track race with this peaky monster. Then saying Yamaha doesn't pay me enough to drive that thing. Many years later, Kenny gives the audience more than what their money paid for!
I was around 12 or so the first time I saw KR race. He was the first dude I ever saw who actually drag his knees through the corners. He was fucking dominating too. A lot of other riders talked shit about him back then. Especially the Europeans as I recall...But the next thing you know / everyone's dragging their knees through the corners. I don't know for sure if he's the one who started it. But I think he was. In any case no one can deny his talent & skills on any bike anywhere any time. Kenny Roberts...I am humbled by you. Good to see tearing it up again. And Iope you still are.
In 1975 my mentor Bruce Burness called me and said to come to the San Jose fairgrounds. I showed up and there was Bruce and Kenny Roberts and the TZ750. Just the three of us. They were testing before the San Jose Mile race. I could just stand inside turn one and watch up close as Kenny went by. One of my fondest memories. Jay Springsteen was a rookie that year! I was driving a diesel Mercedes. Kenny called it a "rock crusher".
Kel Caruthers is an engine building legend!!! He built a YZ 125 motor for a rider in the Outdoor MX nationals long ago and it sounded like an angry demon on PCP.
The 500cc that Kenny won the European Moto GP races was four individual 125 liquid cooled cylinders and heads on a common square block with two crankshaft geared together making a square four that was 500 cc's that also put out 200 horsepower
" haven't been on a bike for a year" then proceeds to burn off from a standing start wheel spinning and semi wheelieing squirming like a snake! One hell of a cool man.
We’ve occasionally discussed Kenny Roberts’ legendary Yamaha TZ750 dirt tracker here, particularly in the context of “one and done” vehicles that were victorious in their only competitive appearance (in KR’s case, the 1975 Indy Mile). It was after this win Roberts famously quipped, “They don’t pay me enough to ride that thing!”
The reason the bike still exists today is because of one man’s vision: former Yamaha US racing manager Kenny Clark, who died in the last week of 2021. According to his friend Bill Millburn, Clark “rescued the Kenny Roberts TZ750 dirt tracker out of a dumpster when he had been ordered by a Yamaha Vice President to get rid of it as part of clearing out a storeroom that was needed. Kenny Clark was the TZ750 dirt tracker's guardian for years when no one cared about it. If not for Kenny Clark the Kenny Robrerts TZ750 dirttracker would not exist today. Kenny Clark is the hero of the TZ750 dirt tracker's survival story.”
Among his many accomplishments, Clark was at the helm of Yamaha’s racing program when they won 21 national championships during the late 1970s through 1989. Race in peace, Mr Clark.
It’s wonderful to see a multiple world champion (Rossi - a man with literally NOTHING to prove!) looking as excited as a kid watching the bikes for the first time. And I love Kenny’s humility. What a great video
Crazy respect to Kenny for doing this. How many people in their prime would try ride that beast? Also the expressions on Rossi's face is pricless.
As an Englishman, nobody could understand why KR was my hero in 1977, I was 6 years old and Kenny's life just seemed like this exciting assault on the European scene. Barry was great, but Kenny was the man I wanted to emulate.
Kenny Roberts is a man without fear, most good riders now would piss their pants if they rode that bike. The TZ 750 was an absolute monster that could throw you off in the blink of an eye. I loved those dangerous old 2 stroke streetbikes because they were fast and unpredictable, like going on a date with a crazy girl.
Smokin two strokin...ride the pipe!
Been Married to a Hot Crazy one for 30 years, ain't nothing changed still Hot and Crazy.
You just have to hold on and show her who the Boss is when Riding!
Just like a Big 2 Stroke!
Kiwi ;- Ivan Mauger
World Champion: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1979 - R/Up 1971, 1973, 1974
New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year (Halberg Award) 1977 and 1979.& still No knighthood.
Long Track World Champion 1971, 1972, 1976 R/Up 1974, 1975
World Pairs Champion 1969, 1970 R/Up 1971, 1972, 1978, 1981
Speedway World Team Cup Champion 1968, 1971, 1972, 1979
European Champion 1966, 1970, 1971, 1975
British Champion 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972
Intercontinental Champion 1975
New Zealand Champion 1974, 1981
New Zealand Long Track Champion 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
New Zealand South Island Champion 1977, 1981, 1983
Australasian Champion 1977, 1981
Australasian Grand Prix winner 1970, 1971, 1972
Sunday Times King of Claremont winner 1973, 1980, 1981, 1983
British-Nordic Champion 1968, 1971
British League Riders Champion 1971, 1973
Embassy Internationale Winner 1970, 1971, 1972
Northern Riders Champion 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1980
Provincial League Riders Champion 1963, 1964
Lubos Tomicek Memorial Trophy Winner 1971, 1972, 1973, 1979
Silver Sash Match Race Champion 1968, 1969
Golden Helmet Match Race Champion 1970
Scottish Open Champion 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
Scotianapolis Winner 1969, 1970
Welsh Open Champion 1964, 1973
Westernapolis Winner 1968, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
Leningrad Cup (USSR) Winner 1969
Lokeren Memorial Trophy Winner 1970
Golden Key of Bremen 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
Australian Long Track Champion 1962
Victorian State Champion (Australia) 1962, 1963
Queensland State Champion (Australia) 1962
Western Australian State Champion 1973
Yorkshire Television Trophy 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980
Lada Indoor International 1979
British Long Track Champion 1980
World Champion of Champions Match Race Series 1989
South Australian 150 Jubilee Trophy 1986
The TZ isn't a street bike
@@mtl-ss1538 what didn't he win?
Absolutely brilliant. ...that wasn't a parade lap!...he just put it on the line and pinned it!, and the sound was awesome. I was lucky enough to meet Kenny and chat with him at the festival of speed. ...a charming interesting guy with no airs or graces. He's the real deal! Steve
God would I love to go there just once in my life. But I wanna drive the road course if I do. Mk. 1 Escort or a Lotus-Cortina through Madgwick Corner would make my life almost complete. I'd need to go through Paddock Hill(Brands Hatch) at speed to complete it
Absolute proof of how good Roberts was. To be able to get that much unpredictable horse power to hook up in the dirt and control it is unbelievable. Respect for Roberts and the TZ 750.
Lol I don't believe it ever hooked up.. maybe floated less in the cush but I'm just speculating... too much power lol
At 60 years old @@brandonsayer7631
I was fortunate to watch Kenny Roberts at Castle Rock. He fell down , got back on and worked his way all the way to the front for a win. His determination and skill was thrilling.
I was their in 1975. and saw kenny roberts winn!! And their to see him again!! LOVED every minute of it!! Its a shame that their will not be any more indy mile! Went their for years with my dad! All good things come to an end!!! Thats life
There was a race in Europe and Kenny was there no other American riders had the balls and it was raining Kenny didn't bring any rain tires and not one of the other riders would help him out so I heard that he got a sharp knife and made his own grooves in his tires and kicked all their asses now that is respect man.... RESPECT!
For my money Kenny Roberts is clearly the greatest racer of all time. He changed the sport forever.
Still remember watching Wide World of Sports when he raced that combination dirt and road course.
@Mally mal …...Different Era, bikes now have traction controls sensors up the ying yang. I'd LOVE to see where any of the modern day racers stand if they all road those 500 and 750 two strokes were a 1/4 of throttle was powerband heaven or hell and you ended up pitched off in the rhubarb. You simply could not ride the same style then as you do now. On top of that there was no launch control on those bikes....that in itself is a HUGE "crutch" The fact is King Kenny revolutionized the sport ( and riding style) That said.....Rossi is a one best no doubt about it, dude's amazing.
@Mally mal Freddie Spencer was also amazing. But Roberts is the KING!
You guys are idiots. You think rossi grew up riding these computer bikes???? The fucking guy can take anything with two wheels and ride it better then any other man. He has more seat time then basically anyone. Fucking couch potatoes talking shit on a guy who goes 200 mph every weekend of his life for his whole life lol
Hard to describe the electricity Kenny Roberts brought to the track. There have been some greats since him but there’s a reason they called him King Kenny.
This video is abolutely emotional. Like Edwards said, "Kenny is the godfather of motorcycle racing".
From Europe i say: Long Live the King Kenny. My greatest respects to him.
Unrepeatable.
The pros were entering turn 1 at 103-104mph. Kenny was entering at 100 on a bike that hasnt been run there in 34 years, gets off the bike and says "I wanted to go faster." If thats not enough to make your heart skip a beat, i dont know what is.
I've got a feeling that Kenny would have beat the pros that night had he raced them!
It took him about 1/8 of a turn to find the groove.
The TZ-750 was running a little too rich .. It has more power available with a little fine tuning..
@@mikeskidmore6754 Shut up really ? just sit down and enjoy the show pal.
@@mikeskidmore6754 Whoever owns that TZ has it set up and tuned so it won't destroy itself - - there's no replacement engines.
"They don't pay me enough to ride this thing." Awesome!
Ain't that the coolest racer quote ever?
Simon Barrett when you watch the video of that race and seeing him put tires in to the hay bales and shit. My lord it was a handful
Exactly and this is why you will never ever see another two-stroke in the Grand national as AMA band two strokes right there on the spot from every racing on the mile so now we listen to lawn mower engines in the singles but it's fine and Danny with me that Harley-Davidson is still on the dirt track and we wasn't about to let no two stroke beat a Harley-Davidson so the two strokes had to go and as soon as Kenny said they don't pay me enough ding ding ding ding ding there went all of our joy gone forever ..
Thanks a lot Kenny
250 350 and 400 twin cylinder two strokes used to dominate road racing and short track but not any more they're too fast ...
King Kenny… An absolute legend.
I get goose bumps every time I watch this
I've watched this so many times, and still get goosebumps! F&@%ING awesome
Watching this gives me goosebumps and brings tears of joy to my eyes
Thank you Kenny Roberts and
Thank You Yamaha!
Everyone paid respect to The King that day. Rossi, The Tornado etc etc ... He ride it - like he stole it.
My heroes at the San Jose mile in the early 70s were Mert Lawwill, Gene Romero, Dave Aldana....then along came Kenny Roberts, and flat track was never the same. The King!
Man that's very old school old timer 👴🏼
You can add Garry Nixon and Jimmy Moralez 🏍👍🏼
i keep coming back to this video ,just love the sound of that 2stroke and the way kenny roberts rings it neck ,10 out of 10 grin factor .
- A living legend...use to have a poster of him on my garage wall back in the day. The man respects the machines as if they were living. Same with Rossi...these guys always the best.
Non paragoniamo l' oro col ferro arrugginito... Gli uomini, con gli eterni ragazzotti...
Stud! Just gets right on it, fishtailing flat out from the gate and out and then pitches it over at the edge of the cushion.
That was a badass ride...he was on it pretty damn hard....I like that they ran it without the silencers just like the original run.
King Kenny...with that old age and without
practice.. he can control the TZ 750 with very easy..Bravo King Kenny..GBU
Every time I watched this video, I have a goosebumps!
Me too...
Me too...
@@joeschmo7317 9 jo no boy
I rember being at the British Grand Prix 1980, cheering for Kenny surrounded by Barry Sheene fans, scary. The one and only King!
I've only just seen this and now I realize why you ARE King Kenny. Bravo sir.
This is one of the most inspirational videos I've seen, and Kenny won the Mile 11 years before I was born.
Kenny was definitely one of my motorcycle Heroes when i was 19 ....definitely the King of the mile .
Every time I watch this it puts a big smile on my face. King Kenny on the Beast.
Best motorcycle racer ever. Kicked butt on road races too.
If you notice the #1 on his scooter...that means he was the recent Grand National Champion...Kenny was/is a bad man.
he is just a legend everybody who love two stroke bikes in Brazil loves him
I met Kenny at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone years back. He is the real deal!
100% Legend and no problem whipping around the Mile!!!!!!!! Respect.
Kiwi ;- Ivan Mauger
World Champion: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1979 - R/Up 1971, 1973, 1974
New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year (Halberg Award) 1977 and 1979.
Long Track World Champion 1971, 1972, 1976 R/Up 1974, 1975
World Pairs Champion 1969, 1970 R/Up 1971, 1972, 1978, 1981
Speedway World Team Cup Champion 1968, 1971, 1972, 1979
European Champion 1966, 1970, 1971, 1975
British Champion 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972
Intercontinental Champion 1975
New Zealand Champion 1974, 1981
New Zealand Long Track Champion 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
New Zealand South Island Champion 1977, 1981, 1983
Australasian Champion 1977, 1981
Australasian Grand Prix winner 1970, 1971, 1972
Sunday Times King of Claremont winner 1973, 1980, 1981, 1983
British-Nordic Champion 1968, 1971
British League Riders Champion 1971, 1973
Embassy Internationale Winner 1970, 1971, 1972
Northern Riders Champion 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1980
Provincial League Riders Champion 1963, 1964
Lubos Tomicek Memorial Trophy Winner 1971, 1972, 1973, 1979
Silver Sash Match Race Champion 1968, 1969
Golden Helmet Match Race Champion 1970
Scottish Open Champion 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
Scotianapolis Winner 1969, 1970
Welsh Open Champion 1964, 1973
Westernapolis Winner 1968, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
Leningrad Cup (USSR) Winner 1969
Lokeren Memorial Trophy Winner 1970
Golden Key of Bremen 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
Australian Long Track Champion 1962
Victorian State Champion (Australia) 1962, 1963
Queensland State Champion (Australia) 1962
Western Australian State Champion 1973
Yorkshire Television Trophy 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980
Lada Indoor International 1979
British Long Track Champion 1980
World Champion of Champions Match Race Series 1989
South Australian 150 Jubilee Trophy 1986
He wasn’t just cruising either
watched kenny and eddie at laguna wheelie out of turn 9 past the finsh line every lap. they lapped everybody twice, thanks for the memories
Right on, I was there -on the old, faster track. Now it's turn 11!
I was at the Laguna Seca race in 1985 when King was retiring (again) and if I remember Kenny took third behind Randy and Eddie
Ever since Mr Roberts sold his ranch in Modesto, I feel like a little piece of motorcycle history died. So much talent and skill was fine tuned there. All that came seeking his wisdom left satisfied. These videos are so important for the industry and sport. Thanks for sharing. It means a lot to us fans. And to Colin Edwards, I remember meeting you at the Indy trade show, I think in ‘’91? South West TZ 250 days?? Anyway. Two wheels rule!
Just watching this video was moving for me. lol. To see him get on that bike and just "go get it" was great!
Kenny, you inspired me to race. Always had a number 2 in my numbers. Seeing you sideways again has inspired me again. Get the ice bike out, and get the old race bike up and running for some track days. Long live the King.
The super brilliant Kenny Roberts, surely the coolest man ever to straddle a racing motorcycle!
King Kenny!! The Master !!! So humble
I keep coming back to this video..ahh what a legend uf ever. Im 60 years old.....i remember the Man!
Great King KENNY is forever !!!👏
KING KENNY!!
I was not there but truly wish I was. Awesome rider, awesome bike, and awesome event. Thanks Yamaha for the footage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's the sweetest sounding motor.
I was there that night, something you will never forget!! So was Rossi, Rainey Edwards, Schwantz 60,000 people going crazy, that bike sounded AWESOM E !!!
Was there when King Kenny won his first TT of Assen, the Netherlands. A whole new era of motorcycle racing emerged.. the King of Assen!
The TZ IS A BEAST but Roberts was and still is up to the task. Respects .
Truly one of the best riders ever.
No the king was the BEST!
Nice. You don't expect anything to work the same way 35 years later as it did. Nice to see an exception. The bike still goes pretty good too...
Long live the King.
Still THE MAN and always will be THE MAN King Kenny
When I was growing up in Sri Lanka at this.i had the biggest poster of Kenny taking a corner on his knee cap .it was an amazing poster n I loved it .the sparks flying off his knee were awesome a thrill to us who gathered in my room.superb poster
I love the way he just nails it. No messing about,no posing. Just gives it a handful and drops that clutch.😊
Kenny Roberts makes it look easy.
What thrill to crack open the throttle of that giant 2-stroke.....BRAP BRAP. Kenny is a man amongst boys
The word legend was made for this man, what an awesome rider
My HERO!!! KING KENNY !!!
Still an insane thing after all these years!
Kenny Roberts is without a doubt one of the greatest motorcycle rider on the face of the earth! He is definitely one of my idols. Mr. Yamaha.............What he did with a 350cc Yamaha in early 70's was amazing!!!!
Thank You King Kenny and Thank You Yamaha - (from a Brit)
kenny is the godfather... biggest hero to any person who rides a motorcycle. without a doubt
Love that! So stoked to have meet him at his ranch and checked out the A&A TZ750 bike up close & personal. . .
I saw him race his 500 & 750 GP bikes in 1976 and he slid them sideways. Huge heavy machines ridden like a flattracker. Amazing rider. Watched him and his mechanics work on the 750 before Beating Sheen at Mallory.
THAT right there is why they call him King Kenny! He is THE MAN!
The legend lives on ...Wow!
Kenny will always be a god of the sport and the Yamaha TZ-750 is proof that 2 strokes will RULE FOREVER, PERIOD !!! MotoGP has never been as exciting since they switched to 4 strokes. It takes a special breed to race and win on a 2 stroke. From Sheene, to Roberts to Spencer, to Lawson, to Gardner, to Rainey, to Schwantz, to Doohan and to Rossi; only the very best of the best have been able to master the 2 strokes.
Nothing like a 2 stroke on the pipe and the GOAT riding it!
I can't find the words. Such a Legend. Easily the baddest dude to ever race anything with a motor. !!!!!
I was waiting for him to come out with a parade lap, boy was I wrong !!!! That's King Kenny, what the heck was I thinking ?
He rang that thing out like a wet towel at a diner !!!!! Total Bad Assery !!!!!!!!! Long Live Kenny Roberts !!!!!!!
answer to SanfranciscoBay question. The 2 strokes like the TZ700/750 had more like 150hp;more than the 125-130hp advertised.Grand National caliber XR's back then were around 75+ The reason that Roberts was bouncing off the hay bales in 75 was because these multi-cylinder 2 strokes have almost no engine braking like a 4 stroke and they basically go faster through the corner after you back off the throttle. if a talent like Roberts was having that much difficulty in the corners;than you can imagine what a lesser caliber rider would be doing. The AMA made the right call even though Harley was at the Forefront of the Ban. If you had a number of these triple digit + missles coming into a corner on a mile track doing over 100mph; your going to eventually have some really carnage. They might be impressive to watch because of the sheer power and speed but nothing is worth getting Riders seriously injured or killed just to please spectators......s.m.
AMA Banned Compression Releases in the early 70's, which would have been a GOD send for a Multi Cylinder 2 Stroke. Carruther's had a kill switch on number 3 Cylinder to try and eliminate wheel spin off the Corners; didn't help that much as it was still spinning the wheel almost as much when running on all 4. You'll never get the same type of engine braking from a 2 stroke engine verses 4. Compression makes a lot of difference. In the old days before the 69 overhead rule (and no Brakes) you could take a Single Cylinder B34 Goldstar farther into a Corner than the H-D KR simply because the KR's had like 7-1 compression verses 10.5 - 11-1 on the BSA's. One reason Neil Keen could never get a handle on the KR in 62 at Ascot because he was use to the engine braking of the Big Single GS and could go deeper in the corner before backing off the throttle. Harder to do with a KR on a non cushioned track like ASCOT was. Tire (Goodyear Eagle) wasn't chunked , it had a little more tread wear because of excessive wheel spin. He turned the Wheel around for the main...
Prior to 1969 before the 750cc overhead rule was implemented; DT Bikes had no Brakes of any kind whether they were on the miles 1/2 miles, ST. Only exception was TT Races where the 40in Bikes could run and HD's XLR. If you told some of the DT Racers of today that they had to remove their rear brake, a lot of them probably wouldn't want to race especially on the Miles. Compression Releases were on the Single 2 strokes; depending where you were, the AMA Referee had the disgression on compression releases. At Sturgis in 68 @ the ST Races you had to take them off...
Hi Steve, I'm interested in the effect the compression release had on the bikes while racing as releasing something that doesn't really seem to exist much anyhow on the 2-strokes doesn't seem to be any big deal to me. How were they being used? Under power off or on? (I noticed your comment about KC's #3 kill switch)
Well a compression release on a 2 stroke basically turns the engine into an Air Compressor. When Racers pulled that lever (usually mounted below the Clutch Handle) entering a corner, it drastically slowed the bike down. I remember a local racer having an OSSA DMR that came with a CR. He won a lot of ST Races with this Bike, based on sheer superior handling over other OEM Framed Bikes. I don't believe he would have won as many or any races if he didn't have that CR. He would pull the lever and hold it through the corner with the throttle still wide open, then release the CR lever just coming off the Apex on to the Straight. The Dick Mann Replica Ossa had such superior handling characteristics compared to other ST Bikes at that time that even an average DT Racer could win races using the method he was using with the compression release. If he was at a Track where the Referee stated no CR's he was at a disadvantage. Since a 2 stroke basically has no engine braking when you enter a corner, your free wheeling through the corner making it feel like your going faster and usually making you go out of the groove. When you back off a 4 stroke coming into a corner, the Compression of the engine slows the bike down enough where most of the time you can get through the corner with much more control. The Kill Switch on Roberts TZ (#3 cylinder) was strictly to make the bike a 3 cylinder coming off the corner to eliminate as much wheel spin as possible. Problem was even with only 3 cylinders firing, it would still over power the track. The only reason that Kenny was able to run down Keener and Jay was he lucked out coming off the last corner and got a line where the TZ actually hooked up and wasn't spinning the rear tire like it usually did most of the time. Just one of those times when everything clicked for a moment and the rest is history...
So let me get this straight Steve - are you saying that as they were running into the corner, on high rpm but with a closed throttle, and with the usual little or no engine braking, opening a compression release device allowed air to be sucked into the motor, as well as out, and provided an engine braking ability?
I don't think there ever was anybody who was better at racing a motorcycle than King Kenny Roberts. I have a friend I grew up with who won the '89 Daytona 200. My friend, Jon Ashmead #37 great guy and heck of a racer.
Respect, what a rider. To come back and give that beast the beans on dirt, unreal. I speak as someone who at 19 Put a TZ 350 G on the road........that was enough!
God I wished I could have been there to hear that beast. Nothing, absolutely nothing beats the sound and smell of a two stroke. What a beast !!!
i was there, such a great moment to see and will never forget it. such a great moment and the sound
LONG LIVE THE KING!
Kenny Roberts wrote his name in the history books, any man would accept such honour.
I don't even ride motorcycles, but I was a huge Kenny Roberts fan in the early 70's. Still am. I loved watching mile, and half mile dirt track. Gene Romero, Jimmy Rice, Gary Scott, Chuck Palmgren were my heroes.
King Kenny, King of All the Tracks
Nothing in the world sounds as sweet as a TZ750 Yamaha, nobody rides it like Kenny Roberts..
Kenny was the best and last AMA who raced dirt/street to hold the #1 plate.
Great job Yamaha USA
Back growing up and as an entry level motorcycle mechanic I worked for south Dade Yamaha in Miami across from the falls shopping center I had a LG road racing picture of Kenny Roberts on the wall. He's the best and now I'm 63 and love any articles to watch on him . Ps find tge movie "take it to the limit) a motorcycle odyssey you will see Kenny actually racing the tz750 at indy. Blows your mind.
Amazing..King Kenny has always been synonymous with speed on two wheels, thank you so much Kenny Roberts you are an example of character and tenacity that persists to these days.
This belongs to motorcycle pantheon of greatest feats. Winning a flat track race with this peaky monster. Then saying Yamaha doesn't pay me enough to drive that thing.
Many years later, Kenny gives the audience more than what their money paid for!
Kenny and George are Modestos greatest gifts to America.
If I had of known he was going to do this I would have drove all across the country just to see this.. most of all, hear that beast
is a great tribute to a legend, a Martian, The King Kenny
Ride it like you stole it....you're master Kenny ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Holding back the tears just awesome 👍
Wow, just wow....still on another level even 34yrs later
That was an amazing event. And a personal favorite weekend in my life.
Absolutely Love seeing this. Gives me chills
We’re thrilled it gave you chills-those moments are what it’s all about!🥶
I was around 12 or so the first time I saw KR race. He was the first dude I ever saw who actually drag his knees through the corners. He was fucking dominating too. A lot of other riders talked shit about him back then. Especially the Europeans as I recall...But the next thing you know / everyone's dragging their knees through the corners. I don't know for sure if he's the one who started it. But I think he was. In any case no one can deny his talent & skills on any bike anywhere any time. Kenny Roberts...I am humbled by you. Good to see tearing it up again. And Iope you still are.
I was there when he rode it. The whole grandstand went crazy! I wish the Indy Mile would come back!!
Saw him race twice, Silverstone 1980 and Oulton Park 1983. Along with seeing Senna, Hockenheim 1992 that'll do, seen the best, thanks guys!
In 1975 my mentor Bruce Burness called me and said to come to the San Jose fairgrounds. I showed up and there was Bruce and Kenny Roberts and the TZ750. Just the three of us. They were testing before the San Jose Mile race. I could just stand inside turn one and watch up close as Kenny went by. One of my fondest memories. Jay Springsteen was a rookie that year! I was driving a diesel Mercedes. Kenny called it a "rock crusher".
Kel Caruthers is an engine building legend!!! He built a YZ 125 motor for a rider in the Outdoor MX nationals long ago and it sounded like an angry demon on PCP.
The 500cc that Kenny won the European Moto GP races was four individual 125 liquid cooled cylinders and heads on a common square block with two crankshaft geared together making a square four that was 500 cc's that also put out 200 horsepower
" haven't been on a bike for a year" then proceeds to burn off from a standing start wheel spinning and semi wheelieing squirming like a snake! One hell of a cool man.
I had to watch this twice, the first time I missed the interviews as I was still taking my pants off.
That's how you do it boys...OG style
Brings tears to my eyes every time.