I'll never forget. Back in around 1987 in the summer time I was up in northern Michigan riding with some friends on some ORV trails. We were at this hugely tall and steep sand dune and bikes were struggling to ride through the sand up the hill. I was on my 1980 IT175 and I was just barely going up the hill spinning the back tire in the sand when I heard this "RRRRAAAAppp!" sound like an angry hornet swarm and I look to my right to see this like green blur and it's a kid on a new looking KX80 and he's blasts by me just effortlessly ripping through that sand and rocketing up the sand dune! I couldn't believe how fast that little bike was.
good friend of mine collects and restores all the late 80s mx bikes. think hes going on 30 bikes now. kid really gives them love and they all look brand new
I was 14 in 88 and had an 80 and a big wheel 80 with a 105 cylinder built by Barr’s Competition. I raced it in the super mini and school boy class. I loved this bike
So it's 1988 and a friend of mine bought an 88 KX250. What a machine, loved it. Another friend of mine had the 88 CR250 while I was still on a 1985 KX250. In my opinion, for the 88 250 the KX 250 was ducks nuts though the seat was way too soft. Later that year I bought a Honda CR500RJ so finally, I was up with my friends after years of a shoestring budget. 1988 had some really nice bikes - then toward the end of the year, Raz bought the 1989 CR500 RK. Out of this world and one of my favourite bikes ever.
I had a 88 Kx 250, I loved the engine, didn’t handle great, felt large and heavy. But overall I liked it. In 89 they went to 46mm fork and changed the steering head angle 1/2 of a degree, definately a big improvement. Wish I still had it, thanks for posting
I had a chance to to buy a new 2003 KX 500 off the showroom floor, but came home with a KDX 200 instead.😞 My older brother bought a '88 YZ 125;we still have it;. I always loved the YZ's white and red color scheme.
100% correct Derrick 👍 ..there is a home video on Sony handycam somewhere where I think was at Anaheim Supercross, they filmed JWs mechanic go to a younger racer with brand new bike on back of truck there to ride in amatuer heats and asked if he wanted to swap his brand new forks with a pair Kawasaki 'works forks' which him and his dad both declined saying "no way man" "why would any normal person swap like that" and thought was a scam, till it was explained to the kid and his dad that JW has spent last month using and training on stock forks, but so he agreed, but withconditions, and did the swap.. He had the forks and his new bikes fuel tank signed, got free signed shirt and hat..AND had to have a photo with JW which he still has to this day.. 😀 BTW, Australia had USD forks on the 88 models and blue side number plates...
Had a 88 KX250 did my first hare and hound on it- 100 desert race, completely drowned the bike in a river during the race and spent at least an hour getting it running can in second to last, my family was getting worried about me but I did finish it the race
I had a I think an 88or 89 big wheel KX80 when I was a kid and I wish I could find one now . It was an KX80 with taller rims and tires so it was closer to a 125 size but it was still an 80
I raced a 88 kx 250 that year junky bike broke a shock linkage twice good power it didn't even make the hole season ended up racing my brothers 88 cr 250 that was a good bike
Knew someone had 80 and 88 100 a uk with blue side numberplate that goes with seat ,the 80 cc 86 was horrible vibrations felt like falling apart powerful and 100 ok but down low had nothing unless clutching it and then ok but I went for bigger bike but they look shit hot cool
The Motocross Vault ah...I didn’t remember the blue but we used to always put Tuf plastic on our KXs back then so who knows what I had going on back then.
I had an 87' kx80....great bike, ran great but man the Kwasaki kx lineup were very unreliable in the 80's....Bolts would break or come loose while riding leaving a floppy numberplate or exhaust with regularity....Maintenance was also know to break bolts even using extreme care...And that darn soft transmission oil filler cap would break constantly...I've heard the frames were weak points as well....But despite all that I still really liked Kawasaki's back then.
just got to the end of your video and you stated the same thing....People used to get so angry when I stated that in the past...Glad you mentioned it...lol...You summed it up well, ran great but reliability...thanks for the video!
Im still riding my 88 kx125!!! Good stuff man
I'll never forget. Back in around 1987 in the summer time I was up in northern Michigan riding with some friends on some ORV trails. We were at this hugely tall and steep sand dune and bikes were struggling to ride through the sand up the hill. I was on my 1980 IT175 and I was just barely going up the hill spinning the back tire in the sand when I heard this "RRRRAAAAppp!" sound like an angry hornet swarm and I look to my right to see this like green blur and it's a kid on a new looking KX80 and he's blasts by me just effortlessly ripping through that sand and rocketing up the sand dune! I couldn't believe how fast that little bike was.
Those eighties KX 80's could fly!!!
I love that IT 175 though that u were riding.
I grow up riding the 80s KXs the green Goblin my buddy used to call them great video buddy
good friend of mine collects and restores all the late 80s mx bikes. think hes going on 30 bikes now. kid really gives them love and they all look brand new
I was 14 in 88 and had an 80 and a big wheel 80 with a 105 cylinder built by Barr’s Competition. I raced it in the super mini and school boy class. I loved this bike
Barr’s Competition. Excellent shop, and Rodney was an excellent racer. Shelby,NC😎those were the days!
Why is it when I see Kawi green I blush red ? Loved those mean green machines brother...
yep, me too..something about that lime green that captured my heart.. had a 88 KX 125...loved it..
So it's 1988 and a friend of mine bought an 88 KX250. What a machine, loved it. Another friend of mine had the 88 CR250 while I was still on a 1985 KX250. In my opinion, for the 88 250 the KX 250 was ducks nuts though the seat was way too soft. Later that year I bought a Honda CR500RJ so finally, I was up with my friends after years of a shoestring budget. 1988 had some really nice bikes - then toward the end of the year, Raz bought the 1989 CR500 RK. Out of this world and one of my favourite bikes ever.
The 89 125 still had the single radiator. USD forks also went onto the '89 125,250,500. Still, thanks for the presentation. Top stuff.
I had a 88 Kx 250, I loved the engine, didn’t handle great, felt large and heavy. But overall I liked it. In 89 they went to 46mm fork and changed the steering head angle 1/2 of a degree, definately a big improvement. Wish I still had it, thanks for posting
My first bike, kx80 I was 13, man it was a great bike!
I had a 250. It was a holeshot machine for sure. Very thorough review.
I had a chance to to buy a new 2003 KX 500 off the showroom floor, but came home with a KDX 200 instead.😞 My older brother bought a '88 YZ 125;we still have it;. I always loved the YZ's white and red color scheme.
Great vid again I think this year 500 was the best looking 500 ever they just looked right
Thank you, I enjoyed racing that big bore, crazy!
@The Motocross Valut could you please do a video of the 1985 Kawasaki Kx 125 it would be very much appreciated thanks.
I still remember the KX 80 big wheel . I would love to find one now
Loving all your videos Tony!! Keep it up
The blue i loved i had the 60
Could you please do a dedicated video on the evaluation of the kx 125 please? Thanks for the great content!!
Sure thing!
I believe it was dirt bike magazine that reported that the forks were so good that wardy was running stock forks on his race bike.
100% correct Derrick 👍
..there is a home video on Sony handycam somewhere where I think was at Anaheim Supercross, they filmed JWs mechanic go to a younger racer with brand new bike on back of truck there to ride in amatuer heats and asked if he wanted to swap his brand new forks with a pair Kawasaki 'works forks' which him and his dad both declined saying "no way man" "why would any normal person swap like that" and thought was a scam, till it was explained to the kid and his dad that JW has spent last month using and training on stock forks, but so he agreed, but withconditions, and did the swap..
He had the forks and his new bikes fuel tank signed, got free signed shirt and hat..AND had to have a photo with JW which he still has to this day.. 😀
BTW, Australia had USD forks on the 88 models and blue side number plates...
You’re amazing thank you only 21 but you can’t forget where you came from
Constantly watching your channel
Had a 88 KX250 did my first hare and hound on it- 100 desert race, completely drowned the bike in a river during the race and spent at least an hour getting it running can in second to last, my family was getting worried about me but I did finish it the race
Be nice to see one of these on the xr600r and xr650r
I had a I think an 88or 89 big wheel KX80 when I was a kid and I wish I could find one now . It was an KX80 with taller rims and tires so it was closer to a 125 size but it was still an 80
I raced a 88 kx 250 that year junky bike broke a shock linkage twice good power it didn't even
make the hole season ended up racing my brothers 88 cr 250 that was a good bike
I love this channel!!!
awesome!
Knew someone had 80 and 88 100 a uk with blue side numberplate that goes with seat ,the 80 cc 86 was horrible vibrations felt like falling apart powerful and 100 ok but down low had nothing unless clutching it and then ok but I went for bigger bike but they look shit hot cool
I had an 88 KX125 but I swear mine had green side panels. Maybe I put Tuf ones on but I believe mine were green. I wonder if my dad has pictures.
Yes the picture I used was the non-US model. Ours came with green side plates in 1988. 👍🏻
The Motocross Vault ah...I didn’t remember the blue but we used to always put Tuf plastic on our KXs back then so who knows what I had going on back then.
Blue was euro and preproduction colors, in the 125-500 at least.
My first bike was a 1988 KX250 in 1991 at the age of 16 I was terrfied of it!!!
I had the 88 kx125 and the yz125 and i liked the kx beter.
I noticed the 80 and 125 came with a kick stand, weird.
I had an 87' kx80....great bike, ran great but man the Kwasaki kx lineup were very unreliable in the 80's....Bolts would break or come loose while riding leaving a floppy numberplate or exhaust with regularity....Maintenance was also know to break bolts even using extreme care...And that darn soft transmission oil filler cap would break constantly...I've heard the frames were weak points as well....But despite all that I still really liked Kawasaki's back then.
just got to the end of your video and you stated the same thing....People used to get so angry when I stated that in the past...Glad you mentioned it...lol...You summed it up well, ran great but reliability...thanks for the video!
I think 88 Kawasaki smoked Honda. Honda had quality issues that year and the hp was down. If you wanted to win in 88 Honda and Kawasaki were winners.🎉
Outstanding Tony 🙌🏻thanks