As a 65 yr old guy who grew up in the city but loved dirt bikes, this guy had what I imagined as my dream job. Living near NYC, raced an Elsinore locally, have gone to Unadilla. Of course, being older and understanding all the factors involved, I would never have been able to do that job as he has. Dave is smart, has a real understanding of the difference between theory, engineering, feel, and politics involved and is a great communicator. And diplomat! Great history to hear from the inside. Thank you.
Thank you, gentlemen, for this conversation, I am really enjoying it and it is fascinating how one can get stuck in a moment and for me that '75 works bike ridden by Marty Smith will forever be my favorite--the stance and simplicity and that red paint and all those wins by Marty. I used to imagine myself riding it as I read all the monthly motorcycle magazines as an American teen in Frankfurt, West Germany--we had moved there from California in '74. And in '76, a local Maico dealer, Herr Mueller, told me that Marty would be competing in the 125 German GP that summer and I did get to see Marty and meet him and even chat with him a good bit before the race. And it was all like a dream, really--one day you're a 16-year-old reading the magazines far from home and the next, there's Marty kickin' 'back outside his tent like he's on a camping trip. And Marty was gracious and kind to me and the handful of other fans who knew he was the best, he was the superstar.
Great experience story... I went to Point Loma High School and even though I didn't know Marty personally since he was two years ahead of me, it was pretty wild that he had a free truck and two free motorcycles and was a motocross star. I was just riding around on a Suzuki 90, nothing impressive, as were my skills.
Wow! Just wow! I would love to see similar conversations highlighting the works bikes from other manufacturers of the era. The factory works bike was such a huge part of the sports excitement for me as a kid. They still inspire awe with their amazing engineering, exotic materials and artful construction. Definitively “form follows function” and oh so beautiful. So sad they’re gone…
humility? Humble? That is for people who think they are great, but are not in reality. If somebody is great---I want to hear some bragging!!!!! I want them to rub their greatness in our faces---so we get some damn motivation in our own lives. Piss on being humble. Bob Hannah did it right, and we will never forget him for it. "I just did what everybody thought was impossible!!!!" "Shhhhhhhh. You might make somebody feel bad.". Yea,---piss on that! Stop acting like a victim loser and admire greatness! That's what I say :)
Remember Dave Arnold well from the 70's mags when I was a teenager. Great to hear him talk. Proabably turn the chairs to face each other in the future and use two cameras with a more curated background for each.
a really great interview with some fantastic questions! dave has a superb recall of that era. we are so lucky to have him around to tell us these great stories, i was hoping to see the twin cylinder 125 jonny o tested in the 80s but i guess thats too underground to see here.
This stuff is just awesome. Just to hear those riders names again. I followed them from New England, to NY, to FL for years. I took photos of works bikes going through tech inspection at Unadilla. Europeans had some cool stuff. David Bailey is my guy. Thank You for this.
Dave Arnold! Pretty special young man who started as a mechanic at Kolbe Honda! Had the pleasure of knowing him at Kobe’s an watching his career evolve with Honda Racing! A little known fact is Dave was no slouch on a bike…..ask Marty!
I love listening to the imagineering that went on back in the day. These guys were scratching out ideas in chalk on the workbench then making them happen...no 3D modeling to tell them they were wrong before they even started. True pioneers.
That was a great interview. I had the chance to see Brian Lunnis tune Bob Hanna's HRC's RC250 (yes I touched that bike) at the CMC Golden State Nationals at San Hill, a Nor Cal MX Raceway with, RJ, Jhonny O, Barnett, Glover and Wardy all aboard their factory machines... the golden era of Moto. We all miss it, and Steve your interview brought it all back. Thank you.
I live in the UK and just watched this video, absolutely fantastic. dave Arnold was mesmerising with his way of explaining his stories. need to do this as a series, more with personalities, decoster, payton, Troy Lee. Learn more about what goes on behind the scenes over the decades. again awesome
I think Honda should reproduce a 83-85 works 250, (even with the programmable power valve maybe?, what they used to figure out how to time a mechanical power valve), with the same engine, pipe, plastic, suspension, frame, as much as possible the same. If they can sell it for under 10 grand,---- How many do you think they could sell? I know a lot of 50 year old guys, (give or take 10 years), who would buy one even if they have not had a bike in 20 years, and I am sure others would have one. Sell em for 3 years. Make it legal in the vintage classes, and they will fill the starting line with them. :) I would love to have one.
Great video that gives some cool insights into how racing (in this case motorcycles) is such an integral part of Honda. So much cool engineering on those works RC race bikes and guys like Dave Arnold and Roger DeCoster were key in developing these bikes into championship winning machines. Looking forward to Part 2 and hearing Dave's insights into the current HRC race bikes.
I like to think about what could have been. Honda and Tucker were cut from similar cloth, (both great men). But after WW2, USA government gave Japan 800 billion to rebuild, and Honda became a manufacturing dynasty. That has probably created millions of Japan jobs by now, and maybe some opportunity for employees to start their own companies if they are free enough to do so. But at the same beginning, USA government destroyed Tucker and his automobile, and I am pretty sure he could have become a manufacturing dynasty also, and would have started making dirt bikes in the USA. So my question is, how do we measure all those losses at the hands of our economic fascism that destroyed one man at home, while kicking off Honda in Japan?
Fantastic interview! Steve, you're a master at letting the interviewed speak! Your grasp of the sport and it's history is outstanding too. So irritating watching guys cut people off during interviews. You let Dave explain himself without interruption. Awesome job!
I started riding in 1971 @ 6 y/o on a Honda trail 70. By 1977,raced a 1975 CR125 purchased by mowings lawns, raking leaves and shoveling snow, ect. It was dated, kinda uncompetitive and already had many hours upon it. What I noticed most, even at that young age, almost every production motocross model produced was over motored and under chasied even to this day.
@@Nudnik1 Me too, all I cared about was racing mx, but i did pay my way through college for several degrees in manufacturing too. Worked in over 20 machine shops looking for more money, (still just above poverty with 3 degrees), and I got myself out of poverty by-----wait for it---Porting little 30cc 2-stroke engines for RC cars, scooters and RC boats. Funny thing is, my Dad used to yell at me in my late 20's, "all you do is spend your money 0on those bikes!", and I could not argue with him. Neither of us knew it turned out to be a good investment. :) That is why I love what is left of our free enterprise system. It got me out of poverty, by the power of my own brain and ambition. :)
Really cool to hear this talk! I’m an engineer for Toyota truck/SUV rear axles and hearing the talking behind changes is really cool. Also have worked with Toyota engineers from Japan and I’ve experienced the design changes and reasons behind things changing and coming up with new designs. Also from Torrance, now in Arkansas, so I’ve driven by the Honda facility a lot so cool to see. Thanks for sharing!
Any recommendations for an LSD for my '94 Toyota Pickup XtraCab 4x4 (22RE, 5 speed)? Might try to get a TRD e-locker, but I'd kinda like a passive clutch type LSD.
@@cbh148 not sure really. I'm just over the manufacturing lines that weld the housings together for tacoma and Tundra, Also the old sequoia IRS. We've worked a little bit with design on things but mostly they have a set design. Also not familiar with the different diffs even tho our plant machines/assembles them, im not over those lines. Also only been working there since 2015 so not familiar with the 94's. The Tundra 05ish to 21 is going to be the same-ish housing just need to make sure your driveshaft angle is right. The leaf spring seats are at multiple different angles so you'll need to check that. there are quite a few different diffs for the tundra as well. For 94 you'll probably have to surf forum boards i'm not the guy to ask, sorry.
@@sparooniee Thx for the reply. They build the engines for those Tundras here where I live, in Huntsville, AL. I’m a mechanical engineer and tried to get a job there 5 years ago but they weren’t hiring. Ended up getting a job in the defense industry, but I’m still a Toyota fan.
@@sparooniee I know what you don't see much at Toyota that is misused in the USA all the time, (to try to impress customers). SPC. Japan uses SPC correctly, when kicking off a new product line or when they have trouble holding tolerance.
The sport was really great in USA up to 1986. We didn't follow MX really, but built it. It used to be free enterprise and exciting to make your bike work better. I because an engineer because of that early experience. Now, as fate would have it, I modify small 2-stroke engines for a living out of my shop, (mostly RC cars) and sell them all over the world. This sport used to be pure opportunity, and not for just racing. It is a bummer to me that a bike brand never really made it in the USA. In fact, that is strange to me. Maybe we were not as free as we thought.
Excellent interview 👏. Really gave me some incredible insight, fully knew of Dave Arnold and his position at on Honda in the Marty Smith days! Always wanted to hear him speak and his logic.. 👍👍🎩🎩🎩 Thank You
Well, I am 70 years old AND ... I've seen a lot live, including working with Dave Arnold / Roger DeCoster from time to time in 1980 and the years after when they were in Europe. Nice time that I would not want to miss.
I agree, until the dictatorship EPA forced the 4-stroke on the industry. That kind of intervention in what is left of our free enterprise is the main reason for additional cost, and the decline of any industry. When the 2-stroke was implemented by more free market ideas, taking over the 4-strokes,---bike prices went down, and the sport boomed, especially in the USA.
Awesome, please do this with all manufacturers of you can. Super interesting stuff. This is the historical version of bike development thru the years. Definitely interesting stuff.
We did not know how great that era was when we were living through it either. New industries are very very exciting. In a true free society, everybody can compete if they have or can develop the skills needed.
Really awesome, like Steve said on his show, this video probably won't get lots of views, but those who watch are super "pumped" to a creepy Keefer level appropriate only for Pulp After Dark discussion ;-)
Yep, and the price went from about $800.00 in 76 to about $1,400 in 85. All those advancements and not even double the price in 10 years. Enter the 1986 production rule. 1985 $1,400. 1988 $3,200. 1992 $4,800. 1997 $5,000. (four stroke forced on he industry) we know that price. Outside intervention of free market activity will always raise the price, and make it harder to compete.
when I saw that #25 Hanah HRC bike I fell in love with this sport. That was my # fron then on. I stuck 25 on that brand new 85 DR 100 and beat RJ. WARD and all of them ....... While riding by myself at the gravel pit.....
Great stuff!! Make this a series!! Behind the scenes guys, like mechanics, have the best infor.......Bob Oliver, Rosenthaul, Luniss, etc......Matthes does a great job!!
That would be a hard one to put together. I guess the best sources outside of the engineers at the factories, would be the mechanics who worked on them. That's a lot of mechanics, even before the 1986 production rule. Some of them may have passed away even. But I agree, that would be some cool stuff.
At the 1988 A 1 they had Bob Hannah works bike just sitting in the hallway with nobody guarding it. It jumped on it and my buddy took my picture on it. It was honestly just abandoned in a hallway by itself. Yes the # 25 1985
Those old trusting days means a more civil society huh. I only saw Bob race once, and it was on that bike at Red Bud in 85. He got about 5th I think. I remember a track banner down the side of a double jump but not covering the ends of the jump, so Bob was going around the jump but stayed in the banner. Only about 3 guys saw that line. lol Bob was my childhood hero because he came from nowhere, and beat everybody up. I loved that the sport was based on the individual. I wish Honda would reproduce that bike for sale. It would be a killer vintage racing bike. :)
I loved this ! Could have listened for hours ! Fascinating. I would like to hear a similar discussion on Honda's ATC/quad racing development in the early to mid 80's .
Lechien's 1985 125 was fast with him on it. Of course he has the talent, but he weighed 180 lbs and really did not want to ride the 125 at first as he thought he was too heavy for a 125. He was right, for any other 125.
That linkage type front fork, (fork?) on the works 1980 Honda that Roger worked with may look like the arm of the Terminator, but I promise you, the smoothness of it is probably impossible for a telescopic for to match. I had experience with a Mt. Bike front end a friend of mine made, with the shock in the head tube, (Nuke Proof Reactor, 1995), and that thing stuck the front wheel to the ground so well over chatter bumps, it was amazing. No telescopic fork was even close, at all. I think I am going to have my YZ250 fork tubes coated with that slippery stuff, (re-plated), if I hear it works well a couple more times.
I really would like for someone to do a piece on the 1976 Honda RC 125 hybrid Honda used at the USGP in Ohio. As Dave alluded to, Marty Smith was not happy with his works bike in 1976. The development was behind the other motorcycles. The 1976 USGP 125 race, American Honda cast off the full GP RC bike and built Marty a hybrid using components that were not 100% the Japanese GP bike. I seem to remember somewhere Donnie Emler helped with the engine and they labeled the bike the SoCal hot rod. I also seem to remember reading the Japanese engineers were furious with that decision. I could be wrong. I would still like to see something about that bike because it was unique for that race.
Boy howdy! I had one of those aluminum tank 250s with the down swept chamber. What a animal of torque and power. I loved it. Except that kickstarter would bite you bad if you sat on it and tried to start it. I always had to get off and start it. It would pop off with first kick. Awesome!! Now here's one for you.. maybe some bike mechanic can tell me why !! I bought it used with very low hrs. It would only run with a NGK plug. If you tried any other plug in it it would pop and spit and run like shit. Put that NGK back in it and hang on. Also. Would only respond to castrol gtx racing oil in the fuel .. I tried golden spectral in it and it wouldn't run .. all the brand name oils wouldn't work. Why is that?? I mean it was a deadly combo for this beast it would crack on the power band and if you weren't ready for it , it would leave you behind. I would run the mix a touch on the fat side but the plug was a pretty light tan to brick red. And clean with castrol. I'd run 4.7 gal. To one quart of castrol racing oil. Not synthetic either.. I couldn't figure it out. But it ran like it's ass was on fire and it was searching for the river. It got stolen out of my garage one day . S. O. B never saw or heard it again. I'd listen for it to it had a very distinctive sound. Then I bought a new YZ 360 yamaha when they came out with the silver red stripe matching color scheme for the 360 and , 500. That's the one I ended up really falling in love, and marrying. OMG 😃. What a powerhouse. I miss her. 4th gear! Just move back on the seat a couple inches and squeeze it. Front wheel off the ground so smooth. What a joy to ride. You know how some bikes make you tired and soar. Not this one. She'd say get on and let me show you how it's done. It was back then, the best bike I'd ever had or ridden.. my friends all slobbered all over it to. 😅😅😅 She was definitely a looker and packed a serious punch.. You never put your foot down in a turn on this one.. it would slow you down or pull you off balance. Just lay it over and sgueeze her . And it was gone around that turn like it was on a rail.. I actually saw one on Pinterest for sale. It was recently frame up restored. It was beautiful. Like off the showroom floor. Ha ha. Back in the 80s when it came out it was like 1250.00 new. He was asking 5 grand for this one.. ok anyway ! Had to stroll down memory lane for a minute there.
On the Ribbi bike.... the pro-squat brake torque geometry. What happened to that? We all did that to our bikes and you could feel the difference. I'm astonished.
@@EarthSurferUSA At the rear. Free-floated the rear brake and ran a parallel brake torque link to the frame. If you ran it below the swingarm it was pro- squat under braking.
Bikes being good or not so good goes up and down. But there is one factor that has always been true. When a company hired Roger DeCoster to work on their bike designs,---they were allways the good ones. Honda sat on their laurels after the 73 bikes a bit. Roger was riding for Suzuki and was a big help I am sure. Yamaha came out with the mono-shock. But by the 80's, Honda got serious. That 70's and 80's bike evolution---was a race series in itself, and a wonderful thing to see and experience as a kid.
I would love to see new bikes allowed in Vintage racing. Not modern bikes of course, but new bikes, like the reproduction of the old bikes. Of course, we live under a dictatorship now, and the EPA would not allow it I am sure. How am I wrong about that?
As a kid, I would have traded my mother for those super sleek Showas and the handmade swingarms. Edit: I love Magoo, but he had a cheater cylinder the year he walked by Wise *on a straight.*
@@alexcallas8222 Google it. Jody at MXA spoke of it. Pretty common knowledge... Not knocking Magoo. His stomping dominance at the MXDN is legacy enough.
@@EarthSurferUSA ok ok. I don't want to delete it, but I will agree that it's never been proven. 😃 And no one in motorsports would fudge a few cc's at an unsanctioned, one-off TV spectacle race with a fat payout. And no one in my 83cc Seniors races ran a 99cc jug. Just kidding... Love Danny. RIP Edit: F*** that tubby silverspoon fed whiner Trump.
My friend dropped off 1976 cr250 basket case in 1987 me and friend welded frame fixed rivets in clutch basket omg if it didn't buck you off it lope out on you just plain fun bike
Done. Pretty good show mathis. But why is Racer-x vids sponsored by "Maynard's, Kachava, Body Freedom Today weight loss, RUclips TV, Iron-neck neck trainer, " advertisements that nobody cares about and cuts you guys off in mid sentence? Doesn't anybody in the industry want to sell their stuff? There is a difference between good and bad money. Pretty good show though. Thanks. Now we are even. lol
6:40 What was "the works rule" in 1976? He thinks a rule allowed works bikes,---lol. But Dave messed up right after, because there was no case reed MX bike in 1975, (he meant piston port). Dave is getting old, and his head is full of knowledge. But mathis makes up his own world. They were "FREE" to make works bikes. It was not a rule. The guy thinks freedom was a rule? jeeech.
To make my point, Dave just tells mathis about the "Type 2" Honda bikes that Pierre and Marty rode in the middle of 77. The most trick bikes ever made to that point. Next question, "Do you see Honda getting serious at this point?" Dave is going to be nice. I would say, "What is the matter with you?" and leave, vowing only to let smart people interview me. It would help save the sport.
Details run together when you do it for a living and have a 1000 data points to remember rather than reading about in the magazines and have 10. I’m sure there are plenty of details that are not a 100 percent accurate as for the timing, but they are for anyone reflecting back 40 years.
@@ElsinoreRacer The claiming rule is theft, then and today, but I did not know the theft of a bike was made legal in 76, so thanks for that. But for your end comment, don't tell me what to do, and I won't tell you what to do. Deal?
@@EarthSurferUSA You seem very excitable. The rules permitted works bikes by not excluding them. Under the claiming rule you had to pay a set price for the bike. You entered your bike subject to the published rules of the event. "Theft" is straight up whining.
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As a 65 yr old guy who grew up in the city but loved dirt bikes, this guy had what I imagined as my dream job. Living near NYC, raced an Elsinore locally, have gone to Unadilla. Of course, being older and understanding all the factors involved, I would never have been able to do that job as he has. Dave is smart, has a real understanding of the difference between theory, engineering, feel, and politics involved and is a great communicator. And diplomat! Great history to hear from the inside. Thank you.
Arnold and DeCoster were the reason of Honda's two decade success and dominance in MX and SX . 💪
Thank you, gentlemen, for this conversation, I am really enjoying it and it is fascinating how one can get stuck in a moment and for me that '75 works bike ridden by Marty Smith will forever be my favorite--the stance and simplicity and that red paint and all those wins by Marty. I used to imagine myself riding it as I read all the monthly motorcycle magazines as an American teen in Frankfurt, West Germany--we had moved there from California in '74. And in '76, a local Maico dealer, Herr Mueller, told me that Marty would be competing in the 125 German GP that summer and I did get to see Marty and meet him and even chat with him a good bit before the race. And it was all like a dream, really--one day you're a 16-year-old reading the magazines far from home and the next, there's Marty kickin' 'back outside his tent like he's on a camping trip. And Marty was gracious and kind to me and the handful of other fans who knew he was the best, he was the superstar.
Great experience story... I went to Point Loma High School and even though I didn't know Marty personally since he was two years ahead of me, it was pretty wild that he had a free truck and two free motorcycles and was a motocross star. I was just riding around on a Suzuki 90, nothing impressive, as were my skills.
Wow! Just wow! I would love to see similar conversations highlighting the works bikes from other manufacturers of the era. The factory works bike was such a huge part of the sports excitement for me as a kid. They still inspire awe with their amazing engineering, exotic materials and artful construction. Definitively “form follows function” and oh so beautiful. So sad they’re gone…
What a cool guy, Dave Arnold. The true humility of incredible knowledge. Nice one. Honda, one love.
humility? Humble? That is for people who think they are great, but are not in reality. If somebody is great---I want to hear some bragging!!!!! I want them to rub their greatness in our faces---so we get some damn motivation in our own lives. Piss on being humble. Bob Hannah did it right, and we will never forget him for it.
"I just did what everybody thought was impossible!!!!"
"Shhhhhhhh. You might make somebody feel bad.". Yea,---piss on that! Stop acting like a victim loser and admire greatness! That's what I say :)
Remember Dave Arnold well from the 70's mags when I was a teenager. Great to hear him talk. Proabably turn the chairs to face each other in the future and use two cameras with a more curated background for each.
Those works water cooled Honda's looked amazing , even the deep red paint finish looked incredible on those things.
Watching this video brought back a lot of memories from this era. These bikes were works of art, just unbelievable!
OMG This is absolutely fantastic. This really brings back tons of memories and gives so much insight!!!!! Wow. Loved this.
Dave is a legend in the two wheel world!
Man I sure remember the days , great 👍
a really great interview with some fantastic questions! dave has a superb recall of that era. we are so lucky to have him around to tell us these great stories, i was hoping to see the twin cylinder 125 jonny o tested in the 80s but i guess thats too underground to see here.
The Puch MC 250 that Harry Everts won the 250 GP title with, was a very exotic bike for it's time.
This stuff is just awesome. Just to hear those riders names again. I followed them from New England, to NY, to FL for years. I took photos of works bikes going through tech inspection at Unadilla. Europeans had some cool stuff. David Bailey is my guy. Thank You for this.
I didn't know what to add to the comments already posted, until...I saw that this was PART 1...THERE'S MORE TO COME!!! YES!
WOW!!! That was great, Thank you very much.
Awesome show was in my 20s in the eighties raceing Carlsbad so many great memories riding Honda since 86, Dave Arnold is the moto God
This is great Steve. Well done. It's awesome to see the genuine excitement in your face. Great feature!
Dave Arnold! Pretty special young man who started as a mechanic at Kolbe Honda! Had the pleasure of knowing him at Kobe’s an watching his career evolve with Honda Racing! A little known fact is Dave was no slouch on a bike…..ask Marty!
This is cool, Dave~ Glad to see you doing well~shenager
That is an adapter insert for a 45rpm record center hole so a small hole LP record player can play them.
Awesome video. Love Honda motocross and remember seeing their works bikes dominate in 82 and 83.
I love listening to the imagineering that went on back in the day. These guys were scratching out ideas in chalk on the workbench then making them happen...no 3D modeling to tell them they were wrong before they even started. True pioneers.
Magoo made everybody look slow in 82 never forget those times ....
B.S. he didn't even win a title
That was a great interview. I had the chance to see Brian Lunnis tune Bob Hanna's HRC's RC250 (yes I touched that bike) at the CMC Golden State Nationals at San Hill, a Nor Cal MX Raceway with, RJ, Jhonny O, Barnett, Glover and Wardy all aboard their factory machines... the golden era of Moto. We all miss it, and Steve your interview brought it all back. Thank you.
I live in the UK and just watched this video, absolutely fantastic. dave Arnold was mesmerising with his way of explaining his stories. need to do this as a series, more with personalities, decoster, payton, Troy Lee. Learn more about what goes on behind the scenes over the decades. again awesome
Bad ass stuff!!! The history is insane
That was Freeeking Awesome. More of these please. You are the Man Steve🤙🏽
I think Honda should reproduce a 83-85 works 250, (even with the programmable power valve maybe?, what they used to figure out how to time a mechanical power valve), with the same engine, pipe, plastic, suspension, frame, as much as possible the same. If they can sell it for under 10 grand,----
How many do you think they could sell? I know a lot of 50 year old guys, (give or take 10 years), who would buy one even if they have not had a bike in 20 years, and I am sure others would have one. Sell em for 3 years. Make it legal in the vintage classes, and they will fill the starting line with them. :)
I would love to have one.
Great video that gives some cool insights into how racing (in this case motorcycles) is such an integral part of Honda. So much cool engineering on those works RC race bikes and guys like Dave Arnold and Roger DeCoster were key in developing these bikes into championship winning machines. Looking forward to Part 2 and hearing Dave's insights into the current HRC race bikes.
I like to think about what could have been. Honda and Tucker were cut from similar cloth, (both great men). But after WW2, USA government gave Japan 800 billion to rebuild, and Honda became a manufacturing dynasty. That has probably created millions of Japan jobs by now, and maybe some opportunity for employees to start their own companies if they are free enough to do so. But at the same beginning, USA government destroyed Tucker and his automobile, and I am pretty sure he could have become a manufacturing dynasty also, and would have started making dirt bikes in the USA. So my question is, how do we measure all those losses at the hands of our economic fascism that destroyed one man at home, while kicking off Honda in Japan?
Absolutely Gold Nuggets of information here, in the history of Honda race bikes.
Excellent Tutorial 🏁🏆
Always like Dave! You can tell he’s genuinely a good man!
No doubt in my mind. He has what I call a "great life spirit".
Great show!
Fantastic interview! Steve, you're a master at letting the interviewed speak! Your grasp of the sport and it's history is outstanding too. So irritating watching guys cut people off during interviews. You let Dave explain himself without interruption. Awesome job!
The 1974 elsinore 125,oh my.
Those were good memories.
I started riding in 1971 @ 6 y/o on a Honda trail 70. By 1977,raced a 1975 CR125 purchased by mowings lawns, raking leaves and shoveling snow, ect. It was dated, kinda uncompetitive and already had many hours upon it. What I noticed most, even at that young age, almost every production motocross model produced was over motored and under chasied even to this day.
same here..learned how to rebuild engines at 12yo. Kept me away from drugs bad people.
MX and enduro all I cared about as a kid until i was in my 30s.
@@Nudnik1 Me too, all I cared about was racing mx, but i did pay my way through college for several degrees in manufacturing too. Worked in over 20 machine shops looking for more money, (still just above poverty with 3 degrees), and I got myself out of poverty by-----wait for it---Porting little 30cc 2-stroke engines for RC cars, scooters and RC boats. Funny thing is, my Dad used to yell at me in my late 20's, "all you do is spend your money 0on those bikes!", and I could not argue with him. Neither of us knew it turned out to be a good investment. :) That is why I love what is left of our free enterprise system. It got me out of poverty, by the power of my own brain and ambition. :)
Really cool to hear this talk! I’m an engineer for Toyota truck/SUV rear axles and hearing the talking behind changes is really cool. Also have worked with Toyota engineers from Japan and I’ve experienced the design changes and reasons behind things changing and coming up with new designs. Also from Torrance, now in Arkansas, so I’ve driven by the Honda facility a lot so cool to see. Thanks for sharing!
Any recommendations for an LSD for my '94 Toyota Pickup XtraCab 4x4 (22RE, 5 speed)? Might try to get a TRD e-locker, but I'd kinda like a passive clutch type LSD.
@@cbh148 not sure really. I'm just over the manufacturing lines that weld the housings together for tacoma and Tundra, Also the old sequoia IRS. We've worked a little bit with design on things but mostly they have a set design. Also not familiar with the different diffs even tho our plant machines/assembles them, im not over those lines. Also only been working there since 2015 so not familiar with the 94's. The Tundra 05ish to 21 is going to be the same-ish housing just need to make sure your driveshaft angle is right. The leaf spring seats are at multiple different angles so you'll need to check that. there are quite a few different diffs for the tundra as well. For 94 you'll probably have to surf forum boards i'm not the guy to ask, sorry.
@@sparooniee Thx for the reply. They build the engines for those Tundras here where I live, in Huntsville, AL. I’m a mechanical engineer and tried to get a job there 5 years ago but they weren’t hiring. Ended up getting a job in the defense industry, but I’m still a Toyota fan.
@@sparooniee I know what you don't see much at Toyota that is misused in the USA all the time, (to try to impress customers). SPC. Japan uses SPC correctly, when kicking off a new product line or when they have trouble holding tolerance.
I don’t follow much Moto X, but always enjoy listening to mechanics, tuners and engineers. Brilliant interview. 👍
The sport was really great in USA up to 1986. We didn't follow MX really, but built it. It used to be free enterprise and exciting to make your bike work better. I because an engineer because of that early experience. Now, as fate would have it, I modify small 2-stroke engines for a living out of my shop, (mostly RC cars) and sell them all over the world. This sport used to be pure opportunity, and not for just racing. It is a bummer to me that a bike brand never really made it in the USA. In fact, that is strange to me. Maybe we were not as free as we thought.
Excellent interview 👏. Really gave me some incredible insight, fully knew of Dave Arnold and his position at on Honda in the Marty Smith days! Always wanted to hear him speak and his logic.. 👍👍🎩🎩🎩 Thank You
What an excellent video.
I'd love to see a similar video but this time with Suzuki
Road and raced Suzuki starting in 73 up until 78 would definitely like to see the same series on Suzuki
Well, I am 70 years old AND ... I've seen a lot live, including working with Dave Arnold / Roger DeCoster from time to time in 1980 and the years after when they were in Europe. Nice time that I would not want to miss.
Man it’s super cool to see how far bikes have came over the years.
I agree, until the dictatorship EPA forced the 4-stroke on the industry. That kind of intervention in what is left of our free enterprise is the main reason for additional cost, and the decline of any industry. When the 2-stroke was implemented by more free market ideas, taking over the 4-strokes,---bike prices went down, and the sport boomed, especially in the USA.
@@EarthSurferUSA I agree 💯, my current hard enduro bike is a good ole 2 stroke 300
Awesome, please do this with all manufacturers of you can. Super interesting stuff. This is the historical version of bike development thru the years. Definitely interesting stuff.
We did not know how great that era was when we were living through it either. New industries are very very exciting. In a true free society, everybody can compete if they have or can develop the skills needed.
Really awesome, like Steve said on his show, this video probably won't get lots of views, but those who watch are super "pumped" to a creepy Keefer level appropriate only for Pulp After Dark discussion ;-)
Excellent, interesting interview. Good job.
This is the best RUclips video I've ever watched! Such a wealth of information. Thumbs up and subscribed. : )
Amazing the changes from 1980 to 1986. Really enjoyed this! 1985 Honda had the dream team! RL HRC125 is still a slick looking bike.
Yep, and the price went from about $800.00 in 76 to about $1,400 in 85. All those advancements and not even double the price in 10 years.
Enter the 1986 production rule. 1985 $1,400. 1988 $3,200. 1992 $4,800. 1997 $5,000. (four stroke forced on he industry) we know that price.
Outside intervention of free market activity will always raise the price, and make it harder to compete.
...Dave's comments about the 1985 RC250 is an eye opener. I think that's in part 2.
when I saw that #25 Hanah HRC bike I fell in love with this sport. That was my # fron then on. I stuck 25 on that brand new 85 DR 100 and beat RJ. WARD and all of them ....... While riding by myself at the gravel pit.....
Great job Steve! So cool.
Great stuff!! Make this a series!! Behind the scenes guys, like mechanics, have the best infor.......Bob Oliver, Rosenthaul, Luniss, etc......Matthes does a great job!!
Oh, a show can get better, much better, (this one was pretty good though for mathis). "The whiskey throttle show".
That was super interesting! Thanks guys
This is excellent.
Great stuff!
Thanks!
Wish I could find the video about this R&D on the ATC 250r
That was totally awesome 👏
Great interview. This is the way they should be. No music and good sound.
I have been asking another video host for videos strictly about the trick parts on the bikes. This is as close as I have seen to that. Thank u
That would be a hard one to put together. I guess the best sources outside of the engineers at the factories, would be the mechanics who worked on them. That's a lot of mechanics, even before the 1986 production rule. Some of them may have passed away even. But I agree, that would be some cool stuff.
At the 1988 A 1 they had Bob Hannah works bike just sitting in the hallway with nobody guarding it. It jumped on it and my buddy took my picture on it. It was honestly just abandoned in a hallway by itself. Yes the # 25 1985
Those old trusting days means a more civil society huh. I only saw Bob race once, and it was on that bike at Red Bud in 85. He got about 5th I think. I remember a track banner down the side of a double jump but not covering the ends of the jump, so Bob was going around the jump but stayed in the banner. Only about 3 guys saw that line. lol Bob was my childhood hero because he came from nowhere, and beat everybody up. I loved that the sport was based on the individual.
I wish Honda would reproduce that bike for sale. It would be a killer vintage racing bike. :)
Fascinating thanks
Thank you for the video 🙏👌
very cool thanks guys
This is so cool.
57 years old.. No way to give enough thumbs up...
I loved this ! Could have listened for hours ! Fascinating. I would like to hear a similar discussion on Honda's ATC/quad racing development in the early to mid 80's .
Lechien's 1985 125 was fast with him on it. Of course he has the talent, but he weighed 180 lbs and really did not want to ride the 125 at first as he thought he was too heavy for a 125.
He was right, for any other 125.
Great video thank-you
That linkage type front fork, (fork?) on the works 1980 Honda that Roger worked with may look like the arm of the Terminator, but I promise you, the smoothness of it is probably impossible for a telescopic for to match. I had experience with a Mt. Bike front end a friend of mine made, with the shock in the head tube, (Nuke Proof Reactor, 1995), and that thing stuck the front wheel to the ground so well over chatter bumps, it was amazing. No telescopic fork was even close, at all.
I think I am going to have my YZ250 fork tubes coated with that slippery stuff, (re-plated), if I hear it works well a couple more times.
....the funny thing is, that bike is actually the 1982 RC.....
LOL! I ate muddy roost off of Gary Jones's Honda! Corona Raceway 250/500 Ex
Love the 80s MX
I love 80's CR's!
I really would like for someone to do a piece on the 1976 Honda RC 125 hybrid Honda used at the USGP in Ohio. As Dave alluded to, Marty Smith was not happy with his works bike in 1976. The development was behind the other motorcycles. The 1976 USGP 125 race, American Honda cast off the full GP RC bike and built Marty a hybrid using components that were not 100% the Japanese GP bike. I seem to remember somewhere Donnie Emler helped with the engine and they labeled the bike the SoCal hot rod. I also seem to remember reading the Japanese engineers were furious with that decision. I could be wrong. I would still like to see something about that bike because it was unique for that race.
Good stuff
My bikes ..1982 on are all perfect..
Boy howdy! I had one of those aluminum tank 250s with the down swept chamber. What a animal of torque and power. I loved it. Except that kickstarter would bite you bad if you sat on it and tried to start it. I always had to get off and start it. It would pop off with first kick. Awesome!!
Now here's one for you.. maybe some bike mechanic can tell me why !! I bought it used with very low hrs. It would only run with a NGK plug. If you tried any other plug in it it would pop and spit and run like shit. Put that NGK back in it and hang on. Also. Would only respond to castrol gtx racing oil in the fuel .. I tried golden spectral in it and it wouldn't run .. all the brand name oils wouldn't work. Why is that?? I mean it was a deadly combo for this beast it would crack on the power band and if you weren't ready for it , it would leave you behind.
I would run the mix a touch on the fat side but the plug was a pretty light tan to brick red. And clean with castrol. I'd run 4.7 gal. To one quart of castrol racing oil. Not synthetic either.. I couldn't figure it out. But it ran like it's ass was on fire and it was searching for the river. It got stolen out of my garage one day . S. O. B never saw or heard it again. I'd listen for it to it had a very distinctive sound. Then I bought a new YZ 360 yamaha when they came out with the silver red stripe matching color scheme for the 360 and , 500. That's the one I ended up really falling in love, and marrying. OMG 😃. What a powerhouse. I miss her. 4th gear! Just move back on the seat a couple inches and squeeze it. Front wheel off the ground so smooth. What a joy to ride. You know how some bikes make you tired and soar. Not this one. She'd say get on and let me show you how it's done. It was back then, the best bike I'd ever had or ridden.. my friends all slobbered all over it to. 😅😅😅
She was definitely a looker and packed a serious punch..
You never put your foot down in a turn on this one.. it would slow you down or pull you off balance. Just lay it over and sgueeze her . And it was gone around that turn like it was on a rail.. I actually saw one on Pinterest for sale. It was recently frame up restored. It was beautiful. Like off the showroom floor. Ha ha. Back in the 80s when it came out it was like 1250.00 new. He was asking 5 grand for this one.. ok anyway ! Had to stroll down memory lane for a minute there.
Awesome
Let's do the evolution of TM - RM
Another channel on YT that can not figure out the volume is too low. I bet the YT commercials we all hate are loud as hell though.
WOW COOL
Holy smokes! This place is 20 me n from my house. Is this place open to the public??
On the Ribbi bike.... the pro-squat brake torque geometry. What happened to that? We all did that to our bikes and you could feel the difference. I'm astonished.
You all did what to your bikes, make a machined linkage front suspension for them?
@@EarthSurferUSA At the rear. Free-floated the rear brake and ran a parallel brake torque link to the frame. If you ran it below the swingarm it was pro- squat under braking.
I like this.....
Wow! And Steve called Stankdog fat. Lol
Where are they doing this interview? Nice place.
@@jaysmokey Torrance
You made that 250 for Unadilla 81
Can you find out what those '82 250s weigh? I would be interested in what many old factory bikes weighed.
Whatever the minimum weight rule said, is what they weighed
I believe it was 214 lbs (97kg)
@@NinetyTres Yet another stupid rule. Go too light,--they break. Simple as that.
懐かしいね🤔今はここに…
How much R&D did the NR500 and then NSR500 take up vs the dirt bikes? Why did the 77-78 production cr 125 lag behind yamaha and suzuki?
Bikes being good or not so good goes up and down. But there is one factor that has always been true. When a company hired Roger DeCoster to work on their bike designs,---they were allways the good ones. Honda sat on their laurels after the 73 bikes a bit. Roger was riding for Suzuki and was a big help I am sure. Yamaha came out with the mono-shock. But by the 80's, Honda got serious. That 70's and 80's bike evolution---was a race series in itself, and a wonderful thing to see and experience as a kid.
W F O🤙🏻
I see it is not "Your YT channel", if you can't stop YT from playing "their ads", that interrupt "Your show" in the middle of "Your sentence".
Me, gustaría que algun día mostrarás la honda Paris Dakar 600pues,yo tengo una le,tengo mucho aprecio gracias
I would love to see new bikes allowed in Vintage racing. Not modern bikes of course, but new bikes, like the reproduction of the old bikes.
Of course, we live under a dictatorship now, and the EPA would not allow it I am sure. How am I wrong about that?
As a kid, I would have traded my mother for those super sleek Showas and the handmade swingarms.
Edit: I love Magoo, but he had a cheater cylinder the year he walked by Wise *on a straight.*
@@alexcallas8222 Google it. Jody at MXA spoke of it. Pretty common knowledge... Not knocking Magoo. His stomping dominance at the MXDN is legacy enough.
@@rothloaf1980 Still just "hear say". Jody did not build the bike.
@@alexcallas8222 It's not,----really that serious. We just had a rigged election sir. That never works out well.
@@EarthSurferUSA ok ok. I don't want to delete it, but I will agree that it's never been proven.
😃 And no one in motorsports would fudge a few cc's at an unsanctioned, one-off TV spectacle race with a fat payout.
And no one in my 83cc Seniors races ran a 99cc jug. Just kidding... Love Danny. RIP
Edit: F*** that tubby silverspoon fed whiner Trump.
I don't understand the "cheater cylinder".
What's that little outboard in your corner......and what's yer net worth, MECHANIC?
My friend dropped off 1976 cr250 basket case in 1987 me and friend welded frame fixed rivets in clutch basket omg if it didn't buck you off it lope out on you just plain fun bike
Done. Pretty good show mathis. But why is Racer-x vids sponsored by "Maynard's, Kachava, Body Freedom Today weight loss, RUclips TV, Iron-neck neck trainer, " advertisements that nobody cares about and cuts you guys off in mid sentence? Doesn't anybody in the industry want to sell their stuff?
There is a difference between good and bad money. Pretty good show though. Thanks. Now we are even. lol
6:40 What was "the works rule" in 1976? He thinks a rule allowed works bikes,---lol.
But Dave messed up right after, because there was no case reed MX bike in 1975, (he meant piston port). Dave is getting old, and his head is full of knowledge.
But mathis makes up his own world. They were "FREE" to make works bikes. It was not a rule. The guy thinks freedom was a rule? jeeech.
To make my point, Dave just tells mathis about the "Type 2" Honda bikes that Pierre and Marty rode in the middle of 77. The most trick bikes ever made to that point. Next question, "Do you see Honda getting serious at this point?" Dave is going to be nice. I would say, "What is the matter with you?" and leave, vowing only to let smart people interview me. It would help save the sport.
Details run together when you do it for a living and have a 1000 data points to remember rather than reading about in the magazines and have 10. I’m sure there are plenty of details that are not a 100 percent accurate as for the timing, but they are for anyone reflecting back 40 years.
The claiming rule was new in 76 and this complicated bringing a works bike. Settle the f down.
@@ElsinoreRacer The claiming rule is theft, then and today, but I did not know the theft of a bike was made legal in 76, so thanks for that. But for your end comment, don't tell me what to do, and I won't tell you what to do. Deal?
@@EarthSurferUSA You seem very excitable. The rules permitted works bikes by not excluding them. Under the claiming rule you had to pay a set price for the bike. You entered your bike subject to the published rules of the event. "Theft" is straight up whining.
No 1978 thru 80, Honda was best not one yz was even close or rm I hate when they don't talk about the 78-80, cr250
Too much sitting down!!! There were bikes there with awesome history, but no see????