1989 125 Motocross Shootout

[@stkyfngrszmooth]

This was the greatest 125 shootout of all time, in my opinion. For the previous ten years, motocross bikes were seeing massive technological improvements on a yearly basis to the point where if you were riding a two year old bike the chances of you being competitive were miniscule due to how lightning fast technology was moving. Cartridge forks, long-travel suspension, along with single shock rear suspension allowed bikes to travel over nasty terrain at speeds well above the previous double-shock rear suspension and short travel suspension setups. Mix in liquid cooling, power valves, and all-time highest horsepower, and you had a chance to own the latest in motocross trickery for a very reasonable price (unlike today). I'll admit that when I first saw this in my notifications, I immediately got excited because of how bikes like these made me feel back in the day. 1989 was truly a magical time to be a fan of motocross, and I was beyond lucky to have been there.

[@mikeandrews1899]

Yes ! The 1980's decade was a fast and furious technology advance war in Japanese motocross machinery

[@pauliewalnuts240]

I wasn't alive then but the 1980s & 1990s were great times for mx. I think the continual progression of suspension technology is the single biggest difference between modern & older bikes. I recently rode a 1988 yz250 & it was surprisingly similar to a new yz250, especially power wise, but the suspension definitely felt dated. Its cool that rapid technological development meant significantly updated bikes every other year. Competition is good for the consumer. Modern mx bikes are fantastic but they all are very similar. It seems like back then, manufacturers had more variance between them as they individually pursued different ideas.

[@chrisstephens6194]

The 89 RM still remains one of the most beautiful bikes of all time ❤

[@alaindrouin1585]

the 1981 RM is hard to beat :)

[@mikeandrews1899]

​@@alaindrouin1585 I agree , both were awesome machines and thankfully I raced them both . The '81 in 125cc novice and the '89 in 125cc AMA pro nationals ...... WOW ! 😳 Good times on the yellow zingers

[@stkyfngrszmooth]

@chrisstephens6194 I was supposed to race a privately sponsored race at Southwick back in the 80s, and the day before, I blew up my bike, a 1990 YZ 125. My neighbor happened to be getting out of the sport (baby on the way) and had his 1989 RM 125 for sale. It was in impeccable condition with barely a scratch on it. I offered him $200 (that was all I had), and I couldn't believe it when he accepted. The next day, I raced that bike and won. I ended up rebuilding my Yamaha and selling it. I loved that Suzuki because it felt as if it was specifically built just for me. The way it handled was unlike anything I've ever ridden, and I loved how it cornered and much low to midrange power it had. It definitely needed some top-end because there basically wasn't any, so I had it ported and polished, and I got an FMF pipe for it. It helped but still couldn't hang with a stock CR 125, but I did the best I could with it.

[@chrisstephens6194]

@stkyfngrszmooth do you think the inconsistently by suzuki is part of the allure. They always look the part but sometimes are a bit rubbish?

[@mikeandrews1899]

@@chrisstephens6194 I remember KTM and Husqvarna winning world championships back in the day, then fading away and going into bankruptcy. Then decades later coming back to the top of the scene. When I started racing in the 70's , Suzuki was a commanding force in moto .... as you grow old , you will recognize, what goes around comes around and everything has its time 🤔

[@craighills2382]

Getting older is not good ,I look back the bikes of my youth late 70s as a child , through the 80s until my 89 CR500 bring such good memories. Those magazines you would read time and time again. Pictures had life ,seems to me more life than the internet.I don't know why I feel that way, though I do

[@mikeandrews1899]

Getting old sucks 😫 but the memories are good !

[@raoulduke3770]

@@mikeandrews1899getting old is better than the alternative!

[@Efemedio1]

I can totally relate my friend. I'm a 69 model and I couldn't wait for my monthly MXA and Dirt Rider! I could look at those magazines day and night! God bless 🙌 you buddy!

[@zbignoz.tunnlerwitz_109]

I had an 89 RM 125, bought it in 1990 from the Suzuki race dept. it was stripped of all the "works" parts, so it had a brand new stock engine and suspension. they did throw in an extra set of wheels which had trick looking billet factory race hubs with "Kehoe" written on them with a sharpie. I told all my friends that it was Kehoe's old bike. FWIW, I've never been faster than I was on that bike, then again i've never been faster than my 18 year old self on any bike.😆

[@cbh148]

Man, that ‘89 Honda looks so sharp. That might be the best looking MX bike, and if it isn’t, then the best can only be like 2 years either direction and still a CR. That ‘89 RM is really stylish too. Never realized how much I dig them till seeing them in high-res for the first time in a long time.

[@lt.petemaverickmitchell7113]

This brought back so many GREAT memories! I really enjoyed this video….. THANK YOU!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@raoulduke3770]

Excellent work. I know you get a ton of requests but would love a mid 80s enduro shootout.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

That's a great idea!

[@Efemedio1]

I'm a 69 model and this is right up my alley Tony! Love all the colors and the style! Thank you sir for the content!

[@williamrizzo1285]

I had a 1978 RM 80. I remember the shootout in the Motocross Action magazine. The RM 80 was like a Top fuel dragster and YZ 80 was like a Buick Electra with power windows.😅

[@doncurry7669]

I had a 78 RM 80 my racing friend had a 78 YZ 80 . The RM had so much more power hole shot machine!!! My friend wanted a RM so bad but he’s dad was a YZ guy .

[@siyz250]

Love your channel and what you have done/do for moto and especially classic moto Tony! Wish you could do more. Thanks so much. Si, Christchurch, New Zealand.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you so much for the kind words, I appreciate it!

[@michaelxr2460]

My buddy got one of those CR’s brand new that year. He let me ride it a lot. It was so much fun. Just enough power to scare you a little but not kill you.

[@joshuaross4644]

Awesome 👏 Thanks Tony. Any chance of doing a couple of videos on the history of JT Racing & ANSWER ?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Possibly!

[@brainstain22]

Another great video. Looking forward to 00 RM125 vid.

[@madeogarcia1020]

Awesome as usual!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@lucascady4992]

I had an 88' YZ125, an 86'RM250 in the early 90's. My first Almost New bike was a 96'KX125 in 97-98, next was a 00' CR125 in 01'! The KX was the most brutal bike to ride, head shake or (High Speed Wobble) was what most of my friends said?! 😮 It was set to my weight and height! The 00' CR125 was the slowest, but I was also faster on it at age 29? !! 😮

[@wesleyr1014]

Hey Blaze, how about a history of after market suspension in the 70’s/80’s? I’d love to know more about the Fox Forx vs. Simons, etc. but also swingarms, rear shocks, all of it! I know you touched on the Fox Airshox way back when you did the Fox story, but I’d love a deeper look. Great videos sir!

[@sambuvca22]

Look at that Honda. Love it!

[@scottmiller3025]

I would have taken anyone of these bikes , I actually had gotten an 89 cr125 in 95, mind u I was only about 150lbs and that thing was awesome..loved it

[@aklaunch]

Excellent Channel!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you for watching!

[@gregbowen9546]

Loved my 89 Honda 125s.

[@shonbratton1906]

Bought a used 89 KX only to swap complete frontEnD , put my 88 KX front on it & sold it. I told the new buyer. I had the 89 forks race prep by RaceTech. Note the 89 was 1st yr. KX with dual piston caliper

[@barkeep25]

Always the best!!

[@44sammy4]

Mike keidrowski made that 89 cr 125 look like a freaking missile

[@freeridemoto7133]

Thank you for a new video, would you ever do a video on companies? The owner of (in my opinion) the greatest motocross graphics company passed away years back but they did so much to influence styles from back in the day. Shout out CEET racing, from SoCal to Parahump NV. I had the chance to speak with the owner and his son and learn a bit about their History. From factory rides to the a average rider their graphics and seat covers were all about STYLE that NO bike company has had since.

[@mikep47]

Is that Steve (Pulp MX) @ 6:20 mark ?

[@barkeep25]

When we going to get a full on Yz250 comprehensive video?. I know I'm asking too much. But it would be super sweet!

[@highwayman1218]

I forgot the CR125 retained conventional forks.... I had an 89 CR250 and it would have been a better idea to run the conventional forks on the 250. The forks were awful.

[@larryshull6130]

I'll never forget got a new 87 RM 80 after a year racing crank seized my dad sent to tuff racing and paid to do porting it was smooth and fast my friend had a 85 yz80 felt sick on the bottom and smacked you with power like a screen door slamming shut😅

[@zbignoz.tunnlerwitz_109]

You're lucky you didn't get the 86 RM80 with the wacky rear rotary linkage.

[@TheHypnotstCollector]

didn't you do a video on Thor Kitt'n Wear MX gear? I'm looking for it. Kitten Wear? something like that

[@nicolasayer1908]

I'm a Yamaha man but am sad I never tried those Suzukis in the 90s.

[@easternyellowjacket276]

The RM was the best bike for the average motocross rider out of the box.

[@cavemanjosht]

My daughter has been waiting 6 weeks on a shirt from your store. What’s going on? Are just busy with the holidays?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I am sorry. Teespring is usually fast and I have not had any issues in the past. They handle all of the production. Have you reached out to them for an update?

[@LBrawn]

😃😃😃😃⚡⚡⚡🎯

[@loggerchadwake7141]

That era CR is the best looking dirtbike of all time. Honda needs to stick with that shade all red, black or maybe natural engine. Or what would it look like with the engine red. Like the late 70s ish bikes.

[@loggerchadwake7141]

These, except the YZ. Which should always be yellow and black, are the best looking bikes of their lineage.

[@kingkong81icloud]

When I was just getting into bikes I was on a old coal pit field an someone I knew had a 89 CR 125 an his mate could wheelie it all the way though the gear box down this flat land , I thought wow how do you do that it was in about 98 , then I mastered it , on a DTR with smaller back sprocket. I made a DTR faster that a YZ back in day, I had 4 of them in a row , had about 20 bikes , it’s depressing when you don’t have a bike I wish I never sold my last 2 bikes a 91 YZ an a gas gas , wish I never sold them, I had a KMX 200 , just like a KDX but I think the KDX is better looking and is better off road than the KMX , but my mate had a 89 green KMX 125 , it was like a KX with different gearing, but the YAMAHA DT125R was better suspension I had 4 of them , I don’t think America got them, I think they just got the WR Yamaha was more reliable than the Kawasaki, I have tested them all from the late 80s to late 90s

[@georgewarshington1230]

i know it may be a bit....path less traveled, but could you look into a video about kidney belts? @14:27 it just jumped out at me like a blast from the past. i remember being of that certain age where i wanted one like my dad had, and at some point i stopped wearing it, then everyone had stopped wearing them like an unspoken bond, and now they're gone. when neck braces got popular in motox in like 2014-2016 all i saw was kidney belts. everyone had to have one and you're irresponsible if you don't how dare you. now they're almost gone. was it marketing? was there research behind it? was there research against it at the time or years later? kidney belts just went from as essential as a helmet to gone, and i still haven't heard of any pro moto guys exploding a kidney.

[@brianking1138]

I've only ridden the YZ and CR from 89 and the CR was superior in my opinion. The YZ was a great looking bike though.

[@evanwilliams2602]

Can you make me a shirt with my sons name and using a ktm50 sx jr from 07 erra?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I should be able to yes

[@evanwilliams2602]

Is there a way I can get ahold of you personally, do you have a website. Id like to get something made for my son

[@tdog54]

@@evanwilliams2602 he mentioned how at the start of the video.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Drop me an email at [e-mail]

[@swemx7403]

I've had the 89 cr125. Slowest dirt bike I've ever owned. A total piece of garbage.

[@michaelxr2460]

My buddy got one of those CR’s brand new that year. He let me ride it a lot. It was so much fun. Just enough power to scare you a little but not kill you.