Stealing a Ride on an Ultra Rare Giant Slaying 2 Stroke MX Bike!

We steal a ride on an ULTRA-RARE giant slaying 2 stroke MX bike. This is the insane story of Cagiva and the WMX 125cc and how this Italian underdog was able to defeat the Japanese giants of Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki. MX2 pro rider Tom Grimshaw gives the legendary 1985 bike a test and Max fills us in on where Cagiva disappeared to. It's a wild ride, so buckle up and enjoy!
A big thanks goes out to Guy Hayden for letting us rip on is steeds!
Support the channel, grab some 2 stroke merch here - teespring.com/stores/toofast-...

[@davidmcdeavitt3490]

I actually race one of those bikes at the Loretta Lynn’s amateur nationals in the 80’s.

[@arnaupons5796]

Still have the old cagiva 125 wmx of my father and a puch cobra, incredible bikes! My father raced alot with the cagiva when he was young. In one race his last option was use cognac as a brake fluid and worked incredibly well, what a bike!

[@nathanjames3536]

What a stunning machine Cagiva got a lot right for an 80s bike 👍 Again great editing max top job

[@ramishrambarran3998]

This was an excellent video. Being 65 years old, I am intrigued with the musical chairs of brand ownership in the day ! Yes, the Suzuki RMs were the Darth Vaders in that past era ! Respect. Trinidad & Tobago.

[@bcitral]

a 500 smoker shoot out would be cool. The old CR against the YZ490, Maico, RM and the KX

[@vetb882]

Cagiva algo made a WMX500...

[@caseyhill5261]

I do have a kx500, would be willing to let them borrow it

[@allywilkeforsenate]

My YZ 490 was unreal fast.

[@justdoinit2378]

There’s many videos on KZbin with 500s goin at it

[@JETZcorp]

@@justdoinit2378 Bust mostly just CR vs KX. I'd love to see someone really flex one of the water-cooled Maico (MStar) 500s. It's such a fast excellent bike, but they're either sitting in garages or being chugged up goat trails at 0.5mph.

[@CyrusFisher619]

I love old 2 strokes

[@999lazer]

Awesome, thanks for watching

[@jimantonini6775]

@@999lazer8정말 6

[@jimantonini6775]

ㅓ 즈@@999lazer하지만 9 9 ㅕ8ㅑㅑ8 ㅣ ㅡ 44 8ㅑ67ㅇ8ㅑ67ㅇ8ㅑ쳐 57 88ㅌ 전 ㅍ

[@joski9030]

Agreed I wish I hadn’t of sold my last one 95 RM 250 spent hours and hours rebuilding it then sold it far too cheap 😢

[@markkukla165]

Too right I have an 86kx 500cc

[@robertrishel3685]

Great video! Just fantastic! I remember how trick those Cagiva bikes were! So cool!

[@dannywilson8443]

@999lazer, thank you for this awesome video. I had a 1985 Cagiva 125 and that thing ripped but handled like crap, all my friends out here in California called it the crazy elephant. Thanks again for the vid brought back some great memories.

[@999lazer]

It was our pleasure Danny! Glad we could take you back in time a little. thanks for watching dude

[@angelosantaniello4113]

Awesome max!!! Love this I started MX in 71, everything you said is spot on

[@999lazer]

The seal of approval from you Angelo means a lot! Thanks for watching as always dude

[@scottwatkins3156]

My '87 WMX125 was the fastest 125 I ever rode. The forks were tricky to get set up but it wasn't too bad. My only issue was getting parts. Although, the bike did come with enough spare parts to do a top end, piston and all.

[@scottfoster3548]

LOVED my 88 Cagiva WMX 250 AND even got brake checked by the factory Cagiva rider Mike Healy at De Anza Cycle Park REMEBER De Anza.

[@tomthomsen11]

Loved DeAnza and Mike brake checked everyone! Now he'll give you a badass haircut! Peace!

[@scottfoster3548]

@@tomthomsen11 WHERE is his shop, in Costa Mesa??

[@wideopen125]

Cool video bud, well done. Great to see those Euro rockets get their recognition. The Varese Husqvarnas were a top force in world enduro 1993 through to 2012. Fast Eddy was ruling the world on a Cagiva Husky 125 in '93.

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching and your comment. Really appreciate it.

[@ecalzo]

Happy to see Cagiva up here .. a friend of mine owns three of them he's a rider and a collector... super bikes... WOWO

[@dazmos_65]

That was awesome! History, story and the riding comparison. Never realised how successful it was.

[@999lazer]

Thanks Darren, Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers Max

[@jcsquared1111]

Really love all your 2 stroke vids bro!! I got the itch due to watching vids on KZbin 20 plus years I my early 40s now. Went out grabbed a kx125 worked up to 144cc, lectron carb, bigger discs its a fire breathing dragon. Now got to get my our of shape ass back in gear. But already lost 20 lbs doing it. Another 20 togo!! Thanks again for helping the spark!!

[@999lazer]

That's so cool! Ride on John, thanks for watching mate

[@jamierobert8316]

Cracking vid. You make some of the best videos on KZbin. Never disappointed. ✊✊🔥

[@999lazer]

Thanks Jamie, Really appreciate your comment

[@cavscout62]

The 1973 CR Elsinore 125 was the one that set the world on fire, where were you?

[@regvarney5942]

Brilliant video great production well done!

[@brucetandy8220]

Great video. Cool old MX bike. Looked fun to ride.

[@tinolino58]

What a great report! Thank You so much!! 😍🚀☀️🛸🥂

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Martin, glad you enjoyed it!

[@fraserlaw7599]

Great video, well done Tom. I think you could have got closer to the Yamaha's lap time on my '88 Cagiva 125 though. That revs to the moon. Also the 85 never had upside down forks originally, and most Cagivas now have modern KTM footpegs fitted instead of the narrow originals. Great to watch though, thanks

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Fraser! I know Tom would've really appreciated those modern footpegs! haha

[@2strokesandstuff580]

Great video man!

[@999lazer]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching

[@maksikkarenduro9218]

Very good review man. Great great video

[@joet-sk4sw]

I remember seeing one of these in Moto,X magazine back in like ,83 84 ...? Maybe....,never got to see one in person,love the looks.

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

I’m enjoying your videos. Thanks.

[@garagecedric]

Im new to this channel, have the 1981 maico 490 been on the channel before? The big daddy of the twin shock bikes, which you can see in todays twin shock vintage racing results :) so much 2 stroke in here, I hope there's much more to come.

[@999lazer]

Welcome Cedric, glad to have you on board! We haven't done a Maico video yet, but it's definitely on my to do list. :-) Plenty more 2 stroke content to come. Thanks for watching!

[@t.s.racing]

I build big inch Harley racing engines for a living. Funny how I have zero interest in a 4 stroke dirt bike. NONE.

[@RodDuster]

Max looking like he's been on a serious coke binge there, so much hand gesturing, calm down, it's like watching the Italian dude from Wicked Tuna!

[@shanejohnson437]

They sped up the footage

[@TractorWrangler01]

He was obviously far more used to the YZ. I'm not sure that was quite fair to the older bike this time. He seamed like he was trying to be careful with the older bike. Just my 2 cents.

[@999lazer]

Yes, i think you might be right there dude...we had a mechanical issue early on in the day so i reckon Tom was probably self consciously taking it a bit easier on the Cagiva's. Thanks for watching and commenting dude!

[@TractorWrangler01]

@@999lazer I love your helmet cam footage. That's really helpful. 👍

[@bapedrifts2866]

He took a different line on the YZ too

[@alucard7218]

Brings back memories! I used to ride my mates Cagiva 500 in the late 80's. Total missle compared to my kx125 lol!

[@rodbrezinski8033]

Very good story good information on cagiva

[@JS-pq9lh]

I had that same 125 ripper when I was 15. I could've gotten a new RM 125 or a used 87 cagiva 125. I picked the cagiva wmx 125. Man that SOB was a fast light nimble little ripper. I was the definite envy of all my buds. Only 2 stroke that could keep with me was my 86 cr 500. I loved jumping that WMX. Personally I think it had a great layout and great suspension.

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching a great comment

[@FastSloW-qt8xf]

Umm I'm pretty sure a cr500 would. Only roost you for half a second before it would be out of sight

[@dasilva103]

Great Video, Very Informative, Good Energy. Personally I would tone it down about 10% on the body movement, somewhat aggressive at moments but that’s just me. Lots of good content from this channel over the years, keep up the good work 👍

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Ryan, appreciate the comment too.

[@bobz1736]

What a great video guys 😁

[@grifter1984]

Had a wmx250 back in the day loved that thing

[@massy7956]

Great video. 👍Thank you.

[@TheShift1313]

Not sure why i was thinking mugen 125 when i saw the title. Cool vid and definitely feel the pain on the pegs lol. My 86rm250 was like standing on toothpicks.

[@GrimReaper-ly8zk]

I was thinking Honda MUGEN ME480. Until I saw the swingarm

[@johnthomas6614]

Awsome Max. I'm 45 I hve 2 bro's they are 12 & 14 yrs older thn me they both had those Cagiva's. I seen Documentary on Claudio C. & family When they First went Back 2 The Factory they showed the Cagiva part of factry they still had everything parts blueprints plastics. all the tools/machines. It was like tht part was stuck in Time. it had set there all thse yrs. I was blown away. & all the road racein championship's tht family won back in day. Witch ever bike U pick nxt i no it Will be A Great Vid. Wick On ✊

[@999lazer]

That sounds so cool! If you've got a link to that doc i'd love to give it a watch. Thanks for the support as always John!

[@johnthomas6614]

@@999lazer I will find it. its ben several years since I seen Doc. I've got 2 finally mow yard tht I didnt mow frm other day whn U uploaded vid. tht is so funny😂. But I will get on it. The Doc. not the yard. ha ha ha

[@chriswalden798]

That's a hell of an orgy on motorcycle branding. I bet you had fun researching this one! lol

[@davelambardo6464]

Always wanted a ultra light weight high tech fast reving 4stroke like the euro guys had.. That was in the early 90s. Then they came along aluminum frames and all. Now all I want is a brand new cr 500 ! Along with all the little brothers in other colors..

[@ansoncritchlow1770]

Grt video..... Riding in schoolboys in the 80s i rememember the cagiva well at the time. Schoolboys was dominated by kawasaki in the 80s but u would see the odd cagiva grt video.... I regonise the old mecedes Cagiva van maybe the one at some of the events

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to write such a nice comment. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Max

[@larrynorsworthy8582]

When I saw these in person 1985, they were grey color with red letters if im remembering right?

[@alexandermangani107]

Any chance you can round up a Gilera V-twin 125 GP bike from back in the 80s? Rumor had it that it spun 17,000 RPM and that there is nothing before or since that has sounded like that machine!

[@leekirtley7234]

The period service van is the best part of this docu👌👌👌👌👍👍👍👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@CardoSystemsGlobal]

What a great piece of history!

[@Sonoknow]

Would be nice to do an EVO comparison (1989 RM vs CR vs Yz vs KX vs Ktm

[@999lazer]

Evo Shootout...i like to said of that! ;-D Thanks for watching dude!

[@johnchopp3278]

Rm all day everyday!

[@doriankeating1963]

Not to sureif I’m correct here but I believe the kx had the biggest hp output at that time followed by ktm and Honda ! Would be fantastic to see them compete now!

[@doriankeating1963]

999lazer I’m sure that would get you many thousands maybe millions of views and subs , not just older viewers either as the interest in 2 strokes , especially older models amongst the youth seems to be at an all time high! Keep this up and you will be the number one bike Chanel on KZbin within no time.

[@eddieanthonisse605]

Fellow Dutchman Dave Strijbos won the world championship on that bike at just 16 years old.

[@dickgribbe8926]

Eddie Anthonisse 18 years old was Dave

[@eddieanthonisse605]

Dick Gribbe you’re right

[@dickgribbe8926]

Eddie Anthonisse i ride against him in 125 GP in 1984,85,86 great rider

[@tyroniousyrownshoolacez2347]

Blue smoke matters! I can't breathe.

[@MegaYogib]

I'm from oregon. I remember going to washougal in washington and watching jerry meeker a local pro on one. Tall lanky guy who could corner that wmx125 like mad. He would drag his grips in the dirt. Super fast.

[@98796230966754435677]

AWesomeeee this rare bike. Keep doing broooo

[@999lazer]

Thanks Marcos! More to come soon!

[@augustreil]

Was the Cagiva 500 faster than the Honda CR 500 ? Thanks.

[@traviscosgriff1439]

very interesting video mate.. you should try doing a video on the Alfer VR250 stroke these are super rare and awesome bikes made in Spain only 3000 where ever made. Im in Australia 50 where imported here in 2001

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Travis. I'm always on the look out for the next bike for the 'Stealing a Ride' series. I'll look in to the Alfer and see if i can find any in the UK. Thanks for the suggestion dude!

[@SUNshine-uu8hs]

Awesome im 53 and had a cagiva 125 and 250 back in the day

[@glennwoods2462]

MV Agusta are considered the Ferrari of motorcycle's nowadays... I didn't know the full story of Cagiva up until now.... thanks Max 👍👍🇳🇿

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Glenn! :-D

[@attilalako8090]

2 STROKES WILL ALWAYS RULE !!

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

Love this track. Not a bad seat in the house.

[@alexguiver815]

All that research and development and still only 0.2s a lap faster every year. Interesting comparison, liked and subscribed!!

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Alex! Welcome to the Team :D

[@laszloarvai8216]

Movie quality. Thank You!!!

[@dpunched8104]

have the guy run a full day to were hes more comfortable hed probably keep the score more even tbh instead of 5 or 6 sec within 2 to 3 probably

[@MrLongboarder87]

Honestly I just don’t think so. If it was a regular weekend rider and the gap was 5-6 seconds, a day or two of learning the old bike would probably bring down the time to 2 or 3 seconds. But when you have a pro and he is getting a 5-6 second difference your not going to get a huge change in time no matter how much he practices. Now change the forks, shock, wheels and breaks on the old bike I bet he could get it down to 2 or 3 seconds. Still at 2 seconds slower a lap your going to be way in the back of the pack after 10 laps.

[@Whiplover105]

Next vid I would love to see that 500cc Cagiva wmx monster ripping hard on the mx track driven by a tough rider 😎😬😬✊💪 VIVA CAGIVA!!!!! 🔝1️⃣

[@999lazer]

Guy has a bunch of 500's, we'll definitely make that happen! Thanks for watching sude

[@Whiplover105]

@@999lazer yes I know who he is! A truly Cagiva lover! Thank you to make always such a interesting and coolest videos!!! 😉👍💪🔝💣

[@wtfftw24]

More of this tests pleeeeeaaaseeeee!!

[@999lazer]

We are working on more as we speak! Thanks for watching!

[@wtfftw24]

@@999lazer yeah buddy! Greetings from Italy👍👍😁

[@willkeeling8894]

Man I miss riding already just fractured 4 vertibrea in my back yesterday and all I can watch is dirt bike stuff

[@250rtrxjunkie]

I miss my 86 Cagiva, wish I still had it🙄🤘🏻💨💨💨

[@kaosadventures]

I loved my 1983 Rm125 I raced it in 2000 against modern bikes and came 4th for the day it was a weapon

[@adampaniczko8198]

Would like to see 88and89 cagiva wmx250 out there I own one now would like to now more of the history on those bikes also thank you

[@jessarellanes6648]

Awesome bro

[@user-hb8be5wb4q]

And first of all, why is the ball cap on backwards? I’m curious!

[@Ivanesquevan]

Thanks man, great great video. I love Cagiva. I live in Patagonia Argentina, and in the 90's in brasil, Cagiva and Agrale do brasil, do a association, a produces a motorcycles whit a engine design Cagiva but casting in brasil. And the chasis produces in Agrale, but is a bad chasis and design. The models are named Agrale sxt 125 13.5; Agrale sxt 125 16.5 water cooled, and tree models whit the same base motor but 200cc water cooled, in 27.5 hp, enduro version and dual purpose; and a 200cc 30.0hp dual purpose, named Elefantre. Always in 2 stroke. Thanks bro. Regards.

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Ivan, and appreciate the comment. So the Cagiva lives on a little in the Agrale. Nice!

[@BennyBen9]

Great video great info 👍

[@999lazer]

Glad you enjoyed it Benny, thanks for watching and thanks for the support!

[@emexduzentos]

Cagiva bought italian manufacturer TGM (whose mx bikes were either white or red) in 1982 so the 83 model was a big jump in styling. The italian mags of the time (85/86) tested the 125's to be around 32rwhp for the WMX's and 27-29 for the japanese brands. I would also like to add that Cagiva lost the 1984 (Corrado Maddi broke a leg), 1987 (not sure) and 1988 world GP titles in the last rounds of the respective years. The biggest difference in the WMX's engine to today's technology is the intake which in the italian bike was achieved through the back of the cylinder whereas from 1987 on almost every 125 high performance mx engine has the intake in the case and that alone gives about 2hp more throughout the entire rpm range.

[@dean754]

Very interesting story ….I have a Gilera !🤩 Also Italian

[@eyesthatseewillsee7457]

Such a good looking bike

[@999lazer]

She's a beauty!

[@kaw1997]

Saw one in 85 at Good Times motorsports park just outside San Antonio Texas

[@ConnerBonner1]

5 seconds quicker... not that bad for the Cagiva 🤩

[@woodysworld9688]

Sound as a pound mate? Good job💪

[@karlkuttup]

change a few parts on the cav and port and trench the engine and electrics i bet it would bet the yam ive seen crazy mods done on the old cavs and they are bullet proof when done right ,i guy i knew used to build cav twin engine quads fast tuned to the tops as well,last i heard he moved to the states to work on and with canams

[@northpostman]

Another awesome bike from history: Bengt Aberg's 1977 Yamaha HL500 4 stroke.

[@ronaldtravis970]

Sad Suzuki doesn’t seem to even care these days .

[@999lazer]

It's crazy where the brand is in the sport right now considering how dominant they once were!

[@C0NQUIZTAD0R]

@@999lazer We were considering Suzuki some years ago. But apart from their handling, there was no comparison when we got on a KTM (this was when we were riding 85cc). So we have stayed with KTM and now ride a 150sx as my boy refuses to ride a 4 stroke as he finds them boring. (And as his mechanic and part sponsor I am happy we ride 2 strokers!!)

[@dirtbikeguy8993]

Suzuki should fire up the tooling for the 2008 rm125 and 250 with modern kyb suspension and offer Offroad rmx versions as well. This would bring them out of the gutter.

[@tomthomsen11]

Suzuki got really hurt financially in 2008 when GM ordered a bunch of cars and then didn't take delivery and left them sitting t the dock in Long Beach.

[@derriklee287]

That's what happens when a shit ass brand like GM buys you out.

[@bhendriks7467]

You should also compare it with a 1985 japanese bike...... Fun to watch this tho

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Bert! That's a great idea, i'm gonna look at getting a 1985 era Suzuki for a head to head test! Thanks again dude

[@christopheralamangos2638]

If that test was done at 4 o’clock in the afternoon at Glen Helen the Cagiva would be 3min and the yz would be 1.15

[@JAAK_49]

Love how back in the day they were just rebadging bikes.. not much has changed 😂😂

[@rickybanzai2199]

Well, sometimes Italians surprise the world with something good... I remember the WC's of Vekhonen and Strijbos, I was so happy Cagiva did it!!! Oh God, so many years ago... I find quite surprising the gap: 37 years, 5 seconds. 1/7 of second a year....in every other motor competition 37 years are like century, just imagine F1 or rally car, or 500 gp against modern motogp. A shame Cagiva has gone, their bike was not build like japanese, nor was so reliable...but surely they were fast and beautiful. Nowadays Mv Agusta is owned by AMG (Mercedes) and Ducati by Audi....maybe is for the better, they have big industrial group behind them, so they can work more freely. Thanks for the video, really amazing! Ps I'm Italian, let me be a little proud!

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

Remember the various Hodaka models? From the Ace 90 to the Combat Wombat.

[@andreyillnips7550]

how much would one of these in showroom condition go for in the US? Europe?

[@brunostudley2191]

Let’s have more of this please, excellent post, really enjoyed it, I’m sure with your contacts you can do some evo/super evo tests. Hey use the same track/ rider and do a 999lazer reasonably priced evo lap board, see which older machine is the fastest👍🏻

[@999lazer]

Hey Bruno, Thanks for watching and the ideas. Appreciate it. Cheers Max

[@motomash6143]

I could see from the go that the yz was alot quicker. Both lovely bikes 👍🙏

[@999lazer]

For sure dude, you can also hear how much stronger the YZ is in my opinion! Thanks for watching!

[@harleydavidson801]

Back in the day I always thought they were the best looking bikes, no fancy graphics just a mean looking machine.

[@rosstempletonogskater]

Never heard of Cagiva, and I was born in the 60s

[@edfeten4724]

The Husqvarna's of the late 80s to 90s were made by Cagiva.

[@dougharrison7844]

Understandable since I've never seen one in the wild, but I was aware of them from the golden age of two stroke 500 grand prix bikes of the 90s.

[@jeffnickels2279]

According to the dyno charts and reviews in the magazines the cagiva was down on power thru the whole range, and needed help badly being competitive( I'm almost positive the wmx made 21 horsepower in 1985 or 1986 whereas the cr and kx were around 27-28 on that particular dyno). Mike Healy once said his cagiva was at a huge disadvantage even though he won the golden state nationals 125cc title on one in 86 . Non of that mattered to me because I thoght they were beautiful.

[@northpostman]

I'd love to see an old Maico coffin tanked Adolf Weil era 500 go against some modern iron. That would be cool.

[@999lazer]

We are taking on all suggestions...if i can find the bikes i'll make it happen! ;-D

[@moparone7962]

Watched Davey Strijbos kick ass on one of those, have some pictures somewhere

[@joerglasch8255]

1985 I was riding a Maico GME 500.

[@999lazer]

It seems like there were so many brands to chose from back then! Thanks for watching dude

[@troyscherr5054]

Hell yeah Ducati/Cagiva beastly!! I think I need a 500 in my stable 🤔🙏

[@buddymcshreds5284]

I had a couple maico and bultaco bikes I bought to fix and sell in the early 90s. Should have kept them

[@mickmacman]

Wheres that track?

[@diamonddogdiamonddog2804]

Duane Summers 1980's District 37 Desert racer...Cagiva...was a rocket

[@libingmeme8474]

21:40 born in 04 and have, my friend has a mito (we're eurocucks) and my uncle has a canyon

[@brucetandy8220]

I have a 1992 WXE 610 Husqvarna four stroke, supposedly built by Cagiva

[@duncanfishing3441]

That one is so old but it runs 😎

[@999lazer]

haha it sure does

[@chrisstephens6194]

What track is that