Yamaha's Motocross Ads Of The 1980s

[@thomasclay7947]

By the way dude I love what you do please don't stop doing it you are awesome keep it up

[@highwayman1218]

I know they were downers now, but had a 82 YZ80 as a kid. I'll always have a softspot for 82 YZs. The 80s were a great era for mx. Actually had a 81 YzZinger as a pitbike as a kid. Still consider the YZs as proof of manufacturers thinking out of the box. Love the old ads! Actually still have my 82 issues of Dirtbike magazine with all YZs in them. Absolutely love kicking back and reading those old mags! Great video!

[@gibsonbuilds4841]

Great job. Back in mid 80s I had 83 125. Man that thing looked amazing sitting in the garage. When I wasn't riding....I would just go out and stare at it. Who needed a girlfriend when you had a YZ.

[@arp9541]

Big fan of your channel please keep them coming ,i too was a massive fan of the old mags ads they got me through high school haha

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Thanks for another great and informative video, Brother.

[@robertrishel3685]

I owned and raced 78’ and ‘79 yz80’s…my 79 was an absolute rocket ship! I must have studied those early ads like they were the answers to all the questions of the universe! From 1979-1982 I ran all RM125’s, the ‘79 and ‘81 were my favorites, especially that 81!! Then in 1983 it was back to Yamaha and the 1983 YZ125 which may be my all time favorite bike….I had two of them that year (a white/red one at home in Japan and a yellow one for our vacation back in the usa that year)…. We moved back to the states in 1984 and I raced that yellow 83 throughout that year. In 1985 my folks opened a Kawasaki dealership so it was Kawi for me until I quit MX in 1989…. I will never forget my 1979 YZ80, the 81 RM125 and the 83’ YZ125…. Out of my entire life, I won more races on that 1983 bike (two seasons) and had more hours in it over anything else…. It definitely holds a place in my heart❤️. I never really got comfortable on the KX’s….although I did get to race 125’s, 250’s and the 500….. at 145lbs, my time on the 500 was really interesting😂😂😂. I actually kind of liked it, but it used to scare the crap out of me at fast tracks like Washougal!! I think the best bike I ever raced in my life was a friends 1987 CR125, I was shocked at how much better it was than my Kawasaki or anything else I had ever ridden. Great video, lots of terrific memories!!

[@johnnyofast5924]

I raced the '82 125 in district 17 glory days full seasons at maplehurst and byron. Rocketship fast but it was all road racer top end, weighed as much as a tank and the suspension bottomed out constantly. When I got the '83 it was like a full blown works bike, handled so much better and was so much lighter. My results instantly went to barely making the top 10 to pulling holeshots and running up front. These were the glory years of mx development.

[@sambuvca22]

the old wire milk crate was a nice touch for yamaha

[@craigsteinman9807]

The 1984 models were the most awesome looking of all yellow yzs

[@derrickzenner9300]

The print ads are surely missed. They were straight up awesome. I too would read every word in them.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Yeah it too bad the magazines are all dying off. Sad

[@anthonynicholich9654]

Up-and-down for other Japanese manufacturers too.. Yamaha's power bands might not have been perfect but it wasn't breaking piston skirts like Honda was.

[@Lightnin42]

Great ride down memory lane 👏🇺🇸

[@timconnell5878]

I remember going to the motorcycle shop every chance I could talk my parents into stopping by. I got a brand new 1981 Suzuki Rm 80 for Christmas that year. I rode that bike in the freezing temperatures until it felt numb. A few months later I wanted that 81 Rm 125 so bad even though I couldn't reach the ground I wanted more power. I love seeing these old brochures because they bring back so many good memories.

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Same here brother. I used to walk out with stacks of brochures. 😂

[@80smxpro41]

Raced the 1980 YZ125, 1981 125 & 250 finally 1982 YZ250. I received a pro support ride with American Honda in 1983 and did that turn out to be a blessing. I did love my Yamahas.

[@jasonschofield5561]

Loved seeing the ad's and pictures!! And I do appreciate that you do this (-: Your "perspective" seems to be from a person younger than I. You kinda gloss over the 1980 YZ-465G... I bought a YZ-465G in 1980 when I was 14 and I have it now!! It was a big deal in 1980. You said it was good, but no mention of Marty Moats winning 1980 Carlsbad USGP on a YZ-465G?? The 1st American to win a USGP here in the USA?? Even with the "weird handling" and "outdated" mono-shock rear suspension... Yamaha even put out an ad about Marty's win, saying something like it was a great win for the Red, White, and Blue... and Yellow!! I thought it was a pretty cool thing for Yamaha to run that ad - and there is no mention of it. )-: It just seemed like a lot more time was spent on criticizing the crappie bikes in the 80's and not much time was spent on the the good bikes they made. It took some of the fun out of it for me. )-: But other than that, you did good!!

[@thomasclay7947]

I agree with what you're saying my brother bought a YZ 465g brand new in 1980 and then I had it after him we put extra large fuel tanks on it and I finally updated it with YZ 490 forks and everything after I owned it that was the most groundbreaking machine when it come out it trumped over everything it was the most badass thing at the time nothing could compare to it they finally did catch up but it took them to the next year at that time nothing could touch it

[@erick5327]

Great memories brought back here, well done.

[@timboslice9570]

Thanks for all of you videos. I use the info often.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I'm glad you enjoy them!

[@taranbrewer8137]

I have a 1980 yz50 and I can not find any information on it… you mentioned 1980 was the first year? Was it the last and are you able to find a production count? I would like to figure out if it is on the rare side

[@quickturn66]

It’s rare, I’m pretty sure 1980 only. 81 steel tank yz60 and 82 plastic tank yz60 , I think that was it for the under 80 cc. I was looking for information on my rd 200 prior to getting the title and found a site that had all models listed by headstock number.

[@germanbeer2466]

Awesome content

[@ocjon1965]

awesome job . . .i had a 1981 YZ 125 . . 1st time i ever saw it was at saddle back park .. . broc glover was testing it on a saturday MX race , 30 min +2 laps . .i thought it was gonna be the works bike for 1981 . .talked to him and his mechanic in the pits . .and they were like , yeah this is next years bike. .after spending a year on a 1980 cr 125 , that suspension sucked...i was stoked to go to a watercooling ,and a hell of alot better suspension . .got the bike a month later . .rex staten did the suspension . .i won so many nov races at saddle back . .and a 1/2 dozen interm . . .we are talking full gates . . .the bike was great...never broke..i didnt give a crap about the extra weight up high...was AMAZING not to have the power drop off after 10 minutes

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

Tony, I really love all this deep technical data I'm having a great time binge-watching your channel. But I'm going to keep asking you to do a retrospective on the FourTrax 250 R!

[@jamesstewart7224]

The 81/82 races were full of yz steaming radiators on the triple clamps.on muddy days.

[@realdeal1811]

I remember that Yamaha magazine add!!

[@scottyd2262]

I rode with Peter Melton (from Australia) when he was on the 85 models before he went to Yamaha Australia. He taught me everything that l know now... RIP Peter Melton

[@deborahchesser7375]

So nostalgic. I couldn’t wait for my monthly DirtBike mag, the corners were always smudged, hmm.

[@OnTheFritz602]

Great vid! I had a 1980 250, and really liked it, and an 85' 250. Raced that one, and put in a fork kit and an Ohlins shock, and it was pretty good. Loved the motor. Blew out my knee and got into Jet Skis!

[@MotoRanch101]

I will never forget my 490 when I was 12 that bike was a beast wish I kept it

[@joshuaross4644]

You should introduce each model with their designated code. eg : 1980 - G 1981 - H Etc

[@jayb9687]

I had a brand new '82 490 back then. Raced it at Sacramento Speedway on friday nights. That thing was a freight train. Long and heavy. Won quite a few trophies with it though.

[@lokom18]

Nice vid! Thx! I just bought 83 yz490 :)

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Nice! She is a beast.

[@shredder_mang3211]

Your videos are so thorough thanks

[@chriscardoza9714]

The 1980 yz 250 was the best bike of the year.

[@johnnyofast5924]

my first real mx bike, thing was a rocket, way too fast for me at that time. I should have gotten a 125 like my buddy but nooooo,,, I was a big tuff guy coming off a can-am 175 i could surely handle this. Talk about a literal crash course in motocross. Lmao.

[@billdeel]

I miss the old Yellow and black on the Yamaha. Bought my son a YZ250f. Had to go with the black and white graphics just can't get into the Blue. Trivial I know.

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

Thanks for that stroll down memory lane👍 (except for the 84' YZ125L reminder- I hated that lemon!) Great work Brotha😎

[@craigsteinman9807]

ikr ..rite..I wanted an L so bad when I saw the picture of the new look of the L. I was in love.. glad I wS just a teenager and never bought 1..I was riding an H model I got brand new in 1982..there was a few leftovers and I did care about the weight either

[@neilbrown3359]

One big detail you left out for the 1980 ya 250 was that it had a six speed transmission.

[@deborahchesser7375]

The Suzuki’s may have been a little quicker and turned good but they didn’t last at all.

[@11fishee]

I had my '79 Husky CR390 and my Expert racing buddy had a YZ490 for sale...I stuck with my Husky for a fair bit of performance reasons...

[@sambuvca22]

how on earth did the coolant hoses hold up on the 82 yz250?

[@Thatonepersonz]

You deserve 10x the views. Subd.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thanks!

[@11fishee]

Now they were getting into claiming/homologation/production versions...Heck, they'd even auction-off the race winning bike....

[@jasoncoleman6820]

I had the 1982 YZ80 in Australia. The Australian models were white and red. I wonder why America got yellow instead.

[@thomasclay7947]

Like Jason Schofield said you forgot the yz465g of 1980 it was so much far ahead of anything else that had ever been out it trumped the competition I know mako may have been this and that but it still didn't win the races like the wisely 465 did like Marty most did it Carl's bed remember that and then it got caught up to the next year because they always catch up but at that time it was the baddest thing out or a

[@thomasclay7947]

Like I was trying to say if a maker was the baddest thing out it would have won wouldn't it but it didn't but they all cut up pretty soon

[@chriscardoza9714]

Suzuki was the 125 to have in1981...

[@gregmccarter3243]

my 1980 yz 125g was the best mx bike i ever had 187 lbs of fast fun.....

[@chriscardoza9714]

Brocks yz 490 had a power vale to..

[@clearjet]

The little ones are Pee Wee. I raced SoCal in the '70's and '80s. Rode YZ's first and moved to RM in 1980. Finished up 125 Pro.

[@Thesaurcery4U2C]

I don't know how far around the knowledge got, but we used to put the clutch springs out of a honda street bike or something non related into the little pee wee's They were stiffer and acted like a stall converter So you would build up a lot more rpm's before it would engage and take off It made quite a difference on that little dude. You could always pre-mix and put alcohol in the oil injector too. Lol

[@hiker2742]

What about Kawasaki ads from the 1970's and 80's? Please!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I'm working on it.

[@hiker2742]

@@TheMotocrossVault HEY GREAT! What would really be great is if you could post some old Kawasaki TV commercials. Kawasaki did have the best music to their commercials in the 70's IMO! Rock on!

[@free-birdrocker8809]

89''s were the best....

[@craigyarrington4964]

I had a 1981 YZ250 H. Not a bad bike in it's day but my friend had the 125 and to this day it was the most top heavy bike that I have ever ridden. You could barely tell where your wheels were. Horrid. My brother had the 1981 Rm 125 and it was worlds better. The next model YZ125 rode was his 1983 model. Great bike. So much better.

[@11fishee]

And Suzuki ran into patent/lawsuits....Nevermind, Yamaha and Parker

[@faustobove272]

Bello

[@11fishee]

"Form vs. Function ", so interesting paper but not "reality"....

[@11fishee]

"Eye candy" but thats to the limit of your subjective You Tube "pronouncements" vs. just a "Presntation" for all the uniformed ......

[@stavrock4995]

Yawn……. Sleepy now ………. Boring and so much dribble

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I’m glad you enjoyed it…