The ‘CYCLONE’ TM400R

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Nicknamed the ‘CYCLONE’ the TM400R was the first Japanese production motocrosser to be mass-produced. The huge 82.5mm bore piston turned out 40 bhp at 6,500 rpm and along with the fan-finned cylinder head it had a compression ratio of 7.3 : 1.

The crankshaft halves were not full circle type as fitted to most two-stroke engines and made the engine rev more; one answer was to fit aftermarket flywheel weights made by Competition Dynamics in the USA. The clutch was based on the T500 road bike with seven fibre drive plates and seven metal driven plates it was operated by a rack and pinion type mechanism. A five-speed gearbox provided transmission. Carburation was provided by a Mikuni 34mm carburettor featuring a fuel trap around the main jet, developed to keep the float level more constant by keeping the fuel in the trap area. Air filtration was by a large capacity, dry paper element housed in an airbox under the seat.

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1980's works CZ125

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Via : www.vintageworksbikes.com

The following photos are of a 1980's works CZ125. The bike is water cooled and very trick! Photos compliments of www.cz-motocross.wz.cz

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Auto Auction House RM Acquires Motorcycle Unit

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By Jonathan Welsh

In a continuing effort to diversify its operations, the classic-car auction company RM Auctions says it agreed to acquire Bator Vintage Motorcycle Auctions. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal, which marks a somewhat rare coming together of vintage-motorcycle and collector-car culture.

Glenn Bator, who has run the company formerly known as Bator International Inc. for more than 20 years, will continue to lead it as a division of RM. Based in Ojai, Calif., Bator International was a longtime specialist in the restoration and sales of classic motorcycles.

RM says it will have its first major motorcycle auction during its second-annual Auburn Fall Collector Car Auction in Auburn, Ind., Sept. 1-4. The company says it is getting into the collector-bike business in part because of increasing interest from its collector-car clients.

“The establishment of a dedicated motorcycle division for our company is in direct response to our clients’ interests and requests,” states Donnie Gould, President, Auctions America by RM. “We’re thrilled to have Glenn Bator on board. His extensive industry knowledge will make Auctions America by RM events the premier venues for both buyers and sellers of classic two wheelers.” ... Read more

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David Aldana visits England

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Via : Pipeburn
Two weeks till David Aldana visits England to race short track. Thursday night we're having a Sideburn evening in Oxford where David is telling a bunch of stories and auctioning off some of his old kit and personal memorabilia. Tickets are very limited.

Friday night is race night at Oxford Speedway when David takes on Europe's best flat trackers.

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Triumph T120 Triton

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Ask most people to visualize a ‘classic motorcycle’ and the image that springs to mind will probably be a Triton. It’s a simple and elegant style, and although dozens have been submitted to Bike EXIF over the years, they still catch my eye. This one is owned by Australian Colin Cox, who bought it on eBay in 2007. It’s a 1961 Norton Featherbed frame with a 1967 Triumph T120R motor; up front are Norton Roadholder front forks with Manx springs, and Suzuki GT750 brakes. It was restored in 1990 but Colin, however, had no end of problems... Read more

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1,000-Mile Arizona Road Rally

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By Mike Silverman via : www.speedtv.com

More than 1,000 spectators applauded enthusiastically on a recent Sunday monring as some 80 exquisite vintage sports, GT and classic cars launched Mille Miglia-style from Tempe Diablo Stadium to start up the 21st annual Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000, a four-day road rally across the mountains, high chaparral and deserts of Arizona.

Sunny skies and mild temperatures greeted participants at the launch, but at the 9:30 a.m. driver's meeting, Copperstaters were briefed on unexpectedly cold-weather conditions approaching their final destination Sunday night in Greer, AZ, where sub-freezing temperatures in the teens were predicted, along with accumulated fresh snow dumped the previous day.

Arizona Dept. of Public Safety Sgt. Bob Bowers warned drivers to "watch for black ice in the shady spots," and advised them to make a "casual, slow ride this morning" to avoid speeding tickets in the small towns encountered along the way. Despite the warning, three cars were stopped by municipal gendarmes before they even cleared the Phoenix metro area Sunday morning... Read more

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Vintage Fine Art Illustrations Reproductions

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Retroscope : All their illustrations are inspired by period ads or posters, but every graphic elements of the image (subject, logos, fonts) gets totally redrawn.
They also produce “Custom” creations, giving their clients the possibility to generate a unique “à la carte” poster, providing their own images and concepts.

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Exhibit features motorcycles

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By Kristine Gill, via : www.vindy.com
Among the rarest of bikes on display are those from the era shortly after World War II. These include the 1945 Harley-Davidson made at a time when materials such as rubber were scarce... Read more

Photo by Rami Daud

Dennis Copley of Mogadore stands by his 1972 Harley Davidson XR 100 Special, which he loaned the National Packard Musem for its 11th annual antique motorcycle exhibit, "Motorcycles on Main Street."

Photo by Rami Daud

A four cylinder 1934 Indian Model 434 is among 30 motorcycles on display through the end of May at the The 11th annual antique motorcycle exhibit, "Motorcycles on Main Street," at the National Packard Museum in Warren.

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The Sunday Movie

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MMC Husqvarna Army Automatic

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By Frank Melling via : www.motorcycle-usa.com

When the Swedish army wanted a motorcycles that could handle the snow and be user-friendly for green recruits, Husqvarna delivered an automatic version of its 250 enduro.

In deep snow the Husqvarna Military Automatic pilot would stand on the outrigger skis and let the rear wheel spin for traction.

Read more : Here

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Victorian vintage motocross

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copyright : Frank Iirilli Jnr

Copyright : Townsville vmx club

The website for Australian Vintage Motocross. Everyone who loves riding and restoring old dirtbikes welcome. OzVMX is an independent website not related to VMX Magazine.

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The Tour Auto 2011

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This Monday, April 11 held the first day of the 20th edition of the Tour Auto Optic 2000.
All pictures copyright : Pauline Margainaud

Met in the Tuileries gardens, in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, some 220 cars (mostly of historic vehicles) suffered throughout the day scrutineering and preparation of competitors in the long road ahead.
A total of 5 stages, from Paris to Biarritz, passing through the circuit 24 times, Poitiers, Circuit Vigeant, Objat, Nogaro, Pau, Anglet, etc..

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Vintage MX: 1974 Bultaco Pursang

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Jeff Buchanan via : www.ultimatemotorcycling.com
Pictures via : www.theowencollection.com

In 1973 Bultaco rider Jim Pomeroy shocked the racing world when he became the first American to win a Motocross Grand Prix. It was the Spanish GP, and to cap off the moto win, Pomeroy famously wheelied across the finish line and flashed the peace sign.

The crowd went nuts. Bultaco rewarded Pomeroy's continued loyalty to the Spanish brand (despite a flood of offers from other manufacturers) by naming their 1974 Pursang after him.

Bultacos had a beauty all their own. They had shapely, extremely thin fiberglass gas tanks-so thin that the head fins stuck out on either side.

Bultacos (or "Buls" as they were affectionately known) had superb handling. In corners, their ability to either pivot in soft or hard soil, or to rail berms with equal aplomb, made them extremely accommodating for a range of riding styles. Despite the limitations of suspension travel they managed to be relatively stable (for the period)... Read more

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Vintage BSA Motorcycles

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The Birmingham Small Arms Company, better known as BSA, was started in 1861 by gunsmiths in Birmingham, England. The founders had been supplying guns to the British government during the Crimean War, but when the market began to decline, they began to broaden their horizon. BSA began producing Otto Dicycles in the 1870s, bicycles in the 1880s, and automobiles and motorcycles in the early 1900s.

The first experimental motorcycle was produced in 1903, however the engines came from other manufacturers for years. The first release of a motorcycle with a BSA engine was in 1910. After success, "BSA Motorcycles Ltd." became a subsidiary of BSA Company in 1919.

World War II brought about an increase in demand for motorcycles. Over 125,000 BSA M20s were produced for the British military over a span of thirteen years, from 1937 to 1950. The M20 was a 500cc bike, and its larger counterpart, the M21 was a 600cc bike also used by the British during the war. At WWII’s end, motocross was gaining immense popularity across the globe, and BSA of course, quickly jumped on that bandwagon... Read more

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United States Grand Prix Motocross track map

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As always, Glen Helen will have a different track this year; they always have a new track for the big races; new climb up Mt. Saint Helen (and it happenes twice); See if you can figure it out.

From Glen Helen: The USGP Track may have a new look, but its legendary characteristics remain intact. Straight out of the starting gates the best racers from Europe's FIM World Championship circuit will compete with America's best from the AMA Supercross circuit for positioning around the truly unique Talladega turn. First out of the dramatically banked Talladega takes the holeshot as well as an early positioning advantage on a challenging course ahead... Read more

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Vintage MX: 1970 Penton 125 Six-Days

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By Jeff Buchanan, via : www.ultimatemotorcycling.com

Back in the day - that day being in the late 60s - when European motocross was making its earliest ventures to the U.S. in the form of exhibition races, the big thing stateside as far as off-road was hare scrambles and enduro.

The likes of Husqvarna, Maico, and CZ were still relatively unknown here so most competitors were limited to modifying big displacement street bikes like Triumphs and BSAs to handle the off-road chores.

The thinking was you needed to possess the most power possible in order to pull yourself through the mud and guck, and the big 4-stroke twins seemed to fill the bill.


In 1968, one man, an Ohio native and serious racer, began to think otherwise. He figured if you had a light machine-perhaps trading displacement for weight - it wouldn't sink into the mud as easily. Also, it would be a great deal easier to extricate from the hazards of enduro competitions if you did get stuck.

The man was John Penton. He took his cue off the KTM motorcycles that were doing well in Austria and set out to build a custom, small displacement, light-weight motorcycle for serious competition.


He fabricated the frame and various elements, then found an existing European motor manufacturer, Sachs, to power his new creation. The engine was a 125cc 2-stroke.

Penton went out and proceeded to prove his theory by winning enduro events, weaving his way through dense forests and over mud to the awe of his overweight competitors.


Penton immediately began to build the Penton name, assembling and manufacturing a full line of motorcycles Stateside that became synonymous not only with enduro competition, but excelled in the booming realm of motocross... Read more, all pictures copyright www.theowencollection.com

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A vintage racer takes on the “Isle of Man Challenge”

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By Legacy Motorsport

Ron Halem has been riding BSAs for a while. “I don’t know why I chose the BSA, I just did. Over the years I acquired more Gold Stars, some as basket cases and some as complete bikes. At the time, I had no idea this bike would turn in to an obsession!” says Ron. “I moved from Los Angeles to northern California in 1990 and it was then that I found the BSA Owners Club.

I began to put a lot of miles on two of my Goldies riding the back roads of the bay area and I found myself going quite fast, indeed, for such an old bike.” Then, in 2000, Ron and a few buddies flew their bikes to England and made the pilgrimage to the Isle of Man. Ron remembers “the Isle of Man was like no other place in the modern world. We saw thousands of old bikes being ridden.

And then there was the Manx Grand Prix where many of these old bikes were being ridden very fast! I was hooked.” And so began the “IOM Challenge.” According to Ron, no one has ever completed a lap on the IOM TT course at over a 100 mph average on a BSA Gold Star. The late Paul Dobbs had come close several times at a bit over 99 mph, but never passed 100... Read more

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