Back to the '80s

2017 Factory YZ250F (It would blow minds I do believe)

1985 Factory CR500 (would be fun holeshotting Vet motos on it!)

I would be just fine if Honda busted out the molds for an '87 CR250 and started selling them again (with a sticker price under 5k)... they might just be amazed by how many they would sell...

I couldn't imagine riding an older bike. I didn't want to race my 80's bikes in the 90's. Why would i want to race them now? I don't get the whole "vintage" thing, as far as riding - I DO love looking at, talking about and drooling over old factory vintage iron. I've tried to ride an old bike fast and it is scary, unless your just putting around but why bother doing that on a track? JMO

That being said I've often wondered how I'd do on a modern 4ST with my current skills racing against the greats and smoking them. I'd probably have to go back WAY farther in time than I would probably initially think. Kinda like showing up at an older military battle with current weaponry.

I am not old enough to know what the bikes were like new...but I think a 1985 CR500, 1987 CR250 and 1989 RM250

Think a gate full of 16 yo 500 Novices charging up the start hill at Saddleback was like. Often times predictable - never boring to watch

Alta

Jeff Ward's 1987 KX250

any of the late 80's factory water cooled 500's

Eric Geboers CR500,
Jeff Wards KX500
and the YZM500

I remember that. It was fun.