Best looking OEM bike of the 1980's

12/1/2015 7:33pm Edited Date/Time 2/25/2018 11:35am
#3: 1988 Husqvarna CR430

Loved the single downtube at the rear of the frame. This bike (and the 510 thumper) looked so clean to me. Loved going up to Cycle Specialty in Athens to look at their 510 on the showroom.

#2 1989 Suzuki RM125/250

Tough call between this and my #1 choice. The 89 RM's still look great to this day.

#1 1987 Honda CR125

I rode one of these quite a bit back in the late 80s and loved every second of it. I had just as much fun going to the Honda dealer and drooling over the same bike in the showroom. So sexy.



Honorable mention:
1983 Husqvarna CR125

For a dated, dual-shock and air cooled tiddler, the 83 CR125 is a work of art.
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Spartacus
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12/1/2015 7:35pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2015 7:36pm
Jimmy_Sloan
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12/1/2015 9:48pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2015 9:49pm
I don't get the Husky myself, but the RM and CR sure are nice to my eyes. I always loved the 88YZ125.

DanDunes818
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12/1/2015 10:11pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2015 10:13pm
These things looked awesome for the time (looks can be and are often deceiving) but I never got a chance to ride one.



The Shop

Sully
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12/1/2015 10:18pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2015 10:18pm
To me, it's a toss-up between the '89 RM 125/250 posted above, and this one:



kiwifan
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12/2/2015 12:01am
1986/87 CR's looked great, also liked the 1988 RM250 and YZ250
slipdog
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12/2/2015 5:46am
These things looked awesome for the time (looks can be and are often deceiving) but I never got a chance to ride one. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/01/113413/s1200_1_1.jpg[/img]
These things looked awesome for the time (looks can be and are often deceiving) but I never got a chance to ride one.



I remember Mike Healey and Mike Young ripping up the Golden State Series races on those in the '80's when I was a kid. Loved them because they were so unique.
Paul333
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12/2/2015 5:52am
I think they all looked good in the 80's.
12/2/2015 6:25am
Hard to argue the bikes posted all don't look good, but my all-time favorite is the white/red version of the '82 YZ80.

- Red safety seat all the way up on the tank? check
- Square number plates? (no more tupperware-looking number plates) check
- Water cooled? check

The future is here!Smile

I swear to this day that if I was riding an '82 YZ80 today my lap times would be at least 5 seconds faster than on my 250FGrinning



JeepnMike
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12/2/2015 9:47am
I don't get the Husky myself, but the RM and CR sure are nice to my eyes. I always loved the 88YZ125. [img]https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/2136256483_5efa5a6976.jpg[/img]
I don't get the Husky myself, but the RM and CR sure are nice to my eyes. I always loved the 88YZ125.

Looking at this brings back some awesome memories of Larry Ward ripping it up when he was still just an up-coming local pro.
kaptkaos
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12/2/2015 10:05am
Sorry but I dont think any Yamaha should ever be white and red. I just got used to them being blue! These new Yellow Black anniversary Yamahas are gorgeous.
12/2/2015 10:54am
kaptkaos wrote:
Sorry but I dont think any Yamaha should ever be white and red. I just got used to them being blue! These new Yellow Black anniversary...
Sorry but I dont think any Yamaha should ever be white and red. I just got used to them being blue! These new Yellow Black anniversary Yamahas are gorgeous.
Yamaha's were red & white when I was still a kiddo. I like the blue yammies, but love the white & red with gold rims.
Micahdogg
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12/2/2015 12:11pm Edited Date/Time 12/2/2015 12:11pm
A couple YZ's that I thought were cool from the 80's (minus the headlight and lightning bolts of course). And yes, the red/white yamaha's feel right to me since I grew up with them.



yak651
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12/2/2015 12:12pm


Partial to this bike as I got my first holeshot and first win on it.
12/2/2015 12:36pm
Micahdogg wrote:
A couple YZ's that I thought were cool from the 80's (minus the headlight and lightning bolts of course). And yes, the red/white yamaha's feel right...
A couple YZ's that I thought were cool from the 80's (minus the headlight and lightning bolts of course). And yes, the red/white yamaha's feel right to me since I grew up with them.



RICK Rick rick.... MELON Melon melon...
philG
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12/2/2015 12:39pm
I have owned a few of those .. 81 RM125, 83 RM 250, 86 CR 500, 87 ,88 CR 250, & 89 RM250

But without a doubt , the most stellar change , from year to year was the 82 to 83 CR 125.

It looked factory, full length seat , removable subframe , cutouts in the tank , and the first time i saw one i was blown away.



dsmith
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12/2/2015 1:22pm
I like these....

Fraser
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12/2/2015 1:56pm
philG wrote:
I have owned a few of those .. 81 RM125, 83 RM 250, 86 CR 500, 87 ,88 CR 250, & 89 RM250 But without a...
I have owned a few of those .. 81 RM125, 83 RM 250, 86 CR 500, 87 ,88 CR 250, & 89 RM250

But without a doubt , the most stellar change , from year to year was the 82 to 83 CR 125.

It looked factory, full length seat , removable subframe , cutouts in the tank , and the first time i saw one i was blown away.



Was it mine you saw? Fantastic bike Smile
Fraser
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12/2/2015 2:00pm
. 89 Cagiva

Uncle Tony
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12/2/2015 2:17pm
Fraser wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/02/113517/s1200_image.jpg[/img]. 89 Cagiva
. 89 Cagiva

This was one of my favorite bikes, sadly never owned one
philG
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12/2/2015 2:30pm
philG wrote:
I have owned a few of those .. 81 RM125, 83 RM 250, 86 CR 500, 87 ,88 CR 250, & 89 RM250 But without a...
I have owned a few of those .. 81 RM125, 83 RM 250, 86 CR 500, 87 ,88 CR 250, & 89 RM250

But without a doubt , the most stellar change , from year to year was the 82 to 83 CR 125.

It looked factory, full length seat , removable subframe , cutouts in the tank , and the first time i saw one i was blown away.



Fraser wrote:
Was it mine you saw? Fantastic bike Smile
It was , Fillongley december 1982..

First time i saw you with a proper bike LOL.

Have you got any of your old bikes ?
Boarddesign
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12/2/2015 2:36pm
yak651 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/02/113470/s1200_1989.jpg[/img] Partial to this bike as I got my first holeshot and first win on it.


Partial to this bike as I got my first holeshot and first win on it.
They were great feeling bikes… although mine blew up every other week…
Fraser
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12/2/2015 2:43pm
philG wrote:
I have owned a few of those .. 81 RM125, 83 RM 250, 86 CR 500, 87 ,88 CR 250, & 89 RM250 But without a...
I have owned a few of those .. 81 RM125, 83 RM 250, 86 CR 500, 87 ,88 CR 250, & 89 RM250

But without a doubt , the most stellar change , from year to year was the 82 to 83 CR 125.

It looked factory, full length seat , removable subframe , cutouts in the tank , and the first time i saw one i was blown away.



Fraser wrote:
Was it mine you saw? Fantastic bike Smile
philG wrote:
It was , Fillongley december 1982..

First time i saw you with a proper bike LOL.

Have you got any of your old bikes ?
Got a few old bikes but none of the actual ones I rode then
P-Nut
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12/2/2015 2:43pm


Still drool every time I think about the time I got to throw my leg over one...
12/2/2015 2:55pm
P-Nut wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/12/02/113521/s1200_cr_250_r_1987_3.jpg[/img] Still drool every time I think about the time I got to throw my leg over one...


Still drool every time I think about the time I got to throw my leg over one...
I was lucky to ride one for a moto back in '92 or so. Just an amazing bike.. I remember slobbering over the showroom model when I was a kiddo. I also liked the '87 Can Ams (also sold by the local Honda shop).
12/2/2015 3:00pm
I also liked the 86-88 RM's.... that blue motor was kick ass.

pummel
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12/2/2015 4:20pm
Hard to argue the bikes posted all don't look good, but my all-time favorite is the white/red version of the '82 YZ80. - Red safety seat...
Hard to argue the bikes posted all don't look good, but my all-time favorite is the white/red version of the '82 YZ80.

- Red safety seat all the way up on the tank? check
- Square number plates? (no more tupperware-looking number plates) check
- Water cooled? check

The future is here!Smile

I swear to this day that if I was riding an '82 YZ80 today my lap times would be at least 5 seconds faster than on my 250FGrinning



Mine was yellow and I was coming off an 81 CR 80. That 82 yz80 was a POS! my air cooled duel shocked 81 cr80 handled and was suspended way better! (The YZ was faster though)
12/2/2015 5:05pm
pummel wrote:
Mine was yellow and I was coming off an 81 CR 80. That 82 yz80 was a POS! my air cooled duel shocked 81 cr80 handled...
Mine was yellow and I was coming off an 81 CR 80. That 82 yz80 was a POS! my air cooled duel shocked 81 cr80 handled and was suspended way better! (The YZ was faster though)
well, that settles it. I'm not gonna get an '82 YZ80 now. Silly

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