Off-road driving is also an adventure. Wrong driving no longer goes through navigation. And even the accident has become less exciting. When I was in my early twenties, pioneering the battlefields of WWI on my Yamaha XT 500, orientation wasn't an issue even without GPS. Apparently things only got exciting when I woke up in a regional hospital and found myself anchored to a few IVs.
Nearby, the fields and forests were used to mass casualties. So apparently I had gone on my snout. Luckily I was found by a bright thirteen-year-old who had stolen his older brother's crosser from the shed. Because of his illegal action, he did not dare to go to the gendarmerie, but he had informed the fire brigade. After the third day, I released myself from the hospital and took the train home, bruised and black-and-blue. When I reported to my parents, they reacted quite emotionally. Two days earlier, a recovery vehicle had come by to drop off my wrinkled Yamaha XT. The driver only knew that the repatriation was done because of ANWB info.
Something like this couldn't happen now
The almost new allroad of a comrade of mine, for example, gives a satellite message if the thing falls over during a ride and if it does not report back within ten minutes while driving or standing vertically. Then the owner will be called on his 06 number. I can't imagine what will happen if that call goes unanswered.
When I rode Yamaha XT, all that beauty wasn't there yet
And fallen off roads were easier to put on the rubbers. Because compared to the current adventure motorcycles, such a Yamaha XT 500 naturally has the appearance of a malnourished moped. With that, such a one-cylinder was perhaps not as impressive as a new BMW GS is now. But when I recently rode such a fat German, I actually felt kind of scared. The thing was clearly better at riding a motorcycle than I was. I didn't dare go off the road with it. Also because friend and motor damage repairer Theo Terwel once showed me a simply fallen GS. After that ordinary, out of position, tipping over, the magisterial BMW suffered 3 grand damage. That Yamaha XT I had an accident with was as good as new with a set of straight front fork legs and a set of headsets that had already been used and some small items.
You didn't miss anything
The fact that the off-roads from the time of the XTs had much less power and suspension travel than the toppers of today was never experienced as a nuisance. Just as little as a Yamaha XT just wasn't a real motocross rider. Over the years, the classic off-roads became simply 'used motorcycles' and were increasingly appreciated for their driving pleasure on public roads. In addition, the busiest roads in the largest cities were the new biotope of the single cylinders. And if you want to imagine how adventurous that life could be? I pulled out when my French driver on the Ring of Paris set the pace between traffic jams at 120 km/h. In jeans and T-shirt.
Sure, a little classic off-road is about as fast as an envelope on its side, but the challenge was too great for me and I didn't want my flying guardian angel to have to go to physio with sprained wings.
In the meantime, these now classic off-roads from 125 cc to the famous Dr. Big with all their limitations are just great fun and affordable toys. And take a tram track or curb in 020?
That's going great
And if you happen to own a piece of forest, Wadden Island or something in the Ardennes? Then you can always switch to the real off-road work.
Also read:
– About all the benefits of a subscription to Auto Motor Klassiek
- Even though 25 + years old: the Yamaha XTZ 750 Super Ténéré
- The Honda Transalp 600 cc
- A non-original Harley and other bicycles
- Lake columns
The XT500 in my garage is Spartan, the DT400 is a cross between a construction lift and a tractor. My daughter's TY50m is 70kg of pure poison, her Batavus City hanging from the ceiling has a top of 17 real kms and her CB650f is another dimension. They all have 2 wheels, but a completely different story.
There are also a lot of fun stories!
About the ring road in Paris with more than 100, I thought I was the only Dutchman chasing after the kamikaze Frenchmen, if I do tell it is rarely believed, but not the only one, never to forget, great.
https://www.google.com/search?q=hennorit+2018&oq=hennorit+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j35i39.4605j0j7&client=ms-android-hmd-rvo3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#
I believe you.
They just believe what they want. We have seen it. And survived!
It was my first motorcycle (which I was legally allowed to use on the road) and bought at Cyclorama in Den Bosch. Two days after I was 18 I got my driver's license and was able to buy the motorcycle from stock, so it arrived earlier than my driver's license.
Back then you were still allowed to go through and over everything and so we did. Had a broken frame twice, which was repaired under warranty and the second time due to a (meanwhile released) TT frame. I didn't break the latter and he stood higher on his legs. Later on a lot of off-the-roads, but the XT500 still gives the best memories.
On the way back from the South of France, race across Paris to try and keep up with a Fazer while the rest of your traveling companions neatly take the Peripherique and then have to wait over half an hour at the gas station near the airport for the rest to arrive. It makes my heart beat even faster but it remains a memory that no one can take away.
Near death experiences can be great!
Once started on such a souped-up moped, the Honda XL from '79.
Bit of the same cloth a suit; you can enjoy yourself on forest paths and sand excavations.
Thing eats chains and sprockets…
That miserable cable between kicker and exhaust valve sometimes broke, you kicked yourself blankly..
Good times, but redo? Nah…
We have the memories!
Yes beautiful things those primal XT's, once completely overhauled and that thing went like the fire brigade; 160 km/h flat on it he did. But starting, especially when it was warm, was not easy. Once started with clogs and recoiled, the clog flew through the air and my lower leg swelled up enormously. Three days later I had surgery more or less urgently because the gangrene was in my leg, not only very painful but also dangerous. After that I always had a bit of fear to start the XT and eventually got rid of it, way too cheaply of course.
And that while clogs are recognized safety footwear! You have your leg and the memory. The XT no more. Then they say "two out of three is not bad"
Delicious machines, had two with a Montesa H6 in between. Clutch only when driving away, maintenance…..uhhhh!! Oh yes, lube the chain and adjust the valves if it started ticking badly. Did Spain - Gibraltar - Portugal in October 1979 with a motorcycle buddy. Halfway through Portugal, buddy got homesick; drove home in one go, came home broken, XT 500 did not miss a beat. I'm too old now but when I see one my heart opens again….
Lovely such an XT, but pedaling a 600 is a thing, once it ran unstoppable, I sat with it every day on the beach (that was still possible) afterwards just put the cold water hose on it and lubricate the chain and off and on Then a turn, unbreakable, Sebring on it, DB killer out and they already moved aside on the other side of the dunes, only in summer the party was over for a while.
In short, had a lot of fun.
Peter.
You can't get away with 'old'. 'To experience' already sounds better