Kenny Roberts rides his 1980 Yamaha YZR500 at Laguna Seca 

Just 'cause you can add music to a video doesn't mean that you should.

Video editor had ONE JOB........ way to ruin a video by putting music in during the only scene we came here for....

No music please, only the engine sound...

Sometimes RU-vid recommendations are quite good. Kenny the legend. And yeah, the music is not necessary

they always drown the bikes out with shit music

Great clip but why, oh why the music ?

Still the best colour scheme on any motorcycle, period

wtf get rid of the music

jeeeezzz: We finally get to hear some up beat music and then this 2 stroke noise is annoyingly in the background. WTF are they thinking!

So many memories of Kenny...My motorcycle hero when I was a kid. He changed how people raced and road the race bikes. He really is a legend.

Roberts did some crazy amazing things. He won on a Yamaha 650 Twin. Used a TZ750 2 stroke on dirt and won.... That shit was epic.

one handed down the corkscrew at speed.... awesome

Nothin' like the sound of a 2-stroke GP bike!

It was pretty cool seeing Wayne Rainey as well!

I love the smell of 2-stroke in the morning, smells like victory. Awesome stuff.

Kenny Roberts is to road racing, What Roger Decoster was to Motocross= BOTH LEGENDS !!!

Once a King, always a King. Kenny was simply unmatched. I am old enough to remember the time when he was the King. It is a real shame that America doesn't have a single representative in Moto GP neither in WSBK.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kenny at Daytona when I was an 18 year old in '75. I had just hung up my motocross (I also did a little flat track and Enduro races and some Trials competitions) racing boots after about a 6 year career where I earned an AMA Experts License in 125cc class (ranked as high as 7th in the state of Florida)and my local Yamaha shop that had sponsored me (Island Yamaha in Merritt Island Fl.) was looking at me to campaign a partial season on a TZ-250, I went to Daytona with them just to get some practice laps in for me to see what I thought of road racing and for them to see if my times warranted them giving me a somewhat full ride. Kenny was there (with Cal) on the factory TZ-750's and on pit row during their practice I walked up and introduced myself and congratulated him on hos Grand National championship and talked to him about steering with the rear wheel (explaining I had just started doing it in motocross, I just stumbled into it, thinking I had invented it, and was wondering what he thought of doing it in pavement)...his eyes lit up and he spoke for about 2 or 3 minutes about the advantage of steering with the rear tire on pavement. As it turned out I did get a few sponsored rides in late '75 and '76 on the TZ-250 and loved it but I then was off to Engineering college so ended my racing career...I kinda always felt had I stuck with it I may have been able to make a living at it, but in hindsight I feel like we (my dad and I, who was an Engineer who gave me lots of financial support not to mention was my chief wrench) made the right decision, as I just recently retired with 31 years at America's largest defense contractor so I am pretty well financially set...but re: Kenny, while he was very serious, he was just the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet, and I could tell he was smart as a tack, not to mention he obviously had other worldly scooter skills.

nice music flooded out the sound of the bike

The only thing better than an 80’s yamaha is an 80’s Yamaha being ridden by Kenny Roberts. The sound and smell of a Yamaha 2 stroke from that time is something you never forget

Kind of brought a tear to my eye . In 1972 I saw my first race at Loudin NH . Kenny finished 2nd to Gary Nixon . I was 13 at the time.....never forget that day with my dad

He can still ride it at 70, yes? Awesome.

Kenny is THE King ! I have loved him since I started riding. Kenny and Yamaha.....unmatched and undisputed. Ever. Love you Ken.

First you let us re-enjoy the two-takt era and then you put a piece of shit music in the movie. Just unbelievable. Let us hear the two takt sound as it was.

Beautiful... Yamaha and KR, two living legends

Good video, but more ambient noise, and more genuine engine noise, please......Less of the worthless music, please; It never adds, only detracts.

Imagine trying to control a 150 horsepower, 200 pound two stroke! You've gotta be some kind of animal to even get on that machine while it's running.

Completely ruined by unnecessary music. Can't even hear the bike.

I rode a Kawasaki Mach III in the 1970s, so my favorite rider was Yvon du Hamel from Team Kawasaki. Loved the battles between Roberts and du Hamel. Saw them race at Laguna Seca several times.

I got to meet Kenny Roberts when I was a kid. My Dad raced Kawasaki in drag and road race on the old Z1 . Dad introduced me to Mr. Roberts at an Elsonore scramble. My Dad told me I just shook hands with the greatest rider of all time. Still agree. The man did it all!

shame we could not hear the sound of the bike, why do people put poxy soundtrack tunes on these films.

He's the man who got my interest in sport bikes and I still ride them today at my advanced age. He and Agostini set a standard that probably will never be beaten by two riders in a period. And remember there were other great riders then.

would have been a lot better with out shit music and just the sound of the bike

I started riding on the road in 1980 here in the UK when most English kids wanted to be Barry Sheene but for me Kenny was my hero and the king. If you saw him race he was a total professional cool smooth and the yellow Yamaha's just looked so good. Thanks for some great memories Kenny 👍

The early eighties were golden years for F1 GP500cc racing at Laguna Seca and King Kenny was always the one to beat on the faster 9-turn layout.

legand...but barry sheen gave him a hard time back in the day..r.i.p barry..

I was there that day, and it was way beyond cool to see and hear Kenny and that bike again.

The greatest motorcycle racer the world has ever seen. They didn’t call Kenny the King for nothing, absolute Legend.

150hp and only 200lbs. Oh my Goodness! It's got to be the nicest Yamaha 2 stroke I've seen.......

The fun of riding a 2 cycle, gives you the urge to put the RZ 500 on the road! Doesnt it.

Kenny Sr flat tracking a tz 750 only once, banned it for life. lol Kenny jr on a tz 250 , washed out front tire, stood it back up using his knee at 130 mph. Colin at 17 yrs old shows up Road Atlanta, wins 7 out 8 races. Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwartz racing Brans Hatch, demolition style. Not sure which is my favorite.

As a brit thus takes me back to Kenny and Barry. Went to a lot of the transatlantic races. A big event in our year. 4 strokes just dont excite like 2strokes and expansion pipes. They reinvented motor biking and everyone had a Yamaha or a suzuki.

I wonder if this is the first time Kenny rode the "new" longer track. He raced on it prior to it's FIM homologation. The infield was added to meet FIM minimum length. I remember Kenny wheeling through the cork screw. He was leaps and bounds faster then the other riders of the time. Good to see the old livery, the yellow and black was always my favorite yamaha colors. My only complaint is Kel Carruthers not wrenching on it the bike and the music. The target audience are all motorcycle fans and would much prefer to hear the bike!

Seeing him ride the 750 on the Mile again was really impressive.

Thanks for putting the music over the best part.

Reporter: - How did it feel? Kenny Robert: - Rich

Such a legend... ever hear of Joey Dunlop ?? the Road Racer that worked on his own bikes until Honda stopped him... Great video thanks for this.

Always loved the colours of this bike! I was a big fan of King Kenny and had my crash helmets painted like his, once when he was signing his autobiography at silverstone I got him to sign my helmet along the back just like his.

Haven't thought about this for many years, but tonight I hung out with my neighbors who are avid dirt bike riders (Bobby Tocco) . Told them how Kenny Roberts brought back so many good memories of my childhood. How my dad worked 7 days a week trying to support a family of 11.....his only enjoyment; and my best memory was at Northville Downs Race Track ....... My dad would be front and center screaming "go Kenny!" thrusting his arm into the air, smiling, having fun, loving life. My Dad passed 25 years ago. What great memories, thank you

150 Horsepower and only TWO HUNDRED POUNDS?? My Yamaha XS650 had 40 hp, and weighed 467 lbs. I truly cannot imagine riding a bike that radical!

It’s entirely possible that this is the most beautiful racing machine ever crafted by the hand of man. I love Yamaha’s

Ya gotta love the way the guy goes into the cork screw and then takes his hand off the left clip on and waves to the crowd!!

The appropriate music is the sound of the engine its self...

why would you play music over his riding...... DOH......

Got to see Kenny race once at Mosport . A privateer mechanic/ racer by the name of Mike Baldwin blew him away. Am sure it was rare and feel so privileged to have seen

凄い！ 御大ケニーのハングオンは時を経ても美しい。

What a Legend ! These guys were the TRUE pioneers of the sport. What an Era !

Seriously, the world already has enough motorcycle videos with loud music annoyingly drowning out the engine sound. Please stop!

I saw Kenny race at Laguna Seca in 1981 when I was attending the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. This video brought back some amazing memories.

I loved how when you first turn the key in the RZ, the power valve turns one way and they another to clean itself. I have seen the RZ500 for sale, but they want like 15 to 20,000 $ US for a 33 year old bike. Would love to buy one or a Kawasaki K2 full race bike.

Was just about to say. Like wtf, I'm trying to hear the bike and all I hear is music I mean for fk sakes where's the logic Fuming

When he goes through the corkscrew...it is simply epic (for a fan, like me). What a legend.

I got an RD-400, and it was real quick. Thank God the Z-100 was so expensive, otherwise I wouldn't have survived those years. Kenny was magical, it's impossibly crazy stuff he did on a bike, He made it look easy, just like master craftsmen do.

I raced motocross as a teenager in the 80's and Keny Rogers was the man. Later on Bob Hannah became my hero of motocross. Now that I'm 49 and my body hurts daily from racing and crash and burns ...seeing Kent still going strong gives me hope to never stop the drive of life. Now I'm a sailer. Sailboating gets my Hart rate up..but it's so much easier hitting the water than the dirt ...

oh, to smell Blendz All again. the King signed a piece of artwork I had made back in the late 70s during a break at the Laguna Seca old track. I had my Spec II RD-350 painted in Yamaha USA yellow and black colors in his honor. yeah, Kenny was pretty special.

Owned 6 motorcycles growing up here in Canada...All Yamaha RD/RZeds….raced Box Stock a few times..... King Kenny was/is our hero!....Great Times.!

I'm proud to say that I was in my white pants and bright red Lucky Yamaha windbreaker on the crew at Ascot Park when we placed third behind Kenny and Gary Scott. Our "Get" kitted DT 250 MX was giving the farm to the Bultaco and the Montessa. Carl Byers, I think, didn't go beyond Novice.

i remember kenny and eddie in 80 or81 every lap out of old turn 9 (at laguna) wheelie past the foot bridge. they lapped everyrider some twice

I have fond memories of this guy! I sponsored a two bike club team from 80' to 88'. During the summer went to Europe to catch the Dutch TT and the following week to Spa for the Belgium race. Through my bike company name, Motorsport Two Stroke Eng. got pit passes and start finish line seats to both. During the week to the race in Spa we would be with him and Eddie and Freddie in the pits. These are the nicest people to be with. Because of his belief in rider safety, the race in Spa after 88' was never run again. The front straight downhill into the kink and then up the hill to a long straight ended with a 90 turn to the right followed by a 90 to the left then a short piece to another 90 right slight downhill. Kenny had asked the race directors to put hay bales against the Armco at the first right, which had guys going into at decelerating down from 150mph to make the turn. Some didn't always make it and slid into it at 60-80 mph. They refused his request. They didn't realize Kenny wasn't bluffing, and being the riders spokesman, all riders refused to return and it's been that way ever since. In one of his early races overseas the track officials didn't like him. In one of his videos he tells the press after winning a race, " if they want to treat me shitty, that's okay, they can keep their damn trophy "............that's basically the essence of this guy. Cycle news a few years back , because of his devotion to the sport of motorcycling and trying to promote it all over the world, voted him racer of the century. I agree!

KR is the man, if you can't recognize and appreciate his riding genius and complete lack of fear and ability to push a machine past it's limits.......then F you....truly one of the greats never to be replicated, history in action.

2STROKE FOREVER IN MY SOUL....I can.t get enough of my poor Yamaha DR 350...:),you can check out my latest vids....

🎉🎉🎉. I WAS THERE ,, KR ,, PLAYED WITH THE OTHER RIDERS ,,, RAN STEADY ,, Dropped BACK TO SAY 4 TH , THEN TURNED THE WICK TO FULL ,,,BACK IN FIRST ,, DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES. ,, REMEMBER THINKING "" I'D PARK MY BIKE ,,, MADE OTHERS LOOK LIKE ,, PIT BOYS ,, NO FULLEN , IT WAS A GREAT DAY ,, STILL REMBER 👍👍

I used to try and keep up with Kenny when he rode up on Skyline Blvd and the hills of the South SF Bay. They call him the King for great reasons

Kenny can still get it up! American legend.

Speaking of seeing GODS In Racing I saw and Shook Hands with DICK MANN about 2 or 3 YEARS AGO in Oregon at the STEEL STAMPEDE in Crooked River Ranch at a Vintage TT and Moto Cross Race...It's nothing to Serious...It goes on for 2 or 3 Days...Its in May 4/5.....Cool Old Bikes...Even a 1926 Indian Ride by Tom Green....Its in Great running Condition......I talked more to Dicks wife than Dick....I guess he had Throat Cancer and had a Patch over the spot on his Throat....He was still Riding his Matchless about 3 year's ago......You can Camp out there or TRY TO find a Hotel room down there but try to make reservations NOW because it's in the middle of NO WHERE SO call around to find a room.....Call Redmond ,Bend or Sisters for more Rooms... Bend has the most Night life but it's about 30/35 miles away....I don't think Dick Mann will be with us long so go see him ASAP.

JEEZ, What can u say about Kenny, that has, nt already been said, he took the dirt track, style of sliding the rear of the bike, that turned into the drift, that you see today, to become a World Champion. Kenny said that & i quote "anytime that you can get more comfortable on the bike, you are going to go faster, i could not get used to going into the corner,s early, so i went into them late, & that,s when i developed the "rooster tail", slide of dirt bike, drift, where i could get in & out of the corner really quick,& that,s when i started to win races, consistently, ". Roberts is the Godfather of the drift/slide, & Rainey, Schwantz, Mamola, Doohan, Creville, Stoner, Rossi, Marquez, & every other Champion, owe a huge debt of gratitude to KING KENNY.

Kenny Roberts is why I bought my 1979 Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special. I still have that bike

Saw him (them - Rainey, Lawson, Baldwin, Mamola etc) in 78 & 79 at Laguna Seca old configuration. Would have been fun to be at this current event & see King Kenny ride again...

Kenny Roberts was my hero in the late seventies early eighties I couldn't wait to get my cycle and cycle world magazines to read about the races during high school our art Dept asked the students to do a mural and all the students in my art class submitted a painting two paintings were picked one of John Bonham and mine of Kenny Roberts on his 1980 OW 48 this was in 1980 and the mural is still there almost 40 years later for all the high schools students to see

The Power was a little Off . So the Bike was Safe . Completely Deadpan Face saying that . Ken Roberts Senior . One of the True Greats .

A salty cat but that's not a criticism! He changed modern racing and brought North America to the podium! Invented a style and was a winner. Awesome video!

We love ya up in Canada King Kenny....RD350 Box Stock forever baby!

The video editing was evidently not done by a motorcycle enthusiast, drowning out the sound of a 500cc 2-stroke race engine with 'music' on top of it.

As I recall...Wayne Rainey got his start in GP racing in the 250cc class on a team that KR was running on the TZ (or maybe YZR) 250.

70’s 80’s If you didn’t know Roberts you didn’t know motorcycles Thx Cheers

Get rid of the music.............

A lot of people don't know this but when Kenny first when to race the Grand Prix's he was the only rider with a contract with Goodyear. Since Americans didn't race in the rain then he had to cut grooves in the tires with razor blades to run in the rain. What a true legend. In 1983 racing against Spencer there were only 12 races that year. They each won 6 so only two riders winning all the races.

The King is back, long live the King.

That thing is probably a handful. If you were a good rider the guy doing the port work could get real adventurous. When it gets on the pipe good you better hang on.

Sound,Power and the good Castrol GTX Oil was our Aftershave 😂👍All what a men need👌

Saw King Kenny win at Daytona,and his teammate Eddie Lawson 2nd,in 1983. Both on OW61 Yamaha 2 strokes! Got to walk right into pit area after race and look at their bikes. I'll never forget. Thanks to Wayne Graham,Central Carolina Motorcycle Mechanics program professor.

I remember watching kenny wheelie every lap out of turn 9 with eddie lawson all the way past the finish every lap. I seem to remember they lapped everybody twice, then the last couple laps kenny left eddie in the dust!!!

I saw Kenny race at Laguna Seca and at the Golden Gate Mile. He just ran away from everyone. He was showing off on the Corkscrew and doing wheelies down the finish straight. Such a great man for the sport.

Man, he made it look easy. It looked good and he looked smooth! The king.

What he did against all odds, go to Europe and win ! He is an American hero in the US bike Industry .

I had the 1979 RD400 Daytona the 1985-86 RZ-350 but the RZV V4 was just crazy fun till I could afford a TZ250 which was light years ahead of any Two Stroke I ever rode. You just can't explain it in words, you have to ride them to understand why we grin seeing these old bikes.

Kel Carruthers is not ONLY a former GP rider....he was a World Champion !.

Hehe.. 150 hp :- D Kenny is leading u on; YZR500 from 1980 makes 110 hp :- )

@Southsidewhiteboy24, wow, you mean to tell me that modern racers would prefer 4 strokes with computer mapping, much better tires and the latest tech over 2 strokes that had crappy tires and no way to control powerbands? Tech for tech, I agree but, if you had the technology of today installed in 2 strokes, I would say no way. Even Rossi said, he wishes 2 strokes were back. BTW, I've raced both engine types for almost 40 years and I would take a 2 stroke EVERYDAY over a 4 stroke.

@oneswithfunes. The misconception people had that 2 strokes were notorious high-siders is misplaced. Sure it happened ( it's still happening ) but it is because of the power bands that could easily be maintained by todays tech and the tires were crap, this also would not be an issue now. BTW, there has been only one rider that i've read about who likes the switch to 4 stroke, but ALL of the others have said the 2 strokes were more fun and would like them to return. This says alot.