The Downfall of Works Bikes, Massive OEM Changes, & More! | Ricky Johnson on the SML Show 

RJ you are not forgotten by us and thanks for this interview. Soo glad that Swap asked you for part 2, and very much looking forward to it!!

RJ and Wardy started my riding career. Those dudes ripped, and were my heroes at the age of 12. Legendary!

I still have my Original Bad Boy Ricky Johnson boots from back in the day. RJ was my hero growing up. Great to see this legend, love the interview.

Team Yamaha 1983: Broc Glover, Mike Bell, Rick Johnson, Ron Lechein.

Growing up in the 80s RJ5 was my absolute favorite rider. Such a legend. I broke my wrist same time as he did. I remember the art on his cast. "Bad Boy Club"

Hands down one of my favorite racers of all time

Rick f****** johnson! I cannot believe you had him on your show !! I cannot wait for part 2 thank you so much to both of you

At Red Bud as a kid, I wore a Stanton Country shirt and asked RJ for an autograph and he signed his name huge across the front of my Stanton Country tee!!! 🤣🤣 Love RJ!!!

Awesome interview! I never knew RJ talked to Kawi, and that he and Wardy were buds at the time...

I've used an ATV thumb throttle. I know it sucks but it can make having a fused wrist workable for Moto.

That was awesome ! Brought back so many memories. Thanks guys !

My idol when I was 16yrs old Had a 1981 Yamaha yz125 back then

OH GREAT SHOW RICKY JOHNSON IS SUCH A GREAT HOIST, THE TRUE STYLE KING 👑. I WAS A MASSIVE RJ FAN . THE 1986 HONDA CR250R WAS A FANTASTIC BIKE . MXA CALLED IT “THE WORKS BIKE FOR THE MASSES. RICKY WAS SO DOMINATE ON HIS HONDAS - HES A GREAT PERSONALITY,VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE TOO . CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT EPISODE.

RJ was my guy in the early to mid 80s! Anytime I see him in the current day it is so cool to see what he has to say.

RJ is the best! Thanks for coming on the show!

Loved that I got to watch RJ in his prime. Hall of famer.

Really dig interviews like this. Had no idea RJ's technical influences, but I sure have taken advantage of them.

Man RJ was my idol growing up...love hearing stories from guys like him.

I thought for sure RJ was going to dominate the 89 season the way supercross started. Was so devastated that RJ got hurt at Gainesville over the freak accident.

No one realized that this wonderful human almost committed suicide. This man is a livening legend. In his own words, he will tell you, watch this on RU-vid- Inside the Helmet: EP 3- Rick Johnson

Rick Johnston, what can you say. One amazing, amazing dude. I had the lucky opportunity to watch him ride at the NEC in the uk. Rick did not disappoint either. A young Warren Edwards came second, and Rick Johnstone congratulated edwards. Rick is more than a past champion. He is a humble legend.

What a legend! Love hearing these stories!

I really appreciate the interview with RJ. He went against factory riders on a (near) stock bike and won! That took a considerable amount of drive and focus to do, especially during that time.

In 1986 I was 10yrs old, RJ was the reason I wanted to be a pro rider. It's so cool to see he's still out there riding even with a bum wrist. The OG Bad Boy.

RJ is such a great interview! I would like to hear him discuss the '82 bike in more detail. It was so outmatched, the last bike in all of the magazine tests of the day, radiator on the forks. I know it was mostly production but it had to have had mods to be in the thick of the championship like it was.

I’ll watch almost anything with RJ I’d like to hear about working on “Winners Take All” , the best MX movie of all time

This is great! I'm old ( 68 ) :) Old mx'er... have a and absolutely love my HD Road Glide, but just recently got a 2024 Suzuki DRZ for dual sport/adventure... i'd love to attend RJ's dual sport school!!

RJ working with Military SF 💯‼️🤯outstanding

I remember 2001 Day in the Dirt I was battling with Ricky Johnson during the practice session. When he passed me I saw who it was by his jersey and was surprised I held him off for those laps.

RJ, what about trying a thumb throttle like a Quad or snowmobile? Also, get a bike with cruise control, that'll reduce the need for wrist action but also (and more importantly) cut down on speeding tickets!

they make thumb throttles......they make finger throttles.......i put them both on my dirt bike and they work great.......if your wrist is frozen you should give them a try

I'd love to see a STOCK CAR "style" moto series where all riders used stock bikes (OBVS not limited to one MFG like IROC or ONE DESIGN racing typical of sail boats). Rules for STOCK bikes would allow very minor ergonomic changes only - like wide foot pegs, brake & shift levers @ feet & hands, handlebars & clamp + seat. The last allowed change would be chain & sprockets but must have a bone stock motor, clutch, gear box, suspension, frame. THAT would be cool. It would also push MFGs to put out a better product in the end. Current "works / factory" bikes are almost like F1 cars - nobody can get what they've got...

I love Ricky. He had a quote in Dust To Glory that help realize what my life was all about.

Last week I fell asleep on the couch with RU-vid on autoplay. Eventually, I awoke and could hear the 2014 Straight Rhythm video going with Weigandt and Johnson working the announcing booth. I knew I was correct that Johnson is a great announcer. He was even able to match Weigandt.

RJ was riding before I was even born. Class act.

Awesome hearing these stories from the legends themselves speaking. When I was a kid all you got was edited content that had to fit on a page in a magazine. A lot of These stories would have never got out.

Man as a kid i had all kinds of mag pics of him and ward bailey lechein and all the dudes all over my walls!! He is why i started racing

Pretty cool. Remember MX action taking RJ to Guam back in around 81. This was first time I heard of RJ. Yamaha mounted, with Tim locey. Good interview. Thank You.

RJ Back when you were on top Flanders Handlebars used to make custom bars. Dating myself they were steel bars.. but I just looked and Flanders is still in business.

Great interview! Interesting questions! RJ is a great ambassador of dirt bikes and MX plus he was running a gnarly junk yard dog helmet paint job. Training our SF soldiers... ahh using taliban for traction! Semper Fi

Well that was a great show. I never understood the 'bad boy' mantra. He never rough rode anybody. He just went past em. Never knew how inventive he is though. Great show.

RJ, you are my GOAT. Ran gallons of pre mix through my CR80 dreaming I was racing with you. Question, have you ever tried a quads thumb throttle on a bike? I feel I have more throttle control with the thumb throttle.

They used to make a thumb throttle for the ATV's etc. Thats what he needs.

Unfortunately, speaking of riding in CA, they are trying to shut it down, no one is talking about it. 11 more years and they want it done with new sales. So depending on the used units, we will see 🤷🏻‍♂️

Wonder if RJ was the pro mxer mentioned in Dalton Furys book "kill bin laden" dalton says they brought in a pro mxer to train delta on riding and some delta guy raced RJ and beat him, which i find hard to believe.

AH YES NEC SX RJ & OSHOW HEARING THOSE BIKES INSIDE THE ARENA WAS EPIC .TWO AMERICAN LEGENDS IN THE UK 😊

New fan to subscribe. RJ gave some great insight I had never heard before about 80's MX. Let RJ know that the OG moto bros of the 80's are now spending there retirement money & time on adventure bikes and related travel. But his plans w/ Suzuki sounds like he already knows.

RJ the true bad boy they'll never be another.

Need those bars let me know when you start making them. I ride single track. RJ I’m a huge fan

That was a great interview. I raced from 1980 to 1984, and my best friend and I used to copy what Ricky and Johnny O'Mara were wearing too, like the Johnny O JT boot savers and the Jofa faceguard. I met Ricky at the Florida Winter Series in 1984, and I remember that in one race he wore a pair of Hawaiian surfer shorts overtop of his motocross pants because someone dared him to. Good times!

I rode with a guy for a while that used a left sided throttle. Dude could haul butt.

I wish I could have been on Don's show. Because I would have a few good questions for Rick about his 85' season. Also, did he think Hannah was the fastest during the 83' season. Which was his favorite season and why. To me, Rick was the man during his prime.

Awesome interview!!

THUMB THROTTLE JR!! We used to rip on quads and three wheelers with the thumb throttle. I bet you guys have thought of it being the legends you are but if not. Your welcome!!!!!!

Machado needs to wear RJs tiger jams

It's hard to believe, but Ronald Regan got chance to meet the legend Ricky Johnson!

Hey RJ, why not just incorporate a "thumb throttle" like on an ATV? Why make things more difficult?

In the 70s it was uncle Donnie flying machine factory

😮 It's odd that this legendary rider, was never really on my moto radar 😔 and I'm not sure why...

such a cool dude.

Not sure if this has been stated or not. I didnt read through all the comments….but has Rick tried a thumb throttle set up that is like on an atv? Just a thought

What a show! Great great stories!

Good stuff!!!!

It’s funny, in todays era of MX you sort of follow one man/team ie Kickstart Kenny for me. Back in my era of MX in the 80’s, you had your man/team still, but you still liked the other riders/teams as well because of the competition they brought and the funky works bikes that were around…….well for me, I respected all of them.

Fortune favors the Brave! Nice piece, gents

I had a FMF bicycle.

The best era, best racers and best of all - no 4 strokes!😎

Thumb throttle!

RJ watch them comments were in the New world tattoos & partners lol.

RJ was the man. In his prime, he was basically expected to win.

i make my own custom bend bars just for that reason RJ is talking about......not looking to be in business for it though.......but i like and know what i want and nobody makes what i want so i bought 7/8th pipe and bent my own on my tube bender......good to be a metal fab guy helps.....lol

Yamaha never made that mistake again

Can RJ use a thumb throttle?

RJ why don't you use a thumb throttle??

Part one : I am so dramatic lol

Gee, I wonder what kind of bag those guy's use to carry their stuff?

Sorry I couldn't watch this on Family room TV with my grandkids. Too many "Fucks". Podcast would work I guess.

MR Johnson should take a trip to Texas and see Jesse James he could build some bars and a gun for him.

Hey ricky..how's your sister if your talking to her tell her ALAN say hello

He invented the half waffle do you know how insane that is lol

🐝🏁 I still ride a 1990 KX500 that I bought new ,but now i ride a E-bike very fast. R.J. get on a ebike and let us know what you think 🤔. Good to see you're doing well 👍. Great video 💯

Thumb throttle

??? Thumb throttle??

What was he completely disgusted about?

Too hip!

Too Hip

He still has a gigantic ego!

First comment RJ get a thumb throttle!!!

This is a bunch of losers

Rick please bring back "Epic Rides" that was a great show. Alsob have you tried Thumb Throttle???

Why don't you make a Suzuki bag and a Yamaha bag etc? Have a bag for each bike? I do not buy your bag because it's just a black boring ass bag. Have not checked your bags lately but last time I checked they were just boring-ass black bags. YOu are going to charge me that much money for a plain black ass bag with no character.

Too Hip