Steve Matthes sits down at the Honda Racing Museum with former Honda mechanic and team manager Dave Arnold to take a look at and talk about the glory years of Honda HRC factory motocrossers.
Absolutely phenomenal Matthes! Thanks for this. My very first dirt bike was an '84 cr 80 that my big brother bought for me. It got me hooked on motocross.
This was a great friggin interview! I heard the podcast on The Steve Matthes Show. I liked it so much, I had to come watch it on RU-vid and see the bikes. Awesome job!! Dave Arnold… Amazing dude. I wish I had half of his knowledge.
Brother Steve, superb interview with legend Dave Arnold. Well done. Mr. Arnold is rich in SX/MX history and tells his stories in such an efficient manner. Gentle and well spoken. Able to connect with many. Easy to understand why he achieved such heights in our beloved sport. Love listening to Dave.
MXdN, 1985, Gaildorf, Ron "dogger" Lechien was crazy fast on this CR. At the one big jump he overjumped the other 125 riders one bike higher! One of the best time of HRC and american riders combined in history! What a weekend, will never forget!
In 1985, Ron was not on a CR125R (production bike). Ron was on a RC125M, a HRC works bike. The production rule went into affect the following year, 1986.
My God this stuff is just pornographic to me! True factory works bikes of this era were such a big part of the excitement revolving around this sport. As an amateur during the 70’s and 80’s it was the stuff I dreamt of someday riding. When I was a 13 - 16 year old (79-82) and still had dreams of being Bob Hannah someday(😂😉🙄🙏🙏), it was the bikes that did it for me, not the money or fame, it was factory works that I fantasized about! Even today, seeing an exotic works bike immediately sets my heart rate upwards! Nothing short of F1 was as technologically interesting as the progress of motocross works bikes from 1979 to 1985! Just “works” of art!
Had one of the first 6 125 elsinores in so cal. Soon after I saw the first red Honda. #522 ridden by Marty Smith. I'd give anything to have that elsinore back.
....a bike that you can't buy out of the show room and ad aftermarket parts to. They are uniquely made. Case point. In 1985 and 86, the HRC500 that Thorpe, Malherbe and Gebeors rode were made to the rider and particularly Eric Geboers bike as his chassis was made to suit his short stature, I think 5'9"?...whereas Dave and Andre were about 6'2" or so.
A unique, mx/sx bike tailor made to its rider, often having hand made parts like aluminum gas takes that extend all the way down to the engine case with some sort of vacuum or pump. Aluminum sub frames, hand made swing arms, magnesium hubs and engine cases, custom seats. Basically, they have very little in common with a showroom (production) bike except that they're the same color, brand and made for off-road competition. A production CR would sell for $1,800.00 while a works bike was tens of thousands of dollars. Like looking at a MotoGP bike and looking at a bike at the dealership.
