2 Strokes Across America

[Venture]

I just got my local dealer's monthly newsletter and it mentioned two guys who are leaving from the dealer this Sunday to ride 3000 miles to a rally in Oregon. The kicker is that they're both riding 1977 vintage 2-strokes. Here's a link to their blog if anybody is interested in following:

http://www.slow-way-across.com/

I may ride over on Sunday to wish them well.

 

[eemsreno]

They are crazy, looks fun. I'm a big 2 stroke fan but mostly for dirt bikes.

 

[justbob]

I'm a big 2-stroke fan also but I was thinking something a little bigger to head across country on, maybe a RZ350 or GT750 water buffalo, RG500 or something cool like that.

 

[Venture]

I'm a big 2-stroke fan also but I was thinking something a little bigger to head across country on, maybe a RZ350 or GT750 water buffalo, RG500 or something cool like that.

That's part of what makes their adventure interesting (the tiny displacement). In their blog the one guy posts about his push mower has more displacement than this motorcycle does!

It'll be interesting to see how many times they break down and even if they make it the whole way.

 

[Combo]

That's part of what makes their adventure interesting (the tiny displacement). In their blog the one guy posts about his push mower has more displacement than this motorcycle does!

It'll be interesting to see how many times they break down and even if they make it the whole way.

In 1973 two of us went across 7 states in 9 days (around 4000 miles) on Suzuki TS-250s. I was 17. The next year 3 of us went on 250 two strokes again for 2000 miles worth. Two Suzuki TS250's and my new Honda MT250.

No break downs. One flat tire and a headlight replacement. We didn't know any better back then and for me not much more now. I love them two strokes

I Bet they make it!

 

[toompine]

I have an RD400 and an X6 Hustler 250. I would love to do a long casual ride with them. Casual meaning lots of breaks for a sore tail end

 

[fredz43]

I have an RD400 and an X6 Hustler 250. I would love to do a long casual ride with them. Casual meaning lots of breaks for a sore tail end

Got any pics of the X6 Hustler? My first new bike was a 1967 X6 Scrambler. Supposed adventure touring version of the Hustler, I guess.

High pipes and semi knobby tires do a scrambler make. ;D

 

[tubebender]

Thanks for posting the pic of the TS250. Brings back a lot of memories. It was the first new bike I ever owned.
I met one of my closest friends after we collided head on while riding in a dirt lot.
Lost my front teeth to the crossbar crossing a ditch at 5 mph.
So many more stories!

 

[toompine]

Actually I do not have any pictures. Need to remedy that! It sits in my office about 10' from my desk so I get to look at it all time. People have complained that it smells when I park it there after the occassional ride. But the smell is two stoke oil and who could not love that!

 

[tubebender]

But the smell is two stoke oil and who could not love that!

2 smells I'll never forget:

Good ------- Blendzall (any castor oil product)

Bad ------ Klotz

 

[Combo]

2 smells I'll never forget:

Good ------- Blendzall (any castor oil product)

Bad ------ Klotz

Nothing like the smell of bean oil in the morning!

 

[Hipshot]

Last year I sold a 67 X6 Hustler and I still own and ride a 73 GT250.
I would be hard pressed to sell the 73 as I was all the way into the engine to bring her back to living. I love the 2's.

 

[Twitch]

Great story. I’m going to stay with it and I bet that they make it, as well.

The old 2smokes are extremely cool. Both the TS250 and MT250KO Elsie were in my stables at some point along the way. The only vintage dual sport I have at the moment is a 74 Aermacchi-HD SR100 Baja. I picked it up (total basket case) a little over a year ago from a guy in the Atlanta area to restore. Almost done...don’t think a cross country adventure will be in the plans for it, but I was thinking about hauling it up to Mid-Ohio next month for the Vintage Days.

 

[colorider]

My first new bike was a 1967 X6 Scrambler. Supposed adventure touring version of the Hustler, I guess.

High pipes and semi knobby tires do a scrambler make. ;D

Kinda like my first bike!!! A 1967 Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler 305.

 

[fredz43]

Kinda like my first bike!!! A 1967 Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler 305.

Sounds like we both have a history of having good taste in bikes that continues today, Rod!. ;D

 

[toompine]

Kinda like my first bike!!! A 1967 Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler 305.

That one is on my list to own I love two strokes and that is one cool period bike.

Sooner or later I am going to assemble the 1967 TD1C Yamaha road racer I have had in boxes for 20 years. The wheells have all been rebuilt, brakes relined, engine rebuilt. Only big job is to get the frame and tank painted correctly and put it back together. I rode it briefly right after I got it in the early 70's and it would only run on one cylinder so I took it apart. That might have been the good luck part as it has kept me from selling it in really bad times. Maybe that will be the first 2012 project

 

[colorider]

That one is on my list to own I love two strokes and that is one cool period bike.

Ref the '67 Big Bear Scrambler, yes - one of my favorites as well. I owned it a couple years and loved it, but made the mistake of trading it in on a new Triumph Daytona. The dealer had it more than I did during my brief ownership and soon traded it in on a '69 Yamaha DT250.