ADB: Okay, so what about kickstarting the old
girl? Surely that would’ve been a nightmare!
CB: Kickstarting the bike was actually really
easy, which surprised me. I didn’t struggle
once all test.
ADB: We’re assuming the engine would be the
big difference. Was the 1983 KX80 as hard to
ride as your dad told you?
CB: The biggest difference was probably the
acceleration. The throttle was really touchy
on the 1983 KX80 but it felt like if you held
the throttle in one place the bike wouldn’t
accelerate out of control. It wouldn’t build like
a modern two-stroke. My bike’s engine is a
little easier.
The engine on the 1983 KX80 felt just as
strong as the 2015 model. It’s just hasn’t got
as much bottom-end torque as my bike. It was
a little frightening if you snapped the throttle
on because the power came on so quickly.
I’m used to two-strokes as that’s all I ride and
I thought it would be the exact same as my
bike, but it defi nitely took off really quickly.
However, I found once you adjusted and got
used to the power, it was actually really easy
to ride.
The muffl er starts in the middle of the
engine and does a weird 180 turn. That stood
out to me. It seems a bit dumb but that’s just
how they were! I also like the plain alloy rims
and the plastics, how they stand out. And the
80 graphic on the seat.
ADB: Did the throttle and clutch feel heavy
and dated on the 1983 KX80?
CB: The throttle felt exactly like a normal
throttle these days. The clutch was a lot
heavier, much heavier than my bike. I knew
I’d have to work on my arm strength. Mine is
just a lot smoother. I can use one fi nger on the
clutch on my bike to do a moto but if I was
to race the 1983 KX80 I’d have to use about
four (laughs). But seriously, it was okay when
testing to just use one fi nger but for a full race
I’d have to use more.ADB: What about the suspension?
CB: Therear-end on my bike is really soft and
sits down a long way, kinda like the opposite
of a drag car. The front and rear of the 1983
KX80 on the other hand was just really level.
The suspension is incredible for how old it is.
The suspension wasn’t too soft or scary. It felt
just like how my suspension feels, it’s just the
back was a little harder.
ADB: What about that dated chassis? Wasn’t it
impossibleto ride?
CB: Thesteering was a little easier on the
1983 KX80 model, but the bike felt heavy
when tipping it into corners, compared with
the KX85. You could tell I was struggling on
one particular corner just to get the 1983
KX80 to tip in like my race bike does. But
once I got used to it, and I knew I had to push
down more on the fork and really push it into
the corners, it was okay. I can just do it a little
easier on mine. It felt like you needed a little
more strength in your upper body to push theFUJI
>40>43
FUJI^ >41 >42 >44
41
BIKES BACK
THEN
The 1983 KX80 had a liquid
cooled engine, CPI, front and
rear drum brakes, Uni-Trak rear
suspension and even an
adjustable air fork on some
models!Main: Square off that turn
- Cam bottoms out off a jump
- Leading-axle fork was not soft
- KX85 seat has been knifed
- KX80 couch has more foam
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http://www.adbmag.com.au APRIL 2016 | 149