We are always keeping an eye out for something interesting, something special and when we came across the VMX Vintage Motocross Racing Series, we poked around to see if we could find a bit of a backstory to the series. While searching, we met Nina Zobenica, one of the organisers of the series. She then introduced us to Ty Taylor, the man trying to rekindle old school scrambler racing. And, as it turned out, Ty is a collector of old bikes and he invited us to come drool over his collection.
Who is Ty Taylor?
Ty started his racing career in early 2000’s and thought about switching things up and made a giant jump to freestyle motocross. After that he took things easy for a couple of years and mostly kept his wheels on the ground while taking a bit of a hiatus. Then like most the bug started to bite again and he made his way back to racing. In 2023 Ty won the Masters Class in the ever popular Inland MX Championship. He rides for the Hooligan Team who has 7 riders in multiple classes. With quite the backing of some big names as sponsors such as; Hooligan Development (the main sponsor), Burn Industries, Flow Vision, Stux and Dirt Scrub. He is also one of the co-founders of the VMX Series hosting 2 rounds this year, one has already come and gone and the other will take place on the 24th of August at E.R.O.R.A. If round 2 is a success, seeing more vintage dirt bikes making it out of garages and sheds to be raced once again, 2025 will see 4 Rounds of the VMX Series.
Ty’s first project was the 1997 Kawasaki KX250 that he started before the pandemic lockdown, and he managed to finish it just before we were all finally set free. The bike has the seat and plastics of the original Splitfire/Pro Circuit U.S Race Team from back in the day. With the Pro Circuit Platinum exhaust it looks like it might still be able to go out there and give some of these new bikes a good old school whipping.
Now, for what we think is the star of the show, the 2000 Kawasaki KX500. Another bike Ty started in lockdown and with some help from a friend of his, rebuilt the KIPS (Kawasaki Integrated Powervalve System) engine, which was also completed before the end of lock down. The Kawasaki KX500 engine was such a great bit of engineering that it was unchanged for 10 years. This beauty now just stands there in Ty’s house, haunting Ty…. until an idea started forming into a plan. This very bike was the main reason Ty and a few co-conspirators got together and started planning the rebirth of vintage dirt bike racing in S.A called the VMX Series. The KX500 was also the bike to win the title in the last ever 500cc Aussie MX by Peter “Reggie” Melton.
Ty also showed us his 1995 Honda CR125, a partially restored motorcycle with a few new plastics making it look almost race ready. Sticking with the original colours red and purple (Uranus Violet) with the white frame and bold CR logo. He even kept the rear spring purple. This beauty with its shiny FMF Gold Series Fatty pipe makes one feel that you just want to jump on and kick it to life just to hear that sound and get a whiff of that 2-stroke awesomeness.
Next up was another beast, the 1993 Honda CR500. A mostly standard bike except for a few mods like the DEP exhaust, HRC gearbox and aftermarket hubs. The original theme kept to Honda’s HRC colour scheme. Ty’s brother Wesley Taylor had the privilege to race it in Round 1 of the VMX and will most likely do the same in Round 2 coming up later in the year.
Something very rare was also on show. A 1996 KTM 360 SX. This was the year that KTM decided to officially change the brand’s colour from white with an orange frame and making the bike orange. This one is what they called ‘Butterscotch’ and over the years the colour changed to the iconic KTM orange we see today. There is still a lot of work to be done to get this bike up and running and may take quite some time as parts are extremely scarce. We really do hope Ty can get everything he needs to bring it back to life. Just imagine getting to see this rare KTM being flung around the corners kicking up dirt and getting sent flying through the air.
Another of his very rare items is a 1984 Honda ATC 250R second generation three wheeler. Honda’s first ever sports ATC built for competition. This is a true survivor, there has been little done to this old girl and she has clung to life for 40 years. Ty kept it standard and only kept it serviced and running, other than that it is as stock as can be.. The tank has slight damage but overall it still looks damn good. Four years after their inception, 3 wheelers were banned in 1988 and production stopped. And just for fun a little history, Honda created the first ever sit on 3 wheeled ATV in 1969 and was classed as a 1970’s model, called the US90 designed by Osamu Takeuchi, when Honda trademarked the name ATC (All Terrain Cycle) it was renamed as the ATC90.
1984 Kawasaki KXT250 Tecate.
Some assembly required.
Seeing that the ban on 3 wheelers was because they were deemed too dangerous, you might think only crazy people will still have one in running condition, well Ty owns three. He also has two 1984 Kawasaki KXT250 Tecate ATV’s. Kawasaki’s answer to the Honda’s ATC 250R as competition. The KXT250 has a much wider front wheel than any other three wheeler I have ever seen. One of these bikes Ty bought as is and just did the bare minimum to get it running again, you can see this one had been used quite a bit as even the paint on the tank is faded. The other one Ty found in pieces and had to rebuild it, and he did an excellent job to get it to look and run the way it does now. Even the cylinder had some strange and weird engraving on it. Now that engine looks almost like it just came out of the factory.
The last two bikes we were shown were a 2004 and 2006 Yamaha 360cc Banshee 2-stroke twin Special Editions. Both still standard and kept as is except for aftermarket exhausts. The 2004 model has a Bosson exhaust system and the 2006 model has a DG Performance exhaust fitted. Both of these ATV’s are still in very good condition.
Do you have one of these timeless pieces slowly fading away? Maybe it is time to give it a bit of love and get it track worthy again…. It might not cost as much as you think. Then, get your butt back in the saddle and on the track in the VMX series, the way Ty has set it up it is the cheapest, most fun scrambler racing out there.
Do you own something rare and special? Would you like to have it featured in our magazine? Then give us a shout at info@motomedia.co.za
