Suzuki PE - is this the ultimate dirtbike?

[secondfield]

Ha, The first bike I ever owned was a PE175. I grew up in gissy and bought it off my mate mike nepe for 600$. That was in 1984. he just scored a KDX250. I remember pulling unexpected mono's everywhere cause I wasnt used to the clutching yet. Used to take the muffler off it to get a bit more horsepower and ride along the beach trail adjacent to the mad mile out by midway beach. There used to be a mx track by the dump in those days...
The guy's I went riding with were pretty damn sharp - I just tagged along and provided great amusement for them when attempting some of the obstacles they did. Every concievable way of crashing a bike I did on that PE...
Back in those days Kaiti hill was a favorite riding spot, where they have the fitness circuit now there was a hell hillclimb nicknamed 'the pines'. It was a day to remember when I first made it up that run...
You could orient yourself by telling which direction you could hear the laughing come from when you binned it

[B0000M]

Ha, The first bike I ever owned was a PE175. I grew up in gissy and bought it off my mate mike nepe for 600$. That was in 1984. he just scored a KDX250. I remember pulling unexpected mono's everywhere cause I wasnt used to the clutching yet. Used to take the muffler off it to get a bit more horsepower and ride along the beach trail adjacent to the mad mile out by midway beach. There used to be a mx track by the dump in those days...
The guy's I went riding with were pretty damn sharp - I just tagged along and provided great amusement for them when attempting some of the obstacles they did. Every concievable way of crashing a bike I did on that PE...
Back in those days Kaiti hill was a favorite riding spot, where they have the fitness circuit now there was a hell hillclimb nicknamed 'the pines'. It was a day to remember when I first made it up that run...
You could orient yourself by telling which direction you could hear the laughing come from when you binned it

i dont think you'd last long riding on kaiti hill these days aye, i reckon the cops would show up before you even get the bike off the trailer! though it does look like there would be some awesome places up there to have a play around.

the tracks own by the old dump are still plentiful, but dont last long as they get chewed out pretty quick, but on the old AML meatworks site next to pacific st there is a public land mx track which the council is ok with. its fairly crap, but its 2 mins from home and its free, good for a quick blast after work or for bike testing etc

[Al]

I remember when we were still at school in SA, my brother had a PE400 and I had an IT465, fantastic for riding along breaks in sugar cane fields as well as steep hills in the forests.... Not too bad in thickish sand either!
Powerband was great, whack it open and hang on for dear life!

Al

[BarBender]

I had an IT465....

Ah...now that was a bike!

[Oscar]

I've had four PE175's over the years.

I bought a second hand 1979 PE175N and then a brand new PE175Z (the "full floater" model). It was the first one in town and it went like a feckin' rocket and had the best rear suspension then available (except for werkin'on - there were about a zillion bushes in dere).

The first Z got stolen, and was replaced with another, then about three years after selling that one I bought a second hand one to use for marking out enduros (and still loved the old dear). The picture is the Zed (minus side stand, which was always falling off), early morning with friend at a National Enduro.

[thommo77]

Yup, they were pretty popular alright. Quick for their time as well. The Yammy IT's weren't too dusty either - my 175 had a wicked powerband!
Still reckon my XR 200 was the best bike I owned in the '80's.

[pete376403]

I had an IT465,
Al

And I had an IT400 - the very first model. No brakes, not particularly good handling but it went like shit of a shiny shovel. (Once it started, which could be difficult)
Sold it last year with about 5000 genuine kms on the (still working) speedo.
The buyer was sold on it after pulling a huge wheelie down the street while test riding.

[MIXONE]

In the 80's I used to commute on a PE400 in Hamitron.Apart from tearing the soles off my shoes when kicking it over it was a ball until I painted a race number on it.666.After that it twisted the crank.

[theblacksmith]

i loved the good old TS 185cc that was a bike that could do allmost anything lol.
Had soooooooooooooo much fun on it.

I had a TS250 from age of 13 -15 and must agree - total fun - especially in the snow in North Wales. I could get to places the cops couldnt and pull all sorts of gestures at them in my open face helmet! Fk Im getting old!Lets talk about new bikes aye!

[Ktmboy]

The IT 175 was my pick.
But I did have a Road legal YZ400 in about 1980. It was great as I didn't have a car and I used to ride to MX events, take off the light and whack on a number board. If you binned it though it was a mission getting home.

Remember doing 95mph in Blenheim with a flat tyre getting away from the local copper because of eratic riding behaviour. However the fuel range was pathetic and we had a great little chat about 1 km from home.

Ahhh those bring back some memories.

[Oscar]

I had an enduroised YZ250S.
It had a heavier flywheel, lower first gear and different external gear ratios.
I loved it...

[Rmxer]

My old mans still got his 1980 PE400T
hes the second owner ( first owner owned it for a week apparently)

completely original
still has all the lights on it etc
rode it a couple years back, has the torque of a V8!

anyone have any idea what it would be worth now days?
got about 6000kms on the speedo
plastics are a little faded but thats really all thats wrong
a little tidy up and it could be a real minter!

[cave weta]

In the 80's I used to commute on a PE400 in Hamitron.Apart from tearing the soles off my shoes when kicking it over it was a ball until I painted a race number on it.666.After that it twisted the crank.

It was back then- 1982 I think? when I was on my PE175N- I used to ride it around what is now Hamilton Gardens. for 10 years after it stopped being the city dump it was just wasteland with all sorts of tracks hills and swamps.

I bought a Clymer manual with a 'hop-up' section in the back. I did every mod in the book, raised the ports, raised the compression. stuffed the crank- what a huge difference that made. Does anyone do that nowadays?
ReJetted, racing plug, boost chamber on the intake port. Kitted the forks, refoamed the seat Then my scummy next door neigbor stole it and rode it to Whangamata for New years eve! I got it back but it was never the same...

And yes Blacksmith they were Piston Eaters! I used to carry a spare in my pocket! they would drop skirts

[carver]

i had a DT 175.
that was ok, but i loved the NXR 125 (same motor as the Sl/XL 125)

here is a TF 125 vid!

[krad_nz]

I still ride a bike from the 80s. 1983 XL250R as per profile pic. Kicks over first start. I refer to it as 'the lump'.

Going to get a KDX200 a bit later on this year I think.