Riding the Most DANGEROUS Dirt Bike of All Time!

We take a ride on the Most Dangerous motocross bike ever built...wish us luck! The 1971 Suzuki TM400 Cyclone has a fearsome reputation and was nicknamed the Widow Maker for a reason. It's considered by some to be the worst dirt bike of all time and one of the most difficult two strokes riders have ever had to try and tame. So naturally we wanted to get our hands on one to take it for a rip!
As well as taking the beast for a spin we are also going in depth on the history of the machine, telling the full story of the 400cc Cyclone, which was the very first Japanese Big Bore 2 Stroke, and of course we are going to see how this 52-year-old antique compares to a modern day MX machine in a hot lap show down! I hope you enjoy watching and be sure to let us know what other bikes you'd like to see us ride on the channel....

Thanks to Dale and Malcolm for all their work and effort! As always a massive shoutout goes to Sean Smith for all his help on this project.

A big thanks goes to our channel sponsors for making these videos possible!
We use Putoline MX9 in our 2 Stroke bikes :-)

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@PutolineOil @24MXofficial

Riding the Most Dangerous Dirt Bike in the World!
Riding the Most Dangerous Dirt Bike Ever Made!

[MackB]

Owned one in 71 at 14 years old... my dad bought 2 for $800 each $1600 otd... my pops shows up at my Base ball practice... he was 1/2 drunk and limping... he said Kid if you can start it one of them is yours.., in my baseball cleats it started second kick... the Suzuki dealer got my dad drunk lol hurt his foot trying to start it... best day of my young life. I wore both of them out fairly quickly... learned how to weld with a clothes hanger too... cracked pipes the first week... finally bought a Basani. Knee on the seat wheelies for miles.

[ml]

Thanks for sharing this video. My dad and uncle both owned the yellow 1972 version of this bike. Just hearing the unique sound of that loud 2-stroke brought back a lot of memories from the 1970’s. I did ride my dad and uncles bikes in the California desert when I got older in 1987. Both bikes had been modified with large fly wheel weights, and were fast. My dad’s bike still sits in a shed to this day.

[mycents]

I had a 74 which I raced in 75. I really liked the bike. Gave me my first win and it is the only trophy I have kept. Back then the European bikes cost 50% more and were built with better quality materials. When someone says "Put something exciting between your legs" think of the TM400. If you compare a 1975 TM400 to a 1977 390 Husky The evolution is amazing. Thanks for your videos.

[vmontijo]

I am a Suzuki collector/rider/restorer... my buddy in high school used to race one of these exact bikes in the mid-70's... lots of mods later Including home-modified longer travel rear suspension he ran mid-pack at that time. I was smaller than him and I used to ride a 1972 TM-250... I modified the rear end to get ~one more inch of travel than stock (~4.5" vs 3.5")... I didn't race, but it was a great trail bike for several years, and totally reliable. I have 1972 TM250 once again and I it is waiting patiently as gather parts to do a restoration... so far just missing the pipe - very rare indeed - as you mention in your video! Things have come a long way in the last 50 years for sure, but to my eyes, there are still beautiful machines!

[brocluno]

Old guy here. Was riding as a young man at the time. Mostly Hodaka, but others too ... This thing was new, so not cheap. And when they came up for sale, you had to ask why?
There were plenty of good bikes around. If you had money you were on CZ, Husky, Maico, or Bultaco. Ossa and Montessa were around, but not big sellers.
We were trail riders in the mountains of Calif and Nevada. Some were doing Baja. We hardly ever saw soil as wet as yours. Much more dry and dusty. And dust is like tiny ball bearings. When this motor hit it was any direction but where you were looking. I did know Suzuki riders who went through all the mods you mentioned. The Kawi's were just as bad. The Elisnore is what really changed the landscape for Japanese dirt bikes. Until then you had to know how to weld, and suspension tune. Step one - ChromeMoly swing arm and new shocks. Terry Kit the front end and start adding frame braces 😁

[newhopechurch]

I raced this bike in the "open" class in the early 70's. I was so small [at 15yrs] my father had to start it for me. I basically cranked the throttle and held on for dear life!! A regular top 10 finisher in the local races in Western New York.

[terryayager]

Update: Sean knows how to ride these Big 2 strokes - keep the R's up and use the power. ( Not like today's 4 strokes ) And get your Arus off the seat !! You have to work those old bikes !!! Gotta love it !!!
Great Video - brought back a lot of memories 😀!!

[Subjectno]

Love these old bikes. They're so raw!
You gotta respect the guys who rode them back in the day.

My 76 montesa has put me in hospital twice this year 😅

[sonnygee]

Really enjoyed watching this! I bought a new leftover '72 TM400J for $700 in the summer of '73. I had ridden a '71 quite a bit and there were some updates on the '72: foam air filter, a different exhaust with a built in baffle to smooth the power hit and lower the decibels, a larger oil injection tank, the kick starter was fixed so it didn't get stuck down after cranking, also it came with a blank plug in the extra sparkplug/compression release hole, (which I'm sure the '71 did too) it and the '71 had a regular type chrome gas cap without the vent tube. It would pull power wheelies in all 5 gears. At our elevation (sea level to 1500 ft) the pilot was a little rich, just drop down one size and then put a flywheel on and it wasn't hard to control. The stock pilot would cause a little loading up and then as it revved up it would come on all at once. Rode mine for 6 years, raced it some, did a lot of hill climbing also, before selling. Also like some have said, having a welder was mandatory to keep the pipe, pipe mount and gas tank welded up after they started cracking from the vibration. Lot's of my friends had them in my area, but haven't seen one in years around here. Also I have the CYCLE magazine when they tested the "71 TM400R against the Maico 400. They preferred the Maico. More controllable and better suspension. The one line I remember from the article said something like " whenever you twist the LOUD throttle on the TM, you'd better have it pointed where you wanted to go or be able to heal quickly".

[abrahamlincoln]

In 1975 my friend and I left the coast of North Carolina and headed for Colorado. !We drove a pickup with a camper shell pulling a dual bike trailer. I had a 1974 Bultaco 360 Pursang Jim Pameroy Replica (A 1975 360 sold at Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycles earlier this year for $28, 600) and he had a Yellow TM 400 (1973 I think). Along the way we'd stop and find an area to ride every day. We made it to Colorado Springs and headed south. To the right of us we noticed some of the most amazing hills perfect for riding. Then we saw army tanks, jeeps, and personel carriers using "our" hills. This is when it got a bit crazy. I had this idea of driving to the front gate of Fort Carson and ask them If we could ride on their hills. Imagine my surprise when he said: "That's affirmative sir. We have an area set asside for civilian use. You WILL stay within the confines or you WILL get your shit blown away!" I know, I know, hard to believe, huh? Anyway we proceeded to the area to find not only a riding area, but a motorcross track and a flat track complete with stands and lighting. It appears we weren't the first to want to ride on their hills!

Anyway, in a straight line nothing could come close to the Suzuki, We used to refer to it as having two power bands. The problem was you never quite knew which one you were getting ready to experience. It was all good though. It was kind of a status symbol in that if you owned one, road it regularly, , and still had most of your body parts you were pretty much a bad ass.

[timrussell]

Have owned dozens of old dirtbikes throughout the last 5 decades including the suzuki 400. The one brand of bike that terrified me the most were those old Hodaka dirtbikes. Those things had a powerband that would redline so quickly that they could literally rip your arms off of the handlebars. Combined with the horrible suspensions and terrible handling characteristics they had - those things could(and would!) get you killed before you even realized the impending doom was about to happen to you. Those old Hodakas were brutally insane and definitely not for the faint of heart!

[trevorjameson]

This is by far the best video I've seen about the old TM400 cyclone!

[rickrobinson]

My brother had a TM400 that was bored out to a 450. We nicknamed the TM “ The trench monster “ It would dig a huge trench anytime you gassed it. So scary, but so fun!

[robertcarey]

I had a couple of them, and they had a real good wide power band on the motor. The frames and suspension left quite a bit to be desired, however. You could pull wheelies in third and fourth gear easy. And yes, they would do 86 top speed, with stock gearing. I drag raced mine at Orange County Raceway and it ran low fourteens at 86 mph.

[Rob-ms]

Owned a '72 that was a highly modified motocross racer. Lots of stuff done to the frame for strength and weight reduction. Everything was plastic, the tank, fenders, and the clutch and brake levers on the handlebars. The oil injection pump was removed. Reed valves were added. Bike weighed 218 lbs and had about 45 hp with the Bassani Tuned exhaust. It sounded like 3 chain saws sawing on the same log. Brutal suspension. That bike beat the sh*t out of me. I rode it for 2 years before I could even open it up. I had it for 4 years total, then traded it for SBC stuff.

Dude bought it, bored it out, increased compression from factory 7:1 to 10:1 and a bigger Mikuni. I said you aren't going to be able to start it. Well .... dude wrapped himself around a tree and was hospitalized for 3 months, and was never the same again. He was warned about that bike. I lived with it for 4 years and am uninjured, and I still ride. Dude laughed it off, called me a pussy lol. I'm still sorry that he ruined his life with that bike though. I had a healthy fear/respect for it.

[freecitizen]

My parents bought me a Suzuki motocross bike in 1971. Absolutely loved the power and sound of the two-stroke. Modern bikes don’t compare.

[tjordulf]

Listen guys, everyone appreciates an honest critique, so let me give u my ten penneth. 👍🏻😊.
Firstly, I've been following your channel for some time as I love your dream builds, like YZilla etc. Plus your unhinged shootouts.
Now, I've been riding MX bikes and a fan of the sport since twin shocks, air cooled, right way up forks, open faced helmets, and Castrol R.
So, from a viewers perspective, I've got to say, your channel and your output epitomises everything I love about not only World MX, but particularly British MX. You even encapsulate that very pride inspiring, family oriented love of the sport. Which see often in British Motorsport from Pro Champion level to the Grass Roots club level, even with amateur non racers. But for me given my age and experience of the subject, what I really admire and appreciate, is that you are honouring the history of the sport. It shows respect. I do wonder how many 21 year olds on their shiny new 450 Yamahas, would know Who TF I was talking about if I mentioned Brad Lackey, or Hurricane Hannah, Danny LaPorte, Jeff Ward, Georges Jobé, Andre Malherbe, Stefan Everts, Häken Carlquist, Kurt Nicoll, Graham Noyce, Dave Thorpe, Dave Watson, etc. etc, They'd be like "Who?", which is sacrilegious!! So, apart from your fun 'Top Gear' style insane Shootouts, which are hugely entertaining, this kind of historical, themed, well researched discussion pieces, makes for Really professional looking Journalism. You come across in camera really well, both as a normal 'geezer', at the track, etc. But as a Professional presenter, in the studio. THAT IS why your channel has continued to grow. 🙏🏻👍🏻😊.
One small tip, (as an ex CR125 Husky owner.) Can I just point out a mistake I've heard both brits and yanks make. Repeat out loud, "HUSK", now say, "VARNA", good, now put them together! It should be HUSQVARNA, not HUSKERVARNA. 😁🤣😂👍🏻.
I'm glad to be of service 😁.
Lets Get an Original YZ power valve (Which I believe was the 'K' model on, and look at the inception and evolution of the model and it's impact and contribution to the sport. Oh, Another one you've GOT to do, is the Awesome invention that never took off. The Boyesen Link rear suspension system. Radical AF, but a brilliant solution to an engineering and physics problem with MX suspension. ESPECIALLY if you can secure a bike with it fitted!!! Probably like Rocking Horse kaka to aquire, but you have the contacts!! Give it some thought. I think it could be really interesting vid. 😁👍🏻😊🙏🏻

[ronaldalleman]

Wow great to see my old Tm 400 ride again, I thought it was a good bike and affordable, not any of my friends could beat me on the dirt roads where I rode, it was a good wheelie bike, I put a better tire on the back and gave it the traction it needed, thanks again you made an old man smile

[lucascady]

In 1995 I was 14 and had a 1984 Can-Am MX250, A friend of mine brought one of these 400's over to race me down the street and around the trail.. It ran like crap and I let him know it. My dad got home from work and his jaw dropped when he saw the 400. He bought it that day from my friend. Once he got it running decent, it was night and day, and it would walk on my Can-Am. It was a very finicky bike though..

[FrostyMcCool]

Thanks for the video. Brought back great memories. Bought a 71 TM400 in summer of 72 at 16yo. Had great fun & many a white knuckle moment riding the beast .