VINDURO NZ
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  • WHAT'S NEW ON THE SITE?
  • 2018/19 SEASON WRAPUP
  • VINDURO NZ EXPLAINED
    • GUIDE TO CLASSES
    • VINDURO NZ REGS.
  • COMING EVENTS
    • 2020 SEASON
  • EVENT COVERAGE
    • KARAMU TRAIL RIDE
    • ATIAMURI CLASSIC 2019
    • MARAMARUA CLASSIC 2019
    • VSE 2018
    • VINTAGE NORTH 2018
    • MOONSHINE AKATARAWA 2018
    • ATIAMURI CLASSIC 2018
    • MARAMARUA CLASSIC 2018
    • VINTAGE NORTH 2017
    • 2016/17 SEASON FINAL
    • KINLEITH CLASSIC 2017
    • MARAMARUA CLASSIC 2017
    • VIRGIN SWAMPS - 2016
    • VINTAGE NORTH 2016
    • KINLEITH CLASSIC 2016
    • MARAMARUA CLASSIC 2016
    • VIRGIN SWAMPS - 2015
    • VINTAGE NORTH 2015
    • KINLEITH CLASSIC VINDURO 2015
    • VSE VINDURO 2014 >
      • ABOUT THE VSE
      • VSE THROUGH THE YEARS
  • VINDURO WORLD
  • NZ ENDURO HISTORY
    • NZ ENDURO FEATURES >
      • SUZUKI GUIDE 1980
      • RAGLAN ENDURO 1974
      • VINTAGE DEAD TOAD
      • TIM GIBBES ISDT
      • THE LONGEST DAY
      • THE SPECIALS
      • SEVENTIES COOL
      • THE USA SCORING SYSTEM
    • NZ ENDURO 1974-75
    • NZ ENDURO 1976
    • NZ ENDURO 1977
    • NZ ENDURO 1978
    • NZ ENDURO 1979
  • VINDURO BIKES
    • CHOOSING A VINDURO BIKE
    • VINTAGE TRAIL BIKES >
      • 1972 HONDA XL250
      • TRIUMPH TR5 - 1954
      • HONDA SL125 1972
      • HONDA CT 110
      • YAMAHA DT1 1967
      • SUZUKI TS250 1972
      • YAMAHA DT3 1972
      • SUZUKI TS 400 1972
    • BACKS OF IRON BALLS OF STEEL - TRIUMPH TR5 >
      • VINTAGE VIDEO ACTION - TRIUMPH TR5
    • ISDT TRIUMPH REPLICA 1 >
      • ISDT TRIUMPH - 2
      • ISDT TRIUMPH - 3
      • ISDT TRIUMPH - 4
      • ISDT TRIUMPH - 5
      • ISDT TRIUMPH - 6
  • VINTAGE DIRT PHOTOS
  • MY PERSPECTIVE
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In 1980 the enduro bike market was hot and all the big four Japanese manufacturers fielded a range of bikes. Suzuki had produced successful two stroke 175 and 250 cc PE (Pure Enduro) models and so it was in 1980 that they followed this up with an all new range of T designated models, the PE175, PE 250 and PE 400. New to the range was the four stroke DR400, based on the 370cc dual purpose bike.
In New Zealand Suzuki fielded teams in all the National MX, Cross Country and Enduro competitions. The enduro team comprised Barry Reiher on the PE175, myself on a PE 250 and Lester Yates on the big PE400. We had a great year in 1980 but seemingly at the crest of the wave a little more than a year later the enduro range was axed leaving many enthusiasts wondering what to buy. It was many years away to the RMX250 and at the time of writing Suzuki place scant emphasis on Enduro.
The Suzuki Guide to Cross Country Competition  was a project fostered by Rod Coleman and it fell mainly on myself  and fellow Team member Barry Reiher to write the booklet, with Neil Forbes doing the photos and production. Rod was however the boss and a man with justifiably strong ideas on how to ride a motorcycle, so he insisted on writing the paragraph on throttle control himself.
Its' all pretty basic stuff by modern media production standards but in the very limited space available the booklet tried to encapsulate some of the techniques and ideas the Barry and I passed on at Enduro Schools at the time. Today, every time I go to a muddy trail ride I'm reminded that though the machinery has evolved to an incredible level, riding skills have not and that the skills tips are as relevant today.

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