Riding the OUTLAWED Twin Cylinder 2 Stroke Dirt Bike!

The engineer you describe is Jan Witteveen: after this motocross adventure he went to Aprilia in 1989 with the 125 and 250cc world champion road racing (which he won with Max Biaggi and much more riders) and went on to Derbi. Recently he's back into motocross! A true Dutch 2 stroke engineering legend. Very cool video!!

So I have a big one to track down for you. My grandfather is Willy Oesterle, two time German champ and european vice champ in the 50ties. He was a worksrider for DKW and Maico. But more importantly, he started his own little project called Oepo (Oesterle and Pohl). The idea behind it was to build a two stroke 500 for the GPs from German parts with metric screws. The reasoning for this was that at the time 1959 the 500 MXGP was dominated by british four strokes, which were expensive and hard to run for people outside the UK. The Germans such as my grandpa and Fritz Betzlbacher etc, rode bored out two stroke 250s, because already at 350cc a two stroke was competitive with the four strokes of the time. He did go through with it and built a 500cc twin made from two maico 250s, called the Oepo 500/1. He than later improved the frame and called it the 500/2. Then later he went further to building a bispoke 400 cc single, because the 500 twin just had too much and too uncontrollable power. Which he called the Oepo V1 He did manage to track down a V1, which is standing in his cellar ready to ride (he is 91, so he ain't gonna ride it). But he never managed to find an Oepo 500. Now I just want to make clear here, as far as I and he know, this is the first ever two stroke 500 raced at Motocross Grand Prix and also the first to ever win one. Which he did in Brühl in 1959. I have heard rumours that there is still one around though it has been turned into a sidecar somewhere along the line. This would be probably the most impossible find you could achieve. If there is an interest in testing out such an old iron, the 400cc machine is in his possession and ready to go.

This proves again why the 80' was the Holy Grail of MX!! I was only aware of Honda having a 125cc twin back then....so such a thrill to know know about this 1980 Gilera!! I can't thank you enough for your effort to track down and share this with us!!

Wow! Never knew this bike existed. I raced a 1981 Gilera 125 (single cylinder!) at my local club (VWHSSC) A disc valved screamer if ever there was.. That tiny kickstart was a knightmare to find and use after you dumped it in the mud at Ashdown. Also had to order (well my dad had too) all the spares from the factory, which in those days was a bit of a faff... Thanks for the memories @999lazer 😀

A bike I'd never heard of until 25 minutes ago. Awesome video. The Gilera sounded so incredibly fast.

Its so cool how there's so much history over the pond that differs from the USA. Having so many countries involved in creating motorcycles has created historical moto-gemstones all over the continent. Great job Max and Dave, your work and knowledge is appreciated!

Im 40 and bin a 2stroke head all my life. Love seeing these bikes even ive never heard of. Thanks for doing what you do!

The late great Mike Bell, raced one of Scheidler's twin two strokes at Irwindale Raceway one Friday night in the 1970's. I was racing in the 125 Intermediate class and remember sitting at the starting gate as Bell would scream that thing by us down the straight away and launch off Bert's jump!

Mate, you are really a motocross -fun-freak and i love that. Thanx for showing unique wonderful mx-bikes that made history. Maddii, Rinaldi, Perfini and Pekka Vehkonen all Gilera riders...thank for your passion. We really appreciate that here in Italy!!

After seeing this is a rotary style 2stroke i have to say i have a story to tell about a 1965 65cc bridgestone 4 speed manual clutch that was a monster of a mini bike. It was raced on circle tracks with a 200 pound rider back in the 70s and tha man passed away and my uncle got he bike from the mother in 1994. Its realy rare and only had a box of parts with it and havent found much for it. I was so lucky to get to drag race the bike when i was 11 in 94. Its a monster. We had to put 3 foot wheelie bar on it. I could tell you some amazing experiences i had on it. Its still in my uncle shop with a broken crank. I keep a eye out for parts to one day hopefully here it run again.

I do recall Johnny "O-Show" O'mara tested the Honda's prototype 2-cylinder 125cc bike and he said it was insane.

One of the most beautiful MX bikes ever built...Gilera fan,even had a RC600 back in the 1990's...thanks for this video!

That beauty ripping full throttle just sounded amazing. Like an angry mini banshee atv sound, or a road racing gp 2 stroke. Pure music to my ears, thanks from the US.

When I was a kid I had a Suzuki T125 Stinger that was a "scrambler". I loved that 125 2 stroke twin sound , it sounded great at 60 mikes an hour laying on the tank.

I'd like to see you find the Puch 370 that Everets rode to the championship in the 70s. I think it was twin carb both piston port induction and rotary valve induction. Good luck!!!

Awesome bike really enjoyed the story leading up to the amazing bike test. I guess the owner was exited to ride it by the full throttle run. Thank you for going above and beyond to bring the content for us. 👍👏🙏

love the 2 stroke content, always learn something new with your videos!

Another Great, Great video guys !!! Packed with info from way back when 👍👍.. Thanks for the extra effort you put into these videos, it really shows! And to catch the owner give it a generous twist of the throttle....... Fantastic !!! 👍😎🔥

That bike is incredible!!! The more you talked about it the mote I was sure it was going to end without seeing or hearing it run. I was very happy to see him ripping through the gears.

I was in the Piaggio museum in Pontedera last year where there indeed is one displayed. I drooled around it so longy girl friend got a bit annoyed. Great video Max!!!