Paris-Dakar Winners
[arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOEr83br2ik”/]
Peterhansel. Neveu. Orioli. All legends of the Paris-Dakar rally – and a great inspiration to start a collection.
Two years ago Harry – who is an avid bike enthusiast – put together a collection of the production versions of the bikes that dominated the Paris-Dakar rally between 1979 and 1998. Harry talks us through the history of the bikes, their designs and the teams and riders who raced them across Africa in what is undoubtedly the greatest off road race of them all.
We like the theme Harry has chosen and we hope it inspires other enthusiasts to curate their own micro-collections. We can of course help you to achieve this with our classic motorcycle finance…..
The collection includes:
Yamaha XT500 – 32HP, ridden to victory by Cyril Neveu 1979/ 1980
BMW R80 GS Paris Dakar Edition – a legendary design, 50 HP, ridden by Hubert Auriol (not related to Didier) in 1981. The R100 GS won in 1983/84 /85
Honda XL500R Paris-Dakar Edition – the Honda XR550 won in 1982 ridden by Cyril Neveu – the same year Margaret Thatcher’s son Mark disappeared in the desert while competing in the Dakar, drawing widespread media attention.
Honda Africa Twin – in 1986 Cyril Neveu won yet again on the Honda NXR750V. He won again in 1987 on the same bike and Edi Orioli won in 88/89 on the NXR800V.
Cagiva Elefant 900 – winner in 1990 and 1994 with Edi Orioli.
Yamaha Super Teneré 750 – the YZE850T helped Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel to all 6 of his overall victories between 1991 and 1998. He won a further seven titles driving on four wheels!