EVERY NOW AND THEN one of the members of the motorcycle industry does something we feel is worthy of mentioning in CYCLE WORLD, despite the fact that we are not a "trade magazine." Kawasaki Motors recently conducted a six-month contest among their dealers, dubbed the "Kawasaki Motors Service Training Sweepstakes."
At the risk of being called a crank letter writer, I want to take you to task concerning your comments on the subject of motorcycle exhaust emissions in the latest (Jan. '71) issue of CYCLE WORLD. For once, it appears as if your readers are one step ahead of you in anticipating a problem which may develop in the next year or two and certainly no later than 1975.
Eddie Wirth found Ascot Park’s redesigned course to his liking and led the 15-lap California State TT Championship main event from start to finish. Trophy Dash winner Jim Odom (Triumph) was favored to win, but fell in the first turn.
Recent/i' I had to bore my 250-cc Bultaco Matador 0.020 (n'er, plus 0. 003 for piston clearance. /1 guy at work, who c/aims he kiio ws ei'eri' thing about building ,notorc;'cles, said I was wrong in goIng 0. 003 more (or clearance. He said I should hare gone on/v 0.
THIS column is a tribute to our office nubiles, Big Red and Zelda Mini, otherwise known as Editorial Assistants Trainer and Fotiou. They learned how to ride the other day. So the Editorial Department is now 100 percent hip on two wheels. That's no big deal in the great scheme of motorcycling, but the girls enjoyed the learning process, as it was accomplished with a minimum of trauma.
WHEN BSA CEASED production of the fabulous Gold Star in 1963, cries of anguish came up from enthusiasts and racers around the world. The Gold Star had been victorious from its inception in all forms of competition, but because it was no longer profitable to continue its production, BSA dropped it from the line.
For Odds-Makers, Bench Racers, And Cocktail Party Pundits Who Need Assorted Bits And Pieces To Trot Out In Conversation Referring To Daytona And The AMA National Season, BEFORE IT HAPPENS, We Offer...
THOSE OVERHEATED HARLEYS
SUZUKI ROAD RACING
YAMAHA GOES LIGHT
KAWASAKI & CONTINGENCY
WILL HONDA RUN AGAIN?
ROAD RACING EMPHASIS
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DAN HUNT
1971 WILL BE KNOWN in the forthcoming annals of AMA racing history as The Year Of The Big Buck. This is not to say that, in previous years, factories and distributors have not spent money, good money, to capflue America's Omnibus road racing cum dirt track No.
HERE'S THE CREAM: The top scoring AMA Experts. Their plate numbers show how they scored. Gene Romero and Triumph hold the magic No. 1 plate. Of the significant Top 10. BSA and Triumph riders took 7 places last year. Harley-Davidson took 2. and Yamaha.
The Honda Singles Are Growing Bigger, But Not Soon Enough To Suit Us.
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HONDA'S LATEST ENTRY in the ultra-light weight field seems as though it should have preceeded the SL100 introduced a few months ago. But Honda did practically the same thing by introducing its CB160. and then shortly thereafter its CB175.
Good Handing, Pleasant Disposition And Plenty Of Torque
KAWASAKI
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KAWASAKI
125 ENDURO
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TAKE ONE SOUND frame design. Install engines with varying displacements in numbers which are proportional with current consumer demand. And you will have created a complete enduro line, as Kawasaki has, with a minimum of expense and machining costs.
It Forgives Errors, Is Reasonably Tractable And Fits Like A Glove.
Montesa
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Montesa
125-cc Cappra MX
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HIGHLY SPECIALIZED. Reliable. Tractable. That's Montesa's 125-cc Cappra MX. Previous larger displacement Cappras were notable for being competitive, with only minor modifications, in practically all forms of off-road motorcycle sport.
THE ENGINE: A 998-cc pushrod V-Twin that developed 45 bhp in its early days. Later refinements pushed output to 70 bhp. Weighing less than some of today's Superbikes, the hotter versions could churn out 100-mph-plus standing start quarter-miles and top out at 125 mph.
THE Vincent, Phil Irving's design masterpiece, ended a 19-year run in 1955 with the Series "D" models, most of which were equipped with total streamlining. Although this provided the rider with protection from the elements, engine and drive train, public opinion was not with the factory, which had recently been through a series of financial reversals.
ONE OF THE MORE pleasant short motorcycle jaunts on the East Coast is the run along Rt. 125 through the Andover Hills to Haverhill, Mass. After the concrete drabness of Interstate 93 out of Cambridge, you turn off at the Andover Exit onto 125, and boom along through rolling countryside dotted with ancient weathered farmhouses, crumbling stone walls, and tiny herds of cattle.
THE AURA OF THE first Vincent I ever rode, sonic 15 years ago, has never been obscured by any of the many motorcycles I,ve ridden since. I can distinctly remember having to have the owner start it for me, balance the machine while I climbed aboard, give me a shove to get me underway (because I couldn’t touch the ground then) and catch me after I finished the ride.
THE THING ABOUT riding a funky old bike like the Vinnie is that you have to have perspective. It's old. And it will never be new again. So you have to project yourself back into what must have been its newness. I rode a 1955 mixture of mostly original parts—a Rapide with Series D chassis, Series C Rapide engine with Series D heads (both heads are front heads) and 7.5:1 Black Shadow pistons.
Had The Vincent Gone On To Meet The Superbikes Of The Seventies, It Would Have Looked Much Like This.
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IF THE 1000-cc VINCENT had heen perfect, as some of its hardiest devotees claim, then why is the NorVin one of the most popular engine/frame conversions among British and American Vincent enthusiasts today? A NorVin, quite simply, is the mating of the big V-Twin engine to the superb Norton Featherbed chassis.
An Ultra-Lightweight Chassis Conversion For The Popular DT1
CHENEY
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CHENEY
YAMAHA 250
$598
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IN THE 1950s, ex-works rider Eric Cheney began modifying and making specialized components for motocross machines in a shop the size of a one-car garage. Today, in an area only four times as large, Cheney is producing one of the lightest and best handling chassis kits available.
Motocross. Enduros. Trailing. They All Bend Machinery. If You Are A Dirt Rider, You Don't Have To Own An Ossa To Benefit From These Preparations. They'll Help You Finish. And If You Have What It Takes, They May Help You Win!
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ERIC RAITS
MOTOCROSS violates machinery. The jumps, the mud, the dust, all take their toll. Parts shake loose, wires break, hot metal seizes, chains grind themselves into pieces. Dead motorcycles litter the sides of a racecourse. It's not unusual in a tough motocross to see a 50-percent attrition rate by the day's end.
Not Truly A Whiz On All Terrains, The Dunecycle Is Still The Most Stable Of The Lot — A Flat-Handling Slider.
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TEN YEARS AGO, a motorized three-wheeled tricycle like the Dunecycle would have been unheard of, except maybe to an enterprising kid or two who had built a multi-wheeled sidewalk screamer from cannibalized lawnmower parts. Today, things are different.
He was Excelsior's Pride, A Racer, Test Rider And Engineer.
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J. L. BEARDSLEY
NONE OF THE old-time racing stars was more dedicated to the two-wheel sport than Bob Perry, Excelsior's young track wizard and engineer. The early greats gambled their lives in advancing the sport they loved — and sometimes they lost — but Perry's goals were higher.
COMPETING IN EUROPEAN events has long been a dream of Southern California Trials Association members. But, like so many dreams, a lack of capital has prevented it until now. Profits gained from El Trial de Espana, organized by the Plonkers Trials Club in cooperation with the SCTA. will be sufficient to send Bob Nicholson and Kevin Walker to compete in the Spanish round of the European Trials Championship.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products is marketing a new non-clogging, reusable air filter for dirt riders. Non-clogging is assured, according to the manufacturer, because large dirt particles cannot penetrate the filtering element, which uses the principle of suspended oil to trap the remaining dust. K&N filters are guaranteed 100 percent against defective material and workmanship. Prices start at $6.95. For a free brochure, ask your local dealer, or contact K&N Guaranteed Performance Products, Dept. CW-4, P.O. Box 1329, Riverside. CA 92501.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
BROWNING LEATHERS
$68
Arthur Browning racing leathers are currently being marketed by Motocross Engineers. Fabricated from chrome tanned hair sheepskin, they are soft, durable, and lined throughout with nylon. A triangular elastic insert in the crotch region prevents the garment from tearing with rider movement. Of interest is the Velcro dry sticky fasteners, instead of the usual zippers, in the lower leg region. This allows individuals to overlap the leather's interface to whatever tension is comfortable. The buildup of excess material beneath motocross boots is also prevented. Padding in the knee and hip areas is of a synthetic material. These leathers are machine washable. Art hur Browning leathers are black with the option of selecting two-color side stripes. Available colors are yellow/ green, yellow/blue, and yellow/red. Retail price is $68. For further information, write to Motocross Engineers, Dept. CW-4, P.O. Box 261, North Wilbraham, MA 01067.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
PLASTIC TUBE AIDS DAMPENING
$49.95
Pacer Consolidated Industries' latest suspension conversion package utilizes plastic tubes to keep an adequate supply of oil in fork dampening mechanisms. Oil pumped out of the dampeners to the upper reaches of the stanchion tubes during extended cross country riding is slow returning to the reservoir, leaving insufficient fluid for proper dampening. According to the manufacturer, this problem can be corrected with the installation of a complete conversion, consisting of: plastic tubes that immediately direct oil back to dampeners. chrome vanadium wire S&W springs large enough in diameter to accept the recirculating tubes. carefully orificed inner tubes to control fluid movement, and all necessary bushings. For additional information about this kit. priced at $49.95, send 25 cents br a color brochure to Pacer Consolidated Industries, Dept. CW-4, 17841 E. Valley Blvd., City of Industry, CA 91745.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
CLOSE-RATIO GEARBOX
$1
A new close-ratio, five-speed gearbox for Honda 450s has been introduced by International Motorcycles Inc. The hand crafted gears, by R.T. Quaife Engineering Ltd., weigh 12 lb, and are designed primarily for racing use. No kickstarter can be fitted. Altering the existing gearbox is not necessary. All parts and complete instructions to make the changeover are supplied with the kit. Selling for $275. the unit can he supplied immediately from stock. According to the manufacturer, Quaife clusters have been used successfully in both Triumph and Norton special factory-prepared machines. Phil Read, five times World Road Racing Champion. also uses Quaife gears. Other Quaife close-ratio, five-speed clusters are available for: 500and 650-cc Triumphs (unit and non-unit construction), Triumph and BSA Threes, Manx Nortons, Norton Commandos, and A.M.C. gearhoxes. Sixspeed clusters have also been produced for: Manx Norton 7Rs, G-50s and Dominators, and for 250-cc Yamahas. For additional information, or to place an order, write to International Motorcycles Inc., Dept. CW-4, 1470 Manheim Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601. A rider catalog is available for $1.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
YAMAHA HANDLING KIT
$26.95
A high performance handling kit for Yamaha AT-1 and CT-1 motorcycles has been designed and packaged by Webco, Inc. and is being distributed to Webco dealers throughout the U.S. This front fork suspension kit consists of two progressively wound, full length fork springs. two precision machined dampening units that are matched to the springs and provide an additional inch of travel, and two heavy-duty wipers that assure increased seal life by protecting against dust and sand. The "handling kit" has been designed and produced as a simple, economical package the average rider can install himself without the use of special tools. Detailed instructions are included with each kit. The Webco part number for either model is 1224 and the kit is priced at $26.95. Although each of the three pieces are available separately, Webco suggests using the entire kit because the spring rates are matched to the dampening units.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
HISPANIA TAURUS FORKS
$122.90
Grizzly is now marketing Hispania Taurus forks, made by the same company that builds units for Bultaco, Ossa, and Montesa. According to the manufacturer, total reliability is assured because of the metals used. Stanchion tubes are fabricated from Swedish hard chrome plated chrome-moly. Forged castings of Avional alloy from Tommaselli of Italy provide one of the lightest triple clamps available. Two sizes are presently in stock: a large motocross unit that sports 35-mm stanchion tubes, weighs 18 lb., and has 6 3/4 in. of travel; and a middleweight motocross fork with 32-mm stanchion tubes, a 16-lb. weight and 6 in. of travel. Each model features slip-through tubes for height adjustment and can be ordered either with inline axle or offset axle lower legs at no extra cost. The heavyweight Taurus sells for $135.90, shipping prepaid. The middleweight costs $122.90, shipping prepaid. For additional information, contact Grizzly, Dept. CW-4, 812 Missouri, Waterford, CA 95386.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
HONDA 750 TUNING DEVICE
$29.95
Bowman Products is marketing a permanently installed carburetor tuning device for the Honda 750 Four. According to the manufacturer, the relatively large carbs and high efficiency allow the Honda 750 to operate at normal speeds with the throttle almost closed. And although carbs stay in synchronization reasonably well, proper low speed adjustment will contribute to both fuel economy and performance. Carb Tune enables owners to rapidly check synchronization. It is easily installed in 15 minutes without removing the fuel tank. The single vacuum gauge is completely concealed under the stock side panel. Carb Tune is shipped with complete instructions, postage paid, and sells for $29.95. For additional information, write to Bowman Products, Dept. CW-4, 2546 Manhattan Ave., Montrose, CA 91020.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
TRANSPARENT MAG CAP
6.95
Dress up your H-D Sportster with a Drag Specialties Inc. transparent magneto cap. The clear General Electric Lynex plastic enables visual inspection of the contact breaker points and provides a waterproof, gas and oil resistant cover for the magneto. Solid brass wire connectors make it ideal for use on both drag and street machines. Transparent magneto caps are easily installed—they simply replace the stock item—and sell for $6.95. For additional information, contact Drag Specialties Inc., Dept. CW-4, 2953 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55408.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
POCKET TIRE PUMP
S4.50
A practical way to pump up flat tires in the boonies is this pocket tire pump from the Dirt Rider. To use, simply remove the spark plug, screw the pumper unit into the vacated plug hole, and attach the hose to the flat tire. Then, operate the kick starter. On piston down-stroke, the pumper draws in outside air through slots in its side. On piston up-stroke. this air is pumped through the hose into the tire. This mini-pumper works on both two-stroke and four-stroke engines. comes complete with adapters to fit any spark plug hole, is small enough to fit into a jacket pocket, and weighs only 7 oz. Price of the pocket tire pump is S4.50. postpaid. Order direct from the Dirt Rider, Dept. CW-4, P.O. Box 14422. Albuquerque, NM 87l11.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
AFS CATALOG
AFS Distributors recently completed their 1971 Motorcycle Catalog, geared to competitive and serious riders. This 125-page catalog may be purchased at any one of the four national motorcycle shows, or write to AFS Distributors. Dept. CW-4, 229 E. 3rd St., Lewistown, PA 17044.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
FOUR-IN-ONE SCREWDRIVER
$3.55
A compact screwdriver set that offers four different heads in one space saving unit is now available from Webco. Inc. Produced from high quality steel, this four-in-one combination offers two different sized Phillips and two different sized slotted heads. One head is stored in the handle while the other is fitted to the driver shank. Listed as Webco part number 1039, the four-in-one combination retails for $3.55, at dealers across the country.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
BN SUPPLY SILENCER
$11.95
New from BN Supply is this glasspacked silencer, available in eight different sizes to fit most two-cycle exhaust systems. According to the manufacturer, the unit does not take away any horsepower, yet it decreases noise by about 40 percent. The silencing element is replaceable and costs 95 cents. Retail price of the complete silencer is $11.95 from BN Supply, Dept. CW-4, P O. Box 651. 7500 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa, CA 92041.
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
FILTRON AIR FILTER
$9.90
Filtron Products Co. has announced their new K-216 air filter, designed for use on Honda SL175 models. Like previous Eiltron models, the K-216 features patented convoluted ribs and positive edge seals. And the washable filtering element allows this air filter to last the life of the motorcycle. For further information consult your local dealer or write to Eiltron Products Co., Dept. CW-4, 7835 Burnet Ave. Van Nuys. CA 91405. List price is $9.90
K&N Guaranteed Performance Products
MINI SUPER FENDER
Pacifico Inc., makers of super fenders, has announced the availability of five new sizes for minibikes. Like all super fenders, they are lightweight and ding proof. According to the manufacturer, they won’t crack or dent like metal or break like fiberglass. Designed as a replacement, super lenders are made in various sizes to accommodate 12-in., 16-in., and 18-in. tires. Widths range from 4 to 4½ in., and suitable lengths are available for front or rear. Fenders come in jet black, and can be easily painted to match bike colors. And they are easy to install simply drill holes to fit your fender bracket. Lor further information, write Pacifico Inc., Dept. CW-4, P.O. Box 348, Gresham, OR 97030.
AMA-SANCTIONED NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ENDUROS FOR 1971
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RUSSELL MARCH, executive director of the AMA, acting upon direction of the Competition Congress, has released the list of 1971 AMA-sanctioned National Championship Enduro events. This year's list includes 14 dates. The Grand National Championship, however, will be decided on the basis of a competitor's seven best performances.
Saminy Miller has retired from full time trials riding. That was the bombshell that exploded one week after he lost the British title to Gordon Farley (Montesa). Farley had not even started competitive riding when Miller first took the title 12 years ago.
Not satisfied with the gearing on his Mach III and HIR Kawasakis, Milan sponsor Achille Rossi recently had a six-speed gearbox developed. Ten units were extensively tested prior to the production run and those interested in obtaining a set can write him at via Friuli 86, Milan.