Rocket Mini-Cycle

ROCKET MINI-CYCLE

Cycle World Mini-Bike Test

THE Rocket Cycle, by the Bill Matthews Co., 846 E. Valley Blvd., in San Gabriel, Calif., is one of the later additions to the fast growing mini-bike world. The Rocket separates itself from quite a few of them, though, by the use of several well-thought-out innovations, the most important being the high handlebars and the wide, well sprung seat.

Merely staying aboard a mini-bike at speed across the open country is often half the battle, and the Rocket’s wide set, high bars add considerably to control and stability. It is impossible to say too much about the value of the sprung seat. The single coil spring absorbs about 80% of the jars and jolts intended for the rider, escape from which is near impossible on most minibikes.

Further, the spring forks on the front end contribute their share of comfort and control, too. The Rocket of course suffers from the same problems inherent in all mini-bikes, that of a natural lack of stability due to the small wheels, short wheelbase and top heaviness when the rider is aboard. But the Matthews Co. has done just about all a person can do to make up for these inherent shortcomings with the use of their “western style” handlebars. (This phrase pains us; we live in the west and can attest to the fact that they are not used except by a few unfathomable non-conformists).

It would be far more proper to say that the bars are spaced and placed at a height that corresponds to most full size cycles, thus adding much needed control. This feature contributes in no small way to the many successes the Rocket has enjoyed in mini-bike competition around the country.

The Rocket is constructed in the familiar form of small diameter steel tubes arranged in a conventional manner. Braking is supplied by an excellent kart-type internal expanding unit mounted on the rear wheel. But it is in this department we found our only real criticism, not of the brake itself, but the control. The brake is activated by the right foot; this in itself seems ta present nothing worth criticizing except that, in use, the rider all too often is not able to keep his feet in such a position on the bike for very long.

We suffered through several anxious moments when the brake was needed and our feet were busy trying to stabilize things, and several encounters with bushes at speed were the outcome.

Several power options are available on the Rocket; our test bike was equipped with a West Bend 580 kart engine. This little high winding two-stroke is noted for its torque at fairly low rpm, an asset in a mini-bike. The West Bend power plant is widely used by mini-bike manufacturers because of its simplicity of operation and almost complete dependability. Our test bike’s engine was not equipped with a muffler, as with most minibikes, but one would have been nice to have. Mufflers are available in several forms, though, for almost any engine a mini-bike might be equipped with.

We got the shock of our lives when testing the Rocket on the pavement and found that it would do almost 45 mph, with some trepidation on the part of the rider, incidentally.

Summing up the Matthews Rocket Cycle, it bristles with interesting innovations, is well made and engineered, the general finish is excellent, and its drawbacks are few and minor. We repeat ourselves in recommending that serious bike enthusiasts give mini-bikes a whirl. They are a lot of fun, simple to operate, easy to transport, inexpensive, and give almost every thrill a full-size bike gives . . . (well, almost) •