Suzuki Trojan 80 Super Sports
SUZUKI TROJAN 80 SUPER SPORTS
Road Impression:
PART OF THE FUN at this year’s Bonneville National Speed Trials for the CYCLE WORLD staff was in running around the salt flats on this month’s “Impression” vehicle, the Suzuki Trojan 80 Super Sports, every word of it. The Ken Kay Distributing Co., importers of Suzuki machines, put the bike at our disposal, making it considerably easier to traverse the vast, almost endless area while preparing the Bonneville report in this issue and running our own record machine. It would be difficult, if not impossible (as the familiar cliche goes), to find a more suitable location for winding up a machine just to see how fast it will go. The steady 60 mph we achieved with the Trojan 80 was very satisfying, especially considering the 4,200 foot altitude of the salt flats. This altitude, incidentally, is one of the many difficulties contestants encounter and is always a problem. A motorcycle in all respects, the little jewel of a bike performs very well, is light and handles delightfully, sum total of a quite nice machine. Of contemporary Japanese motorcycle construction, the single-cylinder, two-stroke engine is cradled in a pressed metal back-bone frame but with an added down tube running from the fork crown to a point just forward and under the engine for added strength.
Four speeds are standard, using another familiar (to Japanese motorcycles) system, the rotary gear change. This means all gears can be reached in succession by pressing down on the front half of the gear change lever. If a racing style down shift is desired, it is only necessary to press down on the rear half of the rocking lever, or lift up on the front half as on British machines. It takes a while to get accustomed to use, but it grows on you. A kick starter is employed on this model Suzuki, though electric starting is available on other, less sporting, models in the line.
On the subject of sporting motorcycles.
the Trojan 80 reflects the thinking around the Takatsuka Japan factory these days since Suzuki teams are currently dominating the 50cc and 125cc classes in International Grand Prix road racing. Next season will see a new 250cc, four-cylinder machine that may even further expand their influence in International motorcycling.
Details include: 80cc displacement, 45mm bore, 50mm stroke, rated at 7.3 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm, unit engine/ gearbox of aluminum alloy using a cast iron cylinder barrel and aluminum head. Total weight is only 150 pounds. Our test machine was equipped with the “medium” handlebars, though either lower or higher versions are available, and the seat on our test model was the semi-dual version; a “full dual” is also available.
Japanese-made 80cc machines are being built as the outgrowth of a loop-hole in Japanese manufacturing requirements and are fast replacing their smaller 5()cc forbearers in this country as well as Japan. We concur with their suitability to the American market where the extra displacement is an asset and often a safety factor. We were pleased to discover that the many extras at the rider's disposal on an 80cc machine (ie; more top speed, improved acceleration, better pasing power, etc.), are to be had at only a slight increase in cost. The Trojan, in its "Super Sport” trim lists for only $350.00, FOB Los Angeles, a trivial sum for a motorcycle with so much to offer.
so much to The exposed coil springs on the forks and rear shock absorbers add a sporty touch, as do the handsome yellow-lensed turn signals and an abundance of chrome and silver paint. Lighting equipment is excellent and covers a sufficient area ahead of the machine at night, considering the speed it will attain. As readers may have noticed, we liked the Suzuki Trojan 80 immensely, for many reasons. A good look at one will speak ing the team's action. •
