Puch 125 Motocross
PUCH 125 MOTOCROSS
A Six-Speed Gearbox, And A Competitive List Of Specifications Give Puch's First Competition Entry A Fine Sendoff.
PUCH, the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer (pronounced "pook"), is a venerable European firm with an established reputation for building quality street and trail machines.
Until now, their exposure in the performance-minded U.S. has been limited because of the utilitarian nature of their models, and connection with such mass retail giants as Sears, Roebuck & Co., who failed to provide customer service facilities to match the product.
This situation is changing for the better. Puch is establishing a nationwide network of motorcycle dealerships, where the cus.tomer can get his machine serviced. West of the Mississippi, the distributor is Puch Distributing Corpora tion, definitely a motorcyclist-oriented firm. The Eastern distributor has not been announced yet.
Puch's latest entry machine goes along quite nicely with its new market ing outlook. It is a specialized, high quality 1 23.5-cc motocross machine, producing a claimed 19.4 bhp.
CYCLE WORLD IMPRESSION
The piston port two-stroke Single has six speeds nestled in the engine/gearbox unit. Ball and roller bearings provide longevity to the stressed areas, while massive finning area takes care of excess heat. Slightly oversquare bore and stroke dimensions of 2.16 in. by 2.04 in. are filled by a forged alloy piston with Dykes type rings. A new Bosch capacitive discharge ignition eliminates the need for sometimes troublesome contact breaker points. The carburetor is a Bing 26-mm center float model. Both starting and throttle response are excellent, and the entire carburetor and air cleaner are covered with a vinyl cloth shroud to keep out mud and moisture.
The frame is a conventional steel duplex tube cradle, with the loops continuing up to join the square backbone tube at the seat/gasoline tank junction. Construction and welded joints are first rate, with the swinging arm pivot area well braced. Indications of flex and twist are absent. The forks are Cerianis, with threaded bosses cast
into the lower legs to provide a mounting place for a fork brace loop. This brace would be a handy accessory to install as a slight amount of flex can be felt while bounding over the bumpy stuff. Spring rate and damping are just right in front as well as at the back where Girling shocks are fitted. The gasoline tank is fiberglass and holds 2.3 gal. of 25:1 premixed fuel.
The 53.2-in. wheelbase is spread between a 2.50-21 in. knobby in front and a similar pattern 3.50-18 at the rear. Both wheel rims are chromed steel and the alloy hubs are full width, featuring a strong cross-over spoke pattern. Ready to ride weight is a competitive 209 lb., with a front/rear weight bias of 47/53 percent. Ground clearance is a lofty 11.9 in., which puts the center of gravity a little high for fast changes in direction. This wasn’t too noticeable as the machine was easy to get in and out of tight corners thanks to the easily shifted six-speed gearbox and good power range of the engine.
Chrome steel fenders, mounted high for plenty of clearance, are a handsome and durable part of the Puch’s appealing package. The black vinyl cloth covered seat is well shaped, but lacks sufficient firmness in the foam rubber padding to keep the rider from sinking until he reaches the hard stuff. The distributors assured us that this small discomfort was in the process of being changed, and that the factory riders hadn’t paid much attention to it as they normally stand.
The entire machine smacks of professional forethought and contemplation in its planning and construction. For example, small details like two separate rubber mounts for the expansion chamber, a full size breather tube for the transmission cavity, complete Magura controls with provisions for lubing the cables, all add up to a well designed machine. The Puch factory is after the affluent U.S. market, and with this fine example, at a price of $776 P.O.E. Los Angeles, the remaining task is to fill the rush of orders.
