Yamaha Takes the Motor Out of Motocross
YAMAHA TAKES THE MOTOR OUT OF MOTOCROSS
Mike Anson
“When we were about 11 or 12 in Belgium, we used to go and watch the motocross races. After the race we would take our bicycles out onto the track and try to ride as the motocross racers did.”
Roger DeCoster
W.C. Fields would never approve; this Yamaha Moto-Bike, designed for the vacant-lot wars of bicycle motocross, is far too nice for a child. Imagine a bicycle with oil-damped front forks, motocross handlebars and handgrips, a swinging arm rear suspension and rear shocks. A motorcycle without the motor built for children ages 7 to 15. The Yamaha Moto-Bike is just that.
Bicycle motocross is a new direction in the bicycle industry. It is far too large and ingrained to be merely a fad. It all began in the vacant lots of America as the younger motocross fans stripped down their 20-inch Sting Ray-type bicycles and equipped them with motocross equipment. At first they bought real motorcycle equipment and trimmed it to fit the bicycle. Later, the bicycle after-market people saw the trend and began making bicycle MX equipment specifically for the small bikes. Both the bicycle and motorcycle dealers were profiting from the explosion in bicycle MX activity.
Now that is about to change. Yamaha is about to put the hurt on the bicycle people with a new-from-theknobby-tires-up bicycle. Yes, BICYCLE. Combining motorcycle technology with a 20-inch bicycle, Yamaha has produced a bicycle ready to deal with the stresses and jolts of motocross.
Climbing aboard, er. . .stepping down onto the Moto-Bike, we were instantly reminded of the intended age group—we bottomed the springs and forks. Not easily discouraged, we continued. The Moto-Bike will go down stairs, over jumps and any rough terrain with oversized, adult riders. With a child, the bike is fantastic. Our pint-sized testers were impressed with the Moto-Bike. “My old Schwinn never handled like that. Jumping like that, I would have garbaged the frame for sure.”
Technically, the Moto-Bike is really a hybrid. The front forks are similar to the Yamaha 60cc Mini-Enduro’s and provide nearly three inches of travel. The rear suspension features a real swinging arm suspension with springonly shocks. Chrome finish motocross handlebars are used and they are fitted with regular motocross handgrips, the kind that pinch your hands if you don’t wear gloves.
The bicycle side is good stuff too. A Shimano three-piece crank assembly and coaster brake assembly is used and it drew some criticism from one of our junior testers: “When you land, you can feel the cranks give. I think I’d weld mine up,” he squeaked. The frame is motocross tough; one-inch tube steel (ASTM-A512 for the purists), is used for the main triangular section, with the supports and swinging arm made of 16mm tube steel.
The Moto-Bike comes with an owner’s manual that includes the maintenance schedule and operating instructions. A complete workbook is also available from Yamaha. The Moto-Bike is sold only through Yamaha motorcycle dealers and the price is expected to be around $130.
Clever, those folks at Yamaha; after the youngster learns about motocross and can jump, cross-up and turn, he will be ready for a motorcycle. I wonder what brand he will buy? Yamaha is betting they already know.
$130
