Crossed Up

CROSSED UP

FERNANDO BELAIR

Went to Saddleback the other day during one of our midweek test sessions and happened to find the U.S. Suzuki folks out there. They had a bunch of new 100s and 125s with lay-down gas/oil shocks that they were testing. They also had a stock ’75 Elsinore to run lap times against. The Suzukis were getting around the cobby track faster than the Elsie, but every time they raced up the start hill, the Honda made them eat dust. Maybe along with these newlysprung prototypes, they’ll find a sixspeed version. With both of these mods, the little yellow screamer could really come into its own in the 125 class. . . especially if Honda decides to do next year what it did this year: produce virtually the same Elsinore with just a few minor changes.

Recalling the Maico 250 GP test in the January ’75 issue of CYCLE WORLD, our subhead read, “One gear short of fantastic.” Well, it looks as though the 250 Maicos are no longer one gear short. C.H. Wheat finally received his five-speed prototype and, along with a very fast crew of test riders, has been doing his best to destroy the new transmission. No such luck. It looks as though the new coggery is at least as strong as the four-speed box; and it makes a super MXer even better. But the transmission is not the only improvement. All of the original fiberglass components are now injection-molded plastic. Plastic tank, airbox and fenders. Ridgeless Akront rims are going to be standard. Fantastic!

Mike Runyard, who was riding a privately-sponsored Can-Am in the 250 class and his own Husky in the 500s, had the great misfortune of having someone break into his van in Florida and steal his brand new 360 Mikkola Replica. We all know of folks who have lost machines to thieves, but it really strikes home when it happens to a good friend like Mike. In case anyone happens to run across the machine, or parts of it, the frame number is ML01023 and the engine number is 20450731.

If you really feel you need some fork protectors, and you happen to be a little short of coin this month, here’s a great way to get them, cheap. Go to your nearest major sporting goods store. In the golf section you should be able to find some long, plastic, semi-clear tubes that golfers use in their bags to hold clubs so that the shafts don’t get all scratched and dinged. Being very careful, cut the plastic with an industrial (one edge) razor blade to the desired length. Then slit the piece down the back. Carefully cut out any portion of the protector that will have to slip over an obstruction such as drain plugs or brake anchor mounts. Once it fits, round off all corners. A little duct tape or some plastic strip ties will hold the protector in place. One golf tube will do both fork legs for under 35 cents.

If anyone is having trouble with the front brake on their new Bultaco Pursang, Mike Hannon, Bultaco rep and all around fast guy, says that he knows how to cure the problem without taking anything apart. First, loosen all of the hardware at the front end. Then, spin the wheel and clamp on the front brake. Now, with a piece of inner tube or duct tape, clamp the brake lever tight. Then go down and tighten up the brake

anchor arm at both ends, the axle, the right fork pinch bolt and then the left fork pinch bolt. This will center the brake shoes within the hub and increase the braking contact area. Of course, for a really super job, you should disassemble the wheel and sand the high spots off the brake shoes. It wouldn’t hurt to lightly sand the drum either.

After a less than sensational ride on a distributor-sponsored Maico, Mark Blackwell is now back with Husqvarna. Mark had his best year in 1971 when he was the top American in the Trans-AMA series, defeating CZ’s Brad Lackey by a single point. Mark will ride the new GP Huskys in both the Inter-Am and TransAMA series this year. Husky’s only entry in the 125 National rounds will be Nils-Arne Nilsson.

Along with the new Maico.250, C.H. Wheat also got his first three 125 prototypes. The same group of testers is trying to get one of those bikes to go belly-up with about the same success as the destruet test on the 250 tranny. None. The prototypes have been run on a dyno and have produced about 21.2 bhp. On the same dyno, a tricked-out Elsinore put out 21.3 bhp. Pretty good for the Maico, considering it was stone stock.

Initial tests on the Red Wing gas/oil shocks look super. They’ve been mounted on a long-travel Husky rear end and they work great. The full test should be out in a month or so, after we’ve tortured them a little more.

Rich Thorwaldson, who was released by Suzuki and subsequently picked up a dealer-sponsored Husky ride for a short while, is now on the Maico team with a full sponsorship. The distributor says that Thor really likes his bike. The distributors always say that, so we called Rich. He wasn’t home. Gone riding.

Jimmy Ellis won the $70,000 Yamaha Super Series. After the first two events, one in Texas, the other in Daytona, Jim had earned 300 points. The 2nd-place rider had amassed 140. With only 150 points going to the winner, Jim didn’t even have to show up for the final race. He had it in the bag. Looks like this bike/rider combination will be the one to beat in the Inter-Am series this summer.