Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125609
.... .... Q) ~ Q.. "I'll sure be glad when the rail strike is over," We consider ourselves fortunate indeed to be the first American publication to have the opportunity to test the revolutionary new motocross machine that has been under development tor seventeen years at the top secret Grebulski research facilities in beautiful downtown Warsaw. We must apologize tor the fact that the results are not as complete as they might have been however portions of the test were unexpectedly interrupted when the Polish Army inadvertently invaded itself. First, a little background on the Grebulski industrial complex that 'manufactures this remarkable motorcycle. It is a little known fact that Grebulski also manufactures pickles, bologna, sanitation trucks, and formal bowling shirts. Only Polish ingenulty could devise ways to adapt their bologna and pickle making machinery to the production of motorcycles. According to Leroy Pinheadski, public relations represenlative for the company, Grebulski was founded in 1903 by Francis (The Fierce) Grebulski, also known as the legendary Polish sausage Baron. We were overwhelmed by our first view of the Grebulskl Special. At first sight the six earles type rear shock absorbers, windshield, saddlebags, mudflaps, and 36 red and blue reflectors on the rear fender seemed somewhat unorthodox and out of place on a competition machine. However we were assured by chief works rider Ron (Flash) Beerkowski that in spite of its appearance It was the best damn machine he'd ever ridden. Since Flash weights 370 lbs. we Immediately stopped snickering and making jokes about raccoon tails and stereo tape decks. Naturally we were eager to take the machine out for a few laps around the test track, however Flash told us that he had better take it out first to make sure It was running OK. The machine Is rather tricky to start. Six mechanics inserted a splined shaft through the hollow rear axle and lifted the machine off the ground while four others proceeded to spin the motorcycle. We asked why this method was used and were told If It was good enough for the airplane mechanics It was good enough for them. After the machine idled down to 20 RPM they let it down on the ground and Flash jumped on and took off around the course. We could see the entir'e course from where we were and we're forced to admit that Flash was truly representative of the Polish riding style. He was absolutely fearless while going uphill or through the mud traps and when a steep downhill section was reaChed, in the tried and true Polish tradition, he kicked the motorcycle off the top .and rolled down after it, managing to regain his seat again at the bottom and get under way again after no more than a fifteen minute period to restart the machine. After several laps around the course Flash felt that the machine was running well enough to turn it over to us. Not wanting it said that we were chicken we got on the machine, depressed the clutch with our left foot, grabbed the shift lever, slapped It into gear, turned the throttle all the way on, let out the clutch, accelerated to 50 MPH in reverse, ran over the pit crew, slipped in the clutch, shifted into neutral, let out the clutCh, power shifted into low, ran over all the magazine's photographic equipment, double clutched It into second, hit a ditch at 85 MPH ruining a perfectly good pair of pants, slipped in the clutch, shifted into reverse by mistake and made it back to the pits at 65 MPH. At this point we locked up the brakes, shifted into low, hit the compression release, turned off the gas, pushed the kill button, and slid to a stop in front of Flash. He asked us what we thought of the machine and we told him we didn't think the public was really ready for a machine of this type. He agreed with us on this point and admitted that there were a few items the factory was considering changing. This concluded our test of the Grebulski Special which is in a class by itself and represents the epitomy of Polish styling and engineering. Road Rest On The Grebulslci Moto-Cross Special (The Polish Comet) "Let's see now... Athena's got to be around here somewhere!· ~RD\T U\Gh\EN1S IN HISTORY/i.' VON Hb meet Joe DAM SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type Bore and Stroke No. or cyl. Compression ratio Secret Wheelbase Ground Clearance Fu el capacity Ignition 69x96 Max HI' Carburetion Enough 25 to 1 .003 Air-Wick Lubrication Transmissi 00 Long. Yes I'lenl3' Zippo Chicken Fat 9 speed inclUding 5 neutrals FRAME AND SUSPENSION Front Suspension Reversed leading link with oil dampened to.rsion struts Rear Suspension 6 Earles l3' pe shock absorbers Speeds in MPH 1st 50 2nd 95 3l"d 130 1 six pack 4th 180 2 six packs 5U1 220 2 six packs+l pt. 6U1 Unknown Peppermint Schnaps Reverse 1 st 65 ~nd120 2 cases hair qt. 3rd 180 2 cases hair qt. plus 1 q t. peppe.... mint schnaps NEW Ny'on fast Action Dua' Thrott'e~~ New lrom BTl E! Fast action I' twn throttle lor 7/8" bar. Can be used a single cable as well as dual. When used lor single cable dummy cable can ~ Llii ' ...ll\t:r~