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/125632
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• By Roy Baumgardner Four cylinder Hondas are nowavailable so I borrowed one and took it to a nearby road race course to wring it out on the track. This was to evaluate the machine for either serious out and out grand prix racing, or production racing. I rode it all the way to the course on expressways, Interstate highways, through some nice little towns, and on blacktop back roads. It handled beautifully on all of these. The machine was stock with 1,600 miles on it. The compression ratio on these machine could be jacked a lot higher, and the cam ls extremely mild, having a power band from 2,000 rpm to about 9,000. So you can see what kind of horsepower you could get If you had a rev range that fell from say, 8,000 to 10,500 rpm. For serious racing, the machine really has POtential and before long you will see models with the alternator removed, and the fiy wheel cut, big valves, etc. With just some of these modifications, horsepower will be fantastic. We safety wired the drain plugs and checked the tire pressures. I tried three pounds above normal for the tires. Side stand and center stand were removed and all lights taped UP. Mirrors were also taped. I think Honda planned for another disc on the right hand side of the front wheel. One could be put in there readily. The front wheel disc brake is wonderful, and shows no sign of fade even though reaching temperatures of between 150 to 180 degrees. The oil in the oil tank also reaches these high temperatures. The new tires are a special soft compound and grip very well, probably the best stock tires of all. Handling is very similar to the Norton 750 with the featherbed frame, like the Manxman. The high speed straight line handling was superior to my Manx. The Honda will definitely outbrake my Manx. Though suspension feels firm on the road, the rear is too soft for racing, and chops too much on bumpy turns. This is easily Honda mster RaJ Baumeardner discusses Instrumentation with mechanic Dee Hartman and Rick Case. Headlllht and mlnars . .re taped far track test. Dick Jagow Tops At Salem Motocross TIJis Space ~ Cl. ~ ~ tal :i!: tal o..'l U G - ClmRTTI ONLY $6.50 per wellk Call •••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• corrected. Gear box ratios are very good just as they are, and this is tmportant because in production racing, they may not be changed. Because the clutch is spun at such a high rpm, the engine does not have to be bliPped to downshift. This alone is good for a few seconds per lap. I did run into one serious problem. Touching the red line in fourth gear going through a bumpy section of thlI straight, the machine will hop out of fourth gear. Triumph used to have this same problem years ago, so do many other bikes. This is usually cured by fitting a stronger gear-reta1ning spring. The first time it hopped out of gear like this and drastically overrevved,l figured we had a problem, basketful of junk. But Honda designed the top end of this engine very much like their wonderful 305 . Hawk, and instead of putting all the valves through the pistons, you just get a lot of sounds of valve lash and clatter. This machine is definitely going to have a far-ranging effect on both production racing, and out and out grand prix racing. Because of its heavy weight, it's going to be easy pickings on short corners for Yamaha 350's. But it's going to be right at home on the faster courses like Canada's Harewood and Mosport. There its superior acceleration and top speed can be put to work and its superior braking will get it out of most tight spots. In full race Irim with a fairing, top speeds are going to be right around 150 to 160 miles per hour. At sealevel much higher, possibly 170. When there's enough of them available so many people can be racing them seriously, a lot r1 teething problems pop uP will be licked as time goes by and then_tchout.Also, it won't be long before someone makesa short wheel base, super light frame available and this will probably be the answer to the short courses. # The tires sbowed a beautiful wear pattern after a few laps. The engine showed no sign r1 oil leaks, and due to the smoothness of the 4 cylinders, nothing shook loose, or broke. Honda Four Road Test Sequel Ask for Tom (213) 423-0431 Cia.p;ol Prese.taliols Gary Bailey - Bay Mare Rick Woods - Orange Co. .. Erfc Oleson - Orange Co. st fir e Choice of ChamPions"OW at your Ileal er Three at a time, Drelan motaerassers fly aver the Jump at the Salem course. These riders can palish at the up-eamlnl motocross school tutared by Lars Larssan. '~() By Marie Layton Photo by Byron Swift SALEM, ORE., August 10 - It was another Dick Jagow-Bob Leach Day at the Salem Motocross Park as the two battled it out In both the Open class and the Senior Division of the 250' s. Jagow and his Greeves waged the final victories over CZ mounted Leach in both events, although he had to finish the last heat of the 250 class with a fiat tire. Dennis Himes of Beaver, winner of the Open class at the 'last race finished in thlrd in the Open today and Bill Cook, Carlton, took the third place win in the 250 Senior Division. Cook has also taken top honors on this course many times. Other winners were Gary McDowell, Yamaha, first place in the 250 Juniors; Jerry Leslie, Husky, was second and Tom Jette thlrd on a CZ. I HARLEY-DAVIDSON I Dennis Shipman, Bultaco, was flrst in the 1~5 Seniors. Dale Demaris 2nd, on a Sachs, and Dennis Himes took another thlrd, this time on a Yamaha. In the 125 Juniors Tony Hefner, Sachs, was first; Richard Buckley, second on a Yamaha; and Perry Quiring, Honda, was third. Winner of the Beginners Class was Stan Morin of Woodburn and the minibike event went to young Ed Clevelaod. The next race 1s scheduled for August 24th and should be a really good one with all riders having become pros at motocross racing from attending the motocross school being conducted on the grounds the Friday ·and Saturday preceding the race. The teacher? - none other than Lars Larson, world famous Swedish racer! OnlyBULTACO Steve's Bultaco Open 6 days a week 'Mon. & Fri. 9-9 others 9-6 7627 Van Nuys Blvd. - Van Nuys, Cal. (213) 180-6300 MODELS Of I.~LEWOOD Coming Aug. 20th Penton - Hodaka Yamaha - BSA Husqvarna Norton Deal er of the ..... Handa Del Rey ·4421 S. Sepul veda 1223 Ave. I Lancaster (1051 942-9624 611-1609 or 611-7600 ... 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