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/125638
New 100ee Junior Green Streat Gets Refinement In Hanlls Of A Tuner By Bill Butler Photo by Dick Wright Not long ago Kawasaki se,vice manager Al Goslee turned me on to the newest lOOcc competition bike from Kawasaid. Called the Junior GreenStreak, the new screamer is Kawasaki's entry into the growing tield ot ultra-lightweight racers. Alter riding the new machine I had no doubis about its potenUaI and wasted no time in accepting AI's atter otloaning the bike to me tor a lillie racing experimentation. Once back at the shop the racing youngster was given a more thorough inspection than a teen-ager at the Mexican border. Since this bike was a prototype model I had no spare parts to tinker with so all innovations had. to be improvised or hand made. For the first test I gathered a kit ot jets and plugs, rounded up my rider and mechanic and beat a path to the nearest sand wash. At the sand wash we discovered that the bike sulfered in the torque department. On a good surfaced drag race I'm sure that this wee one would live up to its name but in the sand, torque, not horse power is the key to speed. This fact was my cue to go to work on a torque producing exhaust pipe. After the new pipe was installed we returned to the sand wash tor another smoke test. I was pleased to tlnd that Tuner Bill Butler takes a plue readlne on the potent non.sanforlzed Kawasaki. Like worklne with a diamond In the roulh, Bill developed modifications and reflnemenls that let the Junior Green Slink reach lis full potential. now the power was usable even in the deepest sand. The next problem we encountered was that of gearing. The s1milarU;y of Japanese bikes proved to be a blessing because we were able to use the countersbatt sprocket ot another bike to give us the gear ratio that we desired. Although the bike had not received all the projected modifications we decided to take it out tor a track test. With absolutely no track time on the Kawasaki's record, Bobby Hardison, our rider pulled off a win in a "Junior TT race and a second in a Senior fiat track event. Alter the races the riders provided me with more ideas on how to refine the bike. They thought that the rear suspension was fine but that the front had very little dampening and was also shy on travel. I did some checking on the geometrics and found that the forks were not onlY limited in travel but also that the overall tork length was short causing the front wheel to "dig in" on corners. Once again, another Japanese bike provided the component to solve our problem. With every effort we had a newtront end tor our racer. The next trial given our protegee was competition in a Senior motocross race. This is possibly the best test ot the true worth of a dirt bike. Jeff Wright, yoWig desert racer, gave the Kawa a pounding in the 125 Senior class of a recent motocross and took a solld second place tor the day. That is quite a teat on a new and unfamiliar machine. in the pits alter the tinal moto Jeff said about the bike, "It handies really well with the new front end, but it is the most pipey bike I have ever ridden. With the high, road race gearing in It now I had to sliP the clutch in low gear around three of the tighter turns. There is no doubt in my mind that the engine can put on the pressure. You have to get it up to about twelve grand before it starts responding and then it just screams." Neckbreaker Causes Anolher Tragedy "'bather deliberate or Unintentional, one neckbreaker is just as fatal as another. Negl1gence has too long allowed these dead1y, unmarked chains, wire, and cables to be stretched across the motorcyclist· s path. Death took its toll again because of these hazards when thirteen year old Clayton Bruce Flowers of Texas was Idlled recenUy by barbed wire stretched across an alley. The intent of the man who strWlg the wire is sttll questioned. But regardless of the reason, this youth's death is another case warning that such traps must be clearly marked or removed. The "Irving Dally News", Sept.' 2 issue covered the tragedy: youth in the throat. He was pronounced dead at 1rv1nl! Community Hospital at 8:25 p.m. An autopsy oraered by Judge Lloyd G. Russell, Irving Justice of the Peace, revealed death was caused by transection of the trachea. The inUaI investigation 'led to a rullng ot accidental death by Judge Russell, but further Investigation by irving Pollce detectives Gammon and Ellison resulted in the arrest of an Irving man who has been charged with murder. No date had been set Monday for the hearing. IRVING MAN CHARGED IN LOCAL YOUnI'S DEAnI Murder charges have been filed on an Irving resident in connection with the Elbow to elbow raced Steve (26) Snyd.r and Mlk. (285) Mlddl.ton throueh the Hanford nleht. St•••·s Inside position ea•• him th••de. and h. nipped Mlk. for first plac. In the 250 Exp.rt Main. . Point AlNards Given At Hanford Races By Jack Light HANFORD. CAL .• Sept. 19, 1969 - Another fine night ot racing was attered the riders, and spectators alike, through.the untiring efforts of members of the Kings County M.C. Club, and the Visalla Ramblers M.C. The track was prepared to perfection, the schedule of events went oft like clockwork, the late summer weather was ideal, with just a touch of chill in the air. One of the highlights of the evening, was the awarding ot the high point trophies'. Three small points separated the tirst and second places. Steve Snyder, a 250 EJq)ert, bested Ron Tobey and Stan Sibley, for second place honors. First on the line were the 90 Novices. Curt Lange, K1rby Shorpshire, and Rick Villanueva made it a clean sweep for Kawasaki. Young Vincent Foster continued his w1np1ng ways. After a tirst in Porterville last week, he came back to take the 125 Novice on a very tast Bultaco, followed by Richard Garcia and his Kawasaid, with Ron Pires grabbing third astride a Yamaha. District 35 Champion Ron Tobey again tasted the truits of victory in the combined 125 Amateur-Expert, with his arch rival, Leon Cotton also on a Yamaha, pushing all the way tor second. George Beckett, an Amateur, on a very quick Bultaco earned the third spot. The 200 Novice-Amateur turned out to be a real crowd pleaser, with three Amateurs, all riding Bultacos, Rick Reed, Loren Lawdermllk, and Adam Pollak, placing first, second, and third. Amateur steve Salyers and his Bridgestone placed fourth overall. first in class. The 250 Amateurs, TIm Tomlinson with his Montesa, Leonard Reed and his Bultaco, with Carl Nelson on his 00, really had their work cut out tor them as they finished in this order. Steve Snyder (high point winner) led the three Bultaco parade across the flnlsh line in the 250 Expert class. Mike Mtddieton, recently crowned Champion of District 35 250 class, appeared to be "drafting" the leader, they were that close. Herschel Spurlock, making uP the third member of the parade, was always right in the thick ot things throughout the race. The 500 Amateur, though few in numbers. was not lacking in excitement. Zeek Charest and his Matco proved to be the master over Skip Saylor and his American-Eagle who'had quite a contest going with Charles Rowan, Triumph, battllng pegs to pegs tor the second spot. Skip managed to pull a way just enough in the last lap for the second place position. The 650 Amateur main proved additional color at the start. As happens to the best ot them at times, Louie Woods tried to give himself a handicap, and race on ouly his rear wheel. The handicap was more than Louie could over come, but he tried, and rode !fke a winner, but could not make UP the distance to catch the leaders. Stan Nunes, Trlumph mounted was flagged for first, followed by Roger Davidson, and Alan Haydon both on BSA·s. The 650 Expert main was loaded with talent, a large field of the big boys. Carrol Jackson again flashed his Number 1 BSA across first, with Guy Smith and his Triumph tollowing in t1ne style, with the BSA ridden by another hot sboe, Don McKay, tor the well deserved third place. (Results ran last week) death ot a local teenager who was killed Wednesday night when the motorcycle he was riding struck a strand of barbed wire stretched across an alleyway behind Luzon Street. Irving Pollce Detective Al Gammon said Monday that the man is being held in Dallas County Jail without bond, pending a hearing before a county judge. Gammon and Det. Jerry Ellison were assigned to the investigation of the death of Clayton Bruce Flowers, 13, of 2010 Normandy who according to tirst investigating atticer, Patrolman Mark Mc Quinn, was visiting his brother at 3120 Luzon. McQuinn said the boy left his brother's house at about 8 p.m. last Wednesday and was riding his motorcycle across an open field behind the houses on the south side of Luzon Street. When the youth turned east along an alley at the rear ot residenUaIproperty, the motorcycle struck a strand of barbed wire which had been stretched from a corner tence post across the alley to a small tree. The wire snapped over the handlebars of the cycle. apparently striking the ~N UIiIIT SUPERnmm TACO RAIL 100 - Now............. .h..1 p.,'o,me, - $219.50. Oth.r . . . . . . . low • $119.95. "itt ..... _.dUldo, S49.95.5onol2Sc1w _ _• ' - l3O-p. ""....-SI HOCrlES MOTORCYClES HODAKA YANKEE GREEVES OSSA Compl.te Machin. Shop Facilltl.s 22025 So. 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