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/125665
... ABOUT BIKESP TRY ABACK. .. 'o"s e, tI) We tossed the whole works lnto the truck and sput for Saddleback Park. Kelvin started the snarllng twin and the entire machine shook and bristled. He motioned for me to mount the platform and the apprehension disappeared. Fear took its place. The starting area for the Saddleback motocross couse is a long uphlll stretch with undulations that a solo rider can wheelie right aver. Kelvin held the power on and as the besast jumped aver the first rise it tried to swap ends. When it came down the driving tire dug In and it ANOTHER FINE PRODUCT Motorcycle Trailers New & Used 8 uy - Se ll - Trade 1 - 2 - 3 bike traHers tried to swap ends the other way. Th1s happened about five tlrnes In a second and a half and I felt fear sllpplngaway... panic was taking over. We reached the end of the straight and slowed for the first lefthander.Rememberlng what I'd been told about sidecar INVASION - ---::-. "..-,---- r Di stri but ed by FEATURES ~: ~ = rUilng (point your head toward the apex ~ of the turn) I leaned out past the hack wheel, clinging to the grab bar. Wedrove on around and it seemed to be more pre- U dlctable In cornering than in trying to go In a straight line. A short downhlll then uphlll section brought us to the next turn, an off-camber right bander. I had been concerned about the hack wheeillfting off the ground and was st1l1hangingoutaway from the bike. About half way around the right turn Kelvln looked down and politely suggested, "we're golng the other way now". Ohl Well sure, I thought, any dolt should know which way to learn. That sort of thlng is innate isn't it ? Try It if you don't believe it folks, but tt Is posstble to find yourself all stretched out In the opposite direction unill you find your way around. If you do enter a turn In the wrong position it is really tough to correct because . centrifugal force works against and it's like climbing uph11l to get into the correct stance to keep the whole mess from careening Into the weeds. Dennis Jenkinson who rode as passenger in several world road racing championships has written that a passenger can use the hack's motion to help position himself an d thereby keep fr om needlessly tirlng him self. Why then, was I exhausted after the first 500 yards? On the motocross course we had to contend not only with the turns but the bumps as well . Every sllghtest hump In the trail seemed to set the rig yawing from side to side wblle Kelvln wrestled the handlebars. It was fun. The next obstacle on the course was a soft but steep down hill followed by a left hand turn. I leaned to the correct side this tlrne and we eased down the slope. Slnce neither of us claimed to be any good at this game we cooled It uslng both brakes. What happened next should have been predicted when we first climbed on that beast. I'm only glad that ithappened at about 2 MPH. The front wheel crossed up, dug In and the whole shebang went lnto a slow motion end-aver-end. We both were pitched off onto the ground and I looked UP Just In time to see the yellow and nickel plated monster falllng toward me• . I was sprawled flat on my back so I lifted both feet and caught the seat just In time to kick the bike and hack a way so it crashed to the ground between Kelvin and myself. "'Sorry about that... he muttered as we righted the rig and fln1shed our tour of the course. On the next lap we were approaching another left hand turn and just as I threw myself at arms length the hack made a ( Conti nued on page 21) :3 G elmRTTI . ..r ~.. .u.. "". U I . Uti \ Manufacturers: Motorcycle parts and accessories 1970 catalog Barnes Ent.rprlse., 1436 West 15th St., Lone Beach, California 90813 Tel: (213) 436-2623 ircl e of Exc ell ence 323 W. MAPLE MONROVIA , CA. NEW MOTO-X PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE PERFORMANCE .r 'G enuine Ceriani forks & s hocks 'Chrome alloy doubl e loop cradle frame '~I' WHEELBASE 'Qulck detachable li ghts • U HORSEPOWER 'Street leg al 'CHROME MUFFLER & EXPANSION C IIAMBE R 'Foldlng-spring load ed foot pegs ·We "ara.f•• oYer f'" co••f.r parfs d.'i,.ry . ... .D••len.d Ind trKk lut.d by Bob lIlynMil, DI.t. 37 AlIA #lllotocroll rid. It prlc.s th. racer can afford. ' All this for $525. + T. & L . ' Cl Folding Foot Pegs $11.95 ' Cl Replacement Rear Fender Tips(unbreakable fiberglass) .. .. . . •$10.95 ' Cl Skid Plates (II. wI. aluminum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... $10.95 Compare thi s with any othe r 100cc Come i n a nd see the MOTo-BETA BARNEY TIUMAN'S SPORT CENTER 6027 W hittier Blvd. 11111 Check, lIon.y Order or C.O.D. to lIaynard Enter..."", 205 N. Hlrbor Blvd., Santa Ani, CllII. E . Los Angel es . Ca l. (213) 723·3523 I HARLEY-DAVtDSDN I Of Inglewood seU U .. 901 N. La Brea (near Sportsters Centinela) - 611·1609 or 611·1600