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/125752
hand and bring the kick starter to some position where you can reach it with your foot and hope the contortion doesn't put your knee permanently out of joint. On the other side of the bike is the gear shift lever, which is mounted high and out of the way, and the exhaust system which is a joy to behold. Very few motorcycle manufacturers have really been able to cope with the exhaust problem. Either they have a monstrosity that burns your leg and breaks off every time you fall, or it's tucked in in such a way that it's impossible to remove it in the f"lrst place and necessary to remove it every time you want to change a plug in the second place. The Bultaco exhaust system is superbly engineered. It's both tuckc:d in and accessible. rt's quiet. It doesn't burn your leg. It's unbreakable. What more could you ask? Well, a spark arrester maybe. That's coming in a couple months, so they say. The muffler is actually two parts. The second part was missing when I received the test bike but it further quiets the already quiet system. The Bultaco Sherpa T engine is something only a trials rider could love. It's a 250 that puts out about the same amount of power as a healthy 125. But it puts out that power from about 5 rpm to 5000 rpm. And nice heavy flywheels make sure that nothing in the power department happens very suddenly. The engine starts easily and runs oh-so-smoothly. And while' the actual power isn't that impressive, it's ""7J"'- ~, or sufficient to get the Sherpa T up hiJIs that would have old four-stroke-singles advocates talking to themselves. The gear box is a bit on the strange side too. First, second and third are close together and then there's a big jump from 3rd to 4th and 4th to 5th. The bike will cruise at ab'ou t 65 mph, if you're so inclined. To test the Sherpa T, I rode it in a trials that was put on by one of the local clubs down at Escape Country. It was quite a lot of fun and I found out what was vulnerable on the. bike and some of the features that I really liked but 1 didn't learn much worth reporting about the handling and such. After all, the bike in almost stock trim has won World and National Championships, so what can I say that's mea\lingful about the handling? For novices I can offer one bit of advice: There's a piece of frame tube that bends around behind the seat. II you get ou t of shape this piece of tubing will come up and smite you a terrible, painful blow on your tail. Both 1 and another young novice experienced this and both of us will long remember the tearful experience. Pad that bar. F or someone who's used to off-road riding on a traditional d~sert sled or motocross machine, a trials bike is an exhilarating experience. You discover areas of control in your riding that you SPECIFICATIONS: Wheelbase: ..•••••..••.•••...•...•.52" Saddle height: ••••.....•••...•... 29.5" Weight: ..•..•.•.• v ' • • • • • • 203 Ibs. empty Ground clearance: ..•••••••• , •.....• 11" Front Tire: •.•••••...••..3.00)(21 knObby Rear Tire: •.•••...•......4.00)(18 knobby Engine Displacement: . . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244cc Stroke: ••......•.•..•. , •........60mm Broe: .••........ , 72mm Compression Ratio: . . . . . . • • . . . . . • . . ,9.1 Horsepower: ... ' 19.8 at 5500 rpm (per mf.) Carbureto: ...........•. , .•. Am.al 27mm Gearing: Overall: . • • • . . . . . . • . . . . • . . . . . . . 8.79:1 1st, •••••••••..•.•••.•.•.••.....263,1 2nd, .••.••.••...••••..•...•.... 342'1 3rd, 442,1 4th, .•.•••......•••.•....•••... 123,1 5th, 1,1 Ignition: •• FEMSA flywheel Magneto 6 volts Gas Tank Capacity: .•.....••.. 1.2 gallons '. ~ Mike Patrick' $ * YAMAHA * RACE PREPARATION DYNO TUNE MACHINE SHOP CHOPPER ACCESSORIES PORTING BORING 1.42cc KITS PAINTING JAIWIA 11622 CHATSWORTH ST.• 368·1615 GRANADA HILLS ~ t see your local HODAK A dealer Distributed by Tiger Distributing 653 W. Broadway, Glendale, Ca. 91204 Hodaka I Downey, Ca. 90242 (213) 869-6616 G/?.isli8ilent... 7:(yn'Wide. MAICO PENTON think ....rnettco 1528 s. santa fe ave.• compton, ca. 90221 (213)636-6144 . .................... Motorcycles 7flut.uut~ ~~t~~:r.Sport Cycle Puch Montesa Greeves 12400 Benedict Ave. . By W. M. Askins Eleven real Kawasaki motorcycles will be offered as top prizes .in the first annual Motorcycle Modeling Contest, now being conducted by Revell, Inc. of Venice,Calif. oneof the nation's leading toy manufacturers. In addition to the motorcycles there will be prizes of motorcycle helmets, racing jackets, and other accessories for the cyclist. The contest is open to all amateur model builders in the U.S. and Canada through January 31,1972. To enter the model, builder must send photos of the miniature motorcycle he has designed and built. The panel of judges includes Parnelli J ones, the famous racing driver; Don Ernest, Revell Racing Products Manager; Brick Price, editor of Cycle Mechanics Magazine; and Bob Braverman, editor of Cycle Guide Magazine. Dealers who cooperate with full displays will be eligible for the same prizes as the model builders. HODAIlA·aILl1'Y 1101 E. 6th 51. - Corona m4l 13~l1n IMPACT CYCLE ENGINEERING FIRST MOTORCYCLE MODELING CONTEST m.ettco··············; FOR 0 of COIOIA never knew existed. Wheelies are easy and you can tackle hills that would normally scare you to death. You can actually steer a path through a rock field instead of just hanging on while the rims tum square. If trials are your bag, the Sherpa T migh t well be your best bet, but it depends on your personality. But even if you don't really like trials all that much, you might still consider owning a Sherpa T for a bit and riding a few trials just for the improvement that it will make in your other riding. Did you know that many European motocross stars started out as trials riders? M.ico Guy R. Louis (114) 893-1051 7574 Westminster Ave., Westminster, Ca. 1032 W. BROOKS ST.· ONTARIO,CA 91762 '714983·5871 dealers and distributors .****************- : Yamaha & : • • : Triumph : : of Fontana : . you can now have your very own hot hats for complete price list, write to: : Sales ra,fs Senice : -. - Maico, DKW, CZ, Hodaka, BMW • _ 9008 Sierra Ave. A~ • ~. • Fontana, Calif. • (714) 822-2252 .-. ,. *****************- cycle news products DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEADLINE long beach, ca 90801 WEDNESDA Y, NOV. 10, Sp. For Issue No. 45 (On Sale: Nov. 17) box 498 or call advertising department (21~) 427-7433 to order, send color desired and basic art logos ~ W Z w oJ U >- U