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/125818
Don't let those little dirt details, like the chains attached to the shift and hrake levers to keep out brush, fool you. The F-7 is grown in the image of its predecessors. It's a street bike that you can trail ride, albeit slowly. Look at it in that light and you'll never be unhappy. A better around town transportation bike that you can strap on to your camper and puddle around in the dirt upon would be hard to f.ind. The F-7 has by far the best 175 motor that you .can buy in a two-stroke enduro. It has dirt type torque, good t1trottle response, more power than its competition, and is stone reliable. The engine is a jewel in a slag pile. During its somewhat lengthy stay at Cycle News the F-7 traveled some 650 miles in the dirt. It was ridden flat out in 115 degree heat, slogged through water, made to tow and haul incredible loads, ridden two up, left idling for an hour and a half, and then taken for a nice 75 MPH jaunt on the freeway. During the time no one ever even removed the spark plug. It always started first kick when cold and tenth kick when hot (don't ask why) .. It logged a consistent 55 MPG on regular and sub regular gas and consumed a quart of Kawasaki K-2 oil every 400 mile•. We were consistently astounded at the reliable performance. During all ·those dirt miles we were astounded by the handling, too. The F-7 is not mean t to go fast in the dirt. If you try, your rewards may well be the same as ours. One fellow said, "Only one thing handles worse in a sandwash than a Kawasaki 175." uOh, what's that?" a curious staffer inquired. "Two Kawasaki 175 's in a sandwash," he replied. The F-7 loves to shake its head in .and. It doesn't just wiggle though, it makes radical changes in direction. Neither suspension units are up to the task of hard riding either. However, they do supply a ride of reasonable quality when going slowly. The shocks are all spring. On the street the F-7 handles okay. The steering is a tad quick, but once you become accustomed, it is quite useable. The tires are the limitation. The frame seems acceptably rigid as evidenced by the number of F-7's running around wi th road racing tires and low bars on local road race courses. That, incidentally, is the way to go if you want to compete on an F-7. They make fine road racers. Wi th a few, or a lot, of modifications their speed is astoun,di'ng. The front brake is good for dirt use in 'feel and power and passes for street use, too. For road racing it's borderline. The rear is fine for asphal t, bu t is best left alone in the dirt. The suspension can't handle that sort of thing. The rear end hops and jerks quite badly, and brake sensitivity disappears. The gas tank holds a little over two gallons, which you can stretch up to 110 miles. That's pretty fme for a 175. The seat is soft but presents a tremendous problem for dirt riding. It makes you slide to the front, where it isn't nearly as comfortable. Behind the seat is a nice rack - good for strapping groceries or whatever to. The headligh t is very, very brigh t. It would build lots of shadows into most large street bikes. It's actually possible to ride the bike in the dirt at nil(ht. The tail light was very bright, too. An interesting sidelight on that efficien t electrical system is the manner in which it is fused. The fuse, which did blow on our bike, affects everything but the ignition and the headlight. If you blow a fuse you keep on going and with a headlight. However, it did take a little while for us to figure out what was happening. A few additions by Kawasaki could have made the F-7 a better dirt bike. With a 21 inch front wheel the bike might try to climb over a few of the objects that it now tries to go through with varying success. It might also help the front end to stick a little more in comers. Damping in the rear shocks would be welcome, too. If it did handle, that great engine unit would make for a fine enduro bike. The motor loves to chug up hills and over obstacles that are commonly fOljnd in enduros. Of course, making it a dirt bike would require a few other concessions, too. The rubber footpegs would have to go, and the bars and grips would have to be improved. The seat would have to at least get stickier and the weight might stand a little reduction. How about some plastic fenders? As it is it is a fine more or less dual purpose bike. Lots of power and lots of reliability. jiM fishbACk's YAMAIIA~~@~'jj' ti\~ti\ .. '" m ~ M .... m .. 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Race starts 7:30 - Practice from 6-6:45 P.M. $6 Mail-$10 Post-$5 Members + Gate fee Mail entry closes Monday prior to event., July 29 - Moto Cross - MUNTZ CYCLE PARK - Sign In: 8-9 A.M. Race starts 10 A.M. - $6 Mail-$10 Post-$5 Members + Gate fee Mail entry closes Monday prior to event Aug. 5 - Family Poker Run & Hot Shoe Course CALIFORNIA CITY - Limed from California City Golf Course Race starts 7 A.M. - $8 Mail-$10 Post-$7 Members Mail entry closes July 23 - Approx. two 20-mile loops. Collins & Son 1265 E. Lincoln Anaheim (714) 535-5000 * ..••..•.................••............ FINISHER PINS * PRIZES. TROPHIES * Send two self·addressed, stamped envelopes with entry. MAIL ENTRY FeE TO: American TriWheel 'lacing Association P. O. Box 3727 - City of Industry,.CaIif. 91744 !II NO !)Oc rOll ,..ro....n ION I-.;B;;.;a;;,,;,,;s;,;;~.;.~~,!?,!J .~~::'" . 116~ C 'OUNTAIH WAY AM\1IEM CALIf 9z,06 CALL: (213) 330·5653 for Information . Z W ..J (.J >(.J