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/125828
Page 43 October 2,1973 The Clews is one distinctive looking machine. The setting is as dose as we could get to English coiJntryside. stubby-legged, 5'10" rider. Taller riders should have no trouble, but we found it uncomfortable on big jumps. But despite the limited space for weight transfer aft, the Clews will aviate the front wheel at will. And therein lies the 1'un in riding these motherthumpers; the power is always there. It never goes away and leaves you thrashing gears or blipping the throttle. It will get you out of trouble (or into it) at nearly any point on the RPM seale. Mighty comforting. Discomforting, however, were the front forks. Without backing off in fourth gear, we managed to bottom • them severely on Saddleback's (Saddlesore?) front downhill, !ll1d thus dislocated a connection on the alternator. The CD! models should be Footpegs mount directly to the cases. Note chain adjusters on swing arm. less prone, but the fork action still needs some work. Beyond that, the CCM handled well. It tracks through turns and powers out of them with uncanny ease. The rear brake was a bit grabby, regardless of adjustment, but with so much engine braking on tap it made little difference. (Note: This problem was aggravated by the track surface at Saddleback, which has strips of black rubber in numerous spots. Who ever heard of squ.ealing the tire on an MX track?) The Girting shocks gave us no trouble. Then there's the sound. Those who caugh t the Carlsbad G.P will recall the thunderous boom of John Banks' Cheney BSA powering up the long hill. He finished third, behind the fust and second ranked GP riders in' the world. The CCM is a fine example of OWC (Old World Craftsmanship) with a The CCM is easy to fly, but peg position forces rider forward. number of contemporary mods to bring it up to date. It is obviously not a mass production item. That there is a market for such a machine is evidenced by Kawasaki's alleged 500 single, reportedly due to appear soon. But we'd be willing to bet that the OWC will be missing. The English tend to view radical change with skepticism. They prefer to revise and refine, rather than re-tool. This approach maintains the character of machines that are products of individual design, not committee selected components. The stuff has identity. Maybe you've had to stay home doing the valves on your MG while the guy across the street was out driving around in his Datsun, but so what? It's a matter of pride. Fine machinery demands care and patience, like an old dog or a good woman (or vice versa). You'll probably see a CCM or two at the local races before long. Rob Norgaard and Bruce Torbett will be riding them at Mickey Thompson's Riverside spectacular next week, and English factory rider Bob Wright is entered in the Trans-AMA series just getting underway. May the hills be alive with the sound of th,umpers. God save the Queen. • Electrics are in air box. Condensor popped loose. ...