Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

R• ~ ; .... 0> C") .... .. 0 C") III ~ ... u 0 0 Curnutts were smooth over the jump until they bottomed, which they did from time to time. Then they kicked back ferociously. The valve must have been floating. Long, open sand whoop-de-doos is the proper home for Curnutts. They do the thing in that environment. S&W dampers and springs would carve around a berm with razor-like precision. Bage MX shocks tended to have a harsh ride which was controllable but uncomfortable. are recommended for the KONI 80, though. CURNUTTS 3.7'" w/constant wind 60 lb. spring. preload for 170 Ibs. Tester 1 Tester 2 Whoop-Oe-Ooos4 4 Note: You could ride them almost as fast sitting down as you could standing up; Thev made the difference between riding in fourth and fifth gear on the Yemaha. MX Chican. 3 3 minus Note: Feel of the DT-1 B with Curnutts was CERIANI w/constant wind 60 lb. springs. Tester 1 Tester 2 Whoop-Oe-Ooos3 4 minus Note: Smooth action but would bottom with very vague; not very confidence-inq:;iring in mrners. Bike witt not drive out of corners. accelerated out fairly well. Cerianis wanted to fair regularity. MX Chican. 1 3 Note: Didn't want to stick in MX turns very well - but one tester felt that thay slide out more. 3 2 Braking on RipplesNote: Would induce side-to..ide hop when braking on ripples, probablv due to bottoming. Jump3 minus 4 Power doesn't - . . to get to the ground when accelerating hard. Braking on Ripples2 3 Note: Fairlv savere hobbv~orsing but no sideways kick or deflection. Rear wheel would lock up and kill the engine if you . Note: Ceiianis were very soft and cushiony - were't careful. again until they bottomed_ Then smoothness Jump3 4 Note: Very soft untW they bottom - then they kick the rear end of the motorcvcle up very fast. Generally, a soft riding shock but occasionally the valve would be ou t of position and you got a severe smack in the as. The Curnutt has an almost indestructible shaft and maintain the same performance. Curnutts are a baffling shock - very difficult to get a grasp on their performance. BOGE SS (MX model) w/60-90 progressive wind springs, first position • Tester 1 Tester 2 Whoop-De-Doos· 3 3 plus Note: Directional stabilitY was OK bot testers agreed they couldn't take the rigidity of the Boges for the length of a desert race. MX Chicane4 Pl.!is 5 Braking on Ripples2.. 4 Note: Bashad kidneys a bit but control was good. . Jump3 4 plus Unbelievably "fast" shock in terms of bike speed over the ground which makes sense only when translated. to ground contact and tracking through corners. It gives the feeling of slicing a line like a razor. Also very harsh - ... and control went WNay. Braking on the ripples leading into corners was a harsh business on the S&W's. Control was noticeably lessened. However. the Boges did like to track around a corner With extremely fine control. They really allowed you to hold a line. except when landing from jump; then, just firm. Very positive control. What they do best is MX comers. Seem perfect for 15-20 minute "balls-out" motos where precise control and speed are more important than rider endurance. They seem to transmi t more bump to the rider but impart perfect berm control. Excellent on sweepers, will drift out controllably. MX Chicane- 4 3 Braking on Ripples- 3 3 minus S&W (Motocross model) w/60-90 progressive S&W springs. Tester 1 Tester 2 Whoop-De-Ooos4 2 plus Jump. 4 4 minus Don't do anything super well but are OK. They do .!!lost things acceptably. The shocks did nothing strange in MX turns but were not as precise as KONI or Boge. Got power to the ground OK. They did not like the whoop-de·doos - or at least the rider didn't like them on S&W's. Very harsh ride over whoopdies. Not very outstanding performance in any respect as a shock but better than stock. Same springs as The springs supplied with the shocks were too soft for desert racing applications in our opinion. They bottomed and, in some cases, topped out, mainly due to short length of Cerianis. GIRLING "SCRAMBLES" (MX) model w/60-90 lb. progressive springs in first position. Whoop-De-OoosMX ChicaneNote: Did not get a mainlv because of Tester 1 Tester 2 5 5 plus 5 4 5 from both testers the jumping when accelerating out of corners on bumps and ripples. Braking on Ripples- 3 3 minus Jump- 4 5 Not quite the subtle yet superb handling of the KONI but still very, very good. Handling was impressive and ability to conquer whoop-de-doos a real surprise. They steered well whlle hopping harshly into comers. The right hand Girting got the hQttest of any of the shocks we tested - almost too hot to touch. It also has an awfully thin Continued on page 33 29'

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