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/125835
.• • GIlt C..abela 125 MX II ~ e SALES SERVICE Welding Porting Accessories o C'J lll) 1352 Centinela. W. Los Angel.. Corner of Santa Monica Blld. & Centinela Open 9 to 6 T ues-Sat 9 to 9 on Thursday .D Il) Santa MoniCli en..-. ; -l! c e > o Z The Mexican Conquerer rejoins the. t ightweight contest N ! ~ "W+E i . u c: c: :l • .. S nta MoniCli IFrwy. .. BURAK TUNING SCHOOL Learn how to tune bikes from the BURAK T~NING SCHOOL for a profitable career or hobby. BURAK BYE-PRODUCTS ca. 1517ORayrnerst. van .-cr 1768 Amal Carbs & Parts All parts for the 600,900, 1000 series concentric carbs. Complete conversions for alcohol &nitro fuels. ~K BYE-PRODUCTS 15170 Raymer st. vanaca -- ~1768 - . FACTORY OUTLET FOR PREMIER HELMETS STREET-DESERT-MX DIlIQ;lJIRJIG PREMIER YAMAHA 19721 BEACH BLVD. HUNTINGTON BEACH. CA. (714) 536-7555 Hodaka Mont.sa f~Jr:ne'a "~J , Motorcycles fI • t ",~Ul4 e'f, ~~~:Sport Cycle .GUYR.LOUIS (714)893·7057 7219 Westminster Ave., Westminster. Ca. .................................... • • 28 sossoni '- (714) 630-1811 Manulatlurlng j i l l FOUNTAIN WAY, ANAHEIM, CA. 9280G ...••.........••.•................•.. Maintaining a h~althy skepticism . on what you read In vanous motorcycle tests IS invariably a good idea. If the opinions put forward in a publication don't jibe with the facts as you know them, or with information coming from other sources generally considered reliable, then something is amiss. Of course the reader wh 0 has no knowledge whatever of a particular bike can compare all published information on it, ask questions of people who ride the machine, and, fmally, ride one himself. Even then, his opinions mayor may not coincide with what he's read or heard about the machine. One man's motorcycle may be another man's bilge pump. When we read, in a recen t issue of Dirt Bike magazine. some thoroughly negative opinions on the Carabela 125 motocrosser, we were properly skepticaL Though we'd had little first-hand experience with this machine, we did recall seeing it turn in so~ not-too-shabby performances when it fltst appeared. Hmmm. In all fairness, it should be pointed out that the magazine tested a 1973 model and we received a '74. And there are some indications that Carabela went through a period of managemen t difficulties between the factory and its stateside marketing organizations. Perhaps those problems were reflected in a machine that wasn't properly designed for the U.S. market. But we suspect, and this is merely guesswork, that the early Carabelas were pipey, quick-handling little mothers that were a bit much for the novice motocrosser startiIfg out in the l25 _ class. Guess n umber two; the engines were detuned and the steering geometry altered, and the gear ratios (numerically) raised . With a little excess flab anyway, this only served to make the Carabela less competitive in the growing ranks of l25 MXers. Then the Japanese started to take the 125 class more seriously, no doubt noting that the Spaniards and Swedes were doing so, not to mention all the users of Sachs power plants. With the arrival of Honda's Elsinore l25, notice had been served that the lightweight game was now being played in earnest. The new Carabela 125 MX is a hjgh-strung racer that obviously needs judicious breaking-in and proper tuning to be at the head of the hunt. The first item needing 'change is the overall gear ratio. Our machine, as did Dirt Bike's. arrived with a l4·tooth countershaft sprocket and 58 at the rear. It could obviously pull taller gearing with no disadvantage in the tight stuff, so we put on a l5-tooth drive sprocket. Much better. If the C arabela was formerly deficient in the braking category, it ain't so now. A new conical alloy hub at each end provides all one could ask for in anchoring capability. It could use a full-floating rear brake, and we're told provisions are being made for use of either floating or rigid set-ups. The shocks don't seem to do much of anything except transmit pain to the kidneys. They won't do. The Betor forks work well enough until too much of the fluid dribbles past the seals. Anyone who has replaced seals on their Bultaco, Husky, etc., is familiar with the problem and the solution. But the factory should do it anyway. De.pite the inability of the· shock absorbers to take up some needed slack, the Carabela is a good high-speed handler. Good shocks would provide added predictability, and increase throttle-confidence in fast going. Seat Specificalio. . Engine type Two stroke, air cooled, racing Displacement 124.8 Compression ratio 13.5:1 Max H.P. at sea level .....................•.... 24 H.P. at 8000 R.P.M. magneto Ignition Lubrication 16:1 gasoline oil mixture (in fuel) Carburetor 30mm Mikuni FI LTRON Element Air Filter Clutch ................................•.•..•.. Multi-plate wet' dise Transmission ............................................• 5 speed Frame '. '.' Double cradle (High chrome content tubular steel) . . Suspension (Front) Betor Heavy Wt. 35 mm Suspension (Rear) Swinging arm (rear shocksGabl'iel 60/90 Tire size (Front) 275x21 BARUM Tire size (Rear) 400x18 BARUM Tank capacity , 1.85 gallon 55 inches Wheelbase Ground clearance 8 inches Weight (Dry) 204 Ibs.