Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

You need leathers that don't restrict your movement. You need ABC. You don 't have to carry AMA 's number one plate to know that leathers don 't provide the best prote~tion unless they fit right. And to ride you r best on road or track, you need the freedom of movement and the secu rity that ABC Custom Leathers provide. We know that a good fit improves your performance and protection. And keeps you comfortable during long races and longer touring sessions. So we make your fully lined ABC Custom Leathers fit like a second sk in. Not too tight. Not too loose. And with the pads and everything else ri ght where you need it. Our attention to detail , unsurpassed quality standards, unlimlled variety of designs and proven protection have made us the choice of Ken Roberts,Gene Romero,Brad Lackey and a host of other top riders. Want that same comfort, protection and performance? Ask your dealer for information or write today for your free copy of " The ABCs of Do-II-Yourself Custom Leather Tailoring". A few minutes with a tape measure and YOU'll be on your way to a custom fit that Isn' t hard on your body. Or your wa llet. ~ With over $11,000 In cash awards ~ 6 ~ It pays to ride with ABC Leathers • • ABC Custom Leathers is a majo r spo nsor in the AMA Grand National Championsh ip races. There's over $11,000 up for grabs by winners wearing ABC Custom Leathers in 21 AMA races and selected FIMsanc tioned events. Check wi th your race officials for deta ils or contac t ABC Custom Leathers direct. ------------ I I I ABC Custom Leathers Division of Bell Helmets Inc. _ _- -__ 9802 South Atlantic Ave. South Gate, CA 90280 Please send my free copy of "The ABCs of Do-ItYoursell Custom Leather Tailoring" to: ~~ ~~EU .. I L:t;.__s:.__~~_=;;.;~·~ Address BELL FOLLOW IN ROGER DeCOSTER'S BOOT STEPS I away the m ush in ess. S&W da m pe rs with 90 lb . rin. straigh t win d sprin gs of the same m a ke m ad e all t he di fference. The S&W damper design als o allows another half-in ch or more o f piston travel m eaning th e shock doesn 't have to wo rk as m uch for the same amount of re ar axle travel and, th e refo re , will last longer wh ile damping better. The ride was firmer bu t m uch more positive. Nin ety, 100, or 11 0 lb .fin , springs are p rovided by Co ope r as part o f the bolt-on shock b ra cket kit. Firmin g up both ends o f the Co oper with heavier springs a nd mid -range damp in g S&W shocks (The re are three S&W categories fro m soft to firm . ) significan tly improved ro ugh track con trol an d al lo wed t he rider to cov e r th e sa m e terrain more qui c kly a nd safely , which is what it's all ab o u t in th e first pl ace. Ironicall y, th e bike fe els twitchy on rou gh st rai ghts y e t go es through co m ers well, ex h ibiting m u ch qui c ker and m o re precise steering than m igh t no rm ally be asso ciated with a Maico-derived chass is. Stability in a corneri ng m ode, ei t her sliding or sq ua ri ng off, is hard to fa ult. The G-force s in volved balance well with the st iffe r, lon ger travel sus pe nsi on . The best p art of bringing th e Co oper 25 0 in t o th e world of 19 75 rough course raci n g is the p rice tag: S l 03S- Cooper 250 MX list pri ce 34 - bo It-o n m ountin g kit with co rr ec t ra t e springs for rear da mpers 12-new fork springs I I - plas tic fen d er s $ 109 5 - very reaso na ble pri ce for a c om pet itive 25 0 clas s dirt racer Even if you al lo w S5 0 for di ffer en t dampers, as we use d , which m ay no t be necessa ry 'til the old-style Bo ges we ar o ut , the ra cing package is n o t all that pri cey . Particularly if you've seen wh at the rest of th e sc oo ters are bringing th is year. As final caveats, y o u should k now that wh ile th e shi ft ing is positi ve ; precise with good progessio n on gea r ratios, t he cl utch heats up and drags afte r pro longed usage even if n ot severely used d u ring th at time. That's a feature they di d n't need to adapt fr o m the Maic o. An d th e Cooper is fai rly heavy wi th m o st of th is weigh t attri b u ta ble to th e big, bl ac k Islo e n gine. Po wer t o we igh t ra tio is, nume ricall y , favorab le even if the machine is a t the h igh en d of th e poundage scale among current 25 0s : a bo u t 24 0 o r so . Purist s m ay in sist , wi th o bvi o us justification, t hat it 's no t quit e the same as the n ew, red esigned 25 0 s wit h Facto ry-in tegra l LT R ' suspe nsio n . Ho wever, 9 0% of all riders wo n' t be able t o te ll $5 0 0 wo rth of difference in perform an ce. Th e biggest co m plaint ab o u t the Co op er 250 : co sm e tic finis h ing as it rel a tes to functi o n . It s biggest asse t: acc ep table co m petit io n handl ing an d a go od p ower package a t an inc reasingly bargain price . Essentially stoc k, with the ad d-ons noted, it 's good enough to race 250 J un ior. Stock, hardly any th ing's good enough to race 25 0 Expert. • ./)f..AJ .....,.-.::;.. Take a boot des igned by a 3-time World Cham pion and manufactured to Torsten Hall man' s exacting " ~, . specific ation s. and you have the , .. Roger DeCoster bo ot! Padded skin and ankle, steel sol e sup. port and steel toes make this boot one you'lI want to wear for maximum comfort and protection. Qu ic k release positive buc kles are just on e of the many fe at ures t h at a wo r ld champion demands. And it' s av aila ble w it h suregrip soles for enduro riders. 1975 Cata log $1.00 , • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••J OrderTolI Free: : PARTS 800-348-2764 : World's Ilrgesl lnvenlory lor Iialian motorcycles R ebuill Eng ineExchl ng es tGSMO.-oU'AI MOTO I.C. RS, Ha tb or o , Pa 19040 : P istons H J. Products : . South Bend, Ind.: ~: ;.....1Yl\'!f.~f!~.I! .~.~!~jJ....~.: 25

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