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/126013
on smoother surfaces, even under Expert rider s . On the TNT enduro, the ballyhooed Can -Am power j ust was n 't there. Compared to the big four in the enduroing game (Husqvarna, KTM, Bultaco, and Montesa), the Can-Am didn't make it. It lacked the low end and mid-range punch of the KTM and Bul and it di dn 't p rovide the effortless high speed cru ise we've encountered in the Hu sky or Montesa 250s. It was, h o wever , a fairly easy enduro bike to ride if you didn't want to ride it very fast. Flat out on level pavement, the speedometer needle would creep up toward an indicated 70 MPH . It took a concentrated effort to get the needle up to 50 u sing full throttle on dirt roads and trails. . Are we all spoiled? Do we expect too much from a factory in only its second iteration of building m o to rcy cles? Or has Can -Am promised too much and delivered only too m u ch horsepower. But if our expec ta tions of any motorcycle manufacturer are raised these years, it is be cause they are in a very competitive market. The Japanese machinery is improving and t he European-built bikes are already nearly to works specifications. It is not too difficult to see how both these Can-Ams got the price tags they carry . There is much good stuff on them . That Betor and S & W suspension m ust be paid for, alo ng with the Bosch electronic ignition. Rotationally molded plastic tanks aren't all that cheap to set up molds for an d the cost must be amortized in sales . There are D.I.D. rims on the MX·2 and Twin Air foam filters in both. Nylon lock nuts appear allover the machines in predicted critical spots. The rear engine mount of both machines is also the swingarm pivot : a design feature intended to keep a more constan t chain tension. There are lightweight p olypro plen e bash plates to cover the low pipes of both machines. It all sounds very good. It is the quality of function that is missing. When you get down to it, th in gs don't work in a purposeful way. So me examples fr om the enduro: the countershaft sprocket is difficult to access behind the engine cove r for chain removal in the field, or gearing changes, or almost anything el se . And, though it looks stre et legal , the headlight is virtually u seless for seeing in the dark. The chromed bars are too low; of the wrong bend for easy stand-up riding ; III • ~ 10' t 10 r-, O"l ~ 00 C'I 1-0 Q) ..0 0 +-' U 0 _ ... • Air under the rear tire and forks near bottom ma de f ast d o wnhill s a -er- thought-provoking experience. Heart of the beast. the Austrian Rotax single with its unique rotary -valve intake tract. As f itted to the MX-2. it carrie s things like the countershaft sp rocket in a bit more accessib le fashion. BITCH . BITCH. BITCH DEPT. TN'T is a bit st ic ky to main tain in spots, what with totally buried countershaft (below), half-b ur ied carb with its hardto-reach "choke" (below, right). Kicking t he MX-2 over (above) you invariably whack the exhaust with your heel. TN'Ts bulkier can h an gs th e lever up completely. • 43 ..