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/126291
Knobby Shop International's .45 0cc Honda MXen :.t.r_ '" Build er Allan Greenwood an d ri der Marty M oates proudly display Kno bb y Shop Int ernatio nal's super tric k 450cc Honda motocrosser. Th e 221 lb . m achine is decidedly one of the most promising four-st roke MXers in captivity. The most in teresting bike a t the Sears Point Trans-AMA round and the Four-stroke Nations was Knobby Shop International's Honda thumper, ridden by Marty Moates. Japanese manufacturers are selling fourstroke dirt bikes for 1978 beca use of toughening an ti-pollu tion laws, and a return to four-stroking in motocross may be a wave of the future . Especially if the bikes are as potent as the Knobby Shop'S. A 350cc Honda single, bored out to 450cc , nestles in a special chrome- pl a ted R eyn olds 35 I chromemoly frame with can tilever rear suspension. Du al Fox Ai rSh oxs provide 10 inches of rear wheel travel. Up front are 9.5 inch travel magnesium Marzocchi leading axle air/spring forks . The front wheel assembly uses a Yamaha conical front hub , while at back there's a Suzuki magnesium rear hub assembly with full floating brake. The KSI thumper puts the power on the ground through this Fox A irShox suspended cantilever swingarm, a unique arrangment indeed. . 12 This is the first four-stroke frame design which centers the engine in the middle of the frame. Japanese manufacturers offset the engine in the frame . There is no need for a chain guide .because the rear chain only deflects two inches throughout the entire rear wheel travel. T he 450cc Hond a engine has been lightened and ba lanced in the crankshaft area. A new cam with head porting, 36mm Amal carb and other goodies . help to produce 40 horsepower . If that isn't enough , they're also working on a 470cc engine, The complete bike tips the scales at a mere 221 pounds, complete with oil in the engine! Shop owner Allan Greenwood designed the frairi which is being build in England , while Frank Wilson put the mill together. If you'd like to build your ow thumper , the frame kit is available fo $995 . Included with the frame are the. seat, tank , T im ken tapered steeri~g, bearings , a full floati ng rear hubo attachment , swingarm, footpeg~d exhaust pipe and airbox. ' . The rest is up to you , but KnobbY;' Shop can provide you with othei goodies like a titanium bolt kit, forks» and shocks like on their own bike. ~Z You can contact Knobby Shop' Int erna tion al at P.O . Box 1592 , I;a~ Jolla . CA 92038.714/452 -1783. 1q "no 1.:1 The heart of the cycle is this modified 350cc (bum ped up to 450ccl Honda J motor. It features a new cam, head porting and a 36mm Amal carbo ob --3