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/126296
, ~ ~ ~ u -< "'i than the GS750 at 499 pounds. (The "E" model with its cast alloy wheels and du al fr ont discs h as a dry weight of 504 .) The engine is a transverse . fourcylinder des ign with valve co n trol by dual overhe ad cams. The ge arbox is a five-speed. Ignition is via a d u a l p oin ts syste m a nd starting is electric only . prima rily to save the weight of th e kickstart m e ch a n ism : a bout 4 ~ pounds. Interna l dimensi ons a re oversqu a re with bore and stroke of 70 X 64.8mm. Compression ra tio is a slightly warm 9.2 :I . but carburetion has been kept modest with fou r 26mm Mikunis, the same venturi d im ensions as on th e GS750. The smaller carbs were chosen over 28mm Mikunis largely because of the tradeoff in favor of reduced emissions required for im port to the U.S. Valves are good-sized. especially the 38mm in ta ke side , with 32mm exhaust valves. Even with a 250 cc jump in displacement, the width of the GSIOOO is the same as that of the GS7 50 engine. This pays off in th e handling department and is ju st on e exam ple of Suzuki's integrated design . Overall engi ne weight is 90. 5 kilos or 199 Ibs. The wet su m p . and 152mm diameter eig h t plate wet clutch coup led to the five -speed tra nsm ission all sound very basic and not especiall y in nova tive. But the re are a m u ltitude of little refinements in the en gine like the hel ical cu t ge ars to reduce internal n oise . The counte rsh aft sp rocke t is h igh density pl a st ic cushio ned to absorb and red uce the noise of th e new O-ring sea led selflubricat ing 630 c ha in . The countershaft sp rocket cover itself is foam-filled to absorb even more noise. . An a u to matic ca m cha in tens ioner, patented by Su zuk i . is retained in the GSIOOO as is simpl e shim va lve adjustment. If th e GS1000 m ot or sounds hohum. co nsid er t h a t it d evel ops between 80 and 84 horsepower on the dyno , depend ing on the engine p ulled off th e production lin e . and it delivers th e under-12 -seco n d times in the qu a rter mil e men tio ne d a bove. Mea nw hi le . th e who le t h ing is in credibly sm ooth p ossibl y 'smooth er than th e 750 . ,TheLatest N ewsAnd DevelopmentsFron 1Bultlco.TheCompanyThat Builds M otorcycles.And NothingElse. Bultaco's founders are in terna tionally recognized motorsports competitors who resigned from a motorcycle company in protest when that manufacturer withdrew from competition. The result was the creation of Bultaco - a ----company devoted to racing and racers. With their . . expenence as racmg privateers , these men vowed ,to make Bultaco the finest motorcycle available for the private rider to use in battle against the 'might of the sponsored factory race teams. The line-up of 1978 models from Bultaco sets a new standard of excellence in the continuing quest to fulfill ' this 'p rom ise to the world's privateers. Here's one more important' poin t. T he" bikes are super, the contingency programs are unbelievable, and - while you're racing to earn Bultaco BUCKS we'll protect your bike with our exclusive 60 day warranty! . Adding more goodies e W ith the GSIOOO . Suzuk i has pulled off a very sub tle . very meaningful move ,th at is not re flec ted in th e ex terna l stylin g (whic h is very clean in its own right) or obvious sales feat u res. For m ore ri ders . it wi ll b e t he maxim um fea ture of this motorcycle. Suzu ki has pu t t he same ca re into t he suspensio n thatthey d id th e rest of the machine . T h at is somethi ng no other Japanese manufa cturer h as effectively done on th eir road bikes to date . T he fro nt sus pensio n is a telesco p ic a ir fork. It also co ntains a progr essive wou nd spring combine d with no rma l oil da mping. Bu t th e adjusta bility of th e a ir fork a llows ea ch individual ri der to a dj us t the spri ngi ng a nd conseq uent " feel" of the front en d 'exac t ly to h is specifica tio ns or to change it for diffe rent ' ridi ng cond itions. T he standa rd press u re is 'abou t 10 psi . W e ran 12 psi for high speed. ha rd cornering . In either case , the pe rfo rma nce of the front fork was fau ltless , Dam ping of th e fro n t fork is a djusta b le by varying oil viscosity. 2 Long a subject for mu ch d erision a nd even more bad jokes. the - rear suspension on Japanese street bi kes n eve r has measu red up in e it her p e r fo rm a n ce o r lo ngevity . T he GS IOOO reverses this. T he rear suspensio n is adj us t a b le to five di ffer ent sp ri ng pre-load settings , but on th e GSIOOO , th e sta ndard shocks also fea tu re four d ifferent reb ound r . , Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you' diet. TERRYCABLE I wo uld like to a dd ress thi s message to t he ridefs lind deale r. at t he fo llowi ng branda. The Teflon Super Smooth Cable SUZU KI : The 2 new mode ls 01 RM 250'$ are the finest SU ukis ' ever made and are probably the best 2 stroke l racers in th e w orld tod ay. HONDA: You Honda people have com plained for years abo ut not having a recee . w ell, the CR 250 '5 are great and th ey are dirt cheap - ther e are thousands of used ones around , if you canno t affo rd a n~ one. *Complete line for racing bikes *R equires no oiling *Smoothest pulling cab le *Flexible throttle wire gives long life *Heavy duty housing. resists stretch and abuse CAN A M : This is the most powe rful 250 eng ine goi ng. They are the result of years 01 powe l deve lop me nt and are made r;Qht ne lll doo r. KAW AS AK I: The KX 250 Kawasaki has the largest trans ter port area 01 the new gtmeral ion of bikes and has a tremendous po tential as a wi no,.•. 1 did not me nt ion Yamaha. Harley Davidson, Bultaco or Ossa because w e alread y know they ale pro v en wi nners . Any of these 8 eng ines are read y and w illi ng 1 wi n a 0 Nationa l Champi on ship . What I am tl ying to say is - let's get to w ork . 11 one am tired 01seeing 1 or 2 brand s win 01 every tim e, aren't you? If I leh out you r brand, don't despa ir, th ere ale 4 more just as good as th058 noted. Write for Free l ite r ature Terrycable • PO Bo x 1321 , Hesp eria. CA 92345 2415 Brown Rd., St . Louis, Mo. 631 14 Phone 314/426-6959 or call Charley Chapple 313/735-5453 . ' (714) 247·2646 Out of state call toll free (800,854-4691 P.O, Box 118 Axton. VA 24054 7031650-3030 ' ;" " ~:.' ~ ;. " , ' 0' ." , ~ Authorized Bultaeo ~ea e; We ship bikes Large parts Inventory UPS&PP Lots of specialty It~s '78 Trick Stuff ' Unbreakable side plates , Handlebar set·backs Gas Konls with or without reservoirs HI Pipes fit all Purse s and Fronteras 17 ..