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/126343
ass window at the lower right side of e case makes checking the oil a simple matter. The engine weighs 78 .5 pounds. The exhaust pipe sweeps around the frame downtube, along the left side of the cylinder and dumps into a large cannister beneath the airbox . From there it exits at the right rear into a tapered muffler/spark arrestor . There are heat shields on the pipe along the engine and on the muffler. The whole exhaust system weighs 12 pounds. The six -plate wet clutch hooks to a five -speed transmission with the low ratios nicely mated to the output of the engine. The box shifts cleanly in both directions. but therein lies part of the problem with the Suzuki's power delivery. The engagement slots for the shifting dogs are large. which helps the transmission avoid being clubbed by missed shifts , but which also introduces a certain amount of lash in the driveline. When the motions are well synchronized, with the engine speed up in its contentment range, changing gears doesn't produce any great clunks, lurches or loss of traction. Bu t at lower speeds. with the gears resolutely engaged , the slop is noticeably annoying. With all but the very slowest throttle opening, the slack gets gathered up quickly and .. . glunchl The Suzuki Snatch. ' - T he designers obviously gave some consideration to ba ckya rd mechanics when t hin king through the maintenance requirements for the 370 . Adjusting the valves is simply a matter of pulling the generator cover and turning the flywheel to bring the piston to top dead center on compression . There are matching index marks on the flywheel and crank case . W ith the lock nuts on the rockerarm adjuster loosened . you just tighten th e adjusting scr ew down snug and t he n back it off on e-eigh th turn and retighten the locknut. Cam chain adjustment is equally simple . The adjuster is easily accessible at the lower right side of th e cylinder: th e p ro cedure involves loosening th e locknut and adjuster screw and re tightening th em in the oppositeorder. Both models of the 370 are equ ipped with magneto/ points ignition systems . The SP has a six volt battery to help out its brake and headlight . turn signal and horn requirements . The DR has a teensy headlight . no brakelight , no horn and no battery. Cutest little rectangular headlight you ever saw . with a plastic lens . The oiled foam air cleaner sits in a ';nolded plastic box under the seat. which must be rem oved to get at the t elem ent . The unit in ha les through a hole at the top . and the whole system ' seem s impervious to anything short of running totally submerged in water. The tool kits sits behind the pep-off plastic cover on th e left side. and there is enough extra space to stash more tools and small parts. The DR370 has excellent brakes. The front brake imparts a very power· ful , progressive feel and will slow the 'm id d leweight machine in short order. The cable operated full- floating rear Drake is grabby by comparison and must be applied much more judiciously than th e front . But given the proper balance in braking pressures, the Suzuki will stop straight and sure in' panic situations. allowing the heart to leave the throa t and return to its 'p roper position. ,_ Takasago rims with rim locks support die Bridgestone knobs , a 4 .60 X 18 ' rear and 3.00 X 21 at the front. The ;eron t tire works reasonably well in most situations. but the rear tire is far ' less efficient. It fun ctions well enough at lower speeds. and slides control lably. At a brisker rate. it loses efficiency rapidl y. Part of the fault of I .. . • l . • ) . Darrell Shultz 1978 Sears Point Trans-AMA Winner Wins vvith BOSCH Spark Plugs 0') CN 1-0 Q) ..c 8 ~ o Z Derren Shultz, The Hottest prlveteer In the country, took his first Netlonel end Trens AMA win et Seers Point eloq with Top prIveteer honors et the Anehelm Supercross to top off en Inc:redlble yeer. O8mlIl's championship performance at Seers Point & Anaheim exem plifies his w inning cepabilit ies and of the high quality equipment he must use to ma intain his cham pionship drive. Darr ell sup plies t he ta lent needed to w in Malco the machinery BOSCH the spark t o victory BOSCH Spark PlugsTHE W IN NER'S CHOICE BOSCH Spark Plugs ROBERT BOSCH CORPORATION Dept.CNW 345 E. Grand Ave. S. San Francisco, CA 94080 ~ .: We are happy to announce we now have MAICO mo torcycles along w ith the great Husqvarna line. We offer you individual attention and super service. Come in and see the new bikes m~~ South City Cycle Husqvarna Maico • 51" Mayfa ir Ave. So. San Francisco, CA 94080 415-583-3519 9