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/126398
Impression: KTM Me -ao The forks are Marzocchi's latest 11 inch travel air/spring model . By Jim Gianatsis Photos by Chuck Tannlund and Gianatsis The present lineup of KTM motocrossers were the sleepers of American motocross. Gunnady Moiseev took the first Austrian prototype to the 250cc World Championship in 1974 and then KTM introduced the all. new production version in 1975. For over two years the KTM 250 /355cc morocrossers were 46 unquestionably among the best ·production bikes available, but hardly an yone knew about it. The two KTM distributors in America made the wrong decision to promote the bikes as enduro and desert machines. They were dual-purpose bikes unlike any others, but these words of wisdom hold true: you can sell a motocross bike to a trail rider , but you can't sell a trail bike to a motocrosser. The distributors had alienated the majority of their potential buyers from the beginning and suffered as a result. T he new KT M of America org ani- . zat ion has shifted itself away from th e old sales policies of t he past and is trying to promote their bikes as rea l ho nest-to-God motocrossers. Let th e tr ail riders find out for th em selves they can still bolt ligh ts on a KT M and go like hell th rou gh the woods. Making KTM of America's job of selling bikes in '79 much easier will be an all -ne w line up of bikes fea tu rin g a com ple tely redesigned and u pdated chassi s. T he 250cc model will retai n the successful W orld Championsh ip winning engine with improved porting modific:a.iions to increase low speed tracta~lhty. The 250cc MC -80 model was Just released to dealers . The Open class bike will get a new engine as well. Available in March. a 420cc powerplant sim ilar to that used by Andre Malherbe in the 500cc World Championship will finally replace the venerable 355cc unit. Our test bike was the first of the new MC -80 KTMs in the country; a 250cc pre-production model flown over for Mike Guerra to race in the support class in the final rounds of the TransAMA Series . The main feature of the new Me 80 is the new frame, a complete redes ign of which was necessary to accornodate longer travel constant rate rear suspension. Exact rear wheel travel is now . 11 inches, provided on the production bike by Bilstein gas / oil shocks. Mike ha d ch anged to Ohlins gas/ oil reservoir shocks for his race bike. Old ' KTM owners will rejoice over th e fact the new frame is without the gussets an d engine braces of yesteryear. No longer is adjusting the carburetor a m aj or overh aul because you can't get at it. Also gone is the side access airbox an d its vune r abili ty to