Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

ported by Slater Brothers who also see to it that our shores are blessed with othrr Mediterranean exotica like MotuMorini and Laverda. The WMX's first appearance state· side was rather impressive with LOP rider Dave Taylor piloting the Cagiva to fourth overall at the Mid·Ohio GP while several Japanese factory water· punpers succumbed to mechanical fail· ures. This speaks well of the Cagiva's reliability as much of the muddy and treacherous course had to be ridden full throttle in second or third gear. Cagiva has taken the straight forward and simple approach to liquid cooling with a waterjacketed head and barrel, right side·case mounted impeller pump and fork· mounted radiator. This conventional styling is followed throughout the motorcycle and while it does promote the easily maintained and reliable nature of the bike it also contributes to the machine's one major flaw, handling. Mounting the radiator behind the front number plate has advantages such as good air·flow and comparative safety from the clogging affects of mud thrown up by the front wheel or the bike in front. Also the placement of the radiator in front of the fork means no major rerouting of frame tubes, ex· haust systems or gas tanks. However, the increased weight· high above the bike's center of gravity adds to the Cagiva's already tall feeling and can be felt as the rider flicks the bike from side to side through a series of closely spaced S·curves. Further. the moment of inertia as the front end pivots around the axis of the steering head is increased, and the forks tend to fall into each tum. In a practical sense, this makes the machine try to square· off each comer whether the rider intended to or not. Tbe rider would enter the come.r as usual, pitch the bike into the berm with the gas on but rather than follow the berm the front tire would claw to the inside as the forks oversteered. On occasion this could work to the rider's advantage as he was able to knife inside other riden and block pass enter· ing the next comer. More often though, the machine would stand up abruptly and try to high·side as the handling went from oversteer to ulidersteer and only a full·locked throttle hand would keep the bike pointed down the track. Fortunately the WMX has plenty of power on tap at high rpm, and an Expert rider can cut very fast lap times. A Novice might have problems With the narrow powerband; the six· speed gear box gets constant use. The Cagiva motor has no major drop in power at extremely high rpm and keeps pulling strongly even when past the power curve. On the race track this means comers can be taken one gear too low instead of a gear too high. At the exit, the engine will be pulling hard while other riders are clutching their mounts into the correct rpm range. This is especially helpful in long monorail type berms which tum to the left and the rider cannot shift up while still in the tum. Also. shon straights can be ridden with one less gear change than a Suzuki or Yamaha USee would require with no top q>eed penalty. The strong top end has come at the sacrifice of low and mid· range power even though the S4mm Dell'Orto carb and six.petal reed valve seem well matched to the motor. Cagiva is sending the WMX Il!S a<7Ollll the big pond without rear shocks, and the first batch of bikes have been equipped with Works Performance units that have been tailor fit to the machine. The ones we rode on worked almost as well as Ohlins and, coupled to the boxed aluminum swingarm, gave a smooth and controlled ride. Stutter bumps were handled in smooth fashion while high speed passes through gnarly sections of whoops were straight and controlled. The full floating rear brake added to the stability and con· fidence of the rear wheel. Up front, the problems of the fork· mounted raditor were compounded by spindly !lSmm fork legs and poor reo bound dampning. Possibly, they'll equip new shipments of Cagiva's with Simons forks made here in the U.S. They would probably be quite helpful to the overall handling of the bike. In fairness, however, we mll8t add that the Cagiva·made front forks do work at least passably if the rider spends enough time adjusting air pressures and oil levels. Magura levers and throttle grace the well·situated handlebars and the tank/seat junction allows the rider to slide forward easily in comers. The footpegs are positioned well, and the shift lever has a state of the an bend· ing tip. The exhaust silencer is effec· tive and aluminum. The pipe is well tucked in, out of the rider's way. On the other hand. the engine cases are long and the swingarm pivot is incbes away from the countershaft sprocket. The waterpump is fully ex· posed on the rigbt side of the engine and the hoees leading to it are very vul· nerable to damage from rocks or falls. Also the frame lUbes are used as water· passages where possible but this means almost twice as many hose clamp con· nections to maintain and possibly leak. The extra maintenance of a water· cooled bike may discourage some begin. ning riden from buying the Cagiva, but the bike is well designed and should present no great difficulties. Of course, the machine really is designed for the Expert rider; only an Expert will really be able to exploit tbe bikes superior power and deal with the unusual hand· ling traits. The approximately $!lOOO price tage should eliminate all but the most serious racers although that price is still lower than a Mugen water· pumper. But if you bave a fast shift foot and like being first into the first tum, the Cagiva WMXIl!S could be just the bike for you. • . Specifications Price .......•••.........................•••••••.•..••.••••• t3.2OO Engine................•..... Watercooled single cylinder two-stroke Bore and stroke.....••......•...................... 56mmx50.6mm Displacement...............................•..••••.....•. 124.6cc Carburetor.•......•...••..•......................• 34mm Dell'Orto Ignition •......••..........•..••..•...........•......... Electronic TransmIssion Six-speed Starter.....•..........................•••.••..•. PrImary kick start Frame Single downtube chrome moly Front forks....•......•...•.. Caglve 36mm aIr/oil, 280mm movement Rear shocks ...•............ Works Performance, 310mm movement Front tire '. . . .. 3.00x21 P1relll Rear tire ...•........•..••..•••....•.......••.•...•.• 4.00x18 Piralli Weight••...................•.•.•...........••..•..•.•..... 191 lb. Gas tank Aluminum, 1.8 gallons Fenders..............•.....•......•....................... Plastic . . .------""!'-------_.__.--_...._-----_.. o 00 C') .-I The powerful wetercoolecl12&cc motor was very impressive. The number~ountMI i1IdIetor eha high on the bike, contributing to the overell"talr' feeIIng.lBelowI3lmm fork tubes could be beefier.

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