Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

By Pat Eagan Photos by Lori Tyson and Eagan For 1980, the American Motorcyclist Association Superbike Production Champ is again Wes Cooley, Jr. on the Yoshi· mura R&D/Suzuki GS 1000. His finishing results of three firsts, three seconds and one third would have been better, but all racen will have problems. At Daytona in March, crankshaft failure started the year with a DNF. That race was won by New Zealander Graeme Crosby on a similar Yoshimura GSlooO starting from the second wave. At Elkhart Lake, Wl,'inJune with a 10 second lead over Freddie Spencer on the last lap, his gas tank ran dry, His lead was more remarkable when it is un~entood that he hit a bump on the track with his knee on about the third lap breaking his knee. The Pocono race in August saw piston failure blamed on poor quality local gasoline. This story isn't about Wes, but about his winning bike. A bike that is capable of winning with more than one rider. A bike that more often than not. will be the fastest, most powerful Superbike at the race meet. At the AMA Superbike Production final held at Daytona in October. Wes' race speed average was 108_52 mph which compares favorably with this year'S 200 mile Formula One race average of 107.55 mph recorded by the late Patrick Pons on his OW31 Yamaha. The main reason why this motorcycle is so incredibly fast is the powerplant. And I mean P-O- W-E-RJ Awesome is the word. A turbocharged GS1000 Suzuki will have a top end rush which will leave your stomach tied in knots. This motor has similar top end, but with abOut twice the torque in the mid-range. Mid-range is what gets you out of a corner and down to the next. Mid·range is what launches you off the starting line. The engine pulls like a tractor - there simply is always lots of power available. The tachometer doesn't register until 5,000 rpm. but there is certainly useable power below that figure. There is no point in the powerband where the engine "comes alive." Just huge amounts of useable torque from below 5,000 rpm to the shift point of 10,500 rpm. I like to wheelie. They're a I()( of fun. This motorcycle does wheeliesl Exiting turns six and seven-A at River· side, many times the front of tb.e bike would launch into the air_ This wasn't from anything I was doing. rather it was from all of that wonderful midrange, Tbr American Road Racing Associa· lion club held its final race of the year at Riverside Raceway on December 7. It was there that I got to experience the thrill of riding the Championship winning machine. Unfortunately, the day was quite cold and everyone was having problems with' traction. On such a cold day, the tires and asphalt simply don't get up to operating temperature. The evidence of this was the many riders complaining about sliding around and the many crashes, I had similar problems and in rather large doses. I've never had a rear lire slide in turns one and eight before. At least not like this. My speed approaching those turns was about 145·150 mph. My formative racing was din·track TT and half-mile. I enjoy sliding and New! RADAR DETECTOR for All MOTORCYCLES Detects ALL Police Radar ••• Including X-Band, K-Band and new pulsins. (KR-ll) K-Band! .-I 00 0') .-I • Waterproof, vibration-proof, shock resistant • Warns you with a remote-mounted speaker • Designed and built especially for motorcycles The A.R.C. In R.c:W Detector few Motorcydn w. . deligned from t .... beamino for t"tw h.,h envirorwnent encOU"lt..-ed in tM ct.ily ooeretion of • motOf"CYCIe. Every pMt of the A.R.C. III wn c••fuUV Nl«t.d fOff long life .,d ...-caueation«>le «aX«y when expoNd to: .. ide t~.rure v.ietion•. shock. vibr.tion, direct ....,Iight• .,d mo;sture. Spec'" H ....... The A.R.C. III cn. il hydrofOff....d s• ." ..... Un....". the • . " . proce•• used in .,rcr.ft inatnMne.~. UNI, \JII'ith one co.t of zinc chrom.t. Pf'tmer .-.d two co.ts of h.,d ~ox.,. p.int. You C8n ride \JII'ith this housinV in the rolin, NY. it out in .-.yo .... ther. subiect it to.1I of the "'.d riding.,d .... tMr extremel VOU encOU"lt..-. It c., t_e it! S,ecta. Clralltry. We uMd a POP~11/70 comput.r to deaign our cif"C1.lit. A•• re.utt, it 'I fulty t~ature campena.ted.,d uttr.~I"ble, Thu., tlwr. i. not g.in control, no need for ContinuOUI m..,al .djustment•. The A,R.C, III h••• thrOUQh.pl.ted. military spec printed circuit bo.rd on FR.4 flbergl. .s, T.... CoIPIICitor••re .t..,.. , long life comput., type T.,tatum El«frotytic to .t..-cl up to high "'.t. The warning light Iemc>, rated.t 80,000 h0&6', C., be INn in direct I4.M1light. It i. mOW'lted in .i1icon rubber to protect a~inlt vibr.tion. ........... ....... ..... ...... . . .pr....... The A,R.C. III cont.in, MY... al r.peci.1 circuitl that enolble it to oper.te in the dOM prox""ity of the unshi.lded 40,000 volt electronic ignition .y'tems of modem motorcyC .... No other r.dar d.tKtor cont.inl tn... ,peci.' circuit.! L......... detectl-. A motorcycle, being. sm.lI t.get. i. often miltolk.,... by Ie.. experienud rM'l.. ope.,..tors, for • r.d. "echo" «fuiI;ltv coming f,om • l.rQ"' v.hic .. tNit i, behind the motorcyc". 8V \JII'.-ning you of the preunc. of red« Mv.,.1 miles d¥MCe, the A,R.C. lit giv•• you the oppor.".,ity to let tr.Hie p"l vou.,d enter tn. radolr zone oId of you. ,.. PHCH_ .....~ The newer police r.d.,. svstem. holYe • "hot-Itolndby" mode that c ot be detect.d until tke rad., is suddenly switched on. The A.R.C, III ha•• very f..t re«tion time, .... th., I ,OOOth of • second, to protect you from this new.st "trick." If you enter. r.d. trap ..ith no waming, the A.R,C. III will come on study. givinQ Vou • cha"lCe to brake before the redM device c., dir.pLev VOW tpft:d, W .... , _ twe way.r In .ddition to • r.d w.."ing light. the A,R.C. Itl is supplied with. loud hom elMm lQU'tder th.t c., be he.d.t road speeeta with. helmet on! W. . . . . . . . 'alriltp. A fiberO.... fr.". mow1ted f.iring doe. not affect the A.R.C. lII's sen.itivity or w.,-ning lound. In feet, the A.R,C. III h•• enough r.,oe so that you c., hide it .,-,ywher. on 'YO" bike. Put it inside. t.,k. b.g. etc. It un "Me" through .,vthing but met.l, M • • ~ . r A.R.C. III incr d effective r.,ge giv•• you more time to r.lICt, V ...... sa doe. more th iust a"rt you to the preNnCe of the police radM. A.R,C. Ill's w.."ing tone ncr in inten.ity •• you get near., to the r.eIM 'Ol"ce. then gorel to a .teady tone \JII'hen you re«h the point .t whieh your .peed c., ~ rKorc»d, A.R,C, III giv•• you more th., . . ..."ing , .. it puts you in control .. ith fOU" impOft.,t intelligence mode.: (t) initi.l detKtion. (2) dist.-ace. (3) oIPP"ollCh r.t....d (41 point of vulnerolbility. *cuIt,. .....m.... Aerospace Parabolic High-Gain Dish Antenna and Fully Integrated Electronic Circuit Detect All Radar Effectively detects .n police r.d. signal., reteets e w a e yo u r a week. Or eha"'- Your Order Exclusive multi·po.ition combin.tion bracket -...to r _ de'ec'", end hom alMm, All "'ech· oro'ec';"". =-= on your VISAI BankAmericard or Maaten:harge. :"':t:e~~.;:,~-: t~y~~:"~~:t~ ~ ~= •............. ~ ....... toron a fairing, order optional breck.et below. '~. The A.R.C. 111'. 6-1/~" long x 3.7/8" wide x 3" high, rugged housing is comPKt and "'_ e-_ sp«e.-.ge styled It's II smart instrument thait looks smart, too. on any motorcycle. c:o.plete "'R.C. III . . . . _ to< -..cy-. Includes radar detector, hom alarm sounder, windshield mount bracket, cig.rette light.,.. plug-in and power cord, complete inst.nation and openting instruction menual. mounting and dismounting of various motorcycle accessories. IJ.8U,XEach $'9,95 F. . . . Mo.ntI. . IrKket. Mounts radar detector hidden in fairWlg pocket, L-shaped bracket is pre-drilled aod threaded where needed. Foam rubber pads prevent slipping or all 800-621-5809 M_" ._... .11 12·...01t IIIOtorcyd.. PlUg-in and power cord included. If your cyc:l. does not have a cig.r""'. ltghter, order below. The power-on india. tor light tell I you the A.RoC. III is on and ready to warn and protect you -oainst police r-ar. lay .......... The versatile handl~r br-ek.et, included, i. all you need to inst.1I (or quickly remove) your A.R-C. IH Radar Detector. If you wtsh to mount your radlr detec- Each $'",95 (included with A,R.C. 111 Reder Detector). Quick-eonnecting bracket permits easy PHONE TOLL FREE Ie_tv 'H H.-' ---. ORDER BYI!1 C_,.......d ......'. There Is no radar in use for speed de1ection by 1ft enforcement agencies today, that the A.R.C. III cannot detect, Contrary to popular belief( there is no P.bend, y -~nd or any other experimet"lta band in use by law enforcement agencies. 15-I63OR- other unw."ted si~ts, You're in conwn.,d! Preciwlytuned .,tenn. amplifies Xoob."d.,d K ~ rold. signals, elimin.ting f.lse .ign.ls. Detect. the new KR-II putting K~b."d that less .ophistic.ted r.d.,. detectors will not pick up. SpllCe-.ga electronic circuitry nsur•• ~.tjon .bly .-a:ur.te perform.-,ce. The A.R.C. III m.Nl.e. the ben.fift of .erosp.ce releMCh av.il.ble to you. The A.R.C. III is fully autom.tic. elimin.ting the Mecellity of • molnU.l sensitivity control. City/Hi,,-way SeI.ctor Switch. Cit)' mode reduces sensitiVity to unw",ted sionals in built-up .re.. , ·Fil••,. out .ignal. from burgl., alarm .ystem., .utom.tic door openers, .ircr.ft .,d Of hers on X~",d freeauencv. Awily from the city, flick s\Jll'iteh for highw..,. moM for the de.ired 100000g-dilfolf1Ce detection roW"ge. ~ Prow. . L-. Db,. . . Detectl_! ~ documented tests In average "afflc on roiling ••"ain. 'he A.R.C. III detected .11 type. of polica r.d.r well in advlnCe, A.R.C. • detKt.d ,.d.: X-b.nd-3-plus miles; K-band 1".. dy)-2-I/2-0Iu. mH." K-band In 111Il1o..: ...... "72-5858 (putse}-2-plu. miles. ~ a.dar t ct.d , ••, vehicles:K-b.,d toul••I)-3/ I X-b.,d-41 0 mile! Will t k K-b.,d dy)-.35 mile; mile. phone order 24 hours Of .h. Ieadmg rad.. de'ector......d a' th....... day, 7 days a time only the A.R.C. III detected the new Koob..,d pulled rader (KR-II). Rader de'ecto,. no' d.. igned mall coupon. for KR·1l reception \JII'ill not respond to the .hort burltl of r.d.r en.rgy ganer.t.d by the pul.. method, -.- a A.R.C. RADAR DETECTOR BEATS ALL POLICE RADAR AT IT'S OWN GAMEl ~, ,"7-,. ~ A..~ P.O. Boll 8410 • scratching. 1J.a6J2ME.ch $7.95 Auto.....c Pop.-Out Cl. .,.tte Ught.,. Easy one bolt mounting on handlebar. Hookup wire included. Chrome plated. 12-voit. 02-11 J4U' Each $01 . . ----------------------...UluITNEY.CO 1917-19 Archer AYfJ•• Dept. EXNC . P.O. IIox 1410, ChiCllID, IL 60610 ~ Auah the foflowlng: Slk. No. ____ O•• crlptlon Add $5.00 Nch postap .nd handlinll- o o Each - - - - - - - - - J..$- - - . I enclose $ (Illinois Ia. add 6% . . . . tax). Cha... my order to my VISA or lot_rCha.... Acct. No. _ _---, _ ExpIration D8te _ --------------AddnIa _ _---:. _ _ Z1p _ _ LC 1 l J - - - - - - - - - - - : - - - - - ~ CIlIcIIgo, L 10lIO These top caliber pros proved repeatedly in 1980 that Knight Racing Frames are the professional choice for Flat Track, n and Short Track domination! RandyGoss Hank Scott MikeKidd Jay Springsteen Ronnie Jonesred Boody Terry Poovey Rick Hocking Steve Morehead Bubba Rush Bruce Hanlon Jim Filice Mike Ledvinca Scott Sanders Jeff McDaniel Pete Hames Tom McCullough Rob Crabbe Ronnie Yamamoto PLUS MANY. MANY MOREl 1981 Knight Racing Frames plans to supply more frames for more models including all 1981 500cc 4 stroke Singles. There will be more ready to go racers and a new line of mini frames mid year! Complete Racing Frame Kits and Components Honda and Yamaha 'All' Yamaha All Honda HD and Kaw 500 4 Stroke 250 2 Stroke 250 2 Stroke 250 2 Stroke RKer '....... '.IfIfed (ICI!.) H"VWAAD· CAlIf()IItNlA

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