Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

--, To gain clearance between the drive chain and rear tire so that trimming of the tire is unnecessary. a special countershaft sprocket with a 10 millimeter offset is used. It drives a chain which Yoshimura will be making available for sale under the name of Yoshimura T-K. One interesting note is that the front of the engine is rubber mounted to lessen the vibration that ~ts through to the rider and to the rest of the chassis. "Nabe" is responsible for all of the chassis work including the extensive bracing of the swingarm. He braced up the frame at the point behind the engine and above the swingarm pivot. To accommodate the lay-down shocks, the rear sub·frame was modified and gusseted. KYB makes the shocks which are six-way adjustable aluminumbodied models. There are five differ· ent selections of spring combinations plus four different positions for the spring preload snap·ring. The Yosh team is prepared to tailor the suspension to suit the track and rider. Front forks are special order Suzuki manufacture made originally for the Formula One bike. Tokyo Seat Co. manufactured the seat. The handle· bars will be marketed under the name of Yoshimura Superbike Bars. Suzuki RG500 components are used in many places on the bike, mostly in the brakes. All the hydraulics, with the exception of the Wilquip braided steel lines. are RG500. Rear brake rotor is standard RG500 while the front rotors are RG500 full floating, but have radial slots added to carry away brake pad dust. Another unusual item is the hydraulic anti-dive mechanism.. It can be adjusted ~r amount of effect or blocked off completely. As I tested the bike, it was adjusted approximately halfway through its range. I was afraid that I wasn't going to like it, but on the track there were no negative effects that I could notice. There was a slight lag in responsiveness to the front brake lever, but nothing to bother anyone. Upon application of the front brakes. there was simply little front end collapse. Considering the power of the RG500 brakes, with normal forks, the front end would dive noticeably under braking. It used to be that all of the big fourcylinder Superbikes carried 19-inch front wheels. There now seems to be a trend in the use of 18·inch fronts. Because of new ideas in frame and suspension ·technology. 18-inch wheels can now be used without fear of the bike getting the "wobbles." The effect of the 18·inch front wheel is that it steers quicker because of what it does to the trail and where it places its contact patch or "footprint." Dymag wheels are used front and rear, sizes are WM4-18 front, WM8·18 rear. To these are mounted 3.25x18 and 3.85x18 Goodyears. Carburetion is by the tried and true 31mm Keihin CRs. Carb stack length is three inches and main jet size is usually 125. The COl is Kokusan Denki and fires ND W31EPt spark plugs. To gain cornering clearance, the left cover is narrowed and beveled. Nippon Denso also manufctures the oil cooler and the tachometer. With approximately twice the power-to·weight ratio of a stock GSIOOO. it's easy to see why the bike accelerates the way it does. But words alone are not enough to fully describe the experience. Try as I might, convey· ing the experience of coming off the track with my brain buzzing and my heart pounding is difficult at best. I could use superlatives all day long, but they're only words. Possibly this is one of those things where you'd just have to be there to know what I'm talking about. Awesome! • 00 C ~. .. 0') the belt [J Mp;'. MlnitGl6tt .. ..-- Meguiar's clear plastic cleanet cleans and safely removes fine scratches ftom delicate clear plastics such u P1exigla. . acrylic and Lexan. polycarbonate. Use it on faceshields, goggles, windshields, helmets, etc... Meguiar's c1ear plastic polish should be used after every application of Meguiar's clear plastic cleaner. It also can be used on new clear plastics. Its unique formula safely maintains optical clarity, and helps reduce scratching. \f .·17 ",-.. ...-... ... --- lET ClIIIIIRS • IL .. BTEI E I and dirt, tot, toad film, OHidation ... Meguiar's motorcycle cleaner-wax, unlike other onlHtep products, contains no abrasives that can scratch or dull the rutish. It cleans by chemical action and produces a tough, mirror bright shield that gives lasting beauty and protection. Professionals also like the way it goes on fut and comes off easy. Meguw's vinyl-leather cleaner and conditioner is a one-step product that fights rot and dirt, and leaves behind a rich, natural sheen instead of the usual flashy synthetic look. Professionals know that the dirt left behind by flashy synthetic "protect-it...n" ptoducts will eventually eat away their vinyl and leather from the inside while they're busy figh ting rot from the outside. Not Meguiar's, it cleans and conditions inside and outside vinyl and leather pores. Meguw's mag~uminum polish is the product for the perfectionist who demands the ultimate in brilliance and luster. It cleans without scratching and safely removes excess ~!.~:,mbbb At Mot~:~:~:~b~ t From Kansas City, Missouri To Portland, Oregon Courtesy Of: WHEELSPORT DISTRIBUTING : 39

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