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/126898
e Can-Am Commitment: No change too small itwillhelp ouwln" Twice World 500ccMX Champion JeffSmith is Can-Am's product manager. 'Je Can-Am Rider: [OW doyou tellthe rivateers from ae factory team? lotofpeople think that the more oneyyou spendoncompetition, e. more competitionsyou'll win. They'reprobably right. The waymost factory teamsgoto e races youcan't help butbe ipressed, The mobileworkshops. re well-drilled technicians.The lers whofly first-class fromevent event. Ourfactory team isenvious.With eir rusted-outvanand drive-thereid-do-it-yourself operation, it's ird to tell themapartfrom some m-Arn privateers.In both cases, ough the competition budgets ay notbebig,the percentage of unpetitionsuccesses certainly is. Our factory riders allbutdorniambles.And ue National Hare Scr eyve made a disproportionately ud noise intheN ational Enduro an-Am privateers have !ies. C "This flexibility letsusput improvements intoplace thatother manufacturers would consider toosmall to bring thewheels of industry toa haltfor. "But they're often big enough changes to make thedifference between winning andlosing foryou. "Here's a lookat someofthe improvements we're making to Can-Am motocross andenduro bikes for1986." "The reaction time ofmostbig corporations is so slow yousometimes wonder how theycan remember what itwas theywere reacting to. "That's what Ilike bestaboutthe way CaI!-Am isstructured. While we're partofa large international company, theway wework in themotorcycle division isidealfor thedevelopment ofcompetition machinery. "We have a nice,tight, easy-tomonitor racing program in the National Hare Scramblesseriesthat letsusquickly evaluate contemplated changes. And ourbuilt -byhandproduction lineispliable enough to immediately incorporate anychanges wedecide to make: 1986handling improvements: "Last season, John Martin and Geoff Ballard rode a numberof events using a remarkable new forkdesign from Marzoccbl. "This new M 1usestheright tube for compression damping.The left handles rebound control. Instead of theusual compromise settings, each sidecanbesetup individually for much better quality travel. By using appropriate oil levels andviscosity ineachfork tube, therider can custom tailor theaction. "This 42mm fork comes onall '86s. On theASE's we're using itthe way Ballard andMartin did...with Continued... More Power to the Open-minded • pnvat eer., .....~. Some people, once they get;j taste ofpower, can never get enough of it.These people are called Open class riders and they .come in many guises. Those who come toCan-Am are noordinary power freaks. These connoisseursappreciate the qualityofpoweras well its quantity. And,yearafter year, Can-Am isgood atfinding more ways tosatisfy them. Take the 1 986version ofour 500 MX.1t has been treated to carefully considered exhaust port and pipe modifications that as capturedat leastsixStateand District, as wellas fourCanadian Championships. N to mention ot dozens upon dozens ofmore local successes. Surelythere's a lesson to be learned here:to be truly successful whenyou goracing, spend less money. But spend itonthe reliable performance ofCan-Am. Somehow,wedon'tthinkthe other factory teams would goalong. stretch outits fine, fat powerband . and allow it torev higher down the'straight. The Can-Am 500 ASE hasalso been refined.With exhaust development of itsown, along withsubtle carburetion modifications,itsbottom end power delivery is now better suited to the depths oftheforest. And the Sonic 560 MX four-stroke. A broader overlap camshaft lets it start more easily and rev more freely. And its new 38mm Mikuni flat-slide carburetor gives itspower output acrisper edge. Know, however, thatthe attractionof our1 986Openclass bikesgoes well beyondthese power refinements! Beaware of their radically improved braking system using Grimecafront discs and areworked single leading shoe rear. Beimpressed, too,by the remarkable, new Marzocchi M1 split- function forks. The Quad LinkIIrear suspension revisions. Thedeep-breathing, one-piece airbox. The new, large capacity roto-molded gas tank.And the literally dozens ofother improvements well-calculated tokeep you in trophies. Whichever of these Can-Am Open class machines you choose to compete onthis season, you'll find the medicine you need tokeepyour craving for power under control. After all, there's nobetter therapy than winning. able power management you need to weave your way through the forest like a 250. Yet it offers the extra measure oftorque and traction you need totake onlong hills, loosedirt and deep sand. When youwant totake onthe Who did we have inmind woods with avengeance, one when we designed our ofthe three Open class 350ASE? Can-Am warriors shown Open classers who think above will equip youwith all the tools you need to tromp the competition. But a lot ofenduro riders think that winningtheOpen class requires a more subtle the big bikes have grown too big for the riders. 250 riders who will admit they've grown too big for their bikes. And especiallyforanyrider who is lookingfor the best way to haul in a raft ofoverall wins. The new Can-Am 350ASE. The cleanest waythrough the trees. The NewC an-Am 350ASE: An OnenclassDike for 250 riders! approach. Now Can-Am has crafted it for you. Our new 350 ASE delivers . the lighter weight, precise . handling control and predict- ~