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/126949
The airbox was refined to achieve better sealing. Higher exhaust ports and bigger transfer ports are new. The new Fa~tic comes stock with sticky X-1 Michelin tires. Refinements made to the steering stem and bearings allow for a tighter turning radius. making the Fantic more controlable in tight situations. torquier motors built by Spain in me '70s. Michaud's world tille in 1985 was achieved on lhe smallest displacememLO date. (Here, Scott Head broke the sub-30Occ barrier in 1984 on a 242cc Montesa, then repeated on 239cc Betas the following two years.) Currendy, almost al1 world contenders are on sub-300s. If Famic does choose LO increase displacement in the future, they have plenty of latitude. The bOllom end of their mOLOr, developed specifically for trials on a computer, can handle up LO 450cc in racing applications. Famicalso switched electronic ignitions - from MOloplat to lanussi -when they developed the 301. A continuing benefit of Famic's developmem prowess is lheir forwardaction kickstarter. This is handy when a rider stalls. while climbing. The bikes of Fantic team riders Bernie Schreiber and David Pyle were used for testing. Scheiber, lhe 1979 World Champion and three-time National Champion, and Pyle, National Number 13 in '86, are part of the TMI team which also includes Steve McNeal (Number 5), Morgan Kavanaugh (Number 8), Mark Manniko (Number 10 in his first year after winning lhe High School Championship), and Mike West (Number 16). Schreiber's contract with Fantic and TMI brings him back to American competition for lhe emire National Series for the first time since 1979. Schreiber won the 1982 and 1983 championships by riding the only five events his world schedule permilled. Response from team riders about the new bike was consistem. Raves. After two trials, Schreiber said, .. It has a very forgiving engine with a long, progressive powerband. The rear end has a "heavier" traction feeling. Secure and very stable." Pylecommemed, ''I'm real1y happy with it. Last year, the front brake was kind of on or off. With the cable down LO the master cylinder now, it has the same feel as a drum, but with lhe no-fade consistency of the disc brake. I played around with lhe new adjustable suspension quite a bit and wound uponcand three-quarter turns out. That makes it easier for trick type stuff like hopping the rear wheel around. The shock gives the rear end more life, makes it feel more controllable and lighter. It's a definite improvement over last year's bike. It's like when you get on Bernie's bike or Michaud's bike. They have a fine tuning feel to them. It's that same kind of different feel from the old 301 to the new 301. It just feels more finished." Mark Manniko picked up his new Progress 2 in time LO take a school with Bernie Schreiber. After raving about the school, Manniko maintained his enthusiasm as he talked about his new bike. "I like the new from brake better. It's more progressive and easier to use. There's definitely more range in lhe lever travel, it's more progressive, giving you more feel in your fingers. "I really enjoy the adjustability of, the rear shock. I feel it opens new terriLOry, to be explored. I've tried a bunch of new sections because of the adjustability feature and I think it really increases your understanding of whatlhe bike can do. Now you can make the bike more maneuverable in really tight stuff. The shock introduces a new world for hopping the rear end. But I guess it could get riders who don't know what they're doing inLO trouble riding on the wrong setting. I'm trying to develop me ability to look at a section now and know how many clicks to adjust lhe shock. For big steps or anywhere I need more un weighting, like trick riding - I can set less damping and get quicker, springier rebound. Then, for creek beds and rockpiles, where 1 need stability - I can use more rebound damping so the back end comes up slower so it doesn't bounce or lose traction. Right now I'm running three to four clicks out from max damping. "The engine's basically the same - awesome. I don't think I could ever use more power than it has," said Manniko. Various comments from unaffiliated testers inel uded: "The new mOLOr is really smooth, has low end LOrque, is more predictable than a Yamaha. I was really impressed with lhe suspension. I could pop lhe front or rear around. The disc brake on lhe first 301 was nice except for the hard pull. The new cable arrangement offers more feel".. ."1 never liked Fantics until the 30 I. And lhe Progress 2 is even better. I was really surprised. I've never been a big lover of European machinery, but if I had LO go buy a bike right now 1 think I'd buy lhat Fantic" ... "1 never liked the old Fantics. No bottom end, just some quick revving. The 300 mOLOr was the first they built mat half interested me. But this 301 mOLOr is really nice. The suspension is super and it's great LO be able to dial in the shock. The bike seems solid, durable, like it can take hard riding without bending and twisting apart. I like that forward kicks tarter. The new disc setup is a real bonus. And it's good to see lhey got the X-ls on lhe new model" ..."1 was disappointed with the look of lhe first 301, but me new one is great. . It's absolutely lhe best balanf.~, best steering, best running motorcycle I've ever ridden. The engine is so predictable, that's what makes lhe bike work so well. You hop on and say this is home." TMI also imports lhe 241 (212cc) and 200 (l5&c) models on a dealerorder basis. And, new this year, are two kits - for the old twin-shock 300 and 240 models - that allow the buyer LO bolt together his own monoshock using his old motor, wheels, and forks. The kits sell for $1297, require two minor mods to lhe motor and rear hub. Anyone who hasn't tried a Fantic recently should take a test ride. It deserves to be the World Champion's bike. And it's marketed by a distributor, TMI, lhat is totally committed (like Cosmopolitan MOtoTS which imports Montesa and Beta) to and supportive of trials in America. That consideration, plus lhe availability of a truly quality machine, merits a close look when it's time to pick a new section mount. • ~301P1 . . . 2 . EngiM..... • ••• " . ccrDl8d. two· lItrOke . . . . BonIa 7 ...... Dr.,. CI 248.Aoc CompI'I ••1 I'lIIio ••••••••10.4:1 DII e.tNu liM •.•• ze-a DIII'Qno .......awer ....... CI.I.... d 1••8 o o &200 rpm Torque •••••• CIMned IItUinlum 3200 rpm SWtine .,... ..•.. PIli . " IdcIc Igniliua ••••••• z.. h cbonk: PtIl_rcIiItR 3.30:1 FiMII drive 3.515:1 (11/39) Gur~ .11I. I', _"11 .... TU.,1.ulo.twte ...... Mar· ZDGChi .d) •••, . ...... shock. d.CU'4C1Ilh" ....................... 7.& •• Front ~ ••• GdIMca douIeIs paddiac. _ _ &¥indlrr ............................ ........ Front wtweI .••. 2.7&a21 Abont • 12... R_wMel ..••. 4.00.,8 . . . . . aduiuis 1_ Front MIct.slI$X·1CW1 R_ tire • • .. • •• MicIIsIn X-1CWJ 8th ••• " 0.&7: 1 6th 0.8':1 4th ••••••••••••••••••••, .40:1 3nI 2.00:1 CITlimed dry wejght. • • .• , .... Weight diaIributIan .&/ &2.&% (fIoDt/.... 2nd Fuel c.pec:itr ••••••••••• 1.0 .... Ground cIeIrance ........ 13 in. s-t height •.•••••••••.. 28.6 In. Footpeg height ..••.•... 14.8 In. Footpag to front IXIs ..••. 38ln. Footpeg to rear" ..... 14.4 In. Colors ....•.... Red/white/blue Retail price •..•.. Approx.•2995 DIstributor TM' Route'4. Box 269 'at " 2.57:1 in...,. F_ High· open double CNdIe. 3.2&:1 th . · nurn IIdd . . . . cIetachetIIe ..... aeedon. moly swineRue 270 Trail •••••••••••.•••••••• 2.5 In. Fnmt .......... type •.••. TeIe· scopic.ork Fork tube diameter .•..••• 36mm Front wheel travel •...•... 7.0 in. _••IIr... . Cookeville. TN 38501 (8001824-1433 52.4 . .