MACHINERY Motorcycles of the 500cc MX GP Series
eaner
By Alex Hodgkinson
HUSABERG-JOELSMEfs
Having spent much of 1997 testing
426 (a 350 crank and 600 piston) and 440
(a stroked 350) models, Joel Smets has
decided to defend his title with a fullblown 600. According to mechanic
Glenn. Woodman, many of the lessons
learned from the smaller bikes have
been incorporated in improving the
engine characteristics of the 1998 factory
bike - which is a true 600, not a 609 as
last year. A titanium rear sub-frame is
just one of the weight-saving measures
and even with upside-down WP forks
and foam tires, the number-one bike
went through tech at 244.2 pounds,
compared with 254.1 pounds last year.
HUSQVARNA - DARRYLL KING
They have been truly busy at Varese
this winter, trimming a full 22 pounds
off the bike by extensive use of titanium
and carbon fiber, so that Darryll King's
bike actually lipped the scales half a kilo
less'than the 'Berg-. The works Husky
also has new suspension - Marzocchi
inverted forks and a Sachs-Boggi rear
shock, which, together with minor
fram~ modifications, have dramatically
improved handling. Since these photos
were taken, King has replaced the
Sachs-Boggi shock with tlte factory
Showa he used last year; as with Bartolini on the Yamaha. this is simply a mats of personal p'.eQOe.
