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/141052
Harley-Davidson SX-350 Sprint ~ w Z wherein Harley states We Don't Care How the Hell They Do Jtln California!' W ..J C) > C) by Art Friedman and John Huerter Photos by Wendy L. Blanton Toads Courtesy of Warren and Wayne Well, it has been considerably re designed this year, and Harley-D avidson is pushing the SX·350 as a dirt bike. It isn't. But that's okay; it isn't a street bike either. If a dual purpose bike won't function on the dirt, that leaves the street, bu t the Harley lacks the performance to be competitive in the 1973 street bike market. You can ride it on the street, but the tires are not suitable for a lot of street riding. They don't stick, and the knobs wear too fast and add to the VIbration . Although it will obtain and hold freeway speeds, the machine is unpleasan t to ride because of the vibration. Quick steering doesn't help handling on the street, • either. . Discomfort is added to by the stiff rear suspension which pounds you a little more than competitive mach ines. The brakes are not up to the job but more noticeably here. The headlight was not as bright as oth er middleweight street bikes. If 'one insists up on riding it in the dirt, it is w ise not to venture past a smooth, hard dirt road where , once yo u come to terms with its weight, you'll find that it will slide moderately well. If yo u get into anything rough, however, it becomes treacherous to ride. I t became unmanageable enough in a sandwash to throw one experienced staffer to the ground, and then fallon him. T he resulting separated shoulder has caused him to have considerable ill will toward the SX·350. The fron t end is far ,too heavy to loft over obstacles. You have to ride over them or knock them out of the way. ' T here is no way to do wheelies, at least not of the conventional sort. The rear springs are stiff enough to pop the back end of the machine up when it 'in its turn encounters the' obstacle that the front end couldn 't clear. If the Sprint has an outstanding virtue, it is the engine. Some tastes will find it ideal. The . torquey little horizontal four-stroke single was happy as a pig at the slop trough when cli mbing hills. It would drag its own weight along with that of the operator ; *17 inches tall (Tallest Bo ot Made) *7 b uckles * Rivet reinfo rceme nts securing all vulnerable areas * Popular red, white & blue horizontal stripes T HES E RUGG ED BOOTS COM E WITH THE VE RY LAT EST FEATURES *Cross sole pattern with fabric impregnated rubber sole *3 flexable ankle movement vents allows complete comfort and fr eedom of motion: *Soft inner linning *2" offoamankle padding on each side fo r protection and co mfort *Nylon do uble stitchi ng * Fu ll length .tongue to help kee p mud & wa ter out ROCKY ROCKWOOD REPORTS D IRECT FROM TRACKSIDE Available now from your ' Local Dealer or write: CAL IFORNIA Brought to you by: YAMAHA STYLE West: International Accessories 4225 - 30th San Diego, Calif. 92104 (714) 280·3344 East : International Access. East 105 Pa rk St. Hampshire, III, 60140 (312) 683·3865