Trailing
TRAILING
The oldest, yet newest form of cycling fun...
TO those of us who have been around motorcycles for many years the current growth of interest in what are becoming known as “trail vehicles” is a bit amusing. After all, this is what we have been doing since the first two-wheeled vehicle with an engine was built; well, almost anyway.
Noting this increase, CYCLE WORLD’S staff set out to explore this “new” form of two-wheeled sport by taking two examples of the machines that have sparked this movement into the back country of Southern California, high in the San Bernardino mountains, where the Editor maintains a not-too-secret hideaway. We obtained the use of one of Yamaha’s new Omaha Trail 50’s and a well-used Cushman Trailster and set out to prove a thing or two. But, being what we are, motorcyclists at heart, we spiced the scene up somewhat and borrowed two additional, and more familiar, machines.
One was the fantastic Matchless 350 trials bike of Southern California’s trials champion Bill Brokaw, owner of the Paul Brokaw Cycle Shop in Montebello, California. The other was the pride and joy of Nick Nicholson, proprietor of Nicholson Motors in North Hollywood, Calif., a new Greeves Scottish Trials 250. Nick rides the bike in frequent local trials and is himself an expert, as most of our readers well know.
To the more astute cycle enthusiast our intentions must be obvious, but for the others we must justify the use of four such varied machines.
All four share one common built-in set of features; the ability to negotiate trails, stream beds, open country, hills, mountains, etc., or any off-the-road country that might present itself in the quest of fish, wild game, or just for fun. The four share few other facets, though. Primarily, they differ grossly in their prices, ease of handling, and degree of rider ability required to navigate under the worst of conditions.
Taking all the facts into consideration, we decided to test these four outstanding examples and rate them according to the two most important criterion, price and handling. The basis for qualifying each machine was made easier, while expanding the range of critical values, by using four members of our staff, all of whom have a number of years of experience in varying degrees of competition and “purely for fun” riding.
Our testers were: the Editor, Advertising Manager Jack Fullwood, Technical Editor Gordon Jennings, and Jerry Platt, a competition rider of many years’ experience whose opinions have served often in guiding CYCLE WORLD’S directions.
Our test vehicles were, in detail: the Yamaha Omaha Trail, 50cc, 5 hp, rotary valve, two-stroke, with 3-speed gear box, electric starting, left foot operated gear shift, right foot and right hand operated brakes, front and rear suspension, price $275.00 POE. The Cushman Trailster, IV2 hp Cushman Elusky 4-cycle engine, two-speed transmission, foot controlled rear brake with two pedals (one on each side), hand lever operated front brake optional, front suspension only, pedal starting, price $382.00 FOB, L.A. Greeves Scottish Trials, 250cc two-stroke, single cylinder, 12 hp @ 4,500 rpm, 4-speed, foot lever controlled gear box, front and rear suspension, (one of the two full-sized motorcycles), kick starting, price $695.00. Fourth machine, and the other full-sized motorcycle, was the Matchless Trials model. 350cc, approximately 17-18 hp, 4 speed, foot lever operated gear box, front and rear suspension, kick starting, price $919.00.
As the reader can see, there are extreme differences between our chosen mounts, price being one of the most important. The old axiom, “you get what you pay for” is an important one to remember. Evaluating the four types of machines is not an easy task, nor is it exactly fair to each. What we found was that a medium (250cc) displacement motorcycle, to a large (500cc) machine is superior for trailing of any kind. This does not mean that the trail bike is not a satisfactory machine, because it is, and it costs far less than a motorcycle tuned for this kind of work, but a motorcycle will climb faster, track through rougher terrain, is easier to handle (with the benefit of practice and experience), and is a more comfortable mode.
Our tests were conducted on a series of very steep and rocky hills, sand washbeds, an extremely steep grassy slope and over several miles of untracked mountains. Only a few occasions arose where the Trailster and the Yamaha would not make the course at all, and they were in areas that the average camper, fisherman, hunter or rider would ordinarily avoid. The prime point of separation between the machines is the speed and ease with which each bike would negotiate the traps. The higher powered motorcycles, with their larger wheels and gearboxes offering selective ratios, can take the average backwoods terrain at a snail’s pace, or at full throttle, depending upon the ability of the rider. Therein lies the crux. A complete novice can take a trail vehicle at a very slow pace through almost anything, and though he may spend a great deal of time pushing and “footing” his way, he’ll make it.
The same novice, astride a motorcycle, will ordinarily find himself in trouble under identical conditions, because, although the cycle is more at home under the existing setting, the novice rider is not. The problems multiply as the added handicap of weight, camping equipment, fishing gear, etc. makes the going even more difficult. Of course, the same must be said for a trail machine operating under the same handicap, but the lower height and wider base makes the weight easier to handle, although hampering overall performance and making it work harder.
An outstanding feature of the trail bikes is their portability. Most of them will fit handily into a station wagon and some will even drop into the trunk of a car. The lightweight 50cc bike is by far the easiest to handle under all conditions due both to its weight, and size. The 50cc cycle and the trail machine share yet another advantage as well; both can easily be ridden by a person with no more training in the riding of two-wheeled vehicles than experience on a bicycle. We turned them over to the distaff halves of the CYCLE WORLD staff and, to the delight of all, both girls rode around on level ground with no problems. With all due respect to the ladies, neither had more than an exploratory degree of experience, yet it was obvious that with a little practice, each could have taken off for high ground.
Our steep and rocky hill proved to be the ultimate test for all four machines. The 50cc bike could navigate the entire distance with relative ease but at times required some assistance from the rider. The most adept riders could maintain a steadier path to the top, employing their years of experience in keeping the speed up while staying upright in the rough going.
The Cushman Trailster literally tore up the hill, accompanied by an exciting amount of wheelspin, flying rocks and dirt. Staying aboard amounted to a problem if speed was to be maintained, but the simple expedient of slowing down steadied things out with very little loss of traction, a definite advantage offered by the powerful engine’s torque which comes in at very low speeds.
Comparing performances of the 250cc Greeves and the 350cc Matchless presents another problem because so much of it is based upon the skill of the rider. Ability to control a bike at full throttle speeds cannot be belittled, but it is interesting to note that the larger machine can be ridden over almost any surface slower, and with more control, again remembering that this outstanding ability is almost entirely dependent upon the special talents of the rider.
It was the conclusion of CYCLE WORLD’S entire staff, after two hard days of riding under the most radically varying conditions imaginable, that each type has a great deal to offer. The $275.00, 50cc Yamaha is an amazing machine. The staff could hardly believe that a 3 cubic inch two-stroke engine would operate with such flexibility and power at almost all throttle openings. It is light, easily transported, can be ridden on the streets at speeds up to 25 mph, incorporates deluxe features like the electric starting, has effective suspension and is amazingly simple to ride. The Cushman Trailster is heavier and larger but still can be packed into quite small spaces for transporting. The IV2 hp 4-cycle engine offers an advantage that should not be ignored; power and low-speed torque. It has a large carrying capacity and is also delightfully simple to operate. The $382.00 price establishes it as an amazing value. Finalizing the merits of the two motorcycles actually amounts to a rider’s preference. The Greeves is a lightweight (235 lbs.), consequently somewhat easier to handle. But, it has less power than the Matchless and it is a two-stroke with less torque and commensurate ability to operate at very slow speeds with power at hand when the occasion arises. Both offer another feature that must be brought out. They can be ridden on the highways at speeds from 70 to 80 mph in relative comfort. So, in the end, price can be taken as the decision maker.
Hence, we leave it up to our readers. We reached a conclusion of which we were quite conscious before we started; trailing is a hell of a lot of fun, no matter what your reasons for being there, and no matter what you are riding. In the end we arc merely happy to see so many people discovering this, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the finest sport in the world. •
