Pointer Comet & Super Lassie
POINTER COMET & SUPER LASSIE
ROAD IMPRESSIONS:
POINTER COMET
SUPER LASSIE
TWO EXAMPLES OF WHAT may soon become one of the most popular lines of Japanese-built motorcycles are the subject of this month’s road impression; the 155cc Pointer Comet and the 90cc Super Lassie. Both are full fledged motorcycles and both are heavily sprinkled with interesting features.
Among those found on both machines, and several others in the Pointer line, are: electric starting, threespeed rotary gearbox in the Super Lassie, four-speed in the Comet; leading link front suspension; swinging arm rear suspension; electric turn signals built in; full electrical and lighting equipment, and rear view mirrors~ Though none of the items on the list can be categorized as revo lutionary, they are, nonetheless, excellent reasons for rid ing and owning one.
The larger sized Comet (about 5 inches longer than the Lassie), is powered by a 155cc, single-cylinder, twostroke engine, rated at 11 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. A four-speed gearbox is used, employing the popular Japanese “rotary” system, as do the other members of the Pointer group. This means simply that the selection of gears is handled by a revolving mechanism that continues to select a gear as the lever is repeatedly pressed down, or; the next gear in line is chosen at every movement of the arm, ie; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, neutral, 1st, 2nd, etc.
The Comet bears a handsome black finish with a tasteful amount of chrome-plated components, most of the essential elements being of contemporary Japanese construction using pressed metal and bolted together. Total weight is only 264 pounds and its light weight in combination with a respectable horsepower rating gives it a claimed top speed of almost 70 mph. Though we do not ordinarily make top speed or performance checks on our road impression machines, we did take the 155cc Comet out to our top speed strip and turned a highly respectable 68.9 mph, nothing to complain about.
Turning to the neat little 90cc Super Lassie we find a horse of a different color. Here is a highly spirited little two-stroke tiddler with performance we couldn’t quite believe until we tried it. Top speed reached was 60.1 mph, over the speed claimed for it, and acceleration takes second choice to very few machines in its general category. The Super Lassie is a single-cylinder, two-stroke rated at 7 hp @ 6,000 rpm, weighs about 175 pounds and is finished in a handsome two-tone paint job .
Of pressed metal construction also, but with fibreglass in places like both fenders, we particularly liked the “allin-one” appearance of the bike. Detail finishing is also quite good and electric starting and turn signals are standard equipment. Both Pointers use the Neidhalt leading arm front suspension system; a quite smooth and comfortable ride are traits of this method and all of the Pointers we have ridden, including the Senior model that Airheart Engineering used as a test bed for their hydraulic disc brake experiments (CYCLE WORLD January 1962 and May 1962 issues), were exceptionally comfortable and good handling machines.
We would like to have seen a four-speed gearbox on the Lassie in place of the three-speed unit; we will add though, that the ratios are very well selected.
Both fuel consumption figures, 176 miles per gallon on the Super Lassie and 136 on the Comet, are of the type that make filling station attendants somewhat ill. We did not have the opportunity to verify either figure, but both seem quite appropriate for the two machines. We doubt seriously if mileage enters very strongly into the decision of which motorcycle to buy and, as a rule, pay little attention to claims of makers or distributors.
Evaluating the two Pointers was not a difficult task at all; both have much to offer and the decision as to which machine best suits one’s needs lies with their desires for performance and the capacity of their buying power. Pointers are distributed in the East by Pointer Sales of America in Cleveland, Ohio. Prices are $547.32 for the Comet and $402.08 for the Super Lassie. In the West they are distributed by Jays Cycles Inc., in El Paso, Texas, who prices the Super Lassie< at $377.00 and $528.26 for the Comet.
$547.32
$528.26
Both firms are seeking dealers. We found little to deter prospective dealers, or buyers, from an interesting and extremely satisfying pair of motorcycles. •
