Trail Master

TRAIL MASTER

CW Trail Test

AS THINGS WOULD HAVE IT, Our oftenspouted preference for motorcycles for trailing and other off-the-road quests for fun, fish, fowl or fawn, seems to be developing into a trend. Exemplary of the direction of things is the Tohatsu Trailmaster, a converted version of the popular Tohatsu 50cc Runpet imported by the Hap Jones Distributing Co. in San Francisco, California.

We would like to take all of the credit for the growth in popularity of the motorcycle as a trail vehicle over the trail scooter, but we would be stretching things if we did. We can, and will, say though; "we told you so." Lightweight machines like the Trailmaster can easily be lifted over obstacles their limited horsepower cannot overcome, and their superior traction, due to the larger wheels and tires, will pull them through situations no trail scooter can manage.

Of course we cannot overlook the simple fact that it does indeed require more sheer ability from the rider to make his way on a motorcycle than on a trail scooter, but it is easily learned and well worth the effort. Taken from the standpoint of comfort alone, a motorcycle pays returns far in excess of the trouble spent learning to master it.

Tohatsu Trailmaster

The Tohatsu Trailmaster offers just about everything one could desire in a machine for use in the rough. The engine is a 50cc, single-cylinder two-stroke of five horsepower, which is not an impressive figure but performance belies it once a handful of throttle is grabbed when the trail gets steep and soft. Our test crew was amazed at the way the power comes on, right off of idle virtually, and at the beating the little power plant will take without obvious complaint. Several times during our test in the mountains we scaled hillsides ordinarily reserved for powerful equipment and found that the Trailmaster would pull a 175 lb. rider up all but the very steepest of them with little or no assistance from the rider.

Converting the Tohatsu Runpet to a Trailmaster is accomplished via the use of several vital components; trials-type tires with knobby tread; an overlay sprocket that lowers the overall gear ratio using a simple mounting method Tohatsu calls the "four finger system," which describes part of the operation of converting from the street sprocket to the larger trail unit; a higher mounted upswept exhaust pipe and muffler; a carrying rack mounted on the rear fender; and a protective skid plate under the engine to shield it against boulders and the like.

As in other machines of this calibre, weight is another factor in its favor, only 140 pounds, a relatively small package to have to throw around when riding it out of difficulty.

Other touches we liked were the widespread handlebars, excellently spaced for trailing, ball end control levers on the clutch and brake levers, quite long travel in both the front and rear suspension, and a more than adequate amount of ground clearance.

Paint and chrome finish is quite good on the little bright orange lightweight, adding highlights to a satisfying machine that is particularly well suited for its goals in the life of a trail motorcycle. We were impressed, and we think our trailing bug readers will be also.