Allstate 60 Sport
ALLSTATE 60 SPORT
Road Impression:
IT MAY COME as somewhat of a surprise, but except for a few minor complaints the Allstate 60 is a pretty nice little machine. We’ll air our complaints first by saying that it dearly needs a four-speed gearbox and bigger section, smaller diameter tires. The odd (to bikes of this type) 23-inch wheels, and their small tires, will bury themselves completely in soft sand or loose surfaces, and on hard rutted tracks the rider will have one fine time keeping it going in the desired direction. It suffers more than a small amount also from the lack of a suitable gear to choose from at times, and could make excellent use of another.
To its credit it has plenty of power over a wide range of revolutions. Though we “bottomed” the forks on a couple of steep drop-offs, they adjust to the roughest going quite easily and do a very suitable job. The seat is much more comfortable than you would expect on so small and light a bike, and the handlebars are near perfect for control off the road. Gear changing is without flaw, and the dainty little clutch works effortlessly.
We were tempted to describe our experiences with the bike as a “trail test,” but we soon discovered that it was just as at home on the road as it was in the dirt. We usually preface a remark like that with the qualification that in order to be good at both, it must be just “so-so” at either. Usually this is quite true; with the Allstate it isn’t as simple to pass off as that. The biggest drawback in the rough are the small section tires, but on pavement they are put to better than good use and contribute to the high cruising speeds (around 40 mph).
We explored one facet of owning a product of Sears and Roebuck; that of service. Parts are plentiful, but must be ordered by mail. Sears does not service motorcycles in their stores, so it would seem that Allstate owners must be at least somewhat mechanically inclined. To aid this. Sears issues with each machine one of the most elaborate and complete service and parts manuals we have ever seen for a motorcycle. Tt covers every phase of servicing the bike in minute detail, each section profusely illustrated with cutaway and assembly drawings that are accurate to the smallest detail. So, if you must be your own mechanic, they have made it as painless as it can be. Some owners will of course find that the local cycle shop (or Austrian Puch dealer) will service them, others won’t be so lucky.
On the advantageous side of buying a motorcycle from such a large chain store organization lies the obviously helpful side effect of buying from the biggest chain store in the country with outlets in almost every corner of the nation. A touchy subject, but one of more than passing importance, is the easily obtained buyer credit. Few dealers can extend the kind of terms Sears has to offer.
Technical data includes a 59.6 cubic centimeter single-cylinder, fan-cooled, twocycle engine, 42mm bore, 43mm stroke. No power figures are available, but we estimate it to be around 4!/2 horsepower. Tt weighs 141 lbs., has a foot change gearbox with hand clutch, and telescopic front forks and rear shock absorbers with hydraulic damping. Frame is a fabricated tubular backbone with welded members. Our test machine was provided by J&R Engineering, who plan to manufacture speed equipment for the Allstate (which it dearly needs). The total price was $313.60 including tax and license. Not the best buy on the market, but not a bad one when all things are considered.
