1967 402 CC WORKS JAWA MOTOCROSS

The dual down tube bike of 1967. Valek is shown racing the bike at the British GP at Farleigh Castle. Photo courtesy of "Offroad Review".

1965 250CC WORKS JAWA MOTOCROSS

Raced only by Valek in 1965, the bike was improved over the 64 version. Valek finished 6th in the world and won his home GP on this bike while still developing the machine. It was the British press that gave the bike the name banana, referring to it as the "flying banana" when it first appeared.

PRE 1955 JAWA MOTOCROSS MOTORCYCLES

Although Jawa did not produce moto-cross motorcycles before 1954, many people were modifying the standard Jawa roadster for moto-cross. Apparently the Jawa model 11 made a pretty good motocrosser for it's time. In fact Gaston Sauteur rode his Jawa Springer to the 1954 Swiss motocross championship

1955 ESO SCRAMBLERS

Shown are two works 350cc ESO scramblers at the Sarka motocross in 1955. These motorcycles were developed from the road racing motorcycles that were first used to test the ESO unit construction 4-stroke engine. These early ESO scramblers were not much more that road racing bikes with knobby tires mounted, as you can see from the picture. The bikes had 100mm (4 inches) of suspension travel, front & rear. Picture from Svet Motoru, 1955.

THE 1951 WHIZZER PACEMAKER

A complete moped, was the way the Whizzer folks described this model.

By 1951 the American moped had evolved into a complete machine based on a Schwinn-like frame. The bike had a painted fuel tank (with chrome available as an option), telescopic forks, and two curving frame tubes. The cantelever frame, patented by Schwinn in 1938 was originally produced in-house by Whizzer, but later, due to legal issues, was supplied to Whizzer by Schwinn. Whizzers were economical, and sold in large numbers in the 1940s and 1950s. They were especially popular with American teenagers. They were still available in the early 1950s, but were no match for the new lightweight machines imported from Japan.

1993 GILERA NORDWEST

An enduro model from Gilera -- shown here in a publicity picture.

1949 GILERA SANREMO

The Sanremo was a racer which derived its name, thanks to Motociclismo magazine, from its first 1947 victory at San Remo. Gilera racers also won this competiton for the subsequent 4 years. Although they raced at international meetings and became the mainstay of Italian national competitions, San Remos never seriously challenged the multi-cylinder or overhead-camshaft machines raced by their competitors. By comparison the Competizione was more of a race trim sports bike, although the factory produced a batch of about 30 from 1940 to 1946 for its team. Records establish that this Sanremo was made in 1949, towards the end of the Sanremo batch, as the Sanremo was the predecessor to the Piuma which was introduced in 1950/51, for those who keep track of that sort of data.

It was then shipped to Jugauto, a Gilera agent in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. It may have been raced in the 50s and 60s and it is likely that the engine is not original. Many Sanremos were updated with Piuma engines (which had more extensive finning) or alternatively with tuned Sports engines.

MuZ MASTIFF & MuZ BAGIRA

MuZ announced the addition of two new models to its product line, the enduro styled Bagira and Mastiff. The bikes appear to be very top-heavy and are more oriented toward rally type riding.

1969 MZ ETS250 TROPHY SPORT

A sporting two-stroke version of the Trophy model was introduced in 1969. The philosophy of simplicity and practicality remained, but the appearance and performance of the bike was improved. Power was marginally increased and a 46-cm (18-in) front wheel replaced the 41-cm (16-in) size of the original. A massive 22-litre (4.8 gallon) tank was substituted for the unusual fuel tank/headlight shell. The distinctive long muffler and the enclosed chain remained. Both ES and ETS models were replaced by a new line in 1973.

COTTON COUGAR

Rudi Boom, Dutch 250 Champion on his Cotton Cougar. Typical of the era, the Starmaker two stroke engine put out about 26 horsepower and had the link front end.

ROCKFORD CHIBI 60

When Bridgestone stopped Motorcycle production in 1969, Rockford Motors purchased the rights to the Bridgestone 60 & 100 motors and went to the Japanese company Tanaka Koyogo, LTD.,and formed a partnership to supply Rockford Motors with a 100 c.c. Enduro model known as the Taka and two 60 c.c. mini bike models known as the Tora & Chibi.

The partnership agreement allowed Rockford Motors the exclusive rights for the United States market and Tanaka the exclusive rights to the Asian market, with the Tanaka line up marketed as the brand name of TAS Motors. The partnership ended in 1975 when Rockford Motors ceased business.

The Rockford Motors 60 c.c. Chibi pictured here was known as the Standard Model, and was equipped with a 60 c.c. Bridgestone power plant with a 3 speed, constant mesh transmission. As standard equipment the folding handlebars made it easy to store the unit in the trunk of a car. Towards the end of the Rockford Motors era the unit had a manufactures suggested retail price of $199.00.

TAKA 100 ENDURO

Rockford Motors entered the US enduro market with their 100 cc Taka model. It was powered by a Bridgestone 100 cc chromed bore cylinder with rotary valve induction and used a four-speed transmission. The bike stayed in the Rockford lineup until 1975, when Rockford ceased producing motorcycles.

BRIDGESTONE 175 SR

Known as " THE MIGHTY 175 " the 175 SR was introduced in 1966 and was an immediate force in all forms of American racing. From Dirt Track, Drag or Road Racing the 175 SR was the a low cost way to get into racing.

BRIDGESTONE 90SR

Introduced in 1966 the Bridgestone 90 SR was Bridgestone's answer to the American form of racing called "DIRT TRACKING". The SR series was offered in a 90, 100 & 175 versions. A 50 version was also made for the Japanese market , but it never made it to the American market.