HOLLAND'S WORKS REPLICA

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 11

HOLLAND'S WORKS REPLICA

The first replica of Suzuki’s works 400 c.c. scrambler (see above) arrived in the South Island recently and in the hands of the former New Zealand representative and multiple South Island champion, G. Holland, of Christchurch, it should soon be making its presence felt. Holland, a rider of considerable experience, gave the new machine its first outing at the New Brighton club’s scramble at Clarkville last week-end and afterwards was lavish in his praise of it. "The performance is really terriffic. It has got a lot more power than the C.Z. I wasn’t getting round the comers too well but it should be really com•petitive once I get used to it. The front wheel comes up under acceleration in! every gear.” ; Holland considers that the ! gearing was a little too; high at Clarkville and he; will have it lowered for his I next outing in a week or I two. "With the gearing I 1 had it would do about 90 ; miles an hour it was far ; too high. But I am very im-; pressed with it. The future I looks very promising.” As well as altering the I gearing, Holland intends to; change the rear tyre. A machine almost iden-’ tical to this is at present be- •

ing ridden by R. De Coster (Belgium) in world championship events with considerable success. De Coster although Suzuki’s only entrant in the 500 c.c. classics, currently holds a narrow lead in the championship. The capacity of the singlecylinder two-stroke Suzuki is 396 c.c. and it produces a very healthy 40 brake horsepower. The bore is 3.23 in x 2.95 in and the compression ratio 7.3 to one. The machine is very light at only 2301b5. Power is delivered to the rear wheel via five constant mesh gears. The engine operates on 96 octane pump fuel'and is automati-

cally lubricated—an unusual system for a scrambler. Ignition is transistorised and the rear suspenion has five-way adjustable dampers. The most impressive feature of the machine, however, is its power. “The power threw me a bit out of balance,” Holland said after his first outing. "It is a bit disconcerting until you get used to it.” Holland’s machine is one of only two 400 c.c. Suzukis in New Zealand. The other is being raced in the North Island by P. Ploen. of Palmerston North, and already he has been showing a clean pair of heels, t > his chief rivals.