1970 Saracen Trials Machine - 4-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article

Description

1970 Saracen Trials Machine - 4-Page Vintage Motorcycle Article
Original, vintage magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
It’s something of a paradox, but
the machine used in the slowest
form of motorcycle competition
has to be, in order to succeed, one
of the most sophisticated of mo-
torcycles. Come to think of it, it
seems that the most highly devel-
oped machines are intended for
use at the extreme ends of the
speed scale. Think about it, and
we think you will agree that
road racers and trials machines
are unique in that they are de-
signed to fulfill but a single func-
tion. The road racer, obviously, is
meant to get from point A to
point B in as short a time as
possible. While every bit as spe-
cialized as its speedy brother, the
trials machine is intended to ac-
complish something entirely dif-
ferent.
A good trials rider makes it all
look easy, and much of the ease
with which he performs can be
traced to the characteristics of
his bike. A good trials bike must
be light, it must have good, very
good torque, it must steer with ut-
ter precision, the suspension must
be on a par with that found on
moto cross machines, and it must
have very good balance. In the
past several years it has been
pretty well proven that a large
engine is not essential to success
in trials riding. There was a time
when 350cc and 500cc four-stroke
singles were thought to be the
only proper power plant for a real
mudplugger. That theory was
pretty well shattered when the
great Sammy Miller and Bultaco
got together and created the Sher-
pa T. In one stroke the Irishman
and the Spanish factory revolu-
tionized the design concepts which
had applied to trials machinery.
Soon, all of the top trials riders
were appearing on 250cc single
two-strokes.
More recently it has become ap-
parent that even smaller mach-
ines, properly designed, can be
truly competitive. The subject of
this report, the Saracen, is a
classic example of the current
trend in trials iron.
Constructed by a small firm in
South Cerney, England, the Sara-
cen’s appearance leaves absolutely
no doubt as to its intended use.
The handlebars are wide and cant-
ed well forward, the footrests are
set well toward the rear, and the
seating is almost non-existent; all
signs of the true trials motorbike.
Quite narrow, the gas tank is con-
structed of fiberglass and offers a
capacity of just under two gal-
lons. Both tires are shielded with
light alloy mudguards, and the
front fork is set at rather a steep
angle. Add the 125cc Sachs en-
gine, and that pretty much des-
cribes the appearance of the Sara-
cen. The frame is painted gold,
the gas tank is red, and the seat
is covered in a black material . . .
everything else appears to be pol-
ished metal of one alloy or an-
other.
Though quite simple in design
and execution, the Saracen frame
proves to be remarkably strong.
Constructed of T-45 aircraft tub-
ing with bronze welding used
throughout, the frame weighs a
mere 16 pounds. A single large
diameter downtube descends from
the steering head and curves un-
der the engine where it splits into
two smaller tubes which curve up-
ward to connect with the sub-
frame loop. The backbone tube
passes from the steering head to
the nose of the subframe loop,
and a pair of rear downtubes add
rigidity to the mid-section of the
machine....
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