1979 SWM 250GS - 5-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article

Description

1979 SWM 250GS - 5-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article
Original, vintage magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
A Serious ISDT Bike From Italy
■ It’s really nice to
discover a new brand
of dirt bike. Competi-
tion in the field has
been extremely fierce
the last couple of
years, and some
makes have all but
disappeared. Only the
factories that stay
right on top of the market demand have
survived, importation of new (to us)
brands has also suffered as a result of
previously popular makes losing their foot-
ing in the American market. So it’s wel-
come when we have an opportunity to test
something new to this country, especially
so when it proves competitive.
Enter the SWM brand. John Taylor
from Yankee has been importing the Ital-
ian SWM for about a year but we couldn’t
seem to find time for a test when one was
available. Finally we made the connection.
The SWM 250 GS is a strikingly beauti-
ful red, white and black machine that
attracts lookers to the point of being a
nuisance. There is more to the SWM than
good looks. Its main purpose is to win
ISDT type events. A good ISDT machine
needs a strong flex-free frame, powerful
engine with a transmission that furnishes
one mph in low and 80 mph in sixth, quiet
exhaust, strong and waterproof brakes, en-
duro lighting, large unbreakable fenders,
centerstand, good suspension, nimble han-
dling and a heart made from Kryptonite to
endure the torture of six-day competition.
Not many bikes can claim all these fea-
tures in stock form. The SWM 250 GS can.
Completely stock it will out perform the
abilities of all but a handful of professional
riders.
SWM makes its own frame, pipe, seat
and tank. Other parts are supplied from
Bing. Marzocchi and Bosch. The engine
comes from Rotax, an engine builder in
Austria that makes motors for Can-Am
(Rotax is owned by Bombardier, parent
company of Can-Am). Except for side
covers that say SWM, the engine is the
same as the one used in the Can-Am 250
Qualifier. It has generous finning on the
cylinder and tons of horsepower. Bore
measures 74.4mm. stroke is 57.5mm for a
total of 247cc. A 32mm Bing center float
carburetor sits behind the cylinder and
feeds fuel through a long intake tube to a
left side rotary valve that opens a port into
the engine’s lower end. An electronic
Bosch ignition furnishes spark for the plug
and juice for the lights and feeble horn.
The transmission has six widely spaced
speeds and a gear is available for almost
any situation. The counter-shaft sprocket
is placed to the rear and the frame is
constructed so the swing arm pivot rests as
close to the sprocket as possible. A good
case guard surrounds the front of the
sprocket and prevents damage to the mag-
nesium castings if the chain does happen
to derail at the rear. The shift lever has a
spring loaded end to prevent internal
transmission damage if the rider jams it
into a rock or tree root and primary starl-
ing is used, an appreciated extra when
stalled on a muddy hill or creek bottom.
Restarting is as simple as pulling the clutch
and stabbing the left side kick start lever. A...
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