Moto memories
All eyes were on Mick Andrews’ rear end at the 1977 UK world round and Nick Nicholls caught it in action as it soaked up the bumps.
While the headlines screamed about Malcolm Rathmell’s cast iron nerve as he wiped the floor with the opposition during the British round of the 1977 world trials championship, a lot of the focus was on Mick Andrews’ cantilever Yamaha. As the world trials stars battled their way round a 53 section course in the Elan Valley, Wales in February, they were treated to the future of suspension though they may not have known it. While the majority of the entry were using traditional twinshock machinery, Mick Andrews was out on his super trick 400cc cantilever trials bike. By Mick’s own admission the Japanese factory were experimenting with all sorts of things at that time. Capacity was up and down, gears were being altered, suspension went from standard to cantilever and back to twinshock with laydown shocks. The fuel system wasn’t left alone either, as Yamaha even tested fuel injection for trials. Less high profile though was John Reynolds’ Ossa, which also sported a cantilever rear end… the future was on the way.