ROCKET MINI-CYCLE
Cycle World Mini-Bike Test
THE Rocket Cycle, by the Bill Matthews Co., 846 E.
Valley Blvd., in San Gabriel, Calif., is one of the
later additions to the fast growing mini-bike world. The
Rocket separates itself from quite a few of them,
though, by the use of several well-thought-out innova-
tions, the most important being the high handlebars and
the wide, well sprung scat.
Merely staying aboard a mini-bike at speed across
the open country is often half the battle, and the Rocket’s
wide set, high bars add considerably to control and
stability. It is impossible to say too much about the
value of the sprung scat. The single coil spring absorbs
about 80% of the jars and jolts intended for the rider,
escape from which is near impossible on most mini-
bikes.
Further, the spring forks on the front end contribute
their share of comfort and control, too. The Rocket of
course suffers from the same problems inherent in all
mini-bikes, that of a natural lack of stability due to the
small wheels, short wheelbase and top heaviness when the
rider is aboard. But the Matthews Co. has done just
about all a person can do to make up for these inherent
shortcomings with the use of their “western style"
handlebars. (This phrase pains us; we live in the west
and can attest to the fact that they arc not used except
by a few unfathomable non-conformists).
It would be far more proper to say that the bars are
spaced and placed at a height that corresponds to most
full size cycles, thus adding much needed control. This
feature contributes in no small way to the many suc-
cesses the Rocket has enjoyed in mini-bike competition
around the country.
The Rocket is constructed in the familiar form of
small diameter steel tubes arranged in a conventional
manner. Braking is supplied by an excellent kart-type
internal expanding unit mounted on the rear wheel. But
it is in this department we found our only real criticism,
not of the brake itself, but the control. The brake
is activated by the right foot; this in itself seems to pre-
sent nothing worth criticizing except that, in use, the
rider all too often is not able to keep his feet in such a
position on the bike for very long.
We suffered through several anxious moments when
the brake was needed and our feet were busy trying
to stabilize things, and several encounters with bushes
at speed were the outcome.
Several power options are available on the Rocket;
our test bike was equipped with a West Bend 580 kart
engine. This little high winding two-stroke is noted for
its torque at fairly low rpm, an asset in a mini-bike. The
West Bend power plant is widely used by mini-bike
manufacturers because of its simplicity of operation and
almost complete dependability. Our test bike’s engine
was not equipped with a muffler, as with most mini-
bikes, but one would have been nice to have. Mufflers
are available in several forms, though, for almost any
engine a mini-bike might be equipped with.
We got the shock of our lives when testing the
Rocket on the pavement and found that it would do
almost 45 mph, with some trepidation on the part of
the rider, incidentally.
Summing up the Matthews Rocket Cycle, it bristles
with interesting innovations, is well made and engineered,
the general finish is excellent, and its drawbacks are few
and minor. We repeat ourselves in recommending that
serious bike enthusiasts give mini-bikes a whirl. They
are a lot of fun, simple to operate, easy to transport,
inexpensive, and give almost every thrill a full-size bike
gives . . . (well, almost) •