Jack
Findlay and the Jada

Jack
leads Agostini in the 1972 Swedish 500 GP |
In
1972 Jack Findlay and Daniele Fontana built a new chassis for Jack's
500 Suzuki motor. It was lighter and stronger than the factory frame
and more purpose built than his Seeley. They called the bike the
Jada. The engine was well forward in the frame and the bike weighed
only 100 kg, despite the heavy engine. Everything was done to save
weight even down to titanium bolts and the use of circlips rather
than nuts. This approach led to its downfall when the thin walled
frame tubes broke at the Isle of Man.

Jack
on the Jada Suzuki |
The
new bike was built with the twin aims of a small frontal area and
light weight. In this form it was able to use the lugging power
of the 500 Suzuki motor to full effect and the machine was ideal
for raod based circuits. The frame was built by Belletti in Milan
from chrome-moly tubing and weighed only 6 kilos. The rear swingarm
was rectangular and weighed 3.5 kilos. Output of the engine was
73 bhp. The tank held 25 litres and oil was held in the seat (1.5l).
The brakes were Fontana items of course. The Jada probably represented
the ultimate development of the air-cooled motor for its time. In
1973 the water-cooled 500 appeared on the tracks.
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