A new year and a bit of reminiscing with a work colleague about motorbikes led to memories of an old motocross racing bike I once owned. It was an EMC and was designed and built by a brilliant engineer call Mike Eatough. It had the longest suspension travel of any ‘twin shock’ bike of its generation. (assuming my memory is correct!) After some legal issues, subsequent bikes were produced under the Cotton EMX name.A bit of googling produced a YouTube clip showing some examples of the bike being built. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gQbZiiGGTi4 Just the same as my one, well, apart from being nice and new. The earlier frame was chromed and a real work of art. Unfortunately this stiffened the frame and it tended to crack due to the forces exerted by competition. The later ones were painted and worked extremely well.
It’s nice to see engineers hand making exhausts etc, although the factory looks more ‘traditional’ than the gleaming production facilities of the big manufactures nowadays.
9 comments:
I remember the bike well, I used to ride a MK11 Bultaco in 79, and my arch rival at the time used to tower over me when we sat next to each other on the start.....
It was quick in a straight line, but always looked a bit of a handful in corners due to the high centre of gravity.
I am actualy looking for one to renovate, I do not ride any more due to loosing nearly all my sight.
I have a 1981 Maico I have just rebuilt,and I would like to find somthing a bit different next.
I have an old black and white photo of the EMC and my old Bulto in full flight at an AMCA track in Glossop, I will attach it if I can.
Good ol days.
I still have my EMC 250 that i used to race in 1979. I am looking for a Sachs or Rotax engine for it. If any one knows of any parts going any where could you please contact me. paulwilliams37@hotmail.com PS i have lots of photos of my in full flight on it.
hi..there,
I...still..have..my..emc..250..sachs
7..speed,i..used..to..race..back..in..79..i..have..fully..restored..
back..to..its..former..glory.
I..think..it..was..the..best..bike..back..in..the..day.
I..have..two..spare..engines,..and..
one..spare.chrome..frame.
I..olso..have..all..the..articles
from..tmx..news.
ronnie.ely@tiscali.co.uk.
I raced 2 chrome ones of these. Loved them a lot. Did a lot of jumping but never had a problem with the frame breaking and I broke the then KTM and Honda's regulary :).
Still have them but the tanks are leaking and the saddles should be replaced. Had a brand new 255 - 7speed under my bed in those days. Should still be at my brothers home as he owns the house now.
I used to work for Mike and his father Jack in those days, we had a lot of fun developing the way we made the exhausts. We put the reason why the frames cracked was hydrogen due to the chroming process. A 400cc 5 speed version was made and I think it ended up in the Sachs museum.
Jeff Gainford
I had 250cc sachs 7 speed brought it from Colins motorcross shop on Darby, also had pair white power shocks on back and sprayed front forks yellow if any one owns it I would be interested in hearing from them, great bike in is day, I've got some pictures riding in Amca 250 expert classs,
I have three EMC 250s and two came in boxes from Colins shop CGH ( bought from his son Dave and one has the yellow forks
Was not meant to be posted anonymously
Hello would you still have any EMC parts I could buy please?
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