Tanshanomi's Snap Judgments

Aspes Juma

Wed, February 10th, 2010


1976–83 Aspes 125 Juma (aka 'Yuma')
Performancewww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
The Juma was known as a exceptionally powerful (albeit peaky) 125 two-stroke, but it's still just a 125. That's a bit like being the meanest bully in the chess club.
Handlingwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
It may not look very high-tech, but it was a wildly popular club racer that taught many future stars how to get around a track quickly.
Lookswww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
I love the period-perfect café racer outrageousness of the Juma's original '76–'81 bodywork. But the seat tail taller than that tank? Maybe they took it a little too far.
Reliabilitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
The Juma was known as a quality-made, reliable race engine. But even the best race engine is going to wear quickly and need a lot of spare parts...which don't exist anymore.
Practicalitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
It's not really zero; I'm rounding down. It scores a 0.001, because I am sure there are a few more impractical motorcycles out there. (The 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller comes to mind.)
Desirabilitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
An unusually capable small-bore, very few people have ever seen a Juma in the flesh.
Overallwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
I like small-bore racers; narrow, naked café racers; air-cooled, two-stroke singles; and rare marques. Needless to say, I have a great fondness for the Juma. But they belong the hands of craftsmen whose money and skills greatly exceed mine.