Photo ou archives : D. Ganneau
1119
CZ
350 V4 Type 860 - 1973
Piling up the victories
This machine was conceived by J. Walter and F. Pudil in 1965, but the political turmoil in Czechoslovakia during the late Sixties meant that the motorcycle was finished four years behind schedule, and even then it fell short of the original concept. For example, Italian carburetors had replaced the fuel-injection system. Nevertheless, the bike still developed a highly competitive 52 hp.
A Curtailed Debut
The first outing for the new machine, at the practice session for the national Czech GP in July 1969, was cut short by defective castings and the 860 did not reappear until 1970, with a new frame. Even though Stasa won the bike's first victory at Horice on May 5, 1970, the poor quality of the Czech metallurgy proved a grave handicap to the development of the engine. Helmut Fath secretly had helped the CZ factory by furnishing it with decent steel to make valve springs, allowing the 860 to produce consistent performance.
Winning Streak
From then on, the wins just piled up to a total of 24 in the two seasons of 1971 and 1972, plus an excellent second place in the Czech Brno GP in 1971. Sadly, the country became increasingly inward-looking, and the international sorties of the 350 V4 became increasingly rare. Three examples of this machine were built – and they all survive: two in Bohemia and one in Austria, the latter having been bored out to 55 mm, giving a displacement of 418 cc for 500cc racing.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 345cc (50x44mm) watercooled 90-degee V-rwin four-stroke
Power Rating: 63 hp @ 16,000 rpm
Valves: Doubles overhead camshaft; 4 valves/cylinder
Fuel System: 4 25mm carburetors
Transmission: 8-speed
Suspension: telescopic fork (front); swinging fork (rear)
Brakes: drum (frong & rear)
Wheels: wire
Weight! 309 lb
Maximum Speed: 211 mph
This example of the 350 V4 was the last one built, and never raced. Its inlet valves are made of titanium, and it would surely have had a brilliant racing career in the West.