The great Finnish enduro is now celebrated by a parade of old enduro bikes. This year, your truly did take out the CZ and rode along. I have never exprienced riding behind a police car.
Things went prettty much the same as in the actual race. First, I am almost missing the start (why do you think the team is called Last Drop Racing). Then the parade is riding so slow trough the city that the CZ has to ridden using first gear and a lot of clutch. Still I manage to stall it. That calls for pushing tha bike and when I finally get it running agian, others are not any more seen. So you have a chance to really rev it. Which leads to sizing. While still on the city streets. A quick pull of the clutch lever and the engine starts running again. After catching the others it is back to stalling the engine for riding too slow. This time pushing the bike up a hill (twice) and trying to push start did not help. Fortunately I got a ride in a van and so I was able bring the bike to the starst of the actual race, where spectators were waiting to see these "good old days" bikes. For me it was excactly like when racing, but all within an hour. That's what I call Instant Enduro.

Why so many East European bikes?

Until late 60's Finland had very low reserves of foreing currency. You had the get a special import license for Western bikes. Since Commie Block countries had even less money they were happy to sell bikes for in return of Finnish goods. Those familiar with trade terms have probably heard of "bilateral trade"

What's this Banana Jawa?

This was the works bike. Only limited number was produced. The bike looked great but the story goes that the Finnish riders with Jawas contract still chose the old Six Days Jawas for the Six Day enduro. They were first told  that ubless they ride the new model they will get a ride at all. Since you do not really want top argue a Finn, these guys were given the old bikes. They did beat the Czech team, who were riding the new Banana Jawas.


Works Jawa

Why do you think it was
called "Banana Jawa"

You could remove the gear
box without removing the
engine off the frame

MZ 125 and Jawa

MZ125 was a very competitive
bike in its class

MZ 250

62 Six Days took place at
Garmisch Partenkirchen

Not a very common bike
Honda Trial

Heikki Mikkola - 4 times
Motocross World Champion
and Päitsi winner in 68

Mikkola rodr this HVA 240

Päitsi has been ridden for
quite many years: They even used
Indians, before you were able
to get Jawas or MZ's

Of course, there were
lots of Jawas, so you did
not have to ride an Indian

Remember the military models

Jawa Six Days, notice
up pipes, front fender and
more powerful lamp for
night stages

Solifer 125 - one of the only 3
produced

Solifer - Finnish moped factory
produced 3 of these 125's
to beat Tunturi sales

A Bultaco engine was used

This noise level inspection
label was required.

CZ 250 - really an MX bike
with lights

CZ engine

Early 70's modification
Actually, this was an improvement

Tank signed by Roger de Coster
and Heikki Mikkola
The other side is signed by
Rick Sieman

HVA Silverpilen - the dream of
every healthy 16 old Swedish
boy in the early 60's

There was weight limit
that is why the bike is so light

One way of making HVA Silverpilen
so light was the rubber front suspension.
Today, Swedes make Öhlins

Pretty tank or what