| 1976–83 Aspes 125 Juma (aka 'Yuma') |
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| Performance |   |
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| 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. |
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| Handling |  |
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| 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. |
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| Looks | |
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| 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. |
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| Reliability | |
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| 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. |
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| Practicality | |
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| 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.) |
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| Desirability | |
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| An unusually capable small-bore, very few people have ever seen a Juma in the flesh. |
March 6th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Hi Tan: new to your site, thanks for reviewing the Yuma. I own 3 of them, “raggi” ’78- “cupolino” ’80 monoscocca- “carenata” ’82 monoscocca versions. Having grown up in Italy, it was breath taking to ear the Minarelli MAC engine roar in any given situation, be it a cross or street bike. The “armonic” Figaroli expansion exhaust or the competition version from Minarelli, exclusive to the Yuma, were the 125 version of a MV Agusta 500 racer with open megas. Absolute ecstasy…….alas I was only 16!!! I am positive that testosterone played a good part in the whole experience. To this date however, the nimble and rapid steering, the precise entry end exit lines, the revving speed of the 2 stroker and fullness of the pull, make it a phenomenal experience in hill climbing situations. When I go home to visit, it makes for a memorable experience in every given situation to take them for a ride. No bike I own or ride compares, no matter how big or how modified. Some of my endurance racers or Ducati single racers will catch up but nothing compares on the exit lines.
As far as parts are concerned, all is available for the engine and all supplemental parts being quite common, all can be done with ease, including the mono scocca in fiberglass. The 2 experts in Italy that can restore them to a tee are Carlo Leoncini in Firenze and Faccioli in Verona. Hope this helps!! Ciao.