Letters
LETTERS
WITCH HUNTING
The general tone of your articles is contentious. They are written in a “take it or leave it” the “master has spoke” style that I detest. In only seven issues you have given me the impression that you don’t need me, but that I need you.
I attributed all of the above to the ignorance and immaturity of youth and was prepared to simply ignore it until my subscription ran out. However . . .
Your road test of the Jawa places a different light on your editorial style, policy and purposes. It is my studied opinion that any American citizen who gives aid, comfort or gold to a Communist country for any reason whatsoever is stupid to a remarkable degree, but when that same person apologizes for Communists, he is little short of subversive.
I don’t want your magazine in my home under any circumstances so please stop my subscription instantly and remove my name from your mailing list.
A. J. FARMER Azusa, Calif.
EDITOR: Ah, youth.
... AND IN THIS CORNER
I am going to say something which needs saying pretty badly. It regards the influence of CYCLE WORLD in the field of motorcycling. I will try to start simply.
The covers of CW are without equal in terms of artistry and beauty. Though they cost a lot of money, the expenditure has been worthwhile for they are unequalled by any competing magazine.
The road tests are without comparison to any other magazines’. This needs no elaboration; the reason is obvious to anyone who has read one. I myself like the fact that the price is given. When information on a machine is required, the CW road tests are about as good as a factory brochure, if not better.
Articles on the Honda 4 and the Norton Manx have been wonderful from a standpoint of plain curiosity about these cycles and others like them. How other magazines could NOT have printed such articles is beyond me. Minor inprovements might include a heavier grade of paper and not an overabundance of minibikes.
Now that we have examined the magazine itself, what about the influence it exerts in the field? Here we must start from the beginning. There appeared in one of your competing magazine’s editorial column a mention of how there had been a number of magazines in the motorcycling field which for various reasons had passed away. And some figures were quoted as regards to the circulation and advertising cost per person of that magazine. Such statements were made once or twice in the course of one or two issues. With the appearance of CW on the scene the reason for these statements being made became known.
It is only natural to expect a business not to want any more competition. This is understandable when it comes down to stores, industry and international trade. But how can someone get so nasty about another magazine coming into the cycle field?
There are about two dozen auto magazines, and they survive and prosper; there are quite a few men’s magazines which do rather well despite their similarity; and there are other fields of interest that have several magazines devoted to them which are enjoying nice profits. So exactly how do you explain the “holier than thou” attitude of one of these competing publishers when another magazine makes its appearance?
The behavior of one of CW’s competitors is certainly not very mature for someone who has been around a long time. And it has not shown much improvement according to what I have seen in recent issues.
Why this competition is not welcomed I just cannot understand. The field of motorcycle publishing has been described as rough and tumble. With the exception of a few good issues, I would say the quality and interest of the magazines indicate stagnancy. This applies to the preCYCLE WORLD period.
It has been flatly stated that CYCLE WORLD could not have possibly gone to first place in the field in only 6 months. Examples were cited of other magazines which with strenuous efforts managed to build meager circulations in from 13 to 50 years. But 13 to 50 years ago things were different than they are today; there were fewer cycles and riders. Furthermore the reading of existing magazines was no doubt pretty dull, as evidenced by reprints of old timer articles which were featured in competing magazines.
(Continued on Page 46)
It is not quite accurate to compare 50 years ago, or even just 13 years ago with things now. Exactly how many cycle magazines of the quality of CYCLE WORLD were there at that time anyway? CYCLE WORLD certainly has the same distribution as any other cycle magazine in terms of the number of retailers, and I know for a fact that each issue will usually be sold out at my local dealer before I can get my copy. So I believe that it is possible to reach top place in only six months, especially with a magazine of the quality of CYCLE WORLD.
Personally, I don’t give a you-know-what about “there’s no substitute for circulation,” and “lowest cost per thousand readers.” This may interest some firm which can afford to pay the higher advertising costs that are charged by magazines with a large circulation, but I’m sure that the average reader doesn’t take too much interest in cold blooded statistics.
I feel that there is room for all big magazines and the more we have the merrier. If there were six good national magazines I would buy all of them. I just can’t understand why anyone in the same field as CYCLE WORLD could possibly be so mean to another magazine which intended to offend no one and could only help motorcycling.
Would it be possible to run road tests on a series of cycles at the same time, like three or four 50cc jobs? Or would it be running the risk of offending someone? Why not give temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, etc., just to give the gripers something to think about the next time someone disagrees with a test.
F. S. PIEKARCZYK 3222 N. Ridgeway Chicago, 18, 111.
EDITOR: We have run Mr. Piekarczyk’s letter with his full address; not our usual practice, because we seriously felt no one would believe that we had not written it ourselves.
ROAD TEST PROBLEMS
Like everyone else who has written you since your inauguration, I like your magazine. I especially like your road tests and I think you gave a thorough and incontrovertible vindication of your test procedures.
There seems to be an inherent problem in selecting machines to road test; there are too many models and sizes made by each manufacturer. Understandably you want to hit as wide a range of makes as possible, but this means that a lot of popular (for American riders) machines are passed, namely the different models of the more popular makes.
Anyhow, if reader’s votes go for anything I’d like to see the following wellknown bikes tested; Harley Duo-Glide and XLCH; BSA Royal Star, SS-90, Super Rocket; Triumph T-llOSR; Norton Atlas and the Matchless 45.
BRUCE HENDRY Pittsfield, Mass.
CYCLES ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY
I have a very important reason for writing to you. I hope you have already heard of it, and know that the wheels are turning right now. In the state of New Jersey, there is a super highway called the Garden State Parkway, running from one end of the state to the other. It is a very busy highway and very much needed to pass through the state to avoid the cities, towns and traffic, of which there are plenty.
For the past six years I, along with millions of others, have used it regularly. Now they have erected a sign at each entrance forbidding motorcycles to use it. This is very bad and needs prompt attention and action to defend it.
I know that I am a long way from the West Coast, but this is bad business and can spread like wildfire. In three years you could be in the same position and condition that we are now.
About ten years ago, the same thing was tried on the New York State Thoroughway but after fighting it, it was repealed. This must be done again. It would be terrible for cyclists if this kind of thing caught on. Please spread the word to the proper organizations and industries to knock this down. I have told the AMA of this; I have been a member for 17 years.
ROY S. STANTON Spring Valley, N.Y.
. . . AND AN ANSWER
The question of restrictive laws involving two-wheeled vehicles is becoming ridiculous. Those who pass these laws do so on grounds that the slow moving motorcycles and scooters present a hazard to cars. They seem to ignore the fact that many cars travel at speeds equally as slow as some of these two-wheeled machines, and thereby create an equal danger.
Rather than restrict any machine it would seem more logical to enforce minimum speeds on all high speed roads. T his would eliminate all slow moving traffic which would tend to be a hazard without having to depend on such arbitrary means as engine displacement or horsepower which gives no actual indication of the speeds which a machine could travel.
This is particularily true in the case of horsepower, for the standards of rating vary so much that “factory rated” horsepower becomes practically unusable for a standard. By simply having minimum speed laws, any machine, regardless of what other characteristics it had, if it were equipped for the road and could keep up with the traffic could use the roads.
I feel, however, that there must be some major factor which I have overlooked for this answer seems both simple and workable to such a degree that I cannot see any reason why legislators have not thought of it or seen fit to use it, rather than those grossly unfair laws which restrict machines by their type or power rather than abilities.
CARL STEIN Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.
Back issues of Cycle World are available at 50c each
SEE PAGE 44
