Letters
LETTERS
ANOTHER YOUNG READER
Thought you might like to see a picture
of my son reading CW. LEE C. WALLITZ Orlando, Florida
WINNING THE LITTLE WOMAN No, simply as that! He ranted and raved to buy a motorcycle. He could read CYCLE WORLD all he wanted. He could even go to motorcycle shops, but no motorcycle! Well, because I love him these words are from the past; he is now the proud owner of a new Honda Super Hawk.
OK, so I admit that after saying I would never ride on the thing I went for a spin. I was pretty scared at first. I'm no longer afraid and now I look forward to going for rides. Last night I was informed that for our honeymoon next month we will tour the New England states riding on his Honda. I frowned of course, but agreed. You don't think I'd tell him I like motorcycles now, do you? HANK'S GAL Southington, Conn.
STRONG OPINIONS
Glad to see how opposed you are to ape hangers. When do you plan to make the use of helmets mandatory? Think you'll follow with a law requiring turn signals? Better still, why not put out detailed specifications to be followed by all motorcycles. You know — minor things like size limits, requirements for safety bars, turn signals, first aid kits, two mirrors, and maybe a log book. Or has limiting handlebar height been legality enough?
You really dig the Apollo DB-4. Think you'd like it as much if it went under the Harley-Davidson nameplate? You've said quite a bit against Woose Fisher types of cyclist. How about telling us what your image of a "typical cyclist" is? Also, what should he be like? How close do you, the Editors, come to being good cyclists? And by "good", I mean in the impression you give the general public, not your ability to handle a bike at 150 miles per hour plus.
Despite the impression the above may give you, I think your magazine is tops and would gladly pay the price difference if you changed it to bi-weekly. Enclosed is a trick photo of a friend of mine. I would like to see it in the magazine, but I probably have a somewhat biased opinion of its value. Well, keep up the good work.
M. J. MYERS Brooklyn, New York
We think you'll find that the State of California passed the law on high risers, with little assistance from us. Regarding helmets, several States now have just such mandatory use laws in the works, and we approve completely of their enforcement. The remarkable Ducati/Berliner four would be equally remarkable if it had a Heinz tomato soup label on it. The "average" motorcyclist, like the average man, does not exist, and we are not about to be trapped into such speculation.
H-D RIDERS ARISE!
My friends and I do not have tattoos, long sideburns, and eagles on our backs, nor do we terrorize towns or kick old ladies. But, we do ride Harley-Davidsons. Everyone seems to think that if you ride Harleys you are up to no good. This is simply not the truth. If a man is bad, he will be just that, whether he rides a Harley or a Suzuki.
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Woose Fisher is a loud mouth who doesn't speak for the majority of Harley owners. "Young" John Strickland (April '64 Letters) did have a point though, when he said that CYCLE WORLD ignores HD's and that you people do not recognize its existence in the cycle world.
Harley 74's, full dress or otherwise are a beautiful machine to ride or look at. It is big and yet graceful, they look and sound like a motorcycle too, not a lawn mower! So, be fair and give us our share too. We don't ask for a "Harley-Davidson Duo-Glide Monthly," just a little every month and maybe a road test here and there.
Are we asking so much?
JOSEPH GABRAL Revere, Mass.
No! Ed.
PRAISE EROM THE TRADE
We continue to be very pleased with your work in CYCLE WORLD, the first literate American motorcycle publication, and want you to know that lots of people around here appreciate your concern for the truth and general betterment of the sport. For nearly three years now we have been waiting for the big money to hit you, cynics that we are, and it has apparently still not occurred.
You may be interested to know that advertising in your fine magazine rarely fails to bring inquiries here and we continue to notice a great deal of faith being placed on views and ads printed in your publication. You may find yourselves becoming a kind of Consumer's Report for motorcycles, whether the intention is there or not — and with all the ethical responsibilities. Best of luck to you!
EDWARD TILLITSON Grand Valley Motorcycle Sales Grand Rapids, Michigan
YAMAHA CORRECTION
Your June "Report From Japan" column read in part, "Yamaha Autolube (80cc) YG-1 model ... is put on sale without increase in price." This is not correct. Our Japan models are equipped differently than the U.S. versions, that is to say with electric starters, white sidewall tires and injection systems. As CYCLE WORLD'S Trail Test indicated, these features are not available on American models. Further, the price of the Japanequipped models is considerably higher.
Although these machines are not available in the U.S., much less with electric starter and white wall tires, when they do become available here, we do expect a slight increase in price.
JAMES E. JINGU Advertising Mgr.
Yamaha International Los Angeles, Calif.
NOT TOO BUSY
I realize that you must be very busy, not too busy I hope to put me in touch with a motorcyclist with whom I could exchange news of cross-country racing or scrambling, as it is called over here. I take an active part in the sport, riding a Matchless 500cc single.
DAVE CLEMENTS 31 Lambrook Road Fish Ponds Bristol, England I am writing in the hope you can help me out with some information on a 1956 l,200cc Indian which I have just bought. She is in tip top form in looks and in the engine. I would be very grateful if you could help, or if one of your readers could.
Any photos of Indians and Harleys would also be appreciated for my motor bike scrapbook.
A. J. WOOD-WALKER 70 Valintine Close Fareham, Hampshire England
UNO-GUZZJ CONTROVERSY Please settle once and for all the cur-
rent raging argument; can one do a wheelie on a Uno-Guzzi?
LOUIS FRISCOE Cols, Colorado
Though I am not the world's greatest authority on motorcycles, 1 would have had the foresight to know a little about a motorcycle that was used as a joke in the June CW. In other words, I would like to meet the idiot that put the dissertation about a Uno-Guzzi in the Letters column.
For the benefit of the readers who don't know what a Guzzi is, I would like to
describe its predominant features so no one will be misled. They are horizontal, single cylinder machines made in Italy and have an external flywheel. I hope that Mr. McGurk will please take notice and find another machine to pick on as he obviously doesn't know very much about this one.
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DON JOHNSON Sunland, California
TECHNICAL FAN
Your excellent publication has certainly earned its way into my mail box. I am a mechanical engineer whose first love is internal combustion engines so I naturally find great interest in the material presented by Gordon Jennings. He is a very capable lad. The article about cams was a dandy. Mr. Parkhurst seems to get the real red meat into his Round Up column. The presentation of road test data leaves little to be desired. In short, CYCLE WORLD is the best two-wheel magazine I have seen.
FRANCIS P. MIDDLETON El Cerrito, Calif.
CORPORATE IMAGE
I am thirty-two years old, have a Master's Degree, and am a Commercial Salesman for a rather large corporation. And, after some seven years absence from owning and riding a motorcycle, I am now the happy owner of a little Ducati Bronco.
As you may be able to imagine, the heat is on from my corporation cohorts; such phrases as; "really," "you nuts?," "what?," along with many knowing smirks that show they really know nothing.
To all this, I have developed what I think is a very sound answer and "water shutter-offer." I say; "... not only that, but if you want to hear something really nutty, I also drive an automobile, and over 60,000 people were killed doing that last year!"
KENNETH K. KAUFFMAN Minneapolis, Minn.
THE U.A.M.A. vs. THE A.M.A.
Why doesn't someone start a U.A.M.A., the Un-American Motorcycle Association. Basic rules; overhead valve engines, maximum displacement lOOOcc; flathead engines, maximum 500cc. Between the two organizations, the U.A.M.A. and the A.M.A., the overall results would be realistic.
ROLAND SMULLEN Newark Valley, N.Y. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Ed. •
