New Models & Products
NEW MODELS & PRODUCTS
THE WATSONIAN LINE
Response to our sidecar issue of January has been excellent and one of its byproducts is that United States sidecar importers and dealers who have previously remained anonymous have popped up out of nowhere to acquaint us with their products.
One of the sportier looking lines of street rigs is Watsonian, an English firm. Watsonian, incidentally, is about the only sidecar firm that has been active in racing over the years and it has several world championships to its credit. The firm’s name is linked to such greats as Eric Oliver, Cyril Smith and Chris Vincent, and it figures heavily in the design of the “modern” integrated chassis racing outfits.
The Watsonian street rigs are distinguished by their rounded lines (in the sports models). They have brakes and springing as standard treatment. Tire and wheel size in most models is 4.00-10 and the wheels are quickly detachable. The Watsonians are designed to attach to the motorcycle frame at four points, a strong and secure arrangement.
The line breaks down into several categories. Fiberglass body open sportster and metal or plywood sports jobs hold one person and luggage. In these the passenger is shielded by a windscreen. But Watsonian also manufactures three fully enclosed models which seat one or two adults.
We statesiders might wonder why one doesn’t give up motorcycling and buy a car when the outfits become so elaborate. However, the apparent sophistication of the British industry in this regard is due to the economy an outfit offers to the rider who also needs “carrying power.” The English sidecar driver needs (and gets) gas economy, and also receives a break on insurance rates and licensing regulations. In addition to all those practical reasons, driving and riding in an outfit is just plain fun.
U. S. importer and distributor for Watsonian is R. G. Wilson, P. O. Box 54-CW, Greendale Station, Worcester, Mass. 01505.
CECO REOPENS
CECO, the motorcycle road fairing, is on the scene again, after reorganization of the manufacturer, Creative Engineering. The Corsair model is for small bike owners, and ranges in price from $44.50 to $69.50. Fairings made for BMW retail for $134.50; these feature a newly designed upper unit support shelf to hold small items. Units for 250cc and 305cc Yamahas and for the Suzuki X-6 retail at $89.50. All units are available in special metal flake colors of red, blue, and green and gold at extra cost.
Creative is handling its own distribution now and invites inquiries from dealers as well as the motorcycling public. Write Arthur Pichler, general manager, Creative Engineering, P.O. Box 87, Holy City, Calif.
SPANISH AMALS
Anaheim Motorcycle Center, Inc. is the sole distributor of the Spanish version of the Amal carburetor, which needs little explanation, as these carbs are manufactured under strict English patents and therefore are exactly like the English Amals as to quality and interchangeability of parts.
The Spanish Amals are priced competitively, says Anaheim, and vary in size from 20mm to 32mm in the Monobloc pattern, and 30mm in the GP pattern with remote float. Monobloc prices vary from $27.50 to $38 retail. The GP without remote float is $55, and the float costs another $9.50. For further information, contact Anaheim Motorcycle Center, Inc., Dept. CW, 127 South Manchester, Anaheim, Calif.
VETTER FAIRINGS
A new fairing is on the market, designed by Craig Vetter, who uses an abstract variation of the Manx national symbol as a logo on his calling card, which should give some indication of his knowledge of motorcycling.
It is a touring fairing, intended for use with standard bars, although these may have to be rolled back slightly to provide adequate wheel lock. The shell is shock mounted to shift under the impact of a fall, and the windshield pops off, intact, under impact. The headlight is pulled forward as a unit and mounted with its original bolts. The beam angle remains adjustable.
The styling of the fairing speaks for itself; it's rather attractive. As Vetter says himself, it “does all the good things — protection, increased performance, etc. . . and the bad things, i.e., increased noise,” although he says he’s working on something to solve the latter problem. Cost for the fairing and everything necessary for mounting is $100. Write Vetter Design Works, P.O. Box 3014, Country Fair Station, Champaign, 111. 61820.
SAAPE PITBIKE
This cute little feller, the SAAPE (sayape) Pitbike, is a quick-assembling machine and when dismantled, takes up so little space that two of them may be fitted in the trunk of an average-size American car. Manufactured by Trans-Dapt of California, and designed by the Powell brothers, the SAAPE uses a 10.42-cubicinch displacement Briggs and Stratton 4cycle engine, rated at four bhp at 3,600 rpm.
It weighs only 105 pounds, and its overall length assembled is 52 inches. Other specs: 36-inch wheelbase, 25-inch seat height, 16-inch traction tires (outer diameter), 36-inch handlebar height, telescopic forks, sprung rear wheel, automatic clutch, multiple speed transmission, and built-in approved spark arrester.
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The pitbike is available at speed shops and sporting goods stores throughout the USA.
BMW SIDEHACKS
BMW, of course, is renowned as a sidecar machine, but outfits for the big German twins paradoxically have not been available in the U.S. for the last two years. Happily, this has changed and the importers, Butler & Smith Inc. of New York, are now accepting orders for a new Dutch sidecar specially made for the BMW.
It has a torsion-spring wheel suspension and rubber-suspended body. Black color and white pin-striping match the traditional BMW decor, and the upholstery is blue. Rubber matting, tonneau cover and fender lights are provided with the unit.
Naturally, if you're lacking a machine to hook it onto, you can order that from Butler & Smith, too, geared and equipped for the job.
WEBCO FOR 1967
Webco Inc., the thorough-going California accessories firm, has issued an attractive, meaty 1967 catalog, which is available to readers for $1. Numbering 80 pages in length, the book is copiously illustrated (including some photos from CYCLE WORLD) and well organized. It shows suggested retail prices for a wide range of items. For example: carb components, Dellorto carbs, air cleaners, socket head screws, special competition tanks, levers, valve spring testers, valve spring kits, Harman & Collins cams, heads, 350cc conversion kits for Hondas, Steen and Francisco oils, additives, nitrates, books, custom exhausts pipes, handlebars, wheels, hubs, skidplates, instruments, helmets, etc.
BSA Gold Star owners have a wide range of engine components from which to choose, as do owners of Triumph, Honda, Ariel square four. Matchless 500, Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Velocette and others. A veritable gold mine of information. in other words, from Webco Inc., Dept. CW, 218 Main St., Venice, Calif.
FOR CLUB OFFICIALS
A variety of pre-made and labeled forms of the sort that would be useful to motorcycle club secretaries and treasurers is printed by Club Records Co., P.O. Box 93, College Park Station, Detroit, Michigan 48221. These include forms for minutes, dues, membership lists, financial and committee reports and other special purpose forms. An introductory assortment of forms, about a year’s supply for the average club, costs $1.50 postpaid. A free catalog is available on request (enclose a five-cent-stamped self-addressed envelope) or a complete set of actual sample forms is available for 25 cents.
