Letters
LETTERS
A T6 BUFF WRITES
As a T6 fan and former owner, I took offense that you chose not to use it as a background for the BSA in the May issue. Your magazine does a fine job on bikes, but they have no soul when it comes to airplanes. The T6 is not retired from private aviation. It’s much in demand. The Lear jet made the pictures of the BSA look cold and stark. Change your mind about T6s—ride in one!
T.H. JONES Oakland, Calif.
HORNS AND HONDAS
I read with interest your article on page 75 of the June issue. I am sure that the air horn is a good idea, and many people will use it. I would like to relate the solution that two friends of mine used. They both have Sears (Puch) 250s which come with very weak horns. The horn is mounted under the front end of the gas tank. We found that there was room there to mount a 6V horn from a small European car. A Sears horn retails for about $13; we got the car horns from a wrecking yard for $2 apiece. In each case the horn is mounted in the original location with the bike wiring hooked right up, although the wire terminals must be changed. A piece of sidewall from an old motorcycle tire is used to isolate the horn from the frame. The sound is quite a bit louder than the old horn; in fact, you can really hear them when they stab the horn buttons. I intend to mount a similar horn on my new H-D Sprint as soon as the warranty runs out.
I do not remember what make of car was robbed to provide the horns we used. The horns are about six inches in diameter and 2Vi inches thick. Each one mounts with a single bolt in the center.
I am a regular reader (subscriber) of your magazine and enjoy the articles and stories. Oh, yes, your road tests are read by some people. I have another friend who wanted a 350 and was looking at the Kawasaki F5 Bighorn. I loaned him back issues of CYCLE WORLD with road tests of the Bighorn and Honda SL350. After reading the two road tests, he went out and bought a Honda. He told me that the road test articles answered several questions he was reluctant to ask the dealers. For him, I thank you for your truthful reporting.
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MARVIN C. DAVISSON San Diego, Calif.
RIDERS' ORGANIZATION
I was very interested in the Frank Heacox interview (April ’70). There is a great need for an organization for the road rider and day-to-day transport rider.
They are the majority of motorcyclists but are usually ignored by the magazines and rarely considered by government agencies. Motorcycle riding instruction is almost impossible to find, aside from friends and a “quicky” course from a dealer. New York City had a good start on an organization for the average rider, Metropolitan Cycle Association, but it folded after two years. MCA provided riding lessons, pickups in case of breakdown, touring advice, a newsletter, discounts arranged with dealers, and a way to meet fellow riders. It also provided a voice to government agencies. Because of MCA, New York now allows motorcycles to park at an angle to the curb.
Surely some services of this sort could be provided by someone, perhaps AMA? England has something of the sort in its British Motorcycle Federation and Fellowship of Riders. Why not here? The riders’ organization should not be associated with the Motorcycle Industry Council as their interests are not always identical. I, for one, would be willing to pay more than $2 a year for membership in a good riders’ organization.
EUGENE SOUBERMAN Bronx, N.Y.
THUMPER WRITES
The dreaded moment has come. I’ve just read the new CW Road Test Annual from cover to cover and felt the proverbial finger trace its icy pattern along my spine. The only single-cylinder fourstroke tested during 1969 was at the end of the volume, under the heading, “Classic.”
What has the world come to? Will it quietly allow itself to be buried under the tonnage of tripleand quadruplepotted monsters and choked and deafened by the malodorous nasalities of the ring-a-dings?
Whatever the trend, I’ll sell my 400-lb. Twin and buy a 250-cc one-cylinder four-stroke. I won’t reveal the marque of my choice, but it’s Britishmade and starts with a T.
Thumper-fans of the world, unite!
JUAN RAELO Montreal, Canada
THE FEMININE ASPECTS
In answer to Mrs. Robert Parker’s letter (April ’70) about the feminine aspects of motorcycle riding, why should cycle riding be considered a masculine sport only? We are housewives and mothers and love to ride with our husbands.
At one time we were also concerned with keeping our ladylike image. We have often discussed the issue (the result was an article called “Look, Be a Lady” for Road Rider magazine) and have come to the conclusion, to the delight of our husbands, that we can ride, wear pants, have fun, and still be recognized as females.
It is a matter of wearing tailored slacks instead of crummy jeans, a frilly blouse rather than a sweatshirt, a bit of makeup, and most important—behaving like a lady. We are not the only ones. In the thousands of miles that we have ridden, we have seen many attractive motorcycling women.
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Here’s hoping your husband’s attitude will change and that you will have many hours of happy, ladylike riding.
ARLENE MEZESKE ALICE TURNER 29 Palms, Calif.
CANS, ANYONE?
We feel that we must take you to task over your comments on silencers fitted to the Egli Vincent (March ’70).
These are not ordinary silencers but the famous Brooklands Cans. We are surprised that your staff, especially when the March issue mentions Brooklands Track, did not recognize the most famous silencer of all time.
We are very proud to have been able to revive this famous silencer and have found it in great demand by both the vintagent (sic) and modern customer.
AL DAYALT Christchurch, N.Z.
We recognize Brooklands Cans only too well, friend. We still think they’re ugly! — Ed.
DRIVER'S EDUCATION
My complaint is with drivers’ education courses. This week I finished such a course at my high school. Our brillant manual, Basic Driver Training, by Mark Tuker, makes no mention of how the motorist should react to the cyclist on the road. But we had the interesting true-false question: “A motor scooter is not considered a motor vehicle.” In neither the lectures nor driving sessions was mention made of motorcycle safety on the road or how to look out for bikes. However, my “qualified” teachers eulogized how dangerous motorcycles are-they should be outlawed! If cyclists took it upon themselves to wear helmets (hopefully to reduce the death rates) and insisted that drivers of all motor vehicles be educated about motorcycles, maybe the lawmakers would leave us alone.
KEVIN SCULLY Flushing, N.Y.
BUSTER'S AN O.K. GUY
I am a Pop rider, began in 1914 and going strong today. I am 70 years old and have ridden 25 motorcycles—all these years without a highway accident. They have got from under me on the dirt tracks, though, but I expect it’s because you will go beyond the safety mark of riding when on the track.
I will speak somewhat of my early riding. No man ever enjoyed himself more than I. My health is good. I can run, jump, ride and never feel bad or tired. I am 6 ft., 1 in. tall and weigh 175 lb. I wonder, is it cycling that has kept my health so good?
SAMUEL (BUSTER) DARTCH Malden, Mo.
Well, Buster, if you’ve lived through that many years of motorcycling, you’ve got to be pretty healthy in the first place. —Ed.
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HOW ABOUT SOME ACTION?
We, being two members of the Blue Valley Riders Motorcycle Club in Manhattan, Kan., have found little cooperation with the AMA. In March we filed for a charter with this organization. We still have not received a charter or any information pertaining to the operation of a club.
We feel that the AMA has not performed its duty to us. And, if the people in charge handle all new clubs this way, they are letting down the people in the United States that are trying to project a good public image of motorcycling. Our charter application was sent in with a check and the necessary papers, and we have received nothing in return—not even a canceled check.
GEORGE BOOTH PHILLIP FANNING Manhattan, Kan.
THE OTHER SIDE
Seems to me that you and H. Leland Moore (Letters, April ’70) are overlooking something in your plea for more riding trails. (The hikers use them. Why can’t we?) Where do you propose to stop? Human nature being as it is, any trail or area the hikers use, the dirt bike boys will want as well. It’s going to be “whole hog or none” and you know it. And if that comes to pass it will louse up a lot of fine country.
I’m a rider—both touring and dirt. I’m also a backpacker. I’ve hiked the length of the John Muir and High Sierra Trails, 244 miles, three times and have been on many twoor three-week hikes where I’ve never seen another person until near the end of the hike. It’s lonely, peaceful and quiet. That’s called solitude, seclusion, isolation. That’s what it’s all about. We all need it even if we don’t realize it. But with some guy just over the next rise tearing around on a two-stroke, it’s gone.
Now these riders aren’t just going to leap on the saddle and take off into the wilderness with nothing but a smile. A big percentage of them will strap a six-pack on the rack or fender, or a lunch, or something. If you think they’ll bring those empty cans and trash out with them, think again. The people who have the ambition to get up on their hind legs, put a 40-pound pack on their backs and walk into the back country (and I believe you will find there are more than you think) do little damage. They know what they have in this uncrowded, unspoiled country and they leave it as they found it.
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You, I assume, have been on motorcycle tours—the Yuma Prison Run, the run to Lone Pine, the Death Valley Tour. Most of the riders are good guys, but there is a percentage of drunken bums who don’t give a damn about anyone or anything. These clowns are going to be there, too. Yea, I know. One should not censor all riders for the abuses of a few. Oh, but we can. Been in any state or national park lately? Droves of two-cycles screaming around most of the day and half the night. So SB37 by Nejedly, if passed, will prohibit the operation of a motorcycle in any state park. I’m against it and have written both my congressman and senator to say so. Along the same line, I picked up my camera gear and a lunch and headed for Vasquez Rocks on my BMW to shoot some pictures and do some hiking. No soap. They won’t let a bike in the park. Bikes tear up the area, they said. They will let dune buggies and other off-road machines in, however.
Let’s dwell on one point of the ecology. There are little meadows scattered along the lower elevations as well as at the higher. The interlocked roots of the meadow grass hold the soil against erosion. Hikers walking across it do no damage, but a string of horses or a pack train will cut through and this will allow the spring runoff to wash out the dirt. It takes about two seasons and there is a ditch a foot deep and a foot-and-a-half wide. The packers are aware of this and follow the same route each year to keep from chopping the meadows into a mess of unsightly ditches. Shortcutting a switchback on a trail is a no-no. It creates places the water can follow, causing a washed-out trail. Do you think a bike rider is going to follow the trail? He’ll see that it’s 200 yards down to the switchback and back to the trail only 30 feet below him. So he’ll drop over the edge and to heck with it. Another trail washed out that somebody will have to go in and repair. This takes tax money.
Five or six riders go in together. The weather turns cold; this doesn’t bother them as they are dressed for it. But they stop for a rest, and one of them suggests that they build a fire. Where do they get the wood? Well, if they are like most flatlanders they won’t bother wandering around and picking up wood-no, they will rip the branches off the trees. There are several areas around Sequoia and Yosemite that have been closed to overnight camping and fires because of this. This is what happens when areas are available to people who don’t care.
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How many of the trail riders will be in there because they love the mountains and appreciate the beauty of the massive rocks, the streams, and the flower covered meadows. Darn few. Most of them will be there because it’s a challenging place to ride, and the thought that they might be in some way doing damage will never enter their minds.
If I sound bitter it’s because I’ve been wandering around the mountains for some 30 years and have watched this happen time and again. So the hiker can only cover 10 to 15 miles a day, and the bike rider can cover maybe a 100. What’s he seen? Not much except the ground in front of him. I’m not saying everyone should climb off their barking bicycle and go hiking, but I am saying that I hope they stay out of my mountains.
If you really want to do something, then start yelling about things like Assembly Bill 555 by Brown. This bill would allow state highways the rightof-way over all state parks, recreational areas, game refuges, etc. We have little enough now. If something like that passes we’ll have nothing.
Here’s some more:
AB 142 (Foran) Authorizes the Highway Patrol to set the safety standards for the manufacture of motorcycle helmets.
AB670 (McGee) This would make it unlawful to pursue, drive or herd any game bird, mammal or fur bearing animal with a snowmobile, dune buggy or trail bike. It provides for the regulation and identification of dune buggies and trail bikes as vehicles exempt from registration and requires payment of $5 service fee for an identification plate. Makes certain uses of dune buggies and trail bikes unlawful. I have no information on that last line.
SB296 (Walsh) Prohibits motorcycles to be driven at any time on the dividing line or marking of a highway lane of traffic. Or, to drive alongside of a vehicle in the same lane.
Guess I’ve screamed and stamped my feet long enough. Sure I’ve sat on my bike at the end of the road above Lundy Lake. Beyond is the Hoover Primitive area. A wide, easy trail leads up through the pines and disappears around a shoulder. I’d dearly love to ride on up to the lakes above, but I know what my bike would do to the country so I heave a sigh and park it.
H.J. JEWETT Pacoima, Calif.
Your arguments are convincing, H.J., but the real point is that motorcycle trail riders may not get so much as a piece of the apple. We don’t need access to every trail or every wilderness, just our fair share.— Ed.
AND BELL REPLIES...
After reading Grant Industries, Inc., Vice President Richard P. MacCoon’s letter (page 8, June 1970) regarding polycarbonate plastic, I must point out the following facts:
1. Polycarbonate is not a new material. We at Bell-Toptex have been investigating polycarbonate for over six years. Had we believed it to be superior to fiberglass/plastic laminate we would have made the change years ago.
2. The present astronaut helmets are primarily intended to maintain the proper environment for life support and as a mount for communications and other gear. A minor function of the helmet is to provide “bump” protection for the wearer. It will take more than “miracle” polycarbonate to protect the astronauts in the event of a high speed crash.
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3. The Boeing 747, besides having 2500 polycarbonate parts, has thousands of other parts made of steel, aluminum, magnesium, rubber, neoprene, nylon, A.B.D., acrylic, polystyrene, etc., which are equally unsuitable for making safety helmet shells. There are millions of cars running around with steel bumpers, but nobody feels that steel is the right material for a safety helmet shell (except the Army, that is).
In my opinion, polycarbonate can best be described as tough, but too flexible to do the best job of spreading the force of an impact over the maximum area of the shock absorbing liner. It is adversely affected in its performance as a safety helmet shell by many common chemicals and extremes of heat and cold.
At this point in time, we at BellToptex believe a high quality fiberglass/ plastic laminate makes the best safety helmet shell. We have always been first with the best and we will continue to change and improve when we can be certain we are making a change in the interests of safety, not price.
FRANK HEACOX General Manager Bell-Toptex Incorporated
WISCONSIN HELMET BATTLE
Being an avid cycle rider in Wisconsin, I would like to use your great magazine for a note to the other Wisconsin riders.
There is a petition drawn up in several parts of the state to repeal the mandatory helmet law in Wisconsin. They have over 40,000 signatures already, but everyone helps. If you feel sympathetic to our cause, please try and sign this petition. The new session of the state legislature convenes in January, so please try to plague your representatives with letters. They are representing us, so lets be heard. This could be our good chance to remove such restrictive legislation from the books.
RONALD BECHEN Madison, Wis.
TIRED SYMBOL
I would like to see a movie about motocross, desert or grand prix racing instead of the Hell’s Angel idea. Most riders I know love motorcycles and the sport of riding. We are tired of that symbol that comes across on the screen. Isn’t there something we can do?
GARY SCHULTZ Stanton, Calif.
HE GOT BUSTED
I just finished reading Dan Hunt’s article, “If You Get Busted,” and I am glad to see someone stand up and fight. I found myself in somewhat of the same situation when I went to Daytona for the races for the first time. However, the main difference was I was about 600 miles from home and had to get back to college. It was a nice setup for the bank account of the city of Daytona, as I could not plead “not guilty,” because I would not be there for the trial. And there were many more motorcycle riders like myself in court the same Saturday morning. For example, the guy who had a brand new Triumph with stock mufflers was given a ticket for excessive noise. And the people I have talked to say it happens each year.
I think this is definitely a racket, and some pressure should be placed on the city of Daytona to hold a special court at this time to take care of the situation and offer justice to everyone.
M. DORMAN Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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IF YOU GET BUSTED . . .
Nolo Contendere is a no-contest plea which amounts, in most cases, to the same as “guilty.” It may be a successful plea in one judge’s court or all of Los Angeles, but it wouldn’t be too successful up here . . .if people follow your suggestion in other areas, they may find themselves with a ticket on their record and no chance to explain it.
JOHN NEWLIN Fremont, Calif.
Thanks for your tip, John. Court practice does vary throughout the United States and even from city to city. Therefore, it would be wise for the defendant to check the local terminology °f the pleas available to him before he is arraigned, particularly if he wants to take a stance between “guilty ’’ and “not guilty.’’ “Guilty, but with an explanation’’ is not necessarily Nolo Contendere, or vice versa, so find out first. It is your right to ask the judge for an explanation of all possible pleas.— Ed.
WHERE ARE THEY AT?
I just want to say that the article on night riding (Feb. ’70) was great. I hope you will print some more articles like it in the future.
There is one thing I would like to ask—Where are the girls at? I mean, how about doing something on the girls who ride. I might not ride now, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have a desire to ride. But I don’t want to ride around on a little moped, looking very pretty. I want a bike on which I can go anywhere and do anything (races and especially hills). I know that I am not the only female that has this idea, and I know that I won’t be the last. So how about letting the gals have some room.
JOYCE LANE Bloomington, Ind.
IOWA HELMET LAW
When our Iowa legislators put a helmet law together, they do a real good job—give a listen to this; it’s a real dilly:
1. All cyclists must wear a shirt with sleeves to the wrist.
2. All cyclists must wear trousers to the ankles.
3. All cyclists must wear gloves in cold weather.
4. All cyclists must wear helmets and goggles.
5. All motorcycles must have TWO headlights, and have them ON DAY AND NIGHT.
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Now I know you must wonder what happened when that law came up before the legislature. Just read the enclosed clipping from the Des Moines Register. Many hundreds of signatures were turned in against the law, so maybe it does help to let your law makers know how you feel about it.
The Iowa House Monday rejected a bill to require motorcycle riders to wear helmets and goggles. The vote was 75 to 36.
Opponents of the bill said motorcyclists who don’t wear helmets are not jeopardizing anybody’s life but their own.
“ƒ don’t think we can protect everybody from everything,” said Representative Floyd Mülern (Rep., Farmington). ‘‘We are over-reacting and over-legislating. ”
Representative Michael Blouin (Dem., Dubuque), sponsor of the bill, said it was intended to save lives. He said it sometimes may be inconvenient to wear a helmet, but it is dangerous not to wear one.
Advocates of the bill have said states requiring helmets have cut motorcycle deaths 30 to 35 per cent.
Representative Michaelton (Rep., Sheffield) said motorcyclists put no one but themselves in danger. ‘‘When this Legislature gets to telling the individual what he can do on his own motorcycle, then we are going too far. ”
J.J. GERARD Mason City, Iowa
THE NAKED TRUTH
I rather like the idea of including girls in motorcycle ads. Sometimes they are the highlight of the issue. Fortunately, the accessory manufacturers are following suit. Perhaps someday you can run the original, unretouched version of the photo that is part of the storage battery advertisement on page 103 of the May issue.
DAN WENDLETON Lansdale, Pa.
DAYTONA 100-CC WIN
Your excellent reportage of Daytona in the June issue was marred by only one error. In the Sportsman Road Races, Class 1 (up to lOOcc), Jerry Hollingsworth of St. Augustine, Fla. was the winner on a Harley-Davidson Baja. His average speed of 70.60 shattered the old record by more than 5 mph and bettered this year’s averages in the three bigger classes.
An accomplishment of this magnitude surely deserves mention.
BARRY J. HAMMEL Advertising Editor Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Inc. The results we received from the AMA showed Joe Finan, on a Kawasaki, to be the winner. Sorry they were in error.— Ed.
NO DOUBT AT ALL
Your story on Carroll Resweber was beautiful! However, in the title you printed “the Greatest Ever?’’ The question mark puzzles me IS THERE ANY DOUBT?
DICK AINSWORTH Kansas City, Mo.
