Letters
LETTERS
SLOGAN TIME
A suggestion, if it’s not out of line. How about a contest to think up a slogan and emblem to encourage quiet operation of motorcycles? Such as "Muffle up and make friends." It could spread to snowmobiles, ATVs, dune buggies, etc.
It is always good to start something good, like a better image for cycles.
ROBERT N. KING Feeding Hills, Mass.
Our entry is: "fíe kind to the ecology. Lake a motorcycle to lunch. ”-Ed.
RIGHT ON, TIME!
While perusing the February 8 issue of Time magazine, 1 spotted on page 74 an essay entitled “Myth of the Motorcycle Hog.”
Having noticed that articles of this nature in non-enthusiast magazines usually miss the point entirely, I braced myself tor the usual bag of trite inanities.
Surprise! It was beautiful! Either the writer, Robert Hughes, is a rider, or an extremely perspicacious observer of the scene. It’s refreshing to see a prestigious general interest magazine attempting to correct the public image of motorcycling. I don’t mean to imply that CYCLE WORLD doesn’t print intelligent articles describing the essence of the sport (“Freedom Machine,” March '71, was very good), but your work rarely falls into the hands of non-riders.
With a rash of anti-bike legislation in the wind, we can use some help from a publication that’s in touch with the “straight citizens.”
JOHN T. KELLEY Orange, N.J.
THE NOISE IMAGE
I am brand new to motorcycling and am having a ball. I am finding that your column, The Scene, in the Dec. ’70 issue, is correct in assessing noise as our worst image creator. Being under a very restrictive set of rules in Okinawa, and involved in the birth of a commandapproved motorcycle club, this image problem is one of my top problems (I have a very demure Honda CL175 with stock mufflers). We could put reprints of The Scene, Dec. '70, to good use in enlightening our local bike freaks in their own best interests. Commanders, not subject to periodic reelection, can afford to take a “show me” attitude. Hence we need to convince the brethren to keep down the racket. If reprints are not available, permission to reproduce, giving credits, would be a boon. Your column is a great public service and bespeaks the good sense and responsibility of most bikies.
FETER G. DAVIES APO San Francisco, Calif.
Noise is strangling all motorcycling. It is rewarding to see someone such as yourself concerned, when some of our manufacturers don 7 give a damn. You have permission to reprint the articles, with proper credit, at no charge.-Ed.
TOURING TIPS
I read your articles in the December '71 issue on European touring with interest. As equipment goes, I have no other suggestions.
However, in Germany, Austria, France and Northern Italy, the best places to stay are the guest houses, as they are cheap, warm, mostly clean, and have a restaurant in the building. A room usually runs about $2.50 to $4 per night, and breakfast from $1.
In Great Britain and Germany, check any of the U.S. air bases for MC clubs. The largest of these in Germany is “The Bones,” with chapters in Frankfurt, Hannau, Mannheim, and Heidelberg. There are also clubs in Munich, Stuttgart, Ramsteim. Bremen, Bremerhaven, Berlin, and various other points in Germany.
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Almost any of these people will tell or show you the motorcycle dealers, the shops or whatever else you want in the area. You may even like to ride out on any of the frequent “runs” they make in the area.
Ml KL I RANCIS I’irm-Zwei. Germany
ALL WET
Despite its seemingly inexorable growth in the pages of CYCLI: WORLD and other motorcycle magazines, the neologism “dampening” serves no useful purpose. The correct technical term, used consistently in the world literature for all of living memory, is “damping.” In full, it is “viscous damping” or “rate damping.” The precise construction in which this term is used a construction both mathematical and rhetorical is “to damp an oscillation.” which, according to my New World, means “to check or reduce (energy, action, etc.).”
J.G. KROL Anaheim, Calif.
Our Webster's allows that either damp or dampen may be used interchangeably. Personally, we prefer damp and dam fling. However, dampen and dampening may he useful to improve the rhythm of a written sentence, and if it don't have rhythm, baby, it's blah. If it have rhythm, it's right on . . . hd.
OH, THAT MARCH ISSUE!
Normally I'm not easily influenced by Madison Avenue high pressure advertising. but your March 1971 issue swallowed my 75 cents before I had a chance to peruse it. “World’s Biggest Monthly 166 pages” caught my eye and my wallet before I realized what had happened. What I actually purchased was approximately 87 pages of motorcycle “Topical, Technical and Informative” news. The rest was 68 full pages of advertisements and 22 half pages. However, for some strange economical reason, I still purchased a three-year subscription. At least you’re doing part of something right.
DENNIS GOERIG Newfoundland, N.J.
I just started reading your March 1971 issue of CYC LE WORLD. You guys sure have the nerve. On the front cover you state “World’s Biggest Monthly - I 66 pages.”
I'll still continue to buy CYCLE WORLD at a local stand. So I’m not really against you. Just so many needless ads.
RON ROARK Abingdon, Va.
I always admired and read CW because 1 felt that it was factual, concerned and extremely up-to-date, but to find these same exact qualities costing 50 percent more than they used to is inflation to the nth.
In other words, gentlemen, I am trying to say that you have raised the price without increasing the quality of the wares.
RUSSELL STURM Pompton Plains, N.J.
I am a subscriber to your magazine and I have enjoyed it very, very much.
I am writing to tell you how much I enjoy the road tests and the big centerpiece on Suzukis in your March issue.
AL GUY Wetumpka, Ala.
Your price rise is going to have two effects on me. One: I'm going to subscribe. Two: I can't afford to buy
(beep-beep) magazine anymore. Incidentally. 1 don't know of any reason to have bought (beep-beep) magazine in the last year; junk !
ERIC' FLODEN Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Allow me to congratulate you for the wonderful edition of CYCLE WORLD, March issue. The pictures of the InterAms and Trans-AMA sure did interest me. I wonder if you could supply me with some information on those white masks that the racers are wearing in the pictures?
JOHN PISCHEL
Costa Mesa, Calif.
To our detractors, some thoughts:
We doubt you would buy an enthusiast magazine without advertising, as advertising contains, in spite of its onesided purpose, information that is often quite useful to the reader. Our March issue, traditionally loaded with new model advertising, contains more of it than usual: we doubt that our competition would have turned it down, for obvious reasons.
In defense of Suzuki's 34 pages, you should note that they could have served up that advertising in undiluted dosage. Instead, they went to the expense of including interesting material on the company's road racing activity, on the development of their championship motocross machine, a motorcycle design contest, and a feature by Joel Robert on technique.
As for our new cover price, it is long overdue. CYCLE WORLD is almost 10 years old, and for 9 of those years the cover price remained the same, in spite of continually increasing size and quality. In that same time, the price of a decent hamburger has increased from 35 cents to 65 cents, and the price of an automobile has increased by about 50 percent, not to mention our overhead. Consider yourself lucky: you have received CYCLE WORLD’S increase in quality free of charge until now. Or would you prefer that it be in reverse order?
To those who wrote in congratulations, our heartfelt thanks. We will continue to put out the very best possible magazine we can for you, in tune with your needs and wants (which is why we run had mail as well as good mail).
To our friend who wanted to know about the white masks worn by InterAm competitors: they are face guards to prevent injury to that part of the face not covered by the helmet, similar to those worn by football players. They protect the nose, cheekbones and teeth in the event of a crash. They also fend off rocks churned up by bikes running just ahead of you. They have become quite prevalent since their introduction last year in European CP motocross racing and are available at many motorcycle shops specializing in dirt racing machinery and accessories.-Ed.
PUN-DILLY
I have just finished comparing your magazine to several of your “peers.” One of these cycle magazines claimed to be “modern,” the next said it was “illustrated,” a third stated it was concerned with “mechanics,” while the fourth used half-way measures (i.e. it used but half of your name). This figures: half the quality, half the name. The experience was enlightening, to say the least. You evidently have monopolized at least the following items: 1) useful technical information, 2) new theory, 3) humor, 4) all around writers, 5) MEANINGFUL ROAD TESTS, 6) general layout, 7) etc., etc., ad infinitum. In view of your runaway performance-and I do mean runaway-the following suggestion is offered:
1 would like to suggest that you change the title of your fine magazine from CYCLE WORLD to CYCLE IGNITION. The reasons for this suggestion are as follows:
You “lead-out” most of the new “fields.” while making fallacies re“coil.” You “spark” up discussions, as you “distribute” your comments “in time” to “charge” them with interesting thoughts. Your articles are thoughtfully “condensed” while covering many “points.” You “resist” the urge to become “shorted” and continue to “flow” smoothly through each issueup to the “current” one, with no “gap.” And finally, you “retard” your competition's “advance” by “insulating” readers from “pointless” road tests, and “fusing” the entire works into a most enjoyable magazine-which carries considerable “juice” with knowledgeable riders, most of whom have now “switched” rather than “die-hard.” (Reminds me of the poetic electrician: he wrote “an-ode” to Ohm.)
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If you wish, after this pun-dits delight, I would be willing to send you a photo (and some horn tootin’) on one of the better 15 inchers ever to catch a gear. This is speaking from over 50,000 miles of bike experience.
So long for now, as the local cow “pun”-chers here are wont to say.
I).A. DAHLKE Carson City, Nev. P S. Keep “plugging,” as it were.
THE CHECKMATES
1 subscribe to your magazine, and I think for all around coverage of our cycle world, yours is the best.
I have recently become president of a road riding club. We have been organized for the past five years. We are chartered with the state of Idaho and we feel we have been very successful in promoting better relations between cyclists and the rest of the motoring public.
Our problem at present seems to be coming up with new activities, rides or civic functions. We would very much like to correspond with any club or anyone who would be interested in exchanging ideas on this subject. If interested, write this address. CHECKMATES MOTORCYCLE CLUB
% John R. Fry 1 46 Elm N, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301
SUBTLE PREJUDICE?
I have followed CYCLE WORLD for a number of years and quietly tolerated the subtle prejudice towards HarleyDavidson’s efforts woven through articles on racing and product performance. With the publishing of the article “The 265-mph Record Thief . . . And the Victim, Don Vesco,” you have really outdone yourself.
To paint a picture of Dick O’Brien as a country hick making the major leagues by a freak accident or worse, and by risking the safety of his team members, is something less than journalistic honesty."
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Don Vesco’s credit that he did not succumb to your provocation with questions about the “Harley Villains.”
It would seem that everyone involved acted in Bonneville's tradition of speed, competition, and sportsmanship except CYCLE WORLD. “Ya done real poor.” PATTY O’BRIEN APO San Francisco, Calif.
Aw, Patty, where’s your sense of humor? Your daddy, the racing chief, didn't seem to mind our tongue-incheek treatment of his success on the salt at all, and was rather amused, as was his boss, William //. We like your dad and what he’s doing, and we dig HarleyDavidson. To do what they did took guts and determination, and a flair for the dramatic. To jokingly call Dick and crew “record thieves” is our way of complimenting their great effort. And you’ve got to admit that Calvin is one brave fella — Ed.
CUSSING OUT KUSS
Two questions for Officer W.L. Kuss of Southfield, Mich., regarding “Helmet Hoopla,” page 20, Feb. '71 issue. Is the wearing of seat belts and shoulder straps in passenger cars compulsory in your state? If not, why not?
Perhaps legislation regarding a minority is quite different than that which affects a majority.
A legislator is a servant of the people. It is his duty to enact laws as desired by the majority of the people. This is usually the procedure in our country, although lately, we seem to be losing a lot of freedom, all for the cause of law and order, and now safety!
This is not to imply that as a rider of 25 years’ experience 1 do not favor helmets. I personally would not be without one, but it is the job of the manufacturers, National Safety Council, cycle dealers, cycle magazines, experienced riders, etc., to sell the goodness of wearing a helmet. The idea that a helmet protects the other driver or innocent bystander is ridiculous and not complimentary to the intelligence of the people or the state’s attorney who presents this argument. It is no wonder that many of us lose faith in our legislators and officers who must enforce laws founded and passed on pretense. I’m sorry officer Kuss, but I see it as an intrusion into my freedom and believe our forefathers would also see it thus.
R.E. KRUEGER Milwaukee, Wis.
Mr. Kuss is attempting to justify Michigan’s (and other states’) reasoning that motorcyclists should be forced by law to wear helmets on the grounds that a cyclist “could be stunned by a falling or flying object, thereby causing him to lose control of his machine, veer over the center line . . etc., “. . . which could in turn cause . . etc., etc.
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I was once hit in the face by a cigar tossed from an oncoming car. I have had a few rocks bounced off my shins. I have met quite a few big, fat bugs, but I have never encountered a UFO, and the only time 1 was ever “stunned” was when I was driving a car and the “safety” windshield blew out in my face at 70 mph.
Come now Mr. Kuss. You spent eight years investigating accidents. How many are on record that were caused by a motorcyclist being stunned by a falling or flying object hitting him on the part of his head that would be covered by a helmet, causing him to veer over the center line, etc.?
No, Mr. Kuss, 1 am afraid your legislators, like mine, are about as interested in saving lives as I am in the price of horse meat in India. I rather think they are doing their “duty” passing their percentage of federal safety recommendations in order to receive their share of federal highway funds. Motorcycle laws are on top of the list, since they deal with a minority and are therefore easiest to pass. They can even use asinine reasoning, such as the one pointed out by Mr. Kuss, and still get by with it.
Wearing a helmet is a good recommendation, but a bad law. It sets a bad precedent because it has singled out a minority for restrictive legislation ot a nature that the majority would not stand for. I consider this type of legislation more dangerous to me than the risk of head injury while riding motorcycles.
For Mr. Kuss, I recommend that he wear a helniet-for his own proteetionand also, for his own protection, that he not be so naive about how a legislature works.
C.W. BRAZILLH Ft. Worth, Texas
When the original Michigan helmet law was held to be unconstitutional, I thought the legislators were acting like immature children in demanding that they get their way by passing a new law stating that if helmets were not worn while riding, they would still have to be carried on the bike at all times.
I’m originally from Illinois, where the helmet law has been repealed, and I’m glad of it. 1 wear my helmet most of the time when riding, and needed it once, but there are times when I like to enjoy a country ride without it.
Also, in the same issue in “The Service Department,” there was an article on non-leaded gas and stellite tipped valves. Mr. Nicholas stated that the valves wear faster without lead. This is true because the lead acts as a lubricant between the valve face and valve seat, thus preventing the abrasive-type wear that occurs without lead. However, it should have been noted that the author of the letter meant stellite faced valves, which can reduce wear, and are used for this purpose in the new Chevrolet Vega engine. I am familiar with this myself, as I am an automotive engineer in the engine laboratory at International Harvester.
ALAN C. WESLEY Fort Wayne, Ind.
REBUTTAL TO "CHICKEN LITTLE"
I never make a habit of writing to the editor, but I just couldn’t resist this one. Mr. Walter L. Kuss, the Michigan cop, is going a long way around to defend the helmet. He sounds like Chicken Little and “the sky is falling” that I remember as a little boy about 45 years ago. Does Michigan require a helmet on drivers and passengers of convertibles with the top down? Is horseback riding legal in Michigan, and if so, are both the rider of the horse and the horse required to wear helmets? How about all those nice folks who drive their car with the side windows rolled down and then some nasty old sparrow or chicken hawk zooms in through the side window and causes them to lose control and cross over into the wrong lane. I wish I lived in Michigan; 1 bet it would be a ball. With all those cops eating funny pills, it would be a riot.
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I have been riding motorcycles for 37 years and selling them for 31 years, and I have yet to wear a crash helmet on the streets. Maybe I am just lucky, maybe not. The point is that you can’t legislate safety much better than you can legislate drinking or sex. There are just some things that man does, legal or illegal, and for a cop to try to rationalize a legislative act as he has done is as ridiculous as Prohibition, and we all know that didn't work. Thanks for the laugh.
WADE LENTNER Ottumwa, Iowa
GIVING DUE CREDIT
Being an avid reader of your fine magazine, I have watched and read with interest the continuing stream of carping, complaining letters regarding adverse legislation, i.e., helmet laws, crashbars, lights-on-in-daylight, ad infinitum.
It has occurred to me that, in spite of the obvious discomfort (not to mention expense) of a hot, heavy and awkwardto-carry helmet, cumbersome and aesthetically displeasing crashbars, and the so-called “ridiculous” lights-on-in-daylight law, each and every one of these laws, is, in reality, a boon to the motorcycling public. It’s time we stopped and examined the good that is derived from these laws. (Again, in spite of their real or imagined discomfort.)
For every helmet that prevented a death or serious injury, that’s one less glaring headline, one less gathering of an indifferent and apathetic crowd, and one less angry and bereaved parent or loved one. For every crashbar that prevented a broken or lost leg, that’s one less “I told you so!” And just how expensive and difficult is it to turn on or replace a headlight bulb? As compared to a life or limb?
As you know, this type of law is not exclusive to the motorcyclist. Witness the case of the water skiers, now having ( by law) to wear a life jacket and carry a second person in a tow boat. Is this a “ridiculous” law also?
Obviously, legislators are aware there are problems associated with the riding of motorcycles, and despite their socalled “infinite wisdom,” they make mistakes just as we do.
The publishers of this magazine, their advertisers, the manufacturers, and the general motorcycling public would not accept the responsibility of passing laws regarding the spending of federal funds. Why then, do we expect our legislators to pass knowledgeable laws concerning motorcycles? Instead of condemning and complaining about each and every law passed, let’s examine them for their potential worth, and give credit to the legislators when an effective law is passed.
Let’s show our sense of involvement and responsibility to an ignorant and unknowledgeable legislature by attempting to alleviate their ignorance in matters concerning motorcycles, through education and meaningful comment.
I can’t help but feel that we would be doing both them and ourselves an immeasurable service. ’Nuff said.
WALTER YOUNG Hendersonville, Tenn.
CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED
I’m confused. I’m frustrated. And maybe I’m just a little angry.
Consider the events of the past week; to begin, I purchased the February ’71 issue of CW seven days ago. That was the one containing the preview of the Suzuki water-cooled 750 Three. The bike had little effect on me at first. But as the days passed I found myself thinking of it more and more. I read Yukio Kuroda’s description over and over. I became a part of each color photo. It was settled, I would have one of those Suzuki Threes! Or would 1? (Here’s where things begin to get warm.)
Today I went to the local Suzuki dealer to ask when the first shipment of 750s would arrive. The dealer answered by saying that the factory hadn’t made a final decision as to the production of the big bike and that if it did put the model into production it would do so in the summer and the first deliveries wouldn’t arrive until winter.
Confusion-“CYCLE WORLD says spring. Cycle Guide says spring. The dealer is saying winter. Who do I believe?” The dealer went on to say that the model that was displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show was strictly a show model-for now. He had received a letter from the factory indicating just that.
Frustration —“Why did they wave that big, beautiful machine under my nose, then yank it away?” But the dealer wasn’t through yet. He said that I shouldn’t believe anything I read in magazines. Not road tests, not previews of new models-not anything.
Confusion + Frustration = Anger
I’ve never made a habit of believing all that I read. But since that is the best method available for learning, save experience itself, I would like to say that I believe more what I read than the ridiculous statements of motorcycle dealers who, by the way, have a showroom that is overflowing with models of another make.
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And so, may 1 ask, knowing that the answers will have been given prior to the printing of my letter: what is the story of the Suzuki water-cooled 750 Three? Will it be spring or winter? And if, as 1 suspect, CW’s information is correct, what of the factory/dealer relationships as the one in question? And finally, if the Suzuki factory is innocent, what of motorcycle dealers who fail to tell it straight to prospective motorcyclists?
DOUGLAS KHT1KIAN White Plains, N.Y.
Pardon us if we misled you. The availability in question referred to Japan, although that too seems in doubt according to the latest news from Japan. As for U.S. availability, the latest estimates set it for the 19 72 model year. -Ed.
ON TRIALS
1 have just finished reading with great interest the articles “Always on Sunday” and “International Six Days Trials,” in the January ’71 issue of CYCLE WORLD. I’ve never been to a trials so I don’t know an awful lot about them and I’d like to ask you some questions, if you don’t mind, about this sport. In the article, “Always on Sunday,” it said there was a loss of 1 point for a dab, 5 for a loss of forward motion, and 10 for out of bounds, and I’m wondering if that is really the way it’s done. How many points are you given to begin with? Is the whole course observed? Usually how many sections are there, and how many times do they have to be traveled? Are these trials events all generally run in the same manner, or do they vary greatly from one part of the country to the other? I would greatly appreciate all of the information you can give me about this sport.
JOE MORRIS
Milwaukie, Ore.
The trials scoring system is like scoring in golf The more you got, the worse you did. Usually, a single dab counts 1 point; two or more dabs within a section count 3 points (you could dab 10 times in a section and still only get 3 points); stopping the bike with feet down, rider being unable to resume forward motion immediately, costs 5 points; running outside the boundaries of a section costs 10 points.
A trials consists of several sections, interspersed with “free” areas. The sections differ in length and may follow natural terrain or he marked of) with tape. They may only he 50 )t. long or, as in the Scottish, the better part of a mile. Observation and scoring for dabs takes place within the sections only, not in between. Trials vary greatly from one area to another, partly due to variations in terrain, and due to the skill of the organizing club in laying out sections. Where lots of terrain is available, sections do not repeat. With limited area, a sequence of 10 or 20 sections may be repeated. Tor more detail, we suggest Sammy Miller’s book, “On Trials. Ed.
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LOST BY DEFAULT
After three years of saving to buy a trail bike, my dreams have been shattered by a recent ban on motorcycles by county and state officials. Here in Maryland a decision has been made, outlawing all motorcycles in Gunpowder State Park. The thing that hurts most is that no one, including myself, protested or fought back before the decision was made to outlaw bikes in the Park.
This was the only place available for us to ride our bikes legally and now we have nowhere to ride. Many of my friends own trail bikes, many recently purchased, and now they have no place to ride them. To me, owning a motorcycle and having no place to ride is the worst possible thing in the world.
About the worst problem we face is the few irresponsible and dangerous riders who ruin it for all the other riders. It is those who have wrecked the chains and barriers, ridden without mufflers and scared hikers and horseback riders who were actually barred from the Park. We just suffer along with them.
1 have talked with congressmen, the State Parks Commission and countless other people, and they are all willing to help, but they also must think of what the careless riders do. Everyone can help our situation by being thoughtful of the land and people they come in contact with. Anyone interested in helping the campaign in Baltimore ' County to reopen the State Parks may contact me at my address. They should also write their congressmen. Please print this letter so that others may learn from our mistakes.
KEITH QUELET 4013 Klausmier Rd. Baltimore, Md. 2 1 236
LESS SOUND MORE GROUND
