Letters
LETTERS
NOT FOR MECHANICS
In the July ’72 issue of CYCLE WORLD there appeared an article about the Motorcycle Mechanics Class that we offer each winter. The article was well written, and we thank you for printing it, but in a sense it has caused an embarrassing problem.
We have been deluged with letters from all over the United States, from servicemen overseas, and from men in Canada. These enthusiastic young men would like to attend this class, and I just wish it were a class such as that implied in the article. It is not! It is a class designed to give the motorcycle enthusiast a basic knowledge of his or her motorcycle, so that they may do their own tune-ups or make on-the-road repairs.
I would like you to print this letter so that I may offer an apology for not answering the many letters I received. At first I tried to answer each and every
one, but they came in such volume that it was an impossibility.
A school such as these young men want and need is now to be found in College Park, Maryland. I made a tour of this facility and from what I observed it should be their answer. I would like to recommend it, but I must also go on record as saying that I have not had the chance to employ one of their graduates. This, of course, would be the real test of how much this school has accomplished. The school is the National Technical Institute, 4810 Calvert Road, College Park, MD 20740. A card or letter to them should bring information as to what they offer.
J. Sherman Cooper Cooper’s Cycle Ranch, Inc.
Hamilton Square, N.J.
NO MORE HELMETS
We wish to express our sincere thanks for Ivan Wagar’s timely editorial regarding motorcycle helmets in the Nov. ’72 issue of CYCLE WORLD.
The used helmet testing program in which you solicited help from your readers has gotten good results. In fact, we have received more than 900 letters and postcards as a result of your editorial, which gives us more than a sufficient number of test helmets.
We hope that in the next possible issue of CYCLE WORLD you would
advise your readers of the success of the program thus far and mention that due to the great response, we will be needing no more helmets. Please relay our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the concerned readers who took an interest in our program.
Readers of publications such as yours can provide a wealth of information so greatly needed in our effort to improve motor vehicle safety. We hope that your readers will continue to support our programs and be made aware that we rely immensely on the personal experience and knowledge of the owners and operators of motorcycles and other motor vehicles regarding safety problems.
Your concern and support in our safety programs provide a tremendous assist in our effort to improve motor vehicle safety and we look forward to and welcome your continued interest.
Andrew G. Detrick Acting Director Office of Defects Investigation Motor Vehicle Program U.S. Dept, of Transportation
THUMPIN' HEART
Being an Anglophile, I eagerly read your Continental Report every month. Can you imagine how I felt when I read in the February CYCLE WORLD that the English had to get the permission of the Walt Disney concern in order to name a 500cc Single “the Thumper?” If my Matchless ever finds this out it will break its poor thumpin’ heart.
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Garry H. Davis El Dorado, Kan.
NOT GUILTY?
My wife got a^traffic ticket early in December 1972. Having just read your first two articles on fighting traffic tickets, and expecting the third one any day, I persuaded her to plead not guilty to the charge of going straight in a right turn only lane.
We had a damn good case based on the fact that a lack of proper signs placed an undue burden on the motorist. I counted ten or so motorists committing the same offense in the ten minutes I watched on the same night my wife got cited. Clearly, in my mind, a sign would eliminate this police trap.
The next morning I made a sketch of the location showing all signs, lane markings, etc., to eyeball scale and took snapshots to verify the sketch.
The gathering of evidence was easy. The trial was awful.
She got objected to, sustained, and never did even come close to making her point clear. Their objection was that just because a large number of motorists do the same thing has nothing to do with one particular case. Well, the judge found her guilty, suspended her sentence (gave back the $14.50 bail money) and got indignant as hell when she offered to trade the $14.50 for a not guilty verdict.
We learned a couple of things from this experience that I would like to pass on. First, if you can afford the money and another hole in your own personel Dept, of Motor Vehicles IBM card, pay the fine and forget the whole thing. If you don’t like that advice then demand a trial by jury, perfect your courtroom technique and do your best. Lots of luck.
Dallas R. Peters Lakewood, Calif.
ON ACCEPTING LIMITATIONS
Thank you for producing such an excellent magazine each month!
Your report on the Kawasaki NYS was extremely interesting, but I beg to differ on your comment, “So what’s a chaimevery year.”
So long as we allow this attitude to prevail, manufacturers will outdo each other producing machines with fabulous powerplants, and a final drive system unworthy of a 1930 Francis-Barnett. Chain drive can be good, but only if we demand that it be so.
Similarly, I would have loved a Honda, a great touring machine, but when I wish to go from Toronto to Vancouver, I don’t see why I should have to change the oil twice enroute. So I bought a different make. But as long as buyers of motorcycles accept these limitations without comment, we shall suffer. British machines got so poor in quality, because their purchasers put up with it. Only when the Japanese sold us clean, reliable machines did we realize what we were missing.
The other make referred to, by the way, is a Suzuki Titan 500, a bike I find excellent in every way.
A.M. Thompson Stoufville, Ont., Can.
MOTORCYCLE TEST TRIVIA
I am not writing to'make a point, or argue, only to agree and maybe lay on you the following bit of trivia.
In your December ’72 “Letters” column a Mr. Hunt told us a prime example of “the blind leading the blind.” I took the Class 4 test here in Los Angeles last year.
First of all, I ride a small Honda (175cc) so I got by much easier with the Figure 8s. The circle, though, was a bit hard for me, and it was painted (had to stay inside without dropping a toe, etc.).
Though I’ve ridden a good many lightweights, and a handful of middleweights, I was nervous and I blew it. I touched twice on the circle (four times around the inside), even ran out of it for about 6 in., and I was very sloppy with my Figure 8. And I passed. (I was told after the exercises to go around the block, and the instructors very words were, “If you make it back without any blood on you, you pass!”).
Also, as I caught a glimpse of the examiner (while I was going over a painted line 6 inches too far) I could swear he was scratching his nose, facing the other way.
M.N. Los Angeles, Calif.
