Letters

LETTERS

DEAR CYCLE WORLD OAFS

I didn’t know many of the answers to your “Son of Oaf Test” in the May issue. It was really beginning to bother me until I got to the last question. Then I began to wonder who the oafs really were. After I read the answers I knew.

Sacramento? In 1972? If Mann, Romero, Aldana and Rice were all trying for the top spot in that race, how did Mark Brelsford end up with the number one plate? Maybe you’ve got your names mixed up? Or maybe it’s the place? I’m sure you couldn’t be a whole year off on the date!

Terry Rimert New York, N.Y. Congratulations Terry, you have just earned those 25 bonus points by being the first reader to write in to CYCLE WORLD after having spotted the error in “Son of Oaf Test. "As such, you are

the only reader to date who even has a chance of scoring in the 180-200 point bracket.

But, as you admitted, you didn’t know too many of the other answers, so I guess your chances of scoring high aren’t too good. At least you’ve got 25 points that no one else really has. They all think they got it right, but when they read your letter this issue, more than 200,000 Oaf Test scores will drop by two bits. (P.S. The year is actually 1970).-Ed.

CLEAN UP YOUR ACT

I go dirt riding a few miles north of the town of Mojave. Motorcycle riders have permission to ride in this area on the condition that they keep it clean and pick up after themselves. Most people who know about these conditions do keep the area clean.

There are some riders, though, who leave their camps looking like a disaster. Trash and garbage all over. If these people do not stop leaving such a mess, this area will be restricted from motorcycles altogether.

Perhaps if you print this many riders will see it and help keep Mojave and other areas clean.

Kathy Marion Huntington Beach, Calif.

MOTORCYCLING MOTHER

After about five years of thinking of owning a motorcycle, my husband recently presented me with a Honda for Mother’s Day. Not quite a mfditional gift, but certainly one wellappreciated.

However, in looking through your magazine and all others, I have found that, despite the great market available, I see nothing produced and sold or published that includes women, except in their traditional place “behind” their menfolk, holding on.

I would like to read articles of interest to women riders. I think that there are enough women on the road to warrant clothing in their sizes, rather than mens “small.”

I look forward to many enjoyable hours on my Honda. However, I can’t help feeling that somehow, in the motorcycle world, we have been overlooked. Surely your magazine can devote some space to women riders.

Sharon Nap^fci Sarasota, ma.

Congratulations on the new motorcycle. We hope you ’ll enjoy much safe and happy biking.

As far as articles geared toward women riders are concerned, we feel that we have done more in this area than most publications, and we hope to do even better in the future.

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And speaking of riding garb in womens sizes, have you seen the article on that very subject in this issue?—Ed.

KAWASAKI QUESTION

KAWASAKI QUESTION

This is the first time I have ever written to any motorcycle magazine. I just finished the June issue, in which you tested the Kawasaki KX250.

In your introduction you imply that it is Kawasaki’s first effort. Am I mistaken, or was their old Greenstreak their first effort? Not trying to nit-pick, just curious.

Joe Karmann (no address)

Actually Joe, Kawasaki’s first efjm^ at a mass-produced motocrosser dato back to mid-1967 and a 250cc rotaryvalver designated the F-28M. The machine had a four-speed gearbox and came equipped with a 19-in. front wheel as standard equipment. It was light for its time (21 7 lb. w/half tank of fuel), but very short-coupled (52.5-in. wheelbase).

The Kaw was a pretty good handler in those days, but it probably couldn’t hold a candle to a current dual-purpose mount, let alone to its successor, the KX250.

You are correct, the KX is certainly not the first attempt by Kawasaki at building a motocrosser, but it certainly is their best attempt.—Yd.

C'MON SZMONSKI, PART 2

I thumbed through your June is^fc and came upon that rotten letter by^m Szmonski. Obviously he is a (shudder) two-stroke rider. It was also evident that he didn’t know beans about what he was speaking of.

Take first of all that he said dirt riders get hurt on dual-purpose, “underpowered messes” in the dirt. Ha ha, very funny. Consider that most dirt riders start out on these bikes. They don’t need a lot of power at first, because I’m sure they couldn’t control a more powerful bike. As they ride more, they get used to the powerband, and learn to use it to its fullest. A slightly-experienced rider could get himself out of most hairy situations that he might encounter.

Next, about the XL1 75’s inability to climb a 20-foot hill after a sharp turn. He stated that this was because you couldn’t get the engine up to 7000 rp^^ As any longtime reader/rider knows, four-strokes develop efficient power well below this mark.

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My poor old “underpowered,” portly SL175 Twin could do this at 4500 rpm, and it weighs 260 lb., has less torque and doesn’t respond as quickly. Whoever told this little white lie got it from somebody who rode the bike like a two-stroke, which is completely unacceptable. A get-off staring you in the face? A two-stroke rider’s face maybe.

Try to loft the front end of an XL175 over a log or similar obstacle, you say? Man! Is touching the log with so much as a scuff of the front tire so much of a sin? Popping wheelies in the woods is a darn good way to go off the trail and climb a tree. My honky ole bike never has dumped me off a log. No sir, I don’t weigh 130 lb. 200 lb. of me and 260 lb. of bike don’t take much hassle from obstacles; we climb and cross them with relative ease. I’ve been riding more than four years now, and although I’m a young squid compared to most riders, I know my bike and how to use it.

Brent DeWitt Delaware, Ohio

Just a note to let you know how much our family enjoys CYCLE WORLD. A new issue is seldom put down until everyone in the house has read it from cover to cover.

Our family is completely involved in motorcycling (no generation gap here). My present dirt bike is a Yamaha RT1-360, which I have had for about two months. For touring we have a 1970 750 Moto Guzzi, which, as far as I am concerned, is a number one motorcycle. My wife and oldest son ride Yamaha LT2 1 OOcc Enduros. Performance and handling of these little bikes is amazing. My youngest son rides a Bridgestone 100TMX, which is a good bike as far as performance and dependability, but that lacks suspension for rough going.

Contrary to what Mr. Szmonski thinks, we feel that all CYCLE WORLD road tests are as fair as can be and very well done. This was especially true of the comparison of the 175s (May 1974). Probably few people appreciate the time and effort that go into every one.

Although I now ride a 360 most of the time, 1 also have an ATI, rebuilt recently to a 175, that has probably been over more rocks and crossed more logs than Szmonski has ever seen. We do a lot of trail riding (and I use the term “trail” loosely) around this part of the country.

Being in the midst of Colorado’s Rockies and living nearly on the Continental Divide, much of our riding is at altitudes of from 10,000 to 12,000 feet. Granted, the smaller bikes don’t have wheelie-producing power at that elevation, but what is surprising is the roughness of ground that they will handle.

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I enjoy riding the 360, but when the going is really rough, the lighter ATI is the bike to ride. Sure it is geared lower than the 360, but did you ever try to climb a 40-degree slope covered with big, loose rocks?

The old ATI has carried me and my daughter safely to the top of many of the mountains around here, and according to the comparison test it is the worst of the bunch. Makes me wonder what the Honda is like!

We have pretty much stayed with tluL two-stroke bikes because of their abili^p to handle a decompression brake. If you ever ride one enough to get used to it, you won’t be without it.

Ralph Francis Family Salida, Colo.

I am a 41-year-old avid motorcyclist who enjoyed the “Letters” section in the June ’74 issue immensely. One letter particularly amused my family and me. This was Paul Szmonski’s letter regarding your comparison of the 175s. Here is my reply to him and to you.

I own a 175 Yamaha Enduro, drive it 80 miles a day back and forth to work. Evenings and weekends I ride on and off the road. No, I’m not a motocross or TT rider, but I’m damn serious. I enjoy the bike constantly and have lifted it over logs and other obstacles. Your tests were excellent and “Poor Paul” mi^ have thought you were testing IV^P bikes.

Look again, Paul. Enduros have headlights.

I haven’t road-tested other bikes, but mine has 3600 miles on it, approximately 1000 of which are dirt miles, and all I can say is, “God bless Yamaha 175 Enduros.” I love it.

AÍ Schiller Tampa, Fla.

SEEKS PEN FRIEND

I am interested in acquiring a pen friend (or friends) on the West Coast of your country who shares my enthusiasm for motorcycles. I am thinking of perhaps visiting the U.S. in a year or so and it would be nice to have some people to look up when I come over.

Nigel Sherwin

Forest Court, Forest Ro^^ Loughborouj^P

__ Leies. LEI 1 3NT

•=* England