Letters
LETTERS
LIVE AND LEARN
The importance of safety equipment and well-maintained bikes came to my attention this past April after I broke my right leg. The hard way to learn.
Well, to make a long story short, several local bikers and I were riding through a swampy gas pipeline. I was mounted on a 360 Yamaha Enduro that was covered with water and mud. Several hundred yards into the muddy pipeline, using speed and weight distribution to carry me through, much to my surprise my left handle grip slipped off. After the grip slipped, my balance was destroyed, resulting in a downed bike. I was sent flying. As I passed over the front of the bike my shin struck the handlebars. After being carried out and taken to the hospital by my good fellow bikers, I went home with a full-length plaster cast.
Since that day I have had time to
think of possible causes of my misfortune. Listed below are two corrections to my dilemma:
1. Better maintenance on bike. In my case, frictiop tape wrapped around handlebars and a piece of tape over the little hole at the end of the grip.
2. Wearing proper safety equipment to make a fall less damaging. In my opinion, I would not have broken my leg if I had been wearing high shinguarded boots. It would have been a mere downed bike without injury to me.
I’m only glad that I had the foresight not to ride alone. If I hadn’t been with other bikers it would have been pure hell getting out.
Frank Snyder Oley, Pa.
MAKING IT EASIER
I came from Czechoslovakia in 1966, have subscribed to CYCLE WORLD since 1968, and my first bike was my grandpa’s 1948 CZ 125. Now I enjoy a 750 Suzuki. I am concerned at present with the protection of motorcyclists from unjust legislation, etc. I think that people who make their livings from motorcycles should take the lead. I do not want to stand aside, but it is hard to keep up with all that’s happening at all times.
What I have in mind particularly is dealers. Every one of us stops by a dealership at least once a month, if for nothing else, just to look around the showroom. Wouldn’t it be nice to get there a little update on what is happening. Let’s say, for instance, a statewide mimeographed memo that tells what is pending, to whom to write-in the state or in Washington—and perhaps even whom to vote for. That’s most likely to make politicians listen. I don’t think that any of us would mind a reasonable contribution to the AMA or the Motorcycle Industry Council or whoever, for this purpose.
Motorcycle magazines simply printing “Write your congressman” is for most people far too general. I know of a campaign in which certain groups of businessmen had pre-typed letters and the customers just signed them. You don’t have to twist anybody’s arm, just give people the chance and make it as easy as possible.
Steve Z. Lintymer, M.D.
Columbus, Ohio
PUT THE BRAKES ON WHEELIE
The myth that every biker is a Hell’s Angel type is alive and well and living in Burbank.
On Saturdays, NBC-TV features a program called “Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch.” Wheelie, a car, is the hero, and the villains are a bunch of choppers who do everything dirty to get Wheelie, the clean, all-American car.
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We have enough troubles already with the motorists who want to run all the nasty motorcyclists off the road without brainwashing little kids as well.
I have written to NBC suggesting the harm that exists in this program and telling them about who really rides motorcycles and how this myth they are perpetuating effects us on the road. I suggest that you and your readers watch this show, then write letters, many letters, to NBC.
Eric L. Van Duson (no address)
WE DID THE CR125
I recently became interested in motorcycles and bought a motocross bike. I began reading all of the motorcycle magazines I could get. I discovered in a short time that some were just trash and some were worth every cent paid for them. I sorted out the rip-offs and your magazine was left. Keep up the good work.
Also, in the near future are you going to have any tests on the CR125?
Mike Greene Springfield, Mo.
Did you catch our July ’74 issue, Mike? The CR125 was one of the contestants in our extensive 125 motocross comparison. Besides being tantamount to four individual road tests, this 20-page biggie compared the small-bore Japanese motocrossers in every detail. The CR125 placed second in overall points behind the Kawasaki KX125. The Yamaha YZ125 and the Suzuki TM125, in that order, brought up the rear. — Ed.
KUDOS FOR KILLEEN
Joe Parkhurst’s statement in “Round Up” about the Killeen Mid-Town Motorcycle Park was quite correct.
While stationed at Ft. Hood, outside of Killeen, and as a member of the Ft. Hood Dirt Riders Club, 1 heard many favorable comments about the park. I, too, hope that other towns take note of the progress in Killeen.
SP4 K.E. Corser APO New York
HIGH SCHOOL MOTOCROSS
This letter is in regard to your “Up Front” article in the September issue about the high school motocross competition
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Unless there is a strong opposition to the area which would initially have the program, may I add a suggestion that the Southwest, in particular Arizona and New Mexico, possibly be the starting point. The reasons behind these two states are most apparent if you have any knowledge of the geographies of the region and any idea how many motorcycles reign supreme in the deserts.
Geographically speaking, all of the major towns in both states, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Flagstaff, Winslow, Phoenix, are rather sparsely populated areas. Albuquerque, which has a population of more than a third of a million, is situated such that the nearest mesa or desert is as close as 15 seconds or 15 minutes, no matter where you live. The area surrounding all of the cities is mesa with no major abnormal upheavals, and is owned either by the government or an Indian reservation.
I am from Albuquerque, and rode for a few years around the area and became very acquainted with the riders, especially behind the high school I went to. The number of riders is extremely high for such a town and the enthusiasm at the events is very good, considering the tracks where the main events were held were about 30 minutes from the center of the city.
I may seem to be discussing more of the riding habits of the area than the actual high school program possibilities, but the essence of this letter is to say that as far as area, accessibility to the track (and if there is not one, land is plentiful and far enough away from housing to enable you to build one), potential rider enthusiasm and numbers, and even high school officials’ feelings, the Southwest is a most formidable customer for the program. Motorcycles, along with four-wheel-drive vehicles, are abundant wherever there is a square foot of clear land.
I would like to also give my vote and hope that the program is eventually considered and put into action, hopefully before motorcycles are abolished or the land is. I would also like to volunteer to possibly help, down in the old boonies, should the high school motocross program ever actually grab hold down in the land of the neverending desert.
Thank you for your time and patience in listening to an avid motorcycle fan and rider talk about the sport and pastime I had to give up two years ago because of having to sell my dirt digger. I would still be riding were it not for the California rules of taking the same test for bikes as for cars, and also the lack of a bike. The cost of the test and motorcycle are slightly out of my reach at the time.
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Richard M. Ross Century City, Calif.
SHE’S NOT LION
I appreciate the humor of the CYCLE WORLD sticker on the Serengeti sign in the “Round Up” column of your Oct. ‘74 issue, but I wonder if you won’t be confusing people a little.
You’ve heard the definition, “A lion is a 1000-pound pussy that eats you,” which is the real reason you can’t ride a motorcycle into the park. I just thought you could point this out to your readers. The park officials don’t dislike bike riders; they dislike breeding man-eating lions.
While living in Africa I rode a Honda 175, but never in unfamiliar areas unless with a car along.
Jean R. LeBer King of Prussia, Pa.
Thanks for the information, Jean. You may have just given us the key to the mysterious disappearance of crack photographer and associate art director, Randy Papke.—Yd.
THE PRAISE THAT REFRESHES
During the past three years that I have been interested in cycling, I have read various magazines and have found that CYCLE WORLD magazine has the best and most informative product going.
I have read Cycle World for 11 months and have also turned my friends on to it. On my behalf I would like to sincerely thank you for your efforts.
David Zouder Ormond Beach, Fla.
