Cycle World Test Summary
CYCLE WORLD TEST SUMMARY
Comparison Testing Through Instant Replay
Road, off-road and comparison tests are some of CYCLE WORLD’S most important and popular features. Perhaps because of this popularity we’re always looking for ways to make the tests more complete and more useful. Thus, the latest item in that continuing campaign, CYCLE WORLD’S Test Summary.
We began with the idea that most tests of any type motorcycle are comparison tests; that is, the reader interested in a street bike or trail bike or competition bike or whatever isn’t reading about one model in a vacuum. He’s reading to know about that model. He’ll judge the facts, figures and opinions on the basis of other models in the same general class.
That’s fine. We usually have that in mind too. When we report on the Yamaha XS750 or the Honda CR125, we’re likely to comment that the newest Yamaha isn’t as quick as some competing 750s, or that the Honda is perhaps lighter than other 125 racers.
What we haven’t been able to do is repeat all the figures and such. It takes up too much space, and in the standard test format we prefer to give new facts rather than repeat old ones.
Comes now the Summary. As you’ll see, the Summary is a short reminder of the high points of the test of each bike.
Because the regular tests have one set of figures for street bikes and another for off-road bikes, we’ve divided the summary into two sections and included the important results for each type.
All the reader need do for a quick comparison is flip from current test to summary for an instant reminder of what the test weight of a Suzuki MX racer is, or how quickly a Kawasaki KZ900 covers the quarter mile.
This Summary will be subject to constant change. As we include the latest results, we’ll drop some older ones. We’ll then run an updated Summary.
This is a new department and something new for the motorcycle press in general. For this reason, reader comments are invited. If the summary doesn’t report what you’d like to know, tell us what figures are more important to you and we’ll make alterations to meet the needs of the majority of readers. 151
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