Letters
LETTERS
VELOCETTE REUNION
The big rage these days is old bikes. With this in mind, we Velocette enthusiasts have scheduled a Velocette Rally in Eugene, Ore., on June 26 and 27, 1976. We are planning a concourse, picnic, swap meet, banquet, a business meeting to form a Velocette Club, and a ride up the McKenzie River. It will be a great weekend for the old Singles, and we would like to extend an invitation to anyone who is interested in the older bikes. Information can be obtained by writing Steve Kesey, 654 Tipton Ave., Eugene, OR 97404.
Richard C. Renstrom Caldwell, Idaho
FOUR-STROKE FAN CLUB
It was nice to see and read about Joe Parkhurst's Dallas Baker/C&J 350 Honda thumper in the Sept. `75 "Round Up." I own a 1973 Honda XL250 that I've equipped with a Vesco Skinny/Fat, Inter-Am bars, Powroll pipe and Trapp silencer, Petty bash plate (a well-designed must), Petty headlight, number plate and fenders, Boge shocks, plastic Magura-style levers and throttle, and Weda wire harness. I'm planning on getting a Powroll Mikuni carb kit and a front fork fix kit.
A four-stroke XL thumper article or column in CYCLE WORLD would be very nice and I think there is a group of readers who would appreciate and bene fit from your putting one together.
Donald S. Gorski West Hartford, Ct.
I just finished reading the Jan. ’76 “Round Up” piece about the fourstroke scrambles meet that Joe Parkhurst attended. Goddamn, I thought I was alone in the world; I didn’t think there was anybody left who cared about the good old four-stroke scrambler races. Joe’s article brought back some good memories of those races back in N.Y. in the ’60s when I was riding a 250 Ducati scrambler, a 750 Royal Enfield and a 175 Motobi. I am 32 now and ride my ’73 Triumph everyday; I plan to keep on riding until I drop dead.
At the end of his article Joe says, “I’ve made much of nothing.” I don’t agree, because he made me write for the first time since the beginning of your magazine back in the early ’60s. And that’s how long I’ve been reading CYCLE WORLD. I can’t wait until they have some of those races in this part of the world, but if they don’t have them here, I hope you let us know when and where they will be held so I can make it my business to be there. Thanks again, and don’t forget that we are still here and alive, just waiting for the return of the four-stroke races.
Tony E. Jimenez Holiday, Fla.
After reading the Jan. issue I must say that I once again enjoyed “Round Up.” Joe, it was your last paragraph that has inspired this letter to you. About a month ago, while filling the petrol tank on my 1956 BSA B33, two young boys stopped to ask what kind of motorcycle I was riding. I told them it was a BSA, and their answer was, “What’s that? I’ve never heard of them.” I told them that at one time they were the world’s best-selling motorcycles. “That thing sure does sound neat,” they said.
The interest in four-strokes is there with younger people. I think perhaps a history lesson would arouse even more interest. You’re the publisher of a big magazine and could do such a piece if you wanted to. Perhaps just a one-page condensed road test from the past would do it. . .or reviewing the names of men and machines gone but not forgotten. A lot of those names are only whispers now, spoken over cups of coffee in the backs of garages. You can bring it back into our livingrooms. The smiles on the old-timers’ faces alone would make it worthwhile. Give it some thought and thanks for listening.
Larry Cordeiro Randolph A.F.B., Texas
Leaving L.A. airport the other day for a film location in Mexico (I earn my income as a make-up artist), I picked up a November issue of CYCLE WORLD. Being a speedway freak, I was happy to see the picture and story on Scott Autrey in Mr. Parkhurst’s “Round Up.” Reading on, I received a very good education on four-stroke history; never before have I learned so much by reading one page!
Occasionally I flee to the California desert with friends. . . and each time I find myself asking to take a turn on their four-strokes, pretending not to see them frown as they mount my Bui. It’s a real treat for me and I’m soon to own one. They sound good, too!
Thomas A. Hoerber Studio City, Calif.
A HONK AWAY FROM PERFECTION
First I should tell you that every month your magazine is anxiously awaited by myself and my father. It is the only motorcycle mag that we sub scribe to. Whenever I have nothing to do, I usually drag out all my old CWs and reread them cover-to-cover. But you’ve heard all that from other subscribers, so on to my point.
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Today I got my March ’76 issue and, as usual, read it from front to back. Since I own a Yamaha 175 enduro, the Yamaha 400 test caught my eye. I’ve heard of nitpicking, but that was ridiculous. Imagine people being crabby about the quality of a horn when they themselves put a bicycle horn on an XL 175 converted for hard enduro use (Dec. ’74). If something was bad with the horn on the Yammie you guys should have said what it was.
Also, a lot of your readers are guys under 21 and some of them aren’t big enough for some of the bikes you test. I, and many of my friends, would like to see more road tests of bikes under 125cc. And maybe since you have younger readers in addition to some older ones, you ought to get some of their opinions in your road tests.
Tom McClellan Los Angeles, Calif.
It doesn’t seem that we could have been much more specific about what’s wrong with the RD400’s horn. . .you just can’t hear it. In fact, our exact words were: “This motorcycle has all that a sport-minded commuter would want, except an audible horn. The standard unit wouldn’t make a hungover wino flinch, let alone inform some quadraphonically-deafened cigar-puffing lardo that he is blindly stuffing his gas-sucking smogmobile into the lane you are occupying. ” But we also said that the inaudible horn was the only thing that stood between the RD400 and perfection. Now that’s not nitpicking is it?—Ed.
KEEP ON MINI-TRUCKIN’
I must take exception to the article “Trucks for Bike Packing” in your Jan. ’76 issue. I own a 1972/2 Datsun pickup and my father owns a 1972 Datsun pickup. We have both carried our bikes (mine a Yamaha 650 and my dad’s a BMW 600) over fair distances with no problems. Mine has been trucked from Va. to Mass, and back, along with assorted luggage. Both bikes are on the large side and both fit with the tailgate closed. The guy with the CZ should try the bike diagonally in the bed.
Furthermore, I have 58,000 miles on my truck with no down time for repairs. I have moved my household and pottery studio equipment from Md. and Mass.
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to Va. on more than one occasion using the truck. I have hauled as much as a ton, once even crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains. At least once a month I make deliveries of my work as far away as Philadelphia. My truck has 58,000 miles of hard duty on it and I do not consider it a toy. Incidentally, I have checked my mileage on trips carrying loads and come up with 25 to 27 mpg.
In conclusion, if you haul only one bike, anything (including a CZ) short of a full-dress Electra Glide can fit in the back of a short-bed mini-truck. And believe me, I wouldn’t worry about the weight.
Moniz Rose Charlottesville, Va.
This is in regard to the article pub lished in your Jan. `76 issue dealing with the problem of purchasing the right vehicle for hauling that machine to the local desert hot spot. It seems that you tend to lean toward the domestic truck with its all-too-roomy front seat and that beautiful V8 power package gas guzzling monster, whose simple main tenance items like a tuneup run up to $80. Minor details, right?
A half-dozen friends and weekend boogiers insist on paying those prices. Not me. I use my `74 Toyota longbed for my business during the week. Then, on the weekends I have free, I use it to the hilt dragging my blasted 360 MX out to the desert. Total cost of the truck, used, with 20,000 miles on it, was $3100 out-the-door. . .and I am more than satisfied with its 40 to 45-mph climb up a 25-degree hill loaded with two 250s, my 360, one ice chest packed to the brim with liquid refresh ment, another chest (20-gal.) containing edibles, 30 pounds of tools, three sleep ing bags and various other pieces of gear needed to sustain four to six-hour rides through the trails. I manage without too much moaning and groaning to com press all that equipment in the 7-ft. bed of this vehicle that averages 22 mpg (city and highway) on premium gas. And I don't leave trails of expensive worksheets or equipment littering the freeway behind me.
So I suggest to Mr. Epperson that he do a little more research before he goes blabbering away. Your own magazine uses that "monster-windowed van with the big engine and 1 2 seats inside" for running the best through the grind.
By the way, I have been reading CYCLE WORLD for the past nine months and find it the best mag in the area of street/dirt machines.
Robert A. Everhart Los Angeles, Calif.
Your "Trucks for Bike Packing" arti cle was well-done and informative, as are most of your articles. There are, however, enthusiasts like myself whose four-wheeled transportation consists of a 10-year-old sedan. . probably the re sult of enthusiasm for costly two wheelers.
How about an article concerning trailers? Tires, weight distribution and tongue length are important points often overlooked, as is suspension. Trail ers do have some advantages, such as gas mileage, license fees and their ability to be stored on their ends, leaning against a wall. Also, muddy bikes can be towed to the car wash on the way home.
Barry Ross Mount Vernon, Ohio
ROCK OR CLASSICAL?
Well, don't I have all the luck. I thought I had heard of everything until I received a citation because the stereo on my Zl was too loud. Please print this; it will certainly be of interest to my fellow "full-dressers."
Russell Jordan Sacramento, CA
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ISN'T EVERYBODY?
I am trying to locate a shop manual for my Marusho Magnum 500, circa 1 966. I would appreciate any assistance that your readers could provide, either in tracking down a manual, or locating a shop in the Ohio area that is familiar with this extinct breed.
Bruce Badger P.O. Box 16 Columbus, OH 43216
DUC OWNERS GET TOGETHER
We are forming the Ducati Interna tional Owners Club. Its purpose is to get Ducati owners together through our club newspaper to exchange technical information, find hard-to-get parts, share riding experiences and voice our opinions on dealers, distributors and the bikes. We would love to hear from anyone wishing to contribute any infor mation regarding Ducatis. Please write and we will send you our first club newspaper free. Members from all over the world are welcome.
Ducati Int'l Owners Club 1447 State Road 84 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315
ATTENTION COLLECTORS
I have five old issues of CYCLE WORLD, including Volume 1, Number 1 (Jan. 1962). The other issues are: June, 1963; Sept., 1963; Aug., 1964; May, 1964. All are in excellent con dition. Any offers for one or all of the above?
Joe Zappo 1149 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14209
THE KING'S NOT DEAD
In regard to your article on the RD400 in the March `76 issue, it seems that Yamaha has come up with another winner. But I disagree with such phrases as "the RD350 is no more" and "the defunct 350." I own a `75 Yamaha 350, and as far as I'm concerned the RD350 will never die.
R. Crawford Canton, Texas
