Letters
LETTERS
MORE ON HERB
A note to convey my appreciation for giving us the fine pen of Herb Gunnison. Those of us who may never get the oppor tunity to know touring firsthand have been given a chance to taste the mystique of the open road a la motorcycling via the inim itable vantage point of Mr. Gunnison.
A surprising and rare treat to discover this breed of prose. What a thrill to climb aboard with Gunnison and savor a fleeting instant of esotérica from the touring world.
Robert Schlade
HEAVY HODAKA
I enjoyed the Hodaka SL175 test in your July issue. However, when you folks weighed it the two men and the boy must have still been on it.
That is unless 282 lb. 175s are in.
Mike Stram San Diego, Calif.
CLUBS SPOKEN HERE
We would like to announce the official registration and information of the Triumph International Owners Club._
We hope to unite Triumph owners worldwide in order to facilitate the inter change of technical information, parts lo cation, and distribution and generally helping to put people in contact with other enthusiasts who share the fun and enjoy ment of owning Triumph motorcycles.
For information on joining and a copy of the Triumph Motorcycle News, please send $1 to:
The Triumph International Owners Club .c/o Membership Information 1449 State Road 84 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 33315
DAYTONA 200 CAMEL PRO SERIES
I think your coverage of the 1978 version of the 37th Annual Daytona 200 Camel Pro Series event was excellent. However, "there is a point that should be clarified.
You are correct in stating that the Formula 750 World Championship was lost because Daytona refused to pay start money. Bill France, Jr., Vice President of International Speedway Corp. (Daytona International Speedway) has always maintained that they would never pay start
money, especially because the FIM requires they pay 300 Swiss Francs (about $150) to all non-qualifiers. In addition, the AMA racing philosophy, shared by the Daytona organization, is that one races today for prize money, one is not paid for his past glory.
In three-way negotiations between Mr. France, the FIM, and the AMA, France offered a compromise: To raise his purse from $70,000—paying down to 30th placeto $84,250—paying down to all 80 starting positions. The $14,250 paying from 31st to 80th place paid every starter more than the FIM required money. The FIM originally agreed, then after a meeting, stuck by their rules and turned the offer down. Hence, no World Championship at Daytona.
However, Mr. France did not withdraw his additional $14,250—the total purse remained at $84,250. I think this was a terrifically sporting gesture by a fine organization and a fine gentleman. He could have easily said, “OK, if you won’t award World Championship status to my race, I’m taking back the additional $14,250.” But it remained, and is a tribute to the sincere way Daytona does business.
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Your readers will also be interested to know that the FIM requirement for a Formula 750 World Championship stipulates a purse of only approximately $5,000 minimum paid to 15 places, plus the start money as outlined above. Calculate it out, and you’ll see that Mr. France could have had the exact same event for only approximately $35,750 (based on minimum requirements). Just about $50,000 less than Daytona paid!
I’ve noticed several publications critical of Daytona for their start money stance, and hope this letter helps clear up the situation.
Douglas A. J. Mockett
Commissioner of Professional Racing
AMA
Westerville, Ohio
HONDA CX500
I realize that your Letters section is not an open forum for readers to brag and/or beef about their particular models but with close to 2000 miles on my Honda CX500 and because of the unusual nature of the machine, I feel some sort of comment is justified.
Because of Honda’s frame design, there are no front downtubes. This means no frame-mount anything. (Fairings, safety bars, oil coolers, etc.)
The seat. It is the most comfortable one I ever sat on, but w hy a lift-off? It took a lot of practice to master the removal/reinstallation process. One receives a lot of strange looks when going for the tool kit in service stations.
The gas cap cover. Why couldn’t Honda have seen fit to install a gasket under the cover to keep out water? I have washed the bike maybe ten times and already the hinge on the cover has started to rust.
Ah, but the plusses are numerous. Instant starting and warm-up, fantastic handling, excellent power output, great gas mileage and touring comfort beyond compare.
In the CX, Honda has come up with the best engine/drivetrain combination imaginable, and executed it very well. True, it has no overhead cams, but I happen to like the sound of pushrods!
Charles Hestand
Grandview, Mo.
I just thought some of you people out there might like to hear from a Honda CX500 owner. Being a ten year biker (and shade tree mechanic), I have owned and ridden many a two-wheel contraption, some bone shakers, some corner wobblers, some pavement burners, and some all three.
I set out to buy a new bike with the intention of keeping this one for the next five years or so. Not being able to financially justify a BMW I had to settle for something cheaper. I must have test ridden every 500 to lOOOcc bike available. And some strange spell brought me back to my Honda dealer for one more test ride on a CX500. I am not sorry I bought it, and at this moment I’m not sure I’d even trade it for a BMW.
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This bike will grow on you to the extent of passionate love. Having spent the first 600 miles feeling it out and adjusting my riding manners, this bike which feels like a 750, weighs like a 750, and runs like a 750, is the sweetest two wheeler I ever wrapped my legs around. I still can’t believe it’s only a 500.
I now have 1800 miles on it and it feels like it is just now broken in. Running through a series of high speed turns on this baby is more fun than looking at Jacqueline Bisset in a wet T-shirt. The bike handles incredibly well and doesn’t have any idea what the word wobble means. Nothing scrapes, nothing vibrates loose, and nothing leaks.
I consistently average 54 mpg since break-in and my best has been 62 mpg. I have found the bike to have two faults. No, one. The seat is designed to keep the rider in one stationary position and on long rides, it will cause a dead-butt feeling, but a short rest and it comes back to life. No, two. The radiator dumps hot air on your legs. At first I thought this to be a fault, but at night it’s truly a welcome fault. Being a Florida resident I have noticed that the air that comes up from the road during the day isn’t really any cooler than the warm air coming through the radiator.
The clutch lever feels like something you might find on a Honda 50. Economy, low maintenance, and good handling, oh, and, of course, plenty of power, is just what I wanted in my bike. Honda, if this bike lasts as long as it feels like it will, you might just get to be number one in my book too!
Don Fulsang
Orlando, Fla.
A PERFECT BLEND
I would like, first of all, to thank you for the article on the Can-Am Qualifier, it is certainly greatly appreciated by our dealer network.
At the same time, I would like to congratulate you and your staff for the whole issue; it has, in my humble opinion, the perfect blend of everything, with something for everybody.
I have personally appreciated Lane Campbell’s article on frames.
Robert Leboeuf
Director of Marketing
Can-Am Division
MOTORCYCLE EMISSIONS & EPA NOISE REGULATIONS
I have just received and read my July issue, and I want to thank you for taking the initiative to publish information on motorcycle emissions and EPA noise regulations that appear on pages 21 and 31 of your magazine.
The noise regulations especially have been viewed by us as a very serious matter, and we have needed all the help we can get in getting this information out to the motorcycle user.
Your article on that topic is a real service to motorcycling.
Ed Youngblood
Director Government Relations
AMA
Westerville, Ohio
In reading your July Roundup I'm moved to declare total and all out war against the EPA.
I did as you asked and wrote a letter to them explaining that I'm against the proposed standards. Next I joined the AMA.
Then I started telling everybody on two wheels about the law. I hope some will write in protest. I'll do more (like a petition. etc., etc.), but now I need help.
This is a very serious problem. The sport could be destroyed. Stop these government do-gooders before they get a beachhead from which to work.
Once started they will hack away (may be for 10 years. like the auto) and destroy the motorcycle. Tell us where to write, and what to write. We are not all journalists.
Apathy is our worst enemy!
Tim Upleyer
Sterling Hgts., Mich.
I just finished the article on emissions controls in your July issue. I am really angry at the tone of your article, like we should all wait for the government to do its number on us. “Gee, I wonder what they'll think up for us next?”
Wake up CYCLE WORLD. You people out there in California have already shown us the way to deal with the bureaucrats, with taking away the DOT’S helmet blackmail, and now with Proposition 13. If we want to pull the plug on these regulation writing bums, all we have to do is shut off the money.
Instead of telling us about all the brands of bikes and aftermarket suppliers that are going to die because of this EPA nonsense, how about telling us how some congressional votes to put a limit on the EPA’s blank check power can turn around this whole sorry scene—before all we have left is an editorial cartoon of the EPA Buick on top of the wreckage of a motorcycle, and> the caption “Gee officer, I didn’t see the motorcycle industry.”
Michael E. Mottner Roanoke, Va.
The following letter is a copy of my comments to the EPA:
I would like to comment on the proposed standard AW-490 which would govern noise levels on motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1980:
The proposed standard will not significantly decrease the annoyance caused by motorcycle noise. Annoying noise is not caused by any of the new production motorcycles. The noise comes from motorcycles which have been altered by the replacement of stock exhaust systems by loud aftermarket items or by straight exhaust pipes.
I am a motorcyclist, but I am also a student. My studying is interrupted every night by some inconsiderate riders who blast the air with their altered machinery. Most new' motorcycles are as loud as most new cars. Neither of them is offensive. The altered “hot rod” cars and motorcycles are the only significant source of annoying noise.
I applaud your work at noise abatement, but your effort is misplaced. Reducing the noise levels of new vehicles will not significantly reduce the level of annoying noise. Significant noise reduction will come only when aftermarket alteration is strictly regulated.
Aftermarket alteration should be strictly controlled. Two regulations are urgently needed.
1. Aftermarket motor vehicle parts suppliers should certify that their exhaust systems will not increase the noise level significantly above that of the standard production machine.
2. You should urge every state to include noise level standards in their motor vehicle inspection regulations. All vehicles should be required to pass a standard acceleration mode noise level test at the 90 dBA level.
As a student and a concerned citizen I ask that you redirect your efforts from AW490 to the regulation of aftermarket alterations. I hope you can reduce the number of “hot rod” cars and motorcycles which disrupt my studying and shatter my sleep.
Robert F. Cassidy, Jr.
Syracuse, N.Y. El
