Letters
LETTERS
ESP?
Came home from working at the beach last week knowing my Yamaha was going to have to have new tennis shoes that weekend. I was in a total dilemma as to what tires to get for the way I ride, when what do I find amidst my stack of junk mail but my good ol' August subscript of CYCLE WORLD. with a great big article on street tire tests.
Your article showed me exactly what tire I wanted that would fit both my riding style and my budget. Thanks for being on my frequency when I needed you. Cliff Overman Wilson, N.C.
INVITATION
As we recently subscribed to your excel lent magazine. June's edition was the first to arrive.
On page number 31 of the mentioned issue I read the article "Roundup." telling about Mr. Bob Runyard and his trip to Tierra del Fuego. in the southern part of Chile and Argentina. Because I'm one of the owners and managers of an important dealer and distributor for Japanese motor cycles and spare parts. I would like to
invite Mr. Runyard when he arrives to Chile, to come to our store: he'll be kindly helped in everything we can, let's say parts. information, roads, maps. Also he will receive free attention in our service station for his bike.
Please contact Mr. Runvard wherever he is. and remit my offer. Paolo Abelli C. Full Motrix Ltda. Santiago. Chile
There is such a time lapse between when events take place and when we report them that Bob has alread~ returned from his trip. Your in vitation is appreciated and we `11 pass the information along in case other readers go touring in your area.
MORE ON EPA
I read "What's Happening with Emis sions Controls" in the July issue. I agree with the closing statement of the CARB or the EPA (I think Lane Campbell meant both) having such a vast amount of power. Your readers and the rest of the public might be interested in the following infor mation. On December 2. 1970, Richard Nixon, as President. created the EPA by Executive Order. You read correctly. Exec
utive Order. What that means is this para sitic monster that is trying to take our cars away, now our bikes, and destroy private enterprise in general, was not introduced in either the Senate or the House of Repre sentatives and taken through the proper legislative procedures as should have been. Some say this violates the Constitution. Executive Orders were intended for ad ministrative uses, not abuses like the EPA. Congress is responsible for keeping this monster alive. It allocates the funds the EPA needs to do what it has and is now doing. If enough citizens realize this and start complaining to their Congressmen, we just might starve this monster out of existence. Ken Strauss San Diego. Calif.
WANT YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO?
Thank you for running the sidecar arti cle in your August issue. It's always encouraging to see a magazine do a 3wheel story. We wish you would do a road test on a Jawa or Watsonian. Because sidecaring has become a rather obscure sport there are a lot of myths and~
misnomers concerning sidecars (not side hacks). To begin, a sidecar is a 3-wheeled device and no matter how you go about it, the sidecar is neither motorcycle or car. It seems funny that people would try to make it either one or the other; perhaps this is a lack of understanding.
The sidecar can best be appreciated (and understood) as a utility sports vehicle that doesn't fall down in rain and gravel. The sidecar allows the passenger to rest on long rides. The sidecar is also a novelty, that oftentimes gets the passenger and rider past the image of being "just another biker."
If you want your cake and eat it too, just "float" the chair wheel and roll on more throttle. Marc J. Pauls Chicago, 111.
HONDA'S CBX
I have been reading CYCLE WORLD for about eight years and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the present staff. Their efforts have resulted in a magazine which is very much improved in layout, and in quality of articles.
I'm excited about Honda's new CBX, but not because I want a $3500, 11 sec., 600-lb., 1047cc bike. I'm excited about the technology Honda used, and how this technology could result in the most fantastic 550-to-650cc Four ever built.
Recently I sold my RD350, and the logical successor to it would be the lightest, fastest, and best-handling mid-size available.
CBX technology could yield a 550-to650cc, dohc, 16-valve four-cylinder, with a jackshaft to keep engine width to a minimum. Coupled to a 6-speed box, and outfitted with ComStar wheels, electronic ignition and CBX-replica styling, this bike, at 450-lbs. wet, would be the ultimate sports bike: high 12 sec. or low-13 sec., 'Amile, top speed of 110 to 115, but with the best handling of any oriental bike. The CBX is evidence that Honda can do it. Until they do, all present mid-range bikes will be either too slow, too heavy, or too bad-handling. Gary L. Padgett Macon, Ga.
EATIN' MY HEART OUT
I am languishing between motorcycles, marveling at how research and development caught up with me. My first bike, some 24 years ago, was a great thumping 1938 Indian that had been bored out to 1200cc.
For the next 20 years I felt that I had outgrown bikes—until I chanced to get on a Honda 400F. The sound of the 4-into-l exhaust beguiled me beyond all reason and I bought the bike on the spot. I rode it for a year and put 7000 miles on it. First 1 loved it, then I grew accustomed to it, and then I started designing my dream machine that would be its successor.
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Then, due to an unexpected change in career and circumstances, I sold the bike, as I was moving from the open skies and open roads of southern California to the dead center of New York City. I comforted myself about not having a bike with the realization that the perfect machine I had dreamed up (500cc, the performance of a 750, the comfort of a tourer, and shaft drive) was a hopeless hybrid and a mechanical impossibility. Now I find myself disconsolate and marooned in the filth and concrete of New York City, eating my heart out for a Honda CX500.
Quincy Howe, Jr.
New York, N.Y.
UNITED SIDECAR ASSOCIATION
The United Sidecar Association, smarting with the Great Tollway Ripoff in Illinois (we pay 50% more than a 2-axle 40,000-pound 6-wheeler) were successful in removing this excessive surcharge in tolls in Maine, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia for sidecarists. To our knowledge, all tollways (except Illinois) now charge a sidecarist no more than a car, although New York, New Jersey and California charge less. In Illinois, after a 12-month battle using the Governor's office and the State Legislature, we have almost achieved success.
If you wish to know more about sidecaring or to obtain a sample newsletter, please contact the secretary listed below':
H. A. Hendall 19201 Center Ave. Homewood, 111. 60430
VELO-WHAT?
Thank you so much for your well written story on the 1928 Velocette KSS MK1 in the July issue. In less than one week it has educated a large number of folks here in New York. People seeing mine for the first time are now more prone to ask if I got it through CYCLE WORLD. This is in stark contrast to the previous "Velo-What?" type questions.
Frank M. Chillemi Long Island, N.Y.
IF YOU PLAY WITH FIREWATER, . . .
Mr. Griffin's "Playing with Firewater," August 1978 issue, is an interesting article except for the mathematics. With regard to jet aperture diameters #130 refers to a 1.30mm diameter opening, not 0.130 as stated in the article. Further on a conversion is made from 0.3075mm to 0.12 1 in. This is incorrect as a result of the afore mentioned error. 3.075 does convert to 0.121 inches.
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Hope your readers who try the modifica tion catch this error. Todd S. Smith Lebanon, N.J.
1978 THANKSGIVING RIDE
Once again Doug Richmond extends a cordial invitation to all long-haul backcountry riders to accompany him on the Annual Thanksgiving Ride.
The first half of the trip will be from Ensenada to La Paz, BCS. Mexico via San Borja, La Purisima, both Comondus. and San Javier.
The second part will begin at Mazatlan after ferrying across the Sea of Cortez, and will take us to Parral via Badriaguato, then from Chihuahua to the coast via La Junta and Yecora. If possible.
Because the route will encompass some of the roughest terrain in North America it is vital that a lightweight combination street-trail bike, or a straight dirt bike be used. It is very definitely not a trip for the man-or woman!-with a huge, overweight street machine!
Or the faint of heart!
Those interested send two stamped and self-addressed envelopes plus two $1 bills to: Doug Richmond 583 Mira Vista Ave. Oakland, Calif. 94610 There will be no other charges.
LEGISLATION ON MOTORCYCLES
Legislation on motorcycles-have the politicians and bureaucrats goofed this time or not?
We in Ontario, Canada must ask our selves this question with respect to the new province-wide law concerning the com pulsory use of head and taillight at any time you are riding a motorcycle on a public road.
I find no fault in riding with the head light on, and have faithfully done so for the past 15 years. What I do object to is riding during daylight hours with the tail light on. and have always wired a switch into the light's circuit to allow shutting it off during daylight riding.
This action was the result of a near rearend collision. The auto driver's expla nation was that he had noticed the taillight on while following me, looked away mo mentarily as I applied the brakes, and when he looked back, there was still that same familiar red glow coming from the light.
It was the sudden decrease in the dis-> tance between us that indicated to him I was stopping. Since switching off, I have had no similar experiences, but after the local constabulary made me switch on again or pay $28 each time I'm caught, I have had two more of these close rearend misses.
I ask you, and your readers, if the taillight is there to act as a dual purpose warning device: 1) to allow a rearward indicator during periods of poor visibility, and 2) as a braking indicator at all times is it not best to have that warning device give the most drastic impressions on those who are to read and react to it? Nothing to something has always been a lot more noticeable and effective than going from something to a little more of the same thing.
Until this law is changed, those cycle riders in Ontario will at least rest assured that our political machine sees fit for us to be seen, but not view that which is going to kill you by increasing the odds that it will now be coming up from behind.
Larry Quirk Ottawa, Ontario Canada
COME GET ME, NEVADA
It finally happened. I had the miserable experience of traveling through a state that has a helmet law. I was unaware of this Mickey Mouse law until I was stopped 30 miles across the Nevada state line from California. I have read numerous letters to your magazine over the past couple of years complaining of this requirement. It never really bothered me and I really never gave it much thought, until now.
From what I was told by the Highway Patrol officer that cited me, there have been numerous protests over the law, and as a result, was vetoed by the state legislature. The Governor then vetoed their veto and said, anyone on a motorcycle in this state shall wear a helmet, period. I have no intention of paying the $15 fine or appearing, and I'll be damned if someone is going to tell me I have to wear a helmet. Come get me, Nevada.
Gary R. Steigler Santa Maria, Calif.
Charles LaGreca
