Letters

LETTERS

THE V-TWINS

Liked Cycle World's story in the May issue on the V-Twin. In your listing of Japanese V-Twins, however, you missed a couple. Neither was exported, of course, or even terribly well known in Japan, so they were easy to miss.

In 1932 Kurogane produced and sold a 1296cc 4-stroke V-Twin, which was especially popular with the sidecar crowd. In 1954 there was a model CV Eve Star which was a 338cc 4-stroke OHV fore and aft V-Twin. The Kurogane was also fore and aft.

In 1959 Marusho put the Lilac CS28 on sale with a 124.6cc 4-stroke V-Twin engine, across the frame, bore x stroke of 44 x 41mm, with a shaft drive. In 1960, it became the Lilac CF40, same engine. In 1961, it became the C81, same engine.

Also, Harley didn't produce any machines in Japan in 1929, I believe. The best information on H-D in Japan I have is that the first H-D was imported in 1912, Japan Harley-Davidson Co. Ltd. was established in 1931, construction on the Shinagawa factory began in 1933 and the first Harley built in Japan came off the

J.M. Maxwell

line in 1935. In the same year the company name was changed and it became the Rikuo bike.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Dub Swim

American Honda Co.

Gardena, Calif.

With reference to your recent road test of the new Yamaha Virago; somewhere

near the beginning of the report you state that of all current V-Twins, only the new Yamaha shares major components between front and rear cylinders. Not so folks.

All of our Moto Morini Vees have inter changeable front and rear cylinders heads, rods, pistons, intake manifolds, car buretors, and valve covers. In fact, virtually every piece above the crankshaft (less the exhaust system) is shared between the front and rear cylinders. This was one of the main features of the original 1971 Moto Morini V-Twin design. (As an aside, many major components are not only shared between front and rear cylinders of individual models, but also be* tween 250, 350, and 500cc engines.)

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We re not disputing your road test findings, just trying to keep you honest.

Dick Hartnett Herdan Corporation. Port Clinton, Penn.

Amazing! When was the last time, for the same month, a Vee twin appeared on1 the cover of America's three popular motorcycle magazines?

While the rest of the publishing world is duplicating their cover shots of space exploration or computer-guided rocket gliders, you are all rallying around the Vee. And all of you did a great job on background stories of the Vee.

Somewhere here lies the observation that a challenge to modern man as he technically advances, is not to lose touch with what already proves good.

Mike Lerch Phoenix. Ariz.

WHAT GIVES?

I went down to the local Honda dealer to put a down payment on a CB900F that you listed as $3349. But the dealer says list price is $3495. Who's right1?

Steve Gressani Hopewell Jet., N.Y.

Gulp. Our price was—we learn now—■ an estimate. The actual suggested retail price for the CB900F is $3498.

A LIFESAVER

1 have recently purchased my first bike after riding for 20 years or so. I thought 1 knew all there was to know about riding until I bought your Introduction to Motorcycling. How mistaken 1 was. Your tips on safety along with additional information on how to ride, accessories, etc. will help me have many years of safe riding.

You made it humorous, easy to understand, very informative and 1 salute you for one helluva book.

Joe Housman Boonton, N.J.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY

I am writing concerning the letter about mileage paid to state employees usingtheir motorcycles on state business, in your May 1981 issue. As a former state employee I looked into the reimbursements paid by South Dakota.

Cars: 20 cents per mile, motorcycles: 5 scents per mile!

Peter Cass Eagle Butte, S.Dak.

As a motorcyclist and state employee I am very interested in the reimbursement rates paid by state governments.

As of this writing, Wisconsin feels that it has no statutory authority to grant reimbursement to employees for motorcycle mileage accrued while on state business. Several other employees and I feel this is an extremely counter-productive policy especially in a period of travel cut backs due to fuel costs. The problem we have run into is our inability to provide substantiated operating cost figures to the State.

To help all motorcyclists, we would like to ask your readers to provide any information on the situation in other states or verifiable operating costs of various bikes.

Tim Doelger

Box 3600

Green Bay, Wis. 54303

CLUB REPORTS

Thank you for the free million-dollar publicity listing of the United Sidecar Association, Inc. in your March, 1981 issue. However, all membership inquiries should be addressed to P.O. Box 8119, Van Nuys, Calif. 91406.

Edgar N. Johnson National Chairman South Holland, 111.

I am in the process of organizing a national club for Honda 750s. Interested people should write me and include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope.

Steven Faer P.O. Box 19 N. Westchester, Conn.

06474

We get letters from as far away as South Africa, Philippines, Sweden and IndoI nesia saying .. . saw your club listed in CW, tell me more ...

Wow! Magazines are the most powerful medium for messages known to man. Thanks again.

Jim Griner

Yamaha 650 Society Princeville, 111.

With advent of such mid-sized machines as the Seca 550, GPz550 and GS550 and their attendant complexity, will we who appreciate the joy of the single cylinder 500cc motorcycle be relegated to the ranks of those who cherish the Velocette Thruxton, BSA Gold Star, and Norton International? I hope not, but when was the last time you saw an advertisement for the SR?

In an effort to preserve this remarkable bike, I encourage those who have experienced the thrill of the big Yamathumpe to write to me and help organize a club devoted to the preservation and promotion of the only modern classic available to the American road rider.

Michael Lussem

The Society of the SR 5122 Hildring Dr. #139 Fort Worth, Tex. 76132

DEALER DISSERVICE

David Mallet's Dealing With Dealers in the June, 1981 issue made some excellent

points. If everyone followed his suggestions, all sides of the motorcycle industry would be better off.

Without boring you with all the detail and unreasonable demands that we are plagued with every day, I do want to set the record straight on one particular statement made by Mr. Mallet. He states . . . “the $4000 machine that, for him spells a weekend vacation in Hawaii . . . “ I'd like to know what brand that dealer is selling if he can make enough from one sale to go on vacation. If I sold a 1981 Kawasaki KZ1000 LTD at suggested list price, would show a gross profit of $690. Out of this I have to pay all my overhead; rent, utilities, wages, insurance, and floor plan interest. Now, a round trip ticket from Chicago to Hawaii costs about $720, and I fonly made $690. I can't even fly there, much less spend the weekend.

With those few mischosen words, Mr. , Mallet did all the reputable and honest dealers he was telling his readers to do ^business with a great disservice.

Margaret Jackson Sports Motors Youngstown, Ohio

BUYER BEWARE

I have to agree with Terry Huber on his 'letter to Cycle World (Letters, June, 1981). If I had done as he did I would still fiave my Honda 500 Four and $2000 in the Abank.

In the last 58 years I have bought and ridden every American-made and Japanese motorcycle on the market. Twentythree in all and only seven were new. Each and every one I rode before I paid for it. ►Every one turned out fine except the last one. I had ridden a few BMWs owned by pals. All seemed to be smooth and quiet. The dealer had an R75/5 that I wanted but he wouldn't let me ride it. Well, after f he had my cash and I got to ride the beast, there was an odd engine noise like no other

BMW ever had before or since. Finally I learned (after spending another $500) that some of these models in 1971 had to have the crankshafts replaced by the factory.

If I had ridden before paying I would not be clattering around on a high priced two-wheel vibrator.

Wallace Hall Concord, N.H.

WHO'S KIDDING WHO?

I've been riding bikes since 1973 and have bought 17 motorcycles in that time. Not only has a healthy portion of my in-

come been spent on parts and accessories but I have influenced a lot of people to take up motorcycling for fun and economical transportation.

So why aren't the major manufacturers making bikes for me anymore? I refuse to buy one of these over-complex, overweight, over expensive and impossible to maintain bikes.

Where did the kick starter go? There will come a time when we'll all wish we had one. What do you do when your air suspension leaks? Ever pay for a tuneup on a CBX? How about paying $35 for a 750 Honda battery, or $65 for a Gold Wing battery and better yet, $75 for a BMW battery? And how about paying a wrench $25 per hour to find the knock in your 16valve train? Was it really an improvement for Suzuki to start using the cheap plain bearing crank? Can the average guy really work on these bikes and will they really cost less to repair and maintain than the bikes of years ago?

Who's kidding who? I'm waiting for the technology of the '80s to produce a sensible motorcycle. Until then I'll stay with my 50,000 mi. per top end GT750.

Dean Flanders Taylor, Mich.