Cycle World Roundup
CYCLE WORLD ROUNDUP
Race series added to Great American Motorcycle Shows
A championship series of indoors short track races will accompany the second season of the traveling Great
American Motorcycle Shows.
The schedule for the consumer shows is: Nov. 18— 20, Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas; Dec. 8—11, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California; Jan. 6—8, Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas; Jan. 13—15, Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Jan. 25—29, Madison Square Garden, New York City; Jan. 27—29, Cow Palace, San Francisco, California; Feb. 3— 5, Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri; Feb. 10—12, Tacoma Dome, Seattle, Washington; Feb. 16—19, O’Hare Exposition Center, Chicago, Illinois; Feb. 24—26, Philadelphia Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and March 23—25, Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado.
The AMA-sanctioned race series, called the Great American Shoot-out, will be run in Dallas, Los Angeles, Fort Worth, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Denver. According to racer Mike Kidd, who is overseeing the series for Great American Media Inc., the Newport Beach, California, show promoter, a race may be added in St. Louis. The races will be run on Saturday nights of the show weekends, except for the Dallas event, which will be on Friday.
Great American Media hopes to attract professional racers as well as local contenders. The purses have not been announced.
Honda captures majority share of U.S. market
More than half of all motorcycles sold in the United States during the first quarter of 1983 were Hondas, according to the Motorcycle Industry Business Journal. Honda’s share of the American market increased to 55 percent, while all other motorcycle manufacturers sustained losses, the Journal said. It was the first time since the 1960s that Honda dominated more than half of the U.S. market.
Based on registration statistics furnished by R.L. Polk and Co., the trade publication reported that Honda’s market share had increased considerably from its 43 percent share last Dec
Yamaha’s share, meanwhile, dropped from 23 percent to 1 8 percent. Suzuki’s share decreased from 15 percent to 1 3 percent. Kawasaki's share dropped from 1 3 percent to 9 percent. Harley-Davidson’s share dropped from 5 percent to 4 percent.
The market share figures include sales of street, dualpurpose and off-road motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Of the 923,000 twoand three-wheeled vehicles sold in the U.S. during 1982, the Journal said, about 62 percent were street and dualpurpose bikes. About 1 3 percent were dirt bikes and about 24 percent were ATVs.
Honda’s share of that 1982 market represented almost 400,000 vehicles.
According to Don Brown, editor and publisher of the Journal, Honda benefitted from the increased sales of the ATVs. Honda markets several highly-popular versions of the three-wheeler.
EML racing sidecars come to America
A California firm has begun importing the Dutch-made off-road racing EML sidecar chassis.
The nickle-plated, chromemoly frame accepts a variety of engines, including Ducatis, Nortons, BMWs, Maicos, Hondas and Yamahas. The most popular match is the Yamaha 650 Twin, shown in the photograph.
A lOOOcc two-stroke Twin racing engine also is available.
EMLs come with Huelco
shocks, and front and rear Grimeca disc brakes. They’re available in a number of colors.
The sidecar rigs are sold either as partial kits or as complete, rolling chassis (the customer supplies the engine, carbs and electrics). The roller goes for $2800.
EMLs are available from Schnoor Sales, 12801 San Fernando Road, Sylmar, Calif. 91342. Phone (213) 362-8298.
Aftermarket report indicates riders keeping bikes
A survey of aftermarket sales trends suggests that increasing numbers of riders are keeping their bikes for longer periods of time or purchasing used bikes, rather than stepping up to brandnew models.
According to the report, compiled by the Motorcycle Industry Council, the sales of maintenance-related and replacement goods such as exhaust systems, chains and batteries has increased, while sales of styling accessories and convenience items—such as fairings and luggage racks has declined. The report compares sales during the first six months of
1983 to that of the corresponding period in 1982.
The increase in sales of those maintenance and original-equipmentreplacements seems to indicate that more riders are overhauling their current bikes, instead of buying new ones. Or, that they are buying used motorcycles and replacing worn-out parts.
Aftermarket goods that showed sales increases were: exhaust systems/mufflers, up 14 percent; boots, up 1 1 percent; chains, up 1 1 percent; batteries, up 9 percent; clothing, up 8 percent; gloves, up 5 percent; and tires, up 2 percent.
Goods that showed decreases in sales were: engine guards, down 34 percent; windscreen devices, down 18 percent; luggage racks, down 17 percent; helmets, down 10 percent; and luggage, down 5 percent.
Nitrous facts
The story Doing It The Hard Way in the October issue describes nitrous oxide as being one-third nitrogen and two-thirds oxygen.
Nitrous oxide is two thirds nitrogen and one thirdoxygen.
Cyclist tries to topple double-nickel limit
A California motorcyclist is trying to obtain a referendum on the repeal of the state’s 55-mph speed limit. Michael Smith, owner of a Santa Clara bookstore, hopes to have the question placed on the ballot for the November
1984 general election.
“It’s time for the people to stand up and speak out,” says Smith. “The speed limit is a bad law; nobody’s obeying it and there’s little enforcement. It shouldn’t be on the books.”
Smith maintains that statistics have disproved claims by double-nickel proponents that the national speed limit has conserved fuel or saved lives. And, he says, > he feels that the federally mandated speed limit is unconstitutional.
“Ignoring all of that, it’s probably the most unpopular law we have,” he says.
Smith has established the Committee for Repeal of the
55-mph Speed Limit, and is seeking contributions and volunteers. He figures the committee will need at least $20,000 (for advertising and printing of petitions); he says he’d feel more comfortable, though, with $100,000. The volunteers are needed to collect the 300,000 signatures necessary to have the referendum placed on the California ballot.
“If we can get the question before the voters, I’m confidant that they’ll reject the 55-mph limit,” Smith says. “What then? Well, today, California; tomorrow, the rest of the country.”
The Committee for Repeal of the 55-mph Speed Limit can be reached at 2455 The Alameda, Santa Clara, Calif. 95050. Phone (408) 2492000.
What’s a Magni?
From the same gent who was responsible for some of MV Agusta’s world championship-winning race bikes, comes the BMW-based Magni MB2 cafe racer.
Designed in Italy by Arturo Magni, MV Agusta’s former race chief, the MB2 is available in three versions: a frame kit (with frame, swing arm, tank, seat, pegs, brake and gear pedal linkage, rear fender and side panels), a rolling chassis (all of the above, plus handlebars, wheels, and brake systems), and a street-ready, completed motorcycle.
The completed MB2 comes with a lOOOcc BMW engine; five-speed transmission; double-loop, chrome-moly steel frame; Ceriani roadrace forks; Brembo racing brakes, dual discs in front, a single disc in back; and a 7.1-gal. gas tank.
Claimed weight is 419 lb. Claimed seat height is 30 in.
Suggested prices are: frame kit, $2950; rolling chassis, $4750; assembled bike, $7500. Two fairings are available for the MB2, a onepiece half-fairing ($380) and a three-piece full fairing ($595). Options include a turbocharger.
All three versions are being imported into the United States by Slater Bros. (USA) Ltd., P.O. Box 746,
Kenwood, Calif. Phone (707) 833-2622. Slater also offers a conversion service, using one of the kits and a customersupplied BMW to build a Magni.
Penhall graces Ride Straight posters
To publicize its Ride Straight campaign against drunken driving, the American Motorcyclist Association is selling color posters of two-time World Speedway Champion Bruce Penhall, promoting sensible alcohol use by motorcyclists.
Two versions of the 17by 23-inch poster are being offered: an individually autographed poster for $10 and an unautographed poster for $4. Both prices include postage and handling. Proceeds from the poster sales will go to defray costs of the campaign.
The poster shows Penhall, a costar of the “CHiPS” television series, in his cadet uniform. An inset photo shows him with his World Championship trophy. A caption quotes Penhall: “Getting sideways is for the track and requires all my senses. On the street or trail, there’s just no room for irresponsible drinking.”
The posters are available from Ride Straight, c/o AMA, P.O. Box 141, Westerville, Ohio, 43081.
Snell issues helmet warning
The Snell Memorial Foundation, a helmet safety research institute, has announced that a number of helmets may no longer meet the protection requirements of the 1970 Snell standard.
According to Snell, the brands and models are: Fury 300, 400 and 500; Mark VII and X; Hondaline Hare,
Hawk and Stag; Kawasaki Regular and FC; and Yamaha Standard and FC.
The Snell Foundation identification numbers of the helmets are: B-50,001 to B70,000; B-l 10,001 to B130,000; B-l90,001 to B200,000; B-310,001 to B-325-000; and B-520,001 to B-522,000.
The foundation recommends that helmets marked with those identification numbers be withdrawn from service.
Now, someone to put you on the rider’s seat
There’s always been a lot of interest in rental motorcycles, but there just wasn’t anyone around who offered that service. A 10-year-old moped was about all a vacationing rider could hope to rent.
Not anymore. Now, you can rent real bikes.
Late-model BMWs, equipped for touring, are being rented by Breen’s Motorcycles West in Morro Bay, California.
The bikes are available from May through October. Camping gear also is available for rent.
Morro Bay, by the way, is on the coast of Central California, handy to a variety of popular vacation spots.
For more information, contact Breen’s Motorcycles West, 2056 Bayview, Morro Bav, Calif. 93442. Phone (805) 772-3877.
It’s also possible to rent Harley-Davidsons in Florida, Hawaii and West Germany. The rental privilege is one of the services offered by the Harley Owners Group (HOG).
The rental bikes, 1983 FLT Tour Glides and FXRT touring-model Super Glides, are available in Orlando and Miami, Florida; Frankfurt, West Germany; and Honolulu, Hawaii. The rental program probably will be expanded to include other areas, said a spokesman for Harley. Other HOG membership privileges include free touring maps, reimbursement for emergency road service and theft insurance. The annual membership fee is $30. For information about HOG or the rental program, contact Harley-Davidson, 3700 W. Juneau Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 53201. Phone toll-free (800) 2582464.
Four-cylinder, 150+ mph Laverda under development
Word from Italy is that Laverda is testing a watercooled, four-cylinder, lOOOcc superbike capable of topping 150 mph. The across-the-frame Four has dohc and four valves per cylinder. Claimed power is estimated at 120 bhp. The engine is being tested at Laverda’s factory in Breganze. A factory spokesman said the engines are being run in modified Jota frames. A new chassis for the superbike still is being designed; it will have a monocoque frame, the spokesman said and a singleshock rear suspension is a possibility. The factory also is developing a 90-bhp 750cc version of the superbike, which Laverda hopes to run in the Formula l World Championship.
Available in walnut, maple or mahogany
Thanks to one of our faithful readers in Southern California, we have the following classified ad from the (Garden Grove, California) PennySaver.
“ 1982 HONDA NIGHTSTAND 750. Extras. Very low miles. $2650.”
Accessories, we assume, include a reading lamp and clock radio. E
