25 Years Ago July, 1968

25 YEARS AGO JULY, 1968

This issue was highlighted by coverage of the annual Cycle World Motorcycle Show, held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. In his description of the event, Editor Joe Parkhurst wrote that “Ol’ P.T. (Barnum) couldn’t have predicted the 108,000 paying customers who spun the turnstiles to view the 400 private entries-from super chopper to sleek streetster-and 44 commercial entries from throughout the world, a number that makes CW's show the only truly international event of its kind in the U.S.”

• Four motorcycles were tested in this issue. Of particular importance was BMW’s new R60 U.S., which featured a telescopic fork rather than the Earles-type design traditionally used by BMW. In addition to the Beemer and a Cotton trials bike, staffers sampled a pair of streetgoing Rickman Metisse-framed Triumphs—one a standard, the other a café racer. “Handling is where the Metisse frames show their worth,” was the conclusion.

• B.R. Nichols’ report on the Lynton grand prix engine drew on the then-developing trend of using automobile powerplants in motorcycle racing. Based on the Cosworth Formula II engine, the dohc, eightvalve, 449cc vertical-Twin was developed by ex-racer Colin Lyster and Paul Brothers. Reportedly, the liquid-cooled Lynton made upwards of 60 horsepower. Twenty-five years later, the same formula still has its appeal.

Matthew Miles