Letters
LETTERS
WRONG H-D CLUTCH
It has come to my attention that in the road test of our XLCH in the October CYCLE WORLD a small gremlin has been at work. It seems as though someone gave your Editors some misinformation as to the type of clutch used in this machine. You will note under the specifications page under “Power Transmission”, it calls for a multi-disc wetplate clutch. Actually, the clutch furnished on the Harley-Davidson XLCH is dry plate.
This is certainly not meant to be critical, as I am only too well aware of how easy it is for these mistakes to take place. However, I would appreciate it if you could make note of the error in some way in a future issue.
G. A. JOHNSTON Advertising Mgr. Harley-Davidson Mtr. Co. Happy to oblige. Ed.
GUZZI VICTORIES
You mentioned that the V-8 Guzzi was not developed into a winner. I agree that it was not a winner in the sense of Gilera, MV, and now Honda, but win it did:
GP of Siracusa in 1957 ridden by D. Dale.
Imola, Coppa d’ Oro Shell, D. Dale riding, also lap record of 149 kph.
And, it set the following records: Montichiari, Oct. 25, 1956, 1 km standing start, 164.083 kph. 1 mile, standing start, 185.991 kph. 10 km standing start, B. Lomas riding, 243.572 kph, February 26, 1957.
These facts are not too well known, mainly because the races were won and the records set in Italy. I must point out that the wins were performed against the full teams of Gilera and MV, ridden by their top riders. Zeller and his BMW were also present at Imola.
LIONEL GOMEZ Santa Ana, El Salvador Central America
A HARLEY, BY JASPER
In the report on the Black Hills Race & Rally you showed 5 mile Novice winner Bill Jasper riding a BSA. I wish you would correct this: Bill Jasper was riding a
Harley-Davidson.
J. O. JASPER Centralia, Illinois
GROWING PAINS
Do you think it is too big a change to go from a 150 Vespa to a heavyweight motorcycle, such as the Harley Davidson Duo-Glide? I have never ridden a motorcycle of any sort, but I have a friend who is going to teach me everything he has learned in the past 10 years that he has been riding, including repair and maintenance.
THOMAS DUFFY
Hialeah, Fla.
If you can ride the Vespa, it seems likely that you should have no problems learning to ride a larger machine. We hope your friend has learned a great deal in ten years. Ed.
UNO-GUZZI DEALER PLAN Shortly after your splendid review of the Uno-Guzzi we were visited by a salesman who offered a splendid floor plan for them; only $15.00 down and the balance when sold, for a package of ten machines. It has been almost six weeks now and we have received no machines and we have received no answer to our letters of inquiry.
Do you think we have been the victims of unscrupulous persons?
John Hawley wants one very much so he can sack Tommy Morris’ Honda on the quarter mile. He says he can keep the power on in a turn and pass Morris while the Honda is broadsliding. We don’t think the Uno-Guzzi will broadslide too well, but it will shut off nicely going into a turn.
Question: Do you think the Richtofen Uno-Guzzi illustration is authentic? Some fans question that a real Uno-Guzzi fan would use ape hanger handlebars.
E. DEAL Greensboro, N.C.
THE IMAGE AGAIN
I would like to ask what kind of an association would us motorcyclists have to start to improve our standing with the general public?
CHUCK BORGGREN Pittsburg, Kansas
It is doubtful that any association can do more than ask its members to govern their conduct by adult, civilized and mature standards. Nobody can force people to act according to their own desires or standards; it is entirely up to the individual. By the way, if we are not mistaken, you too are a member of the “general public.” Ed.
FAMILY SPORT
I have just purchased a Honda 50 for my 15 year old son but my 12 year old daughter wants her turn as well. Luckily we have a wooded acre which is being used for a small scrambles course.
My own 305 Honda is the result of enthusiasm warmed up by your magazine from my early days on a used Police Indian, 1929 or so.
FREDERICK W. WEIMANN, D.D.S.
Huntington, New York
LEAKY SOLUTION
Tuttle Walker of Ft. Walton, Florida, wrote in your letters column that he had a leaky problem. I had the same problem until I got a ball of wool yarn and loosened the leaking covers etc. and wound the yarn in the leaking places then tightened them back up.
I ride a cycle and got problems too. The riders on small cycles here call us truckers, otherwise big Harleys. I got 9000 miles this summer going to hillclimbs and races.
VERN HUETH Superior, Montana
WINNING DUCATIS In the November CW I noticed the impressive victory scored by Ducatis in the Gold Cup races at Mosport, Canada.
Were these desmodromic valve engines such as Ducati raced in 1959 or were they the single overhead cam models like those
sold to the public? Nobody around here seems to know the answer and several would be interested to know why Honda didn't score. I have only one criticism of your other Wise excellent publication; that is, the lack of technical articles. In fact, the reason I subscribed was for the technical articles and road tests. DOUGLAS HULL Opa-Locha, Florida The Mosport races were won by standard production Ducatis, as were the Hondas competing against them; there was no fac tory participation to our knowledge. Con cerning the "lack" of technical articles, which magazine have you been looking at? Ed.
HANDLEBAR COMMENTS
I would like to make a few comments on handlebars. There are too many riders and road testers who miss the point altogether. 1. Control and comfort are inseparable and the design of a good bar should give the maximum of both at high speeds for safety’s sake. 2. If handlebars feel just right when sitting on the machine in a static position, they are not right, and here is where the unknowledgeable is fooled. There should be a certain amount of forward lean, that is pressure felt in the arms, so that the rider can at 30-mph-plus “lean into the wind.” All forces then become balanced. The Continentals know what they are about. 3. In road testing often handlebars are downchecked because they caused some stiffness in the arms and back and I think this is because the muscles called into play have not been given time to adjust. This takes two or three weeks of riding. 4. The use of a windshield, conversely, calls for higher handlebars due to the absence of wind pressure.
To my mind there is no combination in our sport so good as a low bar and the open air, “a soft pillow to lean upon”, and the proper clothing for the job.
ROBERT H. BAKER
Jacksonville, Fla.
The answer to your statements would make an interesting article, which, as a matter of fact, is in preparation. We will say though that a certain degree of forward lean is desirable, but that for prolonged periods the short “clip on” style handlebar is extremely uncomfortable no matter how long one employs it. More important, we feel they do not offer the degree of control in tight quarters and in emergencies. More on this subject later. •
