Letters

LETTERS

HIGH RISER WAR RAGES

CYCLE WORLD is in many ways a superlative magazine; its road tests are un-matched by any other American cycle magazine. Coverage of races and the racing scene here and abroad is excellent. But (there is always a "but"), the "high-risers illegal" section of October issue's editorials cast the overwhelming "nay"! Do I own a bike with "ape hangers"? No, my present bike is a stock BMW R-69S. Am I an unscrupulous handlebar manufacturer or dealer? No, I am not employed in any phase of the motorcycle industry.

I heartily concur with your opinion of the ape hangers' negative worth. Most look quite ridiculous (to you, to me, and to a large segment of the non-motorcycling public), AND DO NOT possess the superior handling qualities which we prefer.

"So," you say, "what is the fuss about"? Your "immense pleasure and satisfaction" with the law outlawing the use of high risers and your hope that "other states will follow suit," seems to show a lack of respect for the freedom (if not opposition to it) of the cyclist to choose the styling of his own bike. Your comments also seem to reflect the "liberal" philosophy of trying to find the solutions to all our problems in the hands of government.

We could now get into a long discussion on socialism-liberalism versus individual freedom. Suffice to say that we are apparently not in agreement here, an area of the utmost importance. Thus, your loss of my renewed subscription.

Well, these brief comments from the other side of the country are hardly sufficient to bring about any change in your policies, for you have undoubtedly given them some thought and appear to put your stock in the "liberal" answer to our problems.

Until our paths cross once more. PAUL W. REHM South Westerlo, N.Y.

Last month reader Pattee posed the same incongruity; that anyone is trying to deprive individuals of their freedom by establishing laws concerning unsafe vehicles. Your apparent willingness to deprive yourself of an admitted pleasure merely to satisfy the use of meaningless (in this instance) phrases that echo the attitude of a suspicious modern society is baffling. We of course must accept your cancellation; you have made your point, and now must buy CYCLE WORLD at the newsstand. Ed.

It is my opinion that the low handlebars offered as stock equipment on Honda Super Hawks are the answer for touring enthusiasts. After riding a Super Hawk equipped with Honda Dream bars for 23,000 miles I purchased a Super Hawk with standard low bars.

I recently returned from riding the lowbarred Honda to the Panama Canal and back, and found them comfortable and adequate for every condition encountered. Adverse conditions found were; 1000 miles of dirt, rocks, mud and sand, plus a 24hour ride in Montana's country covering 900 miles.

WM. E. HOSACK Sonora, California

I do not advocate the use of "ape hangers" but I do feel bars up to 14 inches are comfortable for taller riders. I have had 4 bikes in the last 2 years and have installed 12" and 14" bars on each for pavement riding. I do believe anything over 14" could prove dangerous, but so what!

What happened to freedom of expression? Ape hangers are usually confined to "custom" bikes, and are not too functional anyway. If it makes a guy happy let him be. What about them guys who have a ton of lights on their Harleys — necessary no, but it makes them happy and the motorcycle shops prosperous.

I wish I had the money spent on longer control cables and bars and I am sure the shops appreciate it. Now there is another law as if we didn't have enough already. Pretty soon they will be allowed to pass laws on what color you can paint your bike.

Sure the extreme ape-hangers are dangerous, but so is smoking. It's a little tiresome to hear you rap these poor guys month after month. You don't believe in them, that is your privilege, but let others decide for themselves and please don't try to pass any more legislation.

I give you these suggestions to help your good magazine get even better, better because you will accept constructive criticism. Hope I didn't break your ear off.

FRANK CISNEROS Salinas, Calif.

Thank you for being constructive. "Freedom" at the risk of lives of people is not freedom; we're afraid the poor guys are just going to have to continue taking it, until they show your wisdom, that is. Ed.

PEACE IN THE CYCLE WORLD

Being avid fans of your magazine, we have followed the debate concerning "apehanger" bars with bated breath and hearts fraught with interest. In the interest of safe, sane, motorcycling, the Grinnell Motoring Society sends this picture showing how a small liberal arts college has solved the whole pregnant problem of "ape-hangers," safety, and image in the motorcycling world.

Unfortunately, haphazard arrangement makes inclusion of individual names impossible. Suffice it to say that none of these people (except the two gentlemen in pork-pie hats whom no one seems to know) have police records and all are unusually courteous to parents and friends alike. We cast our vote for CYCLE WORLD.

Yours, in confidence of your success in the coming debate,

PETER COHON (far right) For the GRINNELL MOTORING SOCIETY Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa

ADVICE FROM THE "BIG" BOYS

Like we're all the guys with the big machines and we've known what's going on since before these kids been born. You and your magazine and these skinny school kids putt-putting around on those Hondas are just in a different world from us. We've all been riding big Harleys for 20 years and when you think what motorcycles are all about it's a pack of us with our boots and leathers and buckles moving on our 74's. The way you prissy things up with the way you're always afraid what people will think about cycles and how're you're supposed to kiss the public's behind cause you're supposed to apologize cause you ride a machine is a lot of nonsense. You're either afraid of us or you've never really seen what it's like by the way you ignore us and real machines like big Harleys and like we don't care about "the public" or "the industry" or the "racing scene." The AMA's got some ok guys but their rules are too much nonsense. Just take your head out of the sand and see that we're the bulk of cycles around here and we make it what it is and we don't like to see you make it out like it's something it's not.

Sincerely,

"WOOSE" FISHER

Brooklyn, New York

Congratulations "Woose," you have earned the dubious honor of writing us one of the most incredible letters we have ever received. You err greviously in estimating that we are not conscious of your existence; unfortunately we are all too aware of your effect on the sport of motorcycling. Obviously we do not ignore your "big Harleys"; if you will look at our last issue you will understand. A quick comparison of the performance of the "74" to that of several of the hotter "putt putts" will reveal something you had better give a great deal of thought to the next time you are challenged by some skinny kid. We have no objections to the machines you ride, but we object strenuously to you. Fortunately your evaluation of your number is grossly inaccurate, and if you interpret our intentions as apologizing for riding motorcycles, we have failed miserably.

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IT IS ALWAYS DARKEST ....

Since Adam Smith wrote The Wealth Of Nations, men have mistakenly used his ideas to justify any means as long as the end is money making. Your organization has persistently refused to be swayed by logically irrelevant considerations and this hard-headed attitude has thrown the opposite tendency of others into bold and welcome relief. You give a monthly breath of clean sweet air to a man choking in the pollution given off by industry. At five dollars a year, I consider this the bargain of the year.

DAVID REEL

Inkster, Mich.

INTELLIGENCE SHARED

This letter is just a waste of both our times, as you already know you have the best staff in the business. Top flight contributors. Most of the readers. A good share of the advertisers. A hell of a good looking wife. Now, if you don't go lame packing the money to the bank don't blame me, as I am doing my part bragging about CYCLE WORLD.

E. B. BROWN

Chillicothe, Mo.

And, some of the nicest readers any magazine ever had. Ed.

CYCLING FOR BUSINESS

Enclosed is a picture of Milfred Neevel at his job, riding motorcycle and sidecar for the Banker's Dispatch Corp. of Milwaukee. Two other riders take turns on the route which covers central Wisconsin,

collecting and redistributing cancelled checks.

There are four such sidecar outfits in Wisconsin and the performance and savings (in fuel, etc.), are quite satisfactory. Snow is expected to be the only problem during the winter months (other than the cold).

DENIS WENDT Waupun, Wisconsin

CYCLES BANNED ON NEW JERSEY TURNPIKES

I was so darned annoyed at the item in the New York Times titled "Turnpike Ban on all Motorcycles," I have written to ask that you inquire into the matter.

The implication is that motorcycles are dangerous. Well, I know that several years ago I took a trip with my wife on a BMW from New York to Mexico City to San Francisco and back to New York. We even used the New Jersey Turnpike, which would bar us, and had no trouble. The only smashed vehicles we saw were autos. So how come the ban on motorcycles?

I am a teacher in a public school in New York City. I feel that I have at least a bare minimum of common sense. I resent being told that I cannot use a public road. Are we going forward or not in the image of motorcycling?

RICHARD RUBIN New York, N.Y.

An article appearing in most New Jersey newspapers states that SOON all motorcycles will be banned from the New Jersey Turnpike. Although few cyclists use the pike, we feel that this is another kick in the pants of motorcycling.

First we were banned from the Garden State Parkway and when our industry offered very little opposition to this the Turnpike Authority must have gotten the same idea. If this doesn't get stopped in our state all dealers may as well fold up. There is practically no racing allowed in this state and with road riding getting more and more complicated, selling bikes is not getting easier.

I have enclosed a copy of a letter I have sent to Mr. Lin Kuchler of the American Motorcycle Association.

HANK SLEGERS CO., INC. (signed) HANK SLEGERS Whippany, New Jersey

Thank you for calling this gross injustice to our attention, gentlemen; we will do our bit, small as it is. The truth of the matter is that the only way to fight any legislation is by an overwhelming public reaction, or by paid, professional lobbying. Lobbying costs a great deal of money, and is in most cases performed by paid lobbyists who are in the service of special interest groups, such as motorcycle associations.

The most effective way to fight this proposed law is for each and every cycle enthusiast to write the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (Attn. Mr. Joseph Morecraft Jr.), and express your views. Only a large number of responses can have an effect; it is entirely up to you motorcyclists in New Jersey. Ed. •