Letters
LETTERS
NEW ROAD RACERS' ASSOCIATION
As a 6-year motorcyclist and a new member of a road racing fraternity I would like to say that it is about time some organization listened to the cries of hundreds of road racers who have been for years asking the AMA for more events. It would seem that the AMA has turned deaf ears to them and was holding a secret campaign to stamp out road racing in the U.S.
However, a new organization, the American Association of Motorcycle Road Racing, has been giving the riders more events. This new group has given its members practice sessions and races and in all these events the riders were given plenty of time to practice and ride and the spectators saw more action than I have seen in two days of AMA road racing. Four successful practice sessions and two races in five months is not a bad show; rumor has it that in 1964 the AAMRR plans on as many as two to three events per MONTH, if the riders are willing to support it. At least one organization is finally listening to what its members want.
You riders wanting some road racing action in the Fast, here it is. Look to the AAMRR in ’64, I’m sure you will not be disappointed.
BERNIE JOHNSON E. Stroudeburg, Pa.
For more information on the AAMRR, write care of Mr. Louis Otto, lll-42nd Street, Union City, New Jersey. Ed.
BAD SPOT
I work for Harley-Davidson; it is not much of a pleasure since I recently purchased a Honda Hawk. Everyone there is trying to point out the bad features of the Honda. But when they say a Honda is cheap it can get a mild tempered person like myself very mad.
I am no expert on motorcycles and I am outnumbered in my opinions of a Honda. PLEASE, can somebody help me! I believe a man in this country should have his choice of which machine to buy no matter where he works. Can you please point out the good features of my Super Hawk. My fellow employees say it is cheap in materials and workmanship, though money was no object in my buying the Honda. Maybe some of your readers can help.
MICHAEL STOPS Milwaukee, Wise.
We suspect the largest part of your problem is merely good-natured ribbing. By no means is a Honda cheaply made nor is the workmanship inferior. We don't know of anyone at Honda riding a Harley to work, but I'll bet they would get the same static.
ALL TOGETHER NOW . . .
Your test of the Harley-Davidson FLH (January '64 CW) in my opinion, was a very fair and unbiased report. Thank you for having an open mind towards the big brute.
My own machine is a H-D 74. Because of your honest and fair report of a machine that I consider the only true motorcycle, and even though many people disagree with me, please enter my name on your subscription list. I hope your policy of honesty and fair reporting continues.
REX KNIGHT
i'Jorth Sacramento. Calif.
I was very disappointed in the write-up you gave in testing the Harley 74. I have mostly driven 74’s and still am but most of my friends have driven foreign machines, BSA’s and Triumphs mostly. While they are adjusting and fixing them, I am sitting and waiting, ready to go. I don’t have one-third the trouble they do.
I have nothing against their machines; my wife has a 1963 Yamaha YD-3. I know from experience that nothing on the road holds up like a 74, since they are just built with strong material and care.
You could have said more about the engine, for it is without a doubt one of the finest on the road. That 74 you tested should have been broken in more before you tested it. Your top speed is off. I have driven two of my 74’s at over 120 mph in third gear; they don’t seem to go as fast in 4th. The best I have done in 4th is 115 mph. Hold that 74 wide open in 3rd and see what happens.
The man who tested this machine must have ridden only foreign machines and think they are the only thing. Naturally they are fine on tracks but that’s about it. They make your arms, back and rear-end ache, but not the 74, you can ride all day and not hurt a bit.
When you are doing 70-80 mph, and go over a railroad crossing or hit a dirt road or anything rough it’s mighty nice to have a 74 under you. Tell your test driver to ride it more and see. I would like to see a better write-up on the 74, which it deserves. And, try its top speed — it will go faster. You don’t have to be afraid of it, you are riding the best constructed cycle in the U.S., maybe the world, not some flimsily made foreign machine. I would like an answer to this letter.
' WILLIAM FLEMING Boulder, Montana
. . . and you are going to get it! We are in no position to enter into a heated discussion about the relative merits of various machines’ abilities to last; there are far too many variables involved. Your estimates of the 74’s top speed are just that, estimates. There is not a speedometer in the world, except for a high priced electric laboratory instrument, that is accurate, particularly at the high end of the scale. We time our road test machines quite accurately and the speed achieved was done so when the engine was turning its absolute maximum revolutions in 4th gear. Your imagination is remarkable; to believe that the 74 will go faster in 3rd gear than in 4th is ridiculous. Perhaps the vibration was so severe you couldn't read the instrument too well. We held the 74 wide open in all gears, as we do each and every machine we test; we are not afraid, foolish perhaps, but not afraid. That “man” to whom you refer is the entire CYCLE WORLD staff, each of whom rides and evaluates a machine and contributes to a total impression of all bikes we use. We put over 1,200 miles on the H-D FLH in the process of testing it, a record in our over two years of evaluating motorcycles. It would seem that this is sufficient time to arrive at an opinion. Ed.
I had been looking forward to reading CYCLE WORLD’S Harley-Davidson FLH road test, as CW can be counted on to give an unbiased report. No doubt there will be cries of anguish from Harley owners, for until now no one else has had the intestinal fortitude to point out such obvious faults as poor engine finishing, gas mileage that many automobiles today can exceed, rider comfort at speed (or lack of), and the fact that we have a modern day antique on our hands.
Who ever heard of paying extra for chromed wheels, a paint job that will fade when subjected to sunlight, and a buddy seat? I got all of that, except for the paint job, as standard equipment on my Triumph. In my opinion, the HarleyDavidson people have entirely too much to say about what constitutes a “touring’’ machine. Quite obviously, anything that isn’t in their catalog cannot by any means be a touring bike.
Of course I am referring to their 750cc side valve machine which is raced. It’s hard enough to buy one, but if you want one with lights, the way the AMA rules say they are supposed to be available, your Harley dealer will look at you in a strange way and walk off mumbling to himself. When Matchless brought the G-50 into this country they had to put lights on it, and they had trouble getting it by the AMA.
And poor Dick Mann. He couldn’t race because he wanted to run a safer frame; it would take about five years to get it approved. But, isn’t it strange the people from Milwaukee get all of these new (copied) goodies approved overnight, or at least 30 minutes before the race? Just who are they trying to kid? Boy, am I glad CYCLE WORLD is on the market, for now we have the highest quality magazine in the field that believes in fair play and better motorcycling. Thanks for hearing me out.
BILL BAGWELL Vivian, Louisiana
Thank you Bill. For those inherently suspicious individuals in the cycle industry, Bill Bagwell's home address is Box 569. Ed.
CONSIDERING THE SOURCE
I think you brought the whole subject on yourselves of high risers, or “ape hangers,” so I thought I would do my part and take up for the non-dangerous devices that you and your staff despise so. I work in a motorcycle shop; a lot of boys ride with risers and we have as yet to have the first wreck. I have been riding with risers about three years and have never had a wreck or found myself in a situation I could not handle with the tallest of risers.
(Continued on Page 56)
You remind me of people who stand by and criticize motorcycles and know nothing about them. I am not saying that you can handle bars over 12 inches tall as well as you can low bars, but I would say if we were all racing around a track some would be at a disadvantage with the higher bars. What you said about visiting accident after accident and risers breaking off from too much leverage and vibration is ridiculous, and having trouble with cables sticking from the length and something about rider fatigue is way out.
Just because you and your staff are against them I don’t think you should publish such things that you judge in your mind what is right and wrong and have formed an opinion and try to influence others when you are wrong. I know that you dreamed up the things you claim are facts. Everybody uses high risers in California so when you have a wreck out there on a motorcycle, sure it’s with high risers. I hope you print this letter and are not the kind of people who disregard letters of this sort. Look at the people who say motorcycles are dangerous and they are in the majority, but we in the minority know this isn't so. It is the same with high risers, like us, we know the things you say aren’t so.
J. C. LITTLE JR.
Lynchburg, Va.
You foolishly admit that high risers cannot he handled as well as low hars and then try to tell us how wrong ire are about the dangers of using bars that limit control, restrict turning radius, place the rider off-balance, make it difficult if not impossible to operate the controls, can and do vibrate right off of the fork crown, often cause binding in the cables and are entirely dangerous! You are further wrong in your estimate of CYCLE WORLD'S staff as motorcyclists; we all ride, race and live motorcycling as we have for many, many years.
You have either been badly misinformed, or are making gross asumplions about the popularity of high risers in the west; you had better come out and take a look. They never were too popular out here, and in the last few years have become rarities, fortunately.
We publish our opinions because ire feel they are true, as they are in this case. It continues to disturb us to receive letters such as yours from riders who are so unaware of the inherent dangers in riding motorcycles and particularly the fetish-like fads such as high risers which may very well make you one of the boys, though the degree of success at this is measured by the length of your luck while riding with such stupid things as high risers. Ed.
MISSED A GEAR
Did you never get out of third gear while testing the Honda 90? Maybe you didn’t know there was a fourth. In your Road Impression of the Honda 90 (January ’64) you said, “The major difference is the three-speed gearbox with a conventional clutch in place of the 50’s centrifugal, or automatic clutch.” It could be my eyes but I believe the advertisement on the back cover of that same issue says there are four speeds. It’s probably a misprint in the ad, and not your fault. Right? BILLY ROBERTS
Raleigh, North Carolina Wrong! It has four speeds, the tester only had three. Ed.
CYCLING IN HAW AII
Recently I formed a motorcycle club in Hawaii; though the going is rough we are starting to build. My club and two other local groups, the Aliis and Aloha State, have decided to put on a motorcycle show. We have met with some obstacles, such as; what kind of classes, who to be judges, how to differentiate between full dress and full dress custom, how many trophies, and many more things. We, of course, can and will decide these for ourselves, but we would like to know if any of CYCLE WORLD’S readers can help us.
Proceeds from the show will go towards some land to build a track layout as we have nowhere to run our bikes. We are going to solicit the aid of as many business establishments here as we can. Any help you or your readers can give us will be greatly appreciated. Since we are trying for what we think is badly needed here in Hawaii (a track), any donations will surely be more than welcome.
KAM RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB William R. Meloy, Pres.
44A Ohai Street. Apt. 6 Wahiawa, Hawaii
SCOOTER FAN
I have a 1960 scooter, and I like scootering very much. I would like to see your tremendous magazine test the 1964 HarleyDavidson Topper scooter. I would like to see a scooter test in every issue. No magazine is printed on scooters.
Could you print something in your magazine about the need for more power and speed in scooters? A vehicle should be able to cruise at 55 to 60 mph to keep up with traffic.
CHARLES R. BOGF.RT Baltimore. Md.
CLASS DISTINCTION
I have a Yamaguchi 50cc and a BMW 500cc; when I ride my Yamaguchi and meet other cyclists riding bigger machines they look down on me, usually making wisecracks. But if T ride up on my BMW I could eat them and they wouldn’t say a word.
A lot of cyclists around here think it’s funny because T wear my helmet on the 5()cc, or the 500cc. It seems to me that you can get on your head at 35 mph. or 50 mph, as easily as 60 mph or 80 mph. They can take ape hangers arid wrap them around the neck of the guy who invented them, ƒ enjoy your magazine.
EARL R. HALBRETTEN Warden, Washington
250 TOURING COMMENT
What’s all this jazz about meticulously preparing a bike for a long journey of only a few hundred miles? A friend and I have made trips from Los Angeles to; San Luis, Mexico, 750 miles round trip in one day; Ensenada, Mexico, 500 miles, one day; Yosemite and San Francisco, 1,200 miles, one weekend, with no special preparation and no major incidents.
I ride a 650 BSA and he rides a 305 Honda; this is the only kind of riding we do and we consider these trips to be runof-the-mill and we get quite a bit Oi amusement out of riders who pack an extra set of pistons for a trip to the city limits.
HARVEY WOIEN Los Angeles, Calif.
OLD SWIFTIES NEVER DIE
How’s this one: “I don't Cotton to those other scramblers,” said Dave Bickers, Greeviously.
PHIL VON WALKENBURG Madison, Wise.
