Around the Industry
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
LATE BUT HERE: SUZUKI'S 150 OLYMPIAN
With 5,213 rider orders already waiting, Suzuki's much heralded 150cc twin twostroke now is being delivered across the nation. Projections indicate U.S. sale of at least 9,350 of the $450 Olympian during the half year ahead, according to U.S. Suzuki Sales Manager Walter Fulton. Designed for top road, freeway or modified off-street performance, the new 150 is said to deliver 16 hp at 8000 rpm, good for up to 80 mph, and weighs only 253 pounds. Both electric and kick starting are standard equipment on the Olympian.
A year behind rumors of its arrival in this country, Suzuki's new one has been one of the season's most talked-about developments. Running gear and suspension systems were among the things given custom design alterations in the United States.
"For this market," Fulton explains, "the addition of the heavy hydraulic fork is one of the ideas that made production line changes necessary. And delivery delays resulted." Full Western-style chrome handlebars are another "improvement" over the European and Asiatic versions. And adjustable rear shocks are featured.
The Olympian's 49.6-inch wheelbase and more powerful, freeway size engine should be the right size for the lightweight class, with enough power to run where the big ones go. It has a 5.1-inch road clearance, is 74.8 inches long, has 30.1 inches wide bars and is a fraction over 40 inches high. Highly polished cylinder head fins and engine case covers combine brightly with chrome work on the exhaust and other components. Its twin cylinders are high test aluminum with a cast-steel liner. Bore is 1.81 inches with a 1.77-inch stroke.
MUFFLING THE BOOM
Wide-open, tuned exhaust systems have done wonders to increase performance of two-stroke engines. What is not as wonderful is the deafening racket they make. Quiet operation and tuned exhausts were never possible together but now a bolt-on accessory is available to muffle the roar without detracting appreciably from the exhaust system's tuning.
The device is called the XC Silencer, and is produced by J&R Engineering, 1857 Merced, El Monte, California. It operates on the principle of the gun silencer so familiar to fans of James Bond. The muffler is a straight-through cylinder of perforated alloy, with fiberglass insulation contained in a solid steel cylinder. The exhaust gases exit through the silencer unimpeded except for a steel mesh screen which serves as a spark trap.
After listening to a Hodaka 90, fitted with a J&R expansion chamber, the XC Silencer was installed and we took our fingers out of our ears. There was still a pleasingly potent sound to the exhaust, but the piercing edge was missing. J&R's Ray Wilkinson, who designed the silencer, claims it is the tangential sound waves that cause the sting in the ring-ding, not the bullet-straight exhaust stream. The silencer will fit any J&R expansion chamber and should be acceptable to the most sensitive ears of all — your local police.
PLUG AND WRENCH CARRIER
While it may be very pukka to carry your plug wrench thrust into your boot, having an accessory like the one shown here will keep your plug wrench just as handy and carry two spare spark plugs to boot. Designed to attach to the frame with hose clamps, the carrier should be just the item for two-stroke riders, or to take warm-up and racing plugs along when you journey to the competition course. Carrier and wrench are priced at $6.95 or they can be purchased separately from BN Supply, Box 651, Dept. CW, La Mesa, Calif. 92043. While you are at it, ask for their brochure listing many handy conversions and accessories as well as specifications for the James Starmaker scrambler which they distribute.
(Continued on page 36)
GRAY TO DISTRIBUTE NEW MAICO LINE
Maico — a name that two-stroke lovers whisper worshipfully, has just announced a new line of motorcycles, all available with the new 360cc engine which they say develops 32 horsepower. Maico also has appointed a new distributor for the United States, Gray International, Inc., of Detroit, headed by Nicholas Gray.
Maicos are available now in three series and two power ranges. There's the Scrambler Series, Enduro -Series and Supersport Series. And each series offers the new allalloy Maico engines in both 250cc and 360cc sizes.
"This white-hot line of Maicos is sure to be the hit of this year," forecasts Nick Gray. "Another great feature is the new 'Dealer Deal'! It's excellent and virtually assures a walloping profit to anyone who gets a franchise."
Initial shipments of motorcycles and parts have already gone out to representative dealers from coast to coast. Franchise and price information is available immediately by contacting the offices of Gray International, Inc., 4461 Jefferson Avenue, CW, Detroit, Michigan 48209.
1965 HONDA 65
With a cubic centimeter for every year of the. 20th century, American Honda Motor Co. has announced introduction
of the new Honda Sport 65. It features overhead camshaft engine design with bigbike styling, higher bars and a sleek new tank and frame design. Other features include four-speed constant-mesh transmission, bigger extra-quiet muffler, speeds to 55 mph (6.2 bhp @ 10,000 rpm) and smooth, easy handling. The new 65cc addition to the popular line of lightweights, which have made Honda the world's leading marketer of motorcycles, is now available at the more than 1,400 Honda dealers across the United States. The Honda S-65 prices start at about $285, plus dealer's set-up and transportation charges.
NEW SALES MANAGER FOR JOHNSON MOTORS
Eiden Wright, who was appointed assistant sales manager just last November, has been named Sales Manager of Johnson Motors, Inc., western states Triumph motorcycle distri-
butors, according to Wilbur Ceder, president. Wright replaces Don Brown, who has resigned. "We are delighted to have a man of Eiden Wright's experience and knowledge," Wilbur Ceder states. "He will fill some big shoes, since Don Brown has performed an outstanding job in helping to push Triumph motorcycle sales to great heights during his tenure as sales manager. We wish Don Brown every success in whatever new endeavor he engages."
(Continued on page 38)
Eiden Wright received his education from Portland State College in his native city of Portland, Oregon. He has been riding motorcycles since 1948, appearing regularly in competition events. Employed by Johnson Motors since 1956, starting in the Northwest as district sales representative, he is 37 years old.
NEW MARQUE OF THE MONTH: OSSA
Regularly as the tides every month we discover at least one new name among the hundreds of motorcycle brands being imported to the U.S. This month it is the Spanish OSSA, which comes in three flavors, 160cc for the road model, a 175cc sports version with transistor ignition and claims of 19 and 21 hp respectively, with 105 mph top speed. A 250cc rotary valve Scrambler with 6-speed gearbox will be available in November, we are informed by the U.S. Distributor, Anaheim Motorcycle Center, 127 S. Manchester Ave., Anaheim, California.
HONDAS AT THE BRICKYARD
Honda was designated as the "Official Field Vehicle" by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Safety Patrol and was used by Patrol members in the performance of their duties at this year's 500-mile race. Racing teams from Firestone and Goodyear used the popular Hondas as utility vehicles, and many members of the press rode Hondas around the "Brickyard" obtaining better coverage of all aspects of the story.
CELEBRITY OF THE MONTH
Fabian recently purchased his place in the two-wheel world in the form of a new Yamaha. House of Yamaha, 11975 Santa Monica Blvd., in West Los Angeles made the sale by stressing their free telephone-for-pickup service department. Besides being convenient for customers, the agency gathers up the machines during otherwise-idle hours and returns them before they clutter up the shop. Owner Pete Joseph says he can "fudge by" like this in a smaller service department, leaving more space for display and demonstration. House of Yamaha took on the BMW line this month and can now offer motorcycles for older celebrities. Fabian may come back.
(Continued on page 40)
HAP JONES' NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM
Joe Ward has joined the Hap Jones Distributing Company as general manager, and Frank Record has been named assistant manager in charge of purchasing. The announcement was made by Hap himself, L. A. Jones, president of the San Francisco based national distj-jbyfop of motorcycle parts, acces-
sories and apparel. Ward replaces Angelo Pappas who left the company to go into a family business. Ward's experience includes five years with the Hap Alzina organization of Oakland and ten years with Fred Deeley Ltd., of Canada. While in the Northwest, he was active in road racing. Frank Record joined the Hap Jones Distributing Co. in 1962 in the parts department and has served as assistant buyer for the past two years.
NEW BUTTON-DOWN RIDING
Styles change, but the design of men's clothing has stayed basically the same for at least a century. However, the things men are doing today are vastly different from life 100 years ago — for instance, riding motorcycles. Now those of you who have waited for someone to re-engineer the old shirt-pants-jacket combination into something more suitable for motoring in the breeze should know that your patience has been rewarded. The man to thank is Ralph Paracek, a Phoenix architect who moonlights in what he calls "the rag trade" under the label Parr of Arizona. While not a ' motorcycle rider himself, Paracek feels that motorcyclists will be the first to appreciate some of the features of an unusual new suit he is producing. Designed using the principle of one-piece racing leathers, the suit looks no different than the ordinary pair of pants held up by a belt with a shirt tucked in neatly. The difference is, the cloth is the new stretch type, and the shirt is sewed to the pants so it will never flap in the breeze. The collar is unflappable also, being the button-down type a la Madison Avenue. The shirt front fastens with invisible snaps, down to a button, then a zipper fly and the entire opening is double lapped to seal out drafts. Clever flaps cover the shirt pockets to keep things in and breezes out. CYCLE WORLD tested the first example of the one-piece stretch suit and found it almost ideal for motorcycle riding. The cloth gives with every motion yet it is warm and nearly windproof. We objected to the black color and the useless zippered sleeves (the snaps on the wrist cuffs are sufficient alone), but Parr assures us a choice of colors will be offered and the zippers will probably have to go if the suit is to sell for the projected price of around $25. Because of the self-tailoring nature of the stretch material, Parr believes a small range of sizes will fit everyone who is slim enough to want such a suit, and he plans to merchandise them through motorcycle dealers, whom he feels may be interested in a profitable sideline if they don't have to stock a large inventory. Recently Parr of Arizona opened a new store in Laguna Beach, California which will retail a sizable array of apparel for ladies and men. The address is 535 S. Coast Highway, phone 494-8662 and it stays open Sundays.
(Continued on page 42)
CYCLE SKIRTS
How does a lady ride pillion when she's wearing a skirt? Easy when it's a DeWan riding ensemble like the one here, seen at the recent CYCLE WORLD show. All nylon, the skirt is made culotte-fashion (something like full, short pants) so straddling a dual seat is well within its capabilities. Yet when standing or walking, the culotte appears to be a stylish skirt. Tailored for attractive motorcycle wear, the jacket completes the ensemble with its non-flap mandarin collar and zip pocket. Matching men's jackets are also offered.
The ladies' riding ensemble is available in small, medium and large sizes and colors are black, red, blue or Spanish gold. Jacket and skirt can be bought separately, priced at $14.95 each from DeWan Mfg. Corp., Box 2606, Dept. CW, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53214. •
