Letters
LETTERS
TASTELESS CHEESECAKE
Congratulations to you and your road-testing staff. Your descriptions of performance are restrained and believable-altogether quite objective. This makes your reports valuable to prospective bike purchasers. CYCLE WORLD as a whole is a businesslike publication, not given to campiness or hip talk.
Now, if your advertisers could get the objectivity message and remove the silly cheesecake and let their bikes sell themselves, the impression of adultness would be complete. BSA, for one, produces such excellent machines that suggestive flesh is not needed to attract attention. Space taken up by such tasteless display could be better devoted to engine cutaways or technical information.
P. G. KOUTNIK Bloomington, Ind.
VIVA EVAS!
Motorcycling is more than racing on wet roads and tracks; it is also more than an outlet for half-grown boys. Indeed, if the manufacturers of bikes were to depend only on these, even more would close down production.
Motorcycling also is fun and practical, and
certainly not essentially a male activity. You surely know Lucille Ball rides a bike, as does French novelist Virginie des Rieux-26 and beautiful. It does not always rain.
For many years, I have wondered why all, but all, motorcycle publications (American, German, British, French) should be nearly exclusively devoted to racing, technical data and male activities. While I have nothing against this, is it not in your interest to widen popularity by including more specifically the female species, as well as family activities?
I am equally surprised, of course, that the manufacturers cater almost exclusively to male buyers. They have, for sure, modernized publicity by showing shapely Evas behind bikes in various stages of undress. Bravo! But this appeals to the male, not to the female, nor to the mothers, witness some recent letters. I would bet even the men would be more attracted to a girl or girls on the bike, astride it, riding it, in full harness or even topless. And this would have a propaganda value for the ladies. A spattering of females in your pages would make them feel more at home in the rather closed bike world and certainly would not put off any males.
These words were inspired by the story on Loraine Ibbetson in the June issue, which I bought on my first visit to New York. Full marks.
HERMAN FRIEDHOFF Scheveninga, Holland
THE OWNERS
We in the Vincent Owners Club of Southern California wish to extend our sincere thanks to you and your staff for allowing us to display our machines in the CYCLE WORLD Motorcycle Show. This was the first time our club has participated in a show as a group. From the amount of work that went into our meager display, we can fully appreciate the effort that must be expended, year round, to produce a show the size and quality of yours.
As you may know, we have 59 members, who own a total of 85 Vincent motorcycles which range from a 1936 Series A to a 1968 Egli Vincent. We chose 13 bikes for our display which we felt would project to the public the broad range of our club's interests. We also printed a brief story on the Vincent and the Vincent Owners Club which we handed out at the show, to those people who showed an interest in our machines and/or club. We had enough inquiries from interested parties to hand out over 400 Vincent brochures.
RICHARDSON HASTINGS II Vincent Owners Club 5738 Whitewood Avenue Lakewood, CA 90712
FRIENDLY SERVICE
A lot has been written recently concerning the poor service provided by motorcycle dealers. It is unfortunate that most of the complaints are well-founded. Not only is the service slow, but it is accompanied by a peculiar coldness which leads one to believe that the dealer is doing one a favor by working on one's motorcycle. Walk into a cycle shop in this area, and you are expected to buy a bike on the spot—with cash. Those wanting parts are treated like second-class citizens, those seeking advice summarily ignored.
(Continued on page 18)
I am indeed lucky that I no longer have to deal with local shops, for my machine is a 1961 NSU "Super Max." It might seem as if the parts situation for this bike would be tense, but this is not the case. I get everything, including "how-to" instructions, from the only NSU outlet in the U.S.-West Valley Cycle Sales in California. Despite the distance, the service is amazingly fast, perfectly accurate, and, what is more important to me, unbelievably friendly. Ray Richter in the parts department has saved me much money and aggravation with his analyses of mechanical problems, the solutions to which did not put any money in his pocket. Try that at a local shop! You will be tossed out on your ear. Thank you for your time. Perhaps if more riders voiced their opinions, something would be done.
J. F. PELLICCIOTTI
Wayne, Pa.
BRAZILLE-VINCENT
Seeing the two Vincent specials (CW, June '68) brought nice memories of the one I built a few years back-1962, to be exact. I used a 1955 Norton Featherbed frame and a 1951 Black Shadow engine Fitted with Black Lightning cams and 9:1 pistons. I did all the work myself, including the fuel/oil tank which was constructed from sheet metal plus the top from the Norton tank-the greatest task of the whole project. The seat, exhaust pipes and mufflers as well as an assortment of
smaller parts also had to be made by hand.
The GP type fender was constructed from a Lambretta L-I front fender, and worked out very neatly. The rear wheel was from the
Vincent, working dual brakes and all. Front wheel and fork were Norton equipment. By the time it was completed, I had about $900 and eight months spare time invested. It was a lot of fun to build, but real hairy to ride.
C.W. BRAZILLE Ft. Worth, Tex.
MONTH IN, MONTH OUT
Not having written to a magazine before, I've beèn reluctant to tackle this chore. But after reading your publishing effort for June, I figured, best get it said.
Month in and month out, readers seem unhappy with some of your printed words
and take pen in hand to complain. Being a cover-to-cover reader-ads and all—I would say you folks do a good job. The information is there, as you see it. Facts are gathered, as you see it. Enthusiasm is injected as you are motivated, details are written up as you deem necessary. I may not always agree with ideas or articles, but as long as the material is well presented and the staff are of knowledgeable background, it makes for good reading.
You are not going to please all readers each month, we know this, but keep trying.
Letters from groaners have their place-i.e., "No girls in the cycle ads"-"You are wrong, my motorcycle is better than you said"-"No motorcycle is that good." These persons are sincere, and besides, I get some good chuckles from their viewpoints.
Being a motorcycling buff for 20 years, and an owner of several machines, I would like to say thank you for good reading and the help CYCLE WORLD gives to the two-wheeled sport.
DON GALLION Salt Lake City, Utah
THE ENTHUSIASTS
I have read your fine publication for the past four years, and I commend you on the fine job you are doing in promoting the most emancipating sport in the world-motorcycling. Your magazine, more than any other single factor, provided the incentive both my brother Ralph and I needed to take to the road on two wheels. CYCLE WORLD whetted our appetites for this sport, and now we're both avid enthusiasts.
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Ralph is an executive with the Honeywell Co. and I'm a high school teacher. We appreciate your promoting the wholesome aspects of motorcycling. Although the current crop of movies that dwell on the activities of the unsavory element have damaged the reputation of our sport, publications like yours, which find their way into thousands of homes across this land, can go a long way toward undoing the harm caused by movies, sensation-seeking newsmen and the "CRUD-igentsia" of motorcycling.
My brother and I are both owners of 1965 Yamaha YDS-3s, and our loyalty and pride in our mounts is limitless. We've both spent many enjoyable hours on our machines, and we are eagerly anticipating the advent of Spring in New England and the many scrambles and touring activities to be found in this section. Nothing beats seeing the New England countryside from the seat of a fire-breathing two-stroke from Nippon, and we intend to see more of it this summer, which brings up the following questions: We are seriously considering a fairly long trip from Boston to northern New England and back, and we are taking our wives with us. On all previous long trips I rode solo, and the only trouble I had was having to replace head gaskets after one trip from Kingston, N.Y., to Laconia, N.H., and back. Is this trouble likely to reoccur with the extra weight of a passenger, or could this trouble have been one of improper adjustment prior to the trip? My bike has 8600 miles on it and my brother's machine has 9800. Is this mileage too high for a trip of this type (approximately 800 miles) on 250-cc machines, or can the bikes do it without difficulty with the proper preparation.
HARRY SEMONIAN Watertown, Mass.
"Without difficulty" is our opinion.-Ed.
HAIR AND HOUND
In your April edition I noticed a full page article on a subject which is absolutely indispensable to a motorcycle magazine, "Are you going bald?" Every cycle rider should be informed that there is now a foolproof means of combating baldness, even a sworn means. Due to the tight fit of protective headgear, many motorcyclists have a tendency to lose their hair at an early age, and I must compliment CYCLE WORLD on its concern for the health and appearance of its readers. This breakthrough is so important that I heartily recommend CYCLE WORLD sending this ad to The Journal of the American Medical Association since medical science has not yet found a preventative for baldness and will most likely be very interested.
In coming issues CYCLE WORLD may be interested in soliciting ads for other great breakthroughs in medicine, mainly the new pigmenting agent which changes skin color from black to white. If more people were made aware of the existence of such an agent, few could tell the difference between Caucasoid and Negroid and there would be less discrimination and hence fewer race riots.
I must again compliment CYCLE WORLD on its choice of ads and say that it is doing an excellent job and may eventually have the best groomed following of any sport, anywhere. Keep up the good work; "The terrible truth is that thousands of men (you yourself perhaps) are losing their hair forever." We as cycle enthusiasts would never like to be known as "the bald ones."
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ANGELO K. PARAVANTIS Los Angeles, Calif.
If the ad is in good taste, we'll accept it. Each additional ad permits us to increase the amount of editorial material we can deliver to you, dear reader. -Ed.
INDIAN LORE?
I am hoping that possibly you or your subscribers, especially Vaughn M. Greene of San Francisco, may be of help to me.
I also am a proud owner of an Indian shaft drive. According to Mr. Greene, when he was in the process of overhaul, he encountered a few problems. This is what I don't care to have happen. According to Mr. Greene only 600 shaft drive Indians were produced. I was told 900. So you can see I have been misinformed.
I contacted Mr. Sam Pierce of San Gabriel, Calif., and he was most kind, but he did not have a manual on shaft drives I could purchase. Mr. Pierce gave me permission to read his manual at any time. I am a bit stupid and need instructions with me when I work on this masterpiece.
What I am requesting is any information or any manual for sale that will be of help.
The number on my machine is HD A 241. This is stamped high on the left side of the case. I wonder if it could be the earliest machine that is still running. That is, if I can get the information to get mine running.
As for your magazine, I have been a subscriber to three different bike magazines and CYCLE WORLD is the only subscription I have kept on with. I believe that speaks for itself. It is the best.
Anything offered will be appreciated.
WARREN L. JONES 543 Lada de Loma Dr.
Vista, CA 92083
HE GETS THE MESSAGE
After reading your magazine for the past two years, I realize how important it is to buy a motorcycle from a dealer who understands the bikes he sells. He will also have top grade mechanics.
When I read the letters from fellows who are having all kinds of trouble with their 450 Hondas, my first thought is, did they get a lemon. I don't really think they are lemons. I think there are too many Honda dealerships that are not worthy of same.
Three buddies and I own 450s and we are very pleased with our purchases. I have 13,000 plus on my bike and have enjoyed every mile.
Two of us took a ride to Montreal, Canada, this past year ('67) and the bikes ran perfectly.
We bought our bikes from a dealer in Whippany, N.J., who has a mechanic who understands Honda motorcycles.
I think it is very foolish to buy a bike from a dealer who is no more than a salesman and who knows little about the mechanical end.
Perhaps the fault is with the Honda people for allowing such dealerships.
Dollar for dollar, I think there is no better bike on the road. I honestly don't know how Honda can give so much for less than $1000.
DOUGLAS R. MAC LACHLAN Orange, N.J.
TUNNEL TALK
I would like to comment on Mr. O'Brien's wind tunnel testing and design of fairings (CW, April '68). I have had some experience connected with wind tunnel testing when I was an employee of the Boeing Co.
I would like to propose three additions to the design to lower the drag of the front wheel-fork assembly. First, the fork sliders should be shaped as an airfoil. The drag of a circular cross section is equal to the drag of an airfoil of about 10 times the cross sectional area of the circular cross section. Second, thin metal discs could be inserted between the rim and hub to give an airfoil design to the wheel itself. Third, a fairing could be used from the fork sliders forward to the front of the tire. This would give a low drag configuration without the objections of the old dustbin fairings.
DALE G. BROWN Abilene, Tex.
VACATIONER
I'm planning a week's vacation in Colorado this summer and would like to know the state laws for motorcycles in Kansas and Colorado.
I would appreciate advice from Colorado residents. Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who would like to join me.
MARVIN HOLDMEYER 404 High St.
Washington, MO 63090
Write the departments of motor vehicles in the capitals of the states in which you plan to tour. Laws change constantly. There always is some time lag between passage of a law in a given state and a copy of that law on file at CYCLE WORLD. -Ed.
FRIENDSHIP
At times I feel I enjoy reading your fine magazine as much, if not more than I do riding my motorcycle. As time passes I have come more and more to think of it not as a magazine, but as an old friend. It is quite common to find me quietly sitting in my easy chair late at night and on into the morning, just reading and rereading CYCLE WORLD, simply ignoring the things I should be doing; like sleep. I personally feel you have in CYCLE WORLD the finest publication of its kind on the market today, bar none.
MARVIN WOURMS Stayton, Ore.
We like to regard you as an old friend, too, Marv.Ed.
CROCKERS ANYONE?
I am hoping you can help me acquire some information. The subject is a 1939 Crocker motorcycle, vertical Twin. The bike closely resembles a Har ley-David son.
Any information you can render would be deeply appreciated. If possible, I would like to obtain a service manual, addresses of people who have access to parts and a history on this bike.
FRANK VILLAIRE Rd. No. 2 Carrollton, OH 44615
Any Crocker lovers out there?~Ed. ■
