Letters
LETTERS
WHO'S MARSH METZ?
I always read with interest your "Round Up" editorial in CYCLE WORLD and I was rather surprised that the name Marsh Metz escaped your memory (CW, July '73).
Irying to remember events in the distant past can play tricks on one, but to the best of my memory a motorcycle called the Metz was produced soon after the turn of the century, i.e. about 1905 and the following few years. Engi neering wise, it had many of the early faults in design that other makes had, and it fell on hard times until a Mr. Marsh came to the rescue. The next product was called the Marsh Metz. Some years later I rode with a fellow that had previously owned a Marsh Metz who dubbed it "Much Misery."
Enclosed is a picture 01 an early Metz. To the best of my knowledge it's a 1907 model. This machine preceeded the Marsh Metz and the one real troublesome feature was the chain drive without the usual countershaft. Note the enormous sprocket on the rear wheel-very troublesome.
Thor, of course, was one of the original pioneers, and the other photo shows a 1910 30.50 racer. This machine gave a good account of itself at that time, due in great part to tuner extraor dinary Harry Cross, Dayton, Ohio, standing at right. The Thor was produced by the Aurora Automatic Machinery Co. in Illinois, and at that time (early 1900s) they produced many farm windmills. There was a trite joke at that time-when a Thor didn't make much of a showing in a race, the opposition would say: "What the hell could you expect from a motorcycle made by a guy that designs windmills?"
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Don't we all wish we had saved some things that we scraped as junk in the distant past? How we could cash in on them now!
Alfred H. Feldmann Detroit, Mich.
KAWASAKI 185OCC TWELVE
I was disappointed by the blatantly misleading cover blurb on the June 1973 issue, purporting to offer a "Kawasaki 1850cc Twelve Test." My son and I have been faithful readers for many years and have enjoyed selecting your magazine, and others, from the newsstand.
Really, I simply cannot believe a publication of your stature should find it necessary to intentionally deceive readers who disdain thumbing through a magazine before purchasing it. But your intent is as clear as the half-inch high capital letters stretching across the entire usable front cover!
I am a 39-year-old professional man with 22 years riding time logged. My family motorcycles include a BMW R60, a Honda 305, my wife's Honda step through 50, and my son's Honda Mini Trail. We are avid readers.
This is the first letter I have ever written to complain about any publica tion. I will never write one more thor oughly illustrative of tactics currently in use to ensnare the unwary, and nonthumbing reader. Rest assured, for whatever it is worth, that I shall keep this copy and use it to help inform my fellow enthusiasts of the evident need to wet thumb and forefinger, and go a peekin', before laying down the coin to buy a copy of CYCLE WORLD.
Robert Saunders Rialto, Calif.
Your June 1973 test of a Kawasaki 1850cc Twelve was a dirty trick with the only precedent being the helmet laws. Show me a report that lives up to that magazine cover and I'll buy the bike. I'd cancel my subscription but I
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don't have one. The Country Boys Motorcycle Club suggests that you recall all June issues and replace the defective covers with ones reading "Test of four everyday street machines." At any rate our money will be channeled off to your competition, at least for awhile.
Doug Sures
Country Boys Motorcycle Club What's the matter, fellas? No sense of humor?-Ed.
BENELLI AND MV AUGUSTA
May I comment on your very interesting Benelli and MV Augusta article in the February issue? I agree that the MV Augusta 350 Twin has clean lines. Its overall design appears to be well balanced, with no untidy areas. The big Four looks very nice, also.
The Benelli 750 Six, on the other hand, with the Benelli name going downhill, or uphill, looks as though it is sway-backed, even worse with a rider on it. The very thin portion of the front forks looks weak compared to the bulky front wheel. All those mufflers are definitely gaudy-"a bit much," as you say, and must make getting at the rear wheel and chain an awkward job.
And with all the modern technology available, it is astounding that most motorcycles still use an exposed chain to the driving wheel. Granted, a new chain has very high efficiency, but not for long! The early post war Japanese bikes had enclosed chains, and it is regretted that this desirable practice has largely been discontinued (again).
But back to the de Tomaso 750-I have owned Benellis that looked much much better than it does. My old 1933 ohc Ariel Square Four looked better by far.
As a professional industrial designer for 22 years, I would be inclined to fire anybody who worked for me "for weeks" and came up with that stupid looking square-box of an instrument panel! To each his own, I guess. --
George Collinge Oxnard, Calif.
MOTORCYCLING'S IMAGE
At the time I am writing this letter, I'm watching "Mission Impossible," a popular show on CBS. They showed a "hair raising" motorcycle chase through the San Francisco streets, and, as you might have guessed, it portrayed a sick ening and downgrading view of motorcycling.
They showed a full-fledged motocross bike, a Husky, tearing up and down the streets, flying over intersections, riding on sidewalks, through crowds, making a general nuisance of itself.
Now you can't tell me a nonmotorcyclist could look at this freaked out teenage girl and think highly of motorcycling. I'm not a 50-year-old rider, but a I 5-year-old teenager myself, who wants a better image for motor cycles. I've gone through three sets of trails now, and no longer have a place to ride. So please, let's put a stop to this kind of thing, before we all have no place to ride.
Mark Vogez Lancaster, Penn.
MORE ON NO-FAULT
Until very recently, I had looked to the "No-Fault" insurance system to save me some hard earned dough when insuring the four-wheeled pig that is necessary in Minnesota winters. But some news from the State Capitol caused me to stop and think.
It seems that the motorcyclist has been forgotten in all "No-Fault" legisla tion in this state. The insurance com panies, however, will not forget. This system will have a policy of each vehicle's insurance company paying the personal injury and hospital bills of the vehicle's owner with no question as to fault. License plates will not be issued until a valid insurance policy is shown. This sounds good, what with the eli mination of some of the fat cat lawyers and less congestion in the courts. But wait! The motorcyclist usually incurs much more severe bodily injury when struck by a car or striking a fixed object and in the no-fault system this extra cost will be reflected directly to the cost of motorcycle insurance. How does $2000 a year sound for full coverage on a dressed Harley? This is the estimate received by a dresser club in St. Paul, Minn.
I would urge that residents of states where "no-fault" insurance has not yet made it to the legislature join together to influence legislators before the time is too late. Minnesota cyclists are fighting now, but started too late, after the legislation was almost approved.
David F. Deeny Minneapolis, Minn.
BRITISH VS. U.S.
While reading the article on the Indian Powerplus in CYCLE WORLD, March `73, I noticed that you made certain observations on the superiority of American bikes over their British counterparts during the pre-1920 era.
In particular, you mention three speed countershaft gearboxes, mechan ical lubrication, internal expanding brakes, etc. Although it is certainly true to say that the majority of European
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bikes did not possess these attributes, there were some notable exceptions which not only compare with the Powerplus but also vastly exceed it in terms of refinement.
An example of one of the more popular models is the 3 bhp A.B.C. machine of 1919 (grandaddy of all BMWs) which, while possessing every thing that the Powerplus does, also boasts a very advanced horizontally opposed unit-construction power unit.
I acknowledge that this excellent machine is superior to many of the European models of the day, but on the other hand I am extremely skeptical of your implication that nearly all American machines of that time were as refined as the Indian Powerplus.
Ian R. Harris Kent, England
OREGON LAND CLOSURE
House Bill 2282 is in committee here in Oregon and may reach the floor of the house and be turned into law. This bill would close all public lands to all types of recreational vehicles. Only after consideration of each parcel of land and its use would the lands be re-opened. And if such lands were re-opened, they would be regulated as to type of vehicle, time of year, amount of noise allowed, and even size of engine.
Please write to our state for a copy of this bill and help us here by giving a few lines in your publication directing our states riders to write their state senators and ask them to vote NO.
Robert W. Coplen Beaverton, Ore.
CABLE LUBE TIP
I have just finished reading your article on cables and levers (CW, April `73,and I have a tip on cable lubrication which your readers might find useful. My method is to take an ordinary plastic sandwich bag and punch a hole in one corner. Push the cable up through the hole and fasten the bag around it with a rubber band. Fill the bag with oil and any additives you wish to include (moly, teflon, etc.). It is only necessary to remove the upper end of each cable and the bag can be hung on the handlebars. If you perform this five minute operation at the end of each day's ride, your cables will be lubricated by the next morning and their lives will be greatly extended.
John Lindsay Arlington, Va.
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Technology has provided an even better answer. See "Freedom Cable Luber,"CW, Aug. `73.-Ed.
OVERSEAS HELMET LAWS
Regulations which came into force on June 1, 1973 made it compulsory for all riders and pillion passengers of two wheeled motor vehicles to wear a safety helmet of approved design in Great Britain.
There is no exemption in the regula tions for visitors from overseas who use a motorcycle, scooter or moped in this country, and so we would like to ensure, as far as possible, that all persons wishing to use this type of transport in Great Britain are aware of the new law before setting out from their own country.
To this end, 1 enclose a copy of a note which has been distributed to the overseas offices of the British Tourist Authority.
C. C. Pittam International Transport Division Dept. of the Environment
"As of June 1, 1973, all riders and pillion passengers (but not passengers in sidecars) of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds in Great Britain are required to wear a safety helmet of approved design. The law applies to overseas visitors who use a two-wheeled motor vehicle in Great Britain. Riders or pas sengers who fail to comply with the new law are liable to a fine.
"The types of helmet which must be worn are those marked as complying with one of the British Standards BS200J, BS1869 or BS2495, or with a comparable national standard, for example the American Z90.1 and Snell Memorial Foundation Standards, and the motorcycle helmet standards of most national standards bodies."
BMW COVER
Have just received your July issue, which I have read and found to be your usual high quality publication.
However, one question: where can I buy a mirror like the left hand mirror of the BMW on the cover? I'd sure like to have a mirror that reflects "WINDING ROAD" the way that one does. My crummy mirrors seem to be stuck with "DAOR GNIDNIW."
Douglas A.J. Mockett Marketing Director Bates Industries Long Beach, Calif.
We used mirrors.-Ed.
