On Cycle World And Involvement...For You
ON CYCLE WORLD AND INVOLVEMENT...FOR YOU
ROAD TESTS are a Joe Parkhurst invention and they go way back to 1962. We got a lot of static back then because a couple of 250s actually went faster than some big bore four-strokes and that just can’t happen. Right?
To our way of thinking, proper evaluation means and requires the following things. First of all, we categorize the motorcycles we test. For example, we compare motocross bikes to bikes of similar intent during our evaluation. We do it so we can find out where the bike stands in relation to the competition.
Once we’ve done that, we ride the bike according to its intent...trials bikes in trials sections, dual-purpose bikes on both street and trail, enduro bikes in enduro competition, motocrossers on race tracks, street bikes on the highway, etc.
All bikes are ridden under these “normal conditions” so we can determine if they are being marketed properly; if they are safe, convenient, what have you. We literally “live” with each machine as if it were our own; service it when required, perform the factory’s recommended tune-ups and everything an owner would become involved with. But this is just a starting point for us because you deserve to know more. Next, we rent a racing facility appropriate to the bike at hand, and ride it to the very limit, sometimes beyond. We ride it anywhere from one day (for street bikes) to three days (on three different tracks for motocrossers) flat out to see how they hold up and to evaluate handling and maximum speed.
Then, any vehicle capable of being licensed is run at a drag strip, usually Orange County International Raceway, for acceleration, and we again run them all day if necessary.
Fast, but certainly not least, we will dyno test in ’74 every machine that you, the public, buy for competition or consider a performance oriented vehicle !
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Bob Atkinson
Most important, even more important than the time we spend with each bike, is the fact that everyone involved with testing at CYCLE WORLD rides every machine. That’s right. All of us. Every machine. Joe Parkhurst. D. Randy Riggs. Jody Nicholas. Bob Atkinson. And we rap about it afterward to ensure that you get the truth no matter who ends up putting the words on paper! And we feel that the staff of CYCLE WORLD has the most competent riders in the motorcycle publication field.
Jody is nationally known for his endeavors in the professional racing circuit in both dirt and road racing, he’s finished in the Top Ten in the country on more than one occasion, won several Nationals, even carted off Ascot’s coveted dirt track season championship. Randy raced professionally for a time as well; he now is heavily involved with observed trials, enjoys a tough enduro, and every once in awhile straps on the steel shoe for a little flat track action. Motocross? Yup. That too.
And Bob fills in as the desert rider of the group...his idea of a relaxing weekend away from work is one of careening across some desert sandwash at 80 mph. So don’t be surprised if one of us turns up at a local race, because when we’re not working, we’re having fun doing what we like best...riding motorcycles.
All this means involvement...involvement by those who care about you and about motorcycling...involvement for you, dear reader.
