Letters
LETTERS
HELMETS...
“A Professional Look at Motorcycle Accidents, from the Motorcyclist’s Viewpoint,” (April) closely matches the findings of our study of motorcycle accidents in Contra Costa County, California. You and your readers may be interested in a circular being distributed based on the study. In addition to cases where the rider traveled quite a long way instead of stopping where he should, we also know of a case where a rider was killed jamming on the brakes in panic when a car entered the intersection ahead of him. Neither the bike nor the rider’s body came anywhere near the intersection. The rider was killed by his own machine.
In the article “On Your Head” the author seems to get carried away a bit. He stated he had never seen a helmeted rider die of a blow to the head. We have had cases where the rider’s head was destroyed. In telephone pole accidents the rider often “spears” the pole. I remember one accident where a rider of a Harley full dresser left the road into a level field with one rock outcrop about the size of a waste basket. You guessed it. He landed with his helmeted head right into the rock.
All of our riders wear helmets. All of us at one time or another have had some kind of a “float” problem. Although we supported the idea of government standards, we now oppose mandatory standards. The Bell 200 vs the Bell Star is a good example of what happens when the government gets too much leeway. Here is a case where a superior helmet meets no government specifications and a helmet which meets all requirements is inferior, even in the opinion of the manufacturer of both.
We did not support the compulsory helmet laws. We found that they did not reduce fatal accidents. Enforcement was most strong under conditions where helmet use was of least value. Riders wore improper helmets because of fear of the law. Riders in states that required helmets on all passengers found some of the most dangerous places to carry helmets for the expected passenger, and research on float, fit, and other problems were stopped to fit government specs. One of the helmet representatives told us that you could pass the DOT specs with a bucket of cement. We notice that since the repeal of DOT authority to force states to pass helmet laws, there has been renewed interest in solving the float problem.
No mention was made in your article about helmet caused accidents. We have found authentic cases where the helmet not only caused an accident, there were injuries without the rider losing control.
We did experiments on the claim that helmets caused loss of balancing ability. They do. You practically have to be a wire rider in the circus to detect the difference, but it is there.
We can sum up the feeling on helmets this way. The plusses generally outnumber the minuses. When you get right down to what is important however, it isn’t the helmet that counts, it is what is inside the head under it.
Jim Leonard Division of Citizens Council on Motorcycles, Inc. CCM Safety Division
...HELMETS...
From the title of your helmet story in the April issue I expected an unbiased article. But I found the usual DOT-inspired prattle instead. It is really disheartening to find a bike magazine upholding enforced helmet wearing.
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Helmet laws, and a million other laws made by bureaucrats in Washington are all unconstitutional. The Constitution gives law-making power to the elected members of congress. No one else. The helmet law was hatched in the mind of a bureaucrat and forced on states across the country by blackmail or bribery. The states lost money if they did not comply. Only one state, Georgia, thought of such a law before the bureaucrats took over, and I understand that it was not enforced.
Your article covers a DOT-financed study. It is a contradiction of terms to say a study financed by the DOT will be unbiased. The reports must be biased in favor of the already established DOT conclusions. A senator speaking before the Maryland Senate Committee considering the helmet repeal bill, waved a DOT-sponsored study in the air that concluded helmets were necessary. He said, “Having the motor vehicle administration, a violent opponent of this type of legislation, come forth with this study, is like putting the fox in the hen house. I didn’t expect anything different to come out of this study than what they came up with!”
The fact that new younger riders die at twice the rate of older, experienced riders is proof enough that some emphasis should be given to training new riders. Yet until just recently at the insistence of the helmet law fighters have any states had any training at all for riders. Instead of pushing a false sense of security for riders through helmets, you should be pushing the training of new riders as a requirement for licenses. Ed Armstrong Fox River Grove, 111.
...AND MORE HELMETS
“On Your Head” in your April issue rates three gold stars from the staff of the Motorcycle Training Program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. In fact, it is required reading for our instructor preparation students.
Our approval comes partially because much of the information you presented parallels what we attempt to pass on to our beginning riders. Portions we really liked include part of your hypothesis, “Riders who admit bikes are dangerous are less likely to be hurt than bikers who don’t,” and “Somebody is finally looking at helmets, bikes and accidents in the real world.” Your explanation of the background of safety helmets, especially in regard to the various standards, was to the point yet touched all bases.
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At SIU-C we have found that with solid information concerning helmets a large percentage of our students make positive decisions concerning wearing helmets. We educators are especially thankful for this article since we can’t reach all riders with this information, many riders are turned off by educators, and perhaps most importantly it confirms what we have stated all along.
The closing sentence in the article does tell it all: “There’s no good reason not to wear a helmet.”
Freddie H. Ford Assistant Project Director Motorcycle Research and Projects Carbondale, 111.
DAYTONA DISCRIMINATION
Four years ago I went to Daytona for the races and decided to sleep in my van on the beach. The first night I was rousted at 3 a.m. and told that I couldn’t sleep on the beach. I asked the cop where I could go and he said I didn’t have to go anywhere, I just wasn’t allowed to sleep on Daytona Beach at night.
Armed with this and the knowledge of the type of reasoning I’d be dealing with, I decided to plan this year’s trip well in advance. I wrote to the Speedway in January and received all the literature I needed. Included in the folder was a letter stating that anyone holding tickets to the motorcycle classic would be permitted to camp at the west parking lot. Great! I didn’t have to make reservations at a campground, motel or anything.
In the beginning of March, my wife and I loaded the van, I told my boss that my aunt in Nebraska was on the verge of death and we headed south. Because of the rain we held off going to Daytona until Friday morning. (No use getting wet if the bikes weren’t going to run.) After leaving the Speedway Friday night, we headed to the west parking lot to eat, drink beer, meet people and talk about bikes and the races.
When we pulled into the lot, an old guy told us we couldn’t stay there because the van didn’t have a sanitary system. Rather than argue, I decided to go out to eat and come back later when someone else was at the gate. No such luck. On our second trip back the same old guy was there and when I asked what I had to have to get in, he said, “Tickets to the track.” I told him I had tickets and he said that only vehicles with holding tanks were allowed. I told him I had a tank and he said, “No you don’t.” By the way, I’ve got a stepvan with bunks, sink, john, gaily and holding tank. After about five minutes of “yes I do,” and “no you don’t,” a Volusa County Deputy came by and asked Pop what the problem was. Pop told him, he asked me what my problern was and I asked him if he wanted to see the required tank. He said yes and I proceeded to show him the entire plumbing system which he agreed did qualify, but he wasn’t about to argue with Pop and neither could I. I flipped out, logic made no difference to these two. Actually what they were doing is following orders. The owners of the race track wanted to eliminate the riff-raff and what better way than by excluding tentcampers, vans, bikes and other race enthusiasts who can’t afford a $15,000 Winnebago. I told the cop that I had race tickets and a letter that said I could camp there. He said I couldn’t and if I didn’t like it I could return the tickets in the morning. But what the hell are we gonna do tonight, and he said he didn’t care.
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We wound up sleeping in an alley and had a miserable time. When the weather gets cold here in New York we’ll probably still go to Florida, but we’ll never go to Daytona again. Dan Houlihan Walworth, N.Y.
HELP!
I’m trying to refinish a 1972 Kawasaki 750H2. After checking with two dealers and Kawasaki, I’ve learned that the 1972 H2 decal pattern is no longer available.
I’d appreciate it if anyone could help me find one or someone who could make them. Thomas Chromczak 945 Saratoga St. Utica, N.Y. 13502
RIDIN’ PROUD
In April 1976 I bought a Yamaha RD400. The bike seemed to run fine until December, when it began smoking excessively out the exhaust. The mileage was 5833 and the warranty had expired when I took it to Don Vesco Yamaha in El Cajon, California. According to the mechanics at Vesco, the cylinders had been scuffed and since the bike was fairly new, the effect was just then beginning to show up. The bill for new rings, cylinders honed, and various seals and gaskets came to $70.59.
Immediately after getting the bike home, I contacted the Yamaha warranty representative and explained the situation to him. I had followed the owner’s manual very closely on the break-in procedure. The rep spoke to the mechanics at Vesco and agreed to reimburse me for the bill, which he did. From my experience, I think this kind of willingness to stand behind a product is rare. The bike runs great and I’m proud to own a Yamaha. David Cantelon Downey, Calif.
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ALL DRESSED UP AND NO PLACE TO GO
I purchased a new Yamaha XS7502D on March 29 after much looking and comparing bikes. When I brought it home it still had much of the protective coatings on it and hadn’t been cleaned up too well but I couldn't beat the dealer’s price and who minds polishing a brand new motorcycle?
After a little polishing I started noticing all the little things I couldn’t see before. Like dirt under the paint, fingerprints under the top coat of paint making the color lighter in spots, nicks in the chrome, the “D” missing from DOHC on the side cover and wrinkles in the seat.
After getting it all polished up, I headed for the gas station and upon filling the tank for the first time discovered gas running out of a hole in a weld seam and all over my warm engine. I returned to my dealer and he promptly replaced the gas tank and the defective side cover.
The next night I went for another ride and discovered oil pouring (not leaking) from the seal around the clutch shaft rod. That was my last ride. Since March 31 and with only 76 miles on the odometer my bike has been waiting for an 86-cent seal. It is still on back order and the Yamaha parts people say the seals are back ordered from Japan and won’t be in before the middle of May and that’s the best they can do.
In the meantime, I have a $2000 motorcycle I can't ride, my warranty is running out, 1 am losing good riding weather (which we have little of in Michigan) and I am paying insurance. There are jet planes coming from Japan all the time and I can't get an 86-cent oil seal!
James Russell Ypsilanti, Mich.
PARTS PARADOX
I own a 1973 Harley-Davidson and enjoy riding very much. Unfortunately, six months ago I busted the front jug and have been unable to obtain a replacement for it anywhere. It had been ordered four months ago from our local dealer, and we have just now found out there is no such part anywhere in the U.S. and it will be a while before they begin manufacturing this particular jug.
I am wondering if this is normal for such a large company (re: parts hard to obtain). If it is, I'm afraid I will have to change bikes to Brand X. It is very discouraging to have spent a considerable amount of time and money on this machine just to have it sit. To wait on a part for six months is ridiculous.
Dr. Jim W. Antle Okumlgee, Okla.
