Feed Back
FEED BACK
Readers, as well as those involved in the motorcycle industry, are invited to have their say about motorcycles they own or have owned. Anything is fair game: performance, handling, reliability, service, parts availability, lovability, you name it. Suggestions: be objective, be fair, no wildly emotional but ill-founded invectives; include useful facts like mileage on odometer, time owned, model year, special equipment and accessories bought, etc.
FLOPPED IN FLORIDA
When you read about someone else’s experiences with a certain motorcycle, you can only form an opinion on what you have read. I had always kept an open mind for Harley-Davidson, whether pro or con. But this time I found out for myself.
A friend and I set off February 24 on his 1977 Sportster, anxious to arrive in Florida a couple of days later. We had 10 days and plenty of money to do whatever we wanted.
Because of the vibration of the engine and the stiff shocks, we became fatigued quickly and had to switch drivers every 50 to 90 miles. The mirror was absolutely useless, even when we tried to hold it steady with our hand. He had just replaced the old battery with a new one a couple of weeks earlier, but nevertheless we had to push-start the thing if it sat for over 45 minutes.
We did get good gas mileage, though. I’d say around 50 miles per gallon, and with the puny tank, we definitely needed it! I also enjoyed the throttle control on the right grip. It eliminated wrist fatigue.
The clutch was a different story. You get all the exercise that you need from pulling in that clutch lever. Yes, do that 20 times a day, every other day, and you’ll have the strength of a gorilla in no time. It seemed that trying to find Neutral was like trying to find a needle in a haystack—at night time!
Despite these problems, our spirits were high and we proceeded onward. Then it happened!
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The next day, and 300 miles later, as we were passing the road signs by, the transmission went out. For a moment there, I thought we had finally found Neutral. Pull in the clutch and coast to the side of the road. What do we do now?
Just then some guy on a 1968 BSA pulled up and rode my friend into town to get the H-D dealer to pick us up. The Harley shop was located only three miles away and happened to be the only one in the city. He towed us in and told us we’d have it back by the next afternoon if it wasn’t bad. We had our doubts.
Sure enough, when we called the next morning, he had ordered the parts, and said it would be at least two weeks before they received them. Realizing there was no use in staying any longer, and our vacation ruined, we rented a U-Haul and towed the Sportster home.
“Well Tom, don’t feel bad. You’ll be reimbursed for the tow bill,” I said. “The bike is still under warranty.”
I was dead wrong. Even though H-D would order a new trans and cases, and would install them all for no cost, the tow bill was not covered by the H-D warranty. The owner of the shop said that this happened a number of times before, and was caused by H-D using a harder alloy. $111 down the drain. No! It can’t be true! His insurance wouldn’t pay the bill either.
“I wish I had never bought the thing,” he said. And I agree. The Great American Freedom Machine has become the Great American Rip-Off! And the next time I see a Harley freak raise his finger high in the air, and shout “Harley-Davidson—Number 1,” I’ll just snicker, and silently say, “Good Luck!”
Todd Jerdon West Chester, Ohio
CAN-AM CRONY
I own a 1975 Can-Am 250 MX2 which averages more than 30 hours a week of hard riding. I have only had to replace one set of rings, one piston and a throttle cable other than normal maintenance. My bike has never failed to start, never seized a piston or did I have to push my bike anywhere. In fact, I have so much faith in the reliability of my bike, I have never carried a single tool with me even while on many excursions. I have found my bike to be extremely reliable, of high quality craftsmanship, very versatile and well handling. What more can you say for a bike?
Steven Middlesworth Simi Valley, Calif.
CB500 WOES-PART II
I sympathize with Keith Barber whose letter appeared in your February “Feedback” column. His description of his Honda CB500 sounded so familiar I thought he was describing my bike. I have 15,000 miles on my Honda and I've lost count on how many times it's been in the shop. Since buying the bike I have read many reports on it and they all point to the same thing-the bike was a mistake.
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More than $50 worth of parts have been lost while going down the road: footpegs. side covers, battery cable and trip meter knob. I feel more than taken and any opinions of other Honda CB500 owners would be appreciated.
Fran Biondolillo 185 Deumant Terrace Kenmore, N.Y. 14223
THE GOLDEN LEMON
I purchased a new Honda GL1000. Four days later my friend bought one also. At 240 miles my bike developed an oil leak at the left cylinder head. The dealer installed a new head gasket. My friend was bringing his bike in for his 500-mile check, and the better part of his wiring harness went up in smoke. His machine sat in the shop for 37 days.
When my machine reached 2500 miles, the engine began smoking excessively. Back to the shop. I was informed that the rings were not seated. -
Back on the road for a month and the oil leak around the cylinder head started again. This time I was told it was not the head gasket but a warped head!
After getting my bike back and passing the 7000-mile mark, the oil pump light came on and I quickly shut it down. It was a malfunctioning oil pump. I put a "For Sale" sign on .
I now have over 5000 miles on my new Yamaha XS75OD. As for my friend and his "Golden Lemon," he still has it but the bike hasn't run since November.
Michael Cooke Tucson, Ariz.
Zi HELMET HOOK
For all of you Z 1 owners who think only one helmet hook can be used because of the seat, I have a suggestion. Simply re move the hook on the right side and install the hook onto the battery housing bolt. Some filing may be required. Then you can hook your lady's helmet beside yours.
Gary Hill Wichita Falls, Texas
HONDA HARMONY
Doesn't anyone remember the Honda CL350 anymore? I purchased one in 1973. It was a 1971 with only 400 miles on it. After four years it still runs like a top and also strikes a nice profile after a wax job.
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It has been free of all the little annoying occurrences which I read about in your magazine, as well as being free of mechanical defects. My Honda has an unbelievable amount of torque at low speeds and it has shocked many people on bigger bikes in a quarter. It is not unusual to see me pop up over the hill in the coal pits ahead of my buddies riding Elsinores and Suzukis.
Except for my over-sized rear tire, a new battery, chain, and clutch cable, it is exactly the same bike I purchased. Thank you Honda. As far as I’m concerned this is truly your greatest machine.
Greg Stutzman Berlin, Ohio
PUNCTURE FLATS
In your April “Round Up” column under A Squirt in Time, you asked “Ever had a puncture flat on the road?” I havethree times. As a result I have something which may be of interest to other riders.
In all three instances the initial indication was a gentle oscillation of the handlebars followed by the rear going first to one side then the other.
In the first case I managed to ride off the road but it was a few seconds of the wildest ride I’ve ever experienced. The second flat was the following day. The rear went hard right then hard left and then down. The whole thing couldn’t have lasted more than three or four seconds.
About six months later I had the opportunity to test an idea I had after having the two previous flats.
I felt the head oscillate gently and then the rear started going left. I took a fourfinger grip on the front brake and hauled down as hard as possible. The bike straightened right up and I was able to get off the road with only a slight wobble from the rear.
The idea is that with hard front braking there is a considerable forward transfer of weight. This should decrease the load on the flat rear tire so the casing flops side to side with less force. It worked for me. With the third flat I was able to get off the road under control which sure beat the undignified dismount of the second flat. If a squirt will stop a flat it’s worth the time— believe me!
Ansel J. Andrus Jacksonville, Fla.
Last Monday I left the office right at 5 p.m., peak of the rush-hour traffic. By the time I got to the expressway, I was champing at the bit—passed two cars just before the entrance ramp and flung my shiny new 400F into a steep lean to negotiate the banked constant-radius curve up to the eight-lane. Shifting up at 9000,1 shot onto the expressway, tucked neatly between two pickups, and settled into my usual slot in the middle lane for the six-mile jaunt home. No sooner had I got the bike straight up and down and had begun letting the speed drop back down from the 80-mph vicinity, than I felt this strange wiggling—more of a veer than a wiggle. At first I thought it was gusty side winds, then the seat of my pants told me it was something else. I already knew what it was by the time I tucked my head under my arm to check the rear tire, but I had to look anyway. By this time the veer had become a pronounced lurch from side-to-side. I managed to find my way back between the pickups and got hold of some front brake to shut her down on the shoulder. Inspection of the rear tire revealed a nail almost in the sidewall—apparently I picked it up on the street and when I leaned over on the entrance ramp it was punched on into the tube. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if the flat had happened instantaneously while I was leaned over at 60 mph. I’ve never used that gooey tire sealant either—increase the unsprung weight and all that—but from now on . . .
Ken Frakes
Tulsa, Okla.
