Letters
LETTERS
Letters to the editor are welcomed and should be addressed to: Cycle World Editor, 1499 Monrovia Ave., Newport Beach, Calif. 92663. All letters are subject to editing and cannot be returned.
BMW R100RS/E
I was very impressed with your recent test of the BMW R100S/E and I would like to add some information. My source, a friend’s five-year-old son, tells me that BMW will market their motorcycle at all local Sears stores and possibly Wal-Mart.
Further, we have obtained some wind tunnel tests which may be of interest to you. The tests show that the bike will not withstand a hurricane, but with the addition of the Radio Shack wind-deterrent decal, its wind resistance is that of a small tornado. (My wife tells me that RS/E stands for Real Sophisticated Engineering.) Jim Hysaw Oklahoma City, Okla.
On the cover of your inner magazine in April, 1982, you spelled it Cycle Word but in the BMW R1OORS/E test you spelled it Cycle World. If you’re going to mess something up, do it right. Robert Floyd Delta, Mo. >
ASR COMMENTS
Congratulations on your ASR feature in the April issue. I have been a special fan of this bike for many years and am continually amazed at the lack of information and attention concerning this bike.
Some years ago 1 had lunch with a man who had lived next door to none other than Ashton Stimly Rinton. He started me on the quest which I have enclo(Ed. Note: Unfortunately, pages 2 through 20 have been misplaced in our files or at the Post Office.)
resulting in phenomenal performance and economy! The impact of these developments on the big racing teams can easily be appreciated. Unfortuntately, I am unable to provide a running ASR. 1 do have a gudgeon pin reputedly used by an ASR privateer. It was used as part of a catfish trot-line for some years and is in need of rework.
The younger generation cannot appreciate the satisfaction of pouring babbit bearings melted over a dung fire on the Kansas prairie just ahead of a November blizzard while on a Sunday run to Denver. These are the memories which ASR and similar marques have given us so indelibly.
If I wanted reliability I would have taken the train.
Gordon Flygare Norman, Okla.
THE OTHER SIDE
As more and more people take to the road on motorcycles, and my whole experience from 1940 to the present has been in medium sized cars, 1 find myself interested in the special problems of motorcyclists and their right to the road.
Coming down the boulevard on a spring day, I didn’t see the motorcyclist behind me and moved to the right lane without a signal. As the startled young man went past my window he said (more courteously
than I deserved), thanks a lot, Fve still got eight left.
I now signal my turns promptly and plan ahead not to jam on my brakes when motorcyclists are in back of me. ^
Liz Gendron Arlington, Va.
MATCHLESS CORRECTION
In the March issue, a letter from a reader stated the Matchless Silver Arrow, 400 was a Four. Not so. The Silver Arrow was a Twin ... a V-Twin sidevalve in a monobloc casting.
Just thought I’d set the record straight.
Winfield Thomas Hinsdale, N.H.
Matchless did produce both a V-Twin Silver Arrow and a V-Four Silver Hawk.
YANGTZE RIVER 750
Wow, what an impact Cycle World must have on readers! My phone rang at 2:30 a.m. one night last week and it was a CW reader from California who wanted moil? information on the Yangtze River 750 (April, 1982 issue). He’s a carpenter and could use a sturdy bike and sidecar in his work. When he caught on to the timedif-> fcrcnce we quickly exchanged addresses so we could correspond.
I n my 20 years of magazine writing, this is only the second time such a thing has happened. Many thanks.
Roger Boschman G.P.O. 9869 Hong Kong, BCC
NIGHT RIDING
Your article on night riding (March, 1982) brought forth considerable information on the subject but with some misinformation.
Visual acuity for night riding depends on more than a vitamin A deficiency. Everyone should have this vision or prescription checked at least bi-annually to ensure not only maximum visual acutity but the detection of serious occular disease such as glaucoma.
Nyctalopia, or night blindness could perhaps be secondary to a gastro-intestinal absorption problem that would be more efficaciously treated by the family physician.
I doubt protanopia is a cause of depth perception difficulties. In those affected, the visual system would adapt minimizing difficulties in interpreting red hues. Anisocoria, present in 20 percent of the population does mean a disparity in pupil sizes, but the amount of light entering the eye does not affect depth perception. David J. Rodman, MD Buffalo, N.Y. >
CLUB BULLETINS
Over 40 years have passed since the first Powell Cycle was built in California by the Powell brothers. We are forming the Powell Registry to get people together who share a common interest in orphan machines. If you are a Powell enthusiast, send us your name, address, year and model of your machine. If you don’t know the model please give details on the engine, tires, etc. Wallace Skyrman Powell Cycle Registry 4588 Pacific Hwy N. Central Point, Oreg. 97502
Mike Lussem, who started the Society of the SR, has asked me to take over. \ think the way to begin is for those interested to send me $ 10 for membership and I’ll send an application for your vital statistics,etc. Once we get a good membership, we’ll start the first newsletter with photos, technical news, etc. If you’ve already filled out Mike’s form, just let me know. Let’s get thumpin’! Dan Kuttner 8640 Manchester Ave. #35 Buena Park, Calif. 90621
I would like to organize a Honda CX/ GL500 club in the New York area for the purpose of weekend touring this summetv Those interested may call me at (212) 265-1600 or drop a line to my address. Val Reyes 111 W. 53rd. St. New York, N.Y. 10019
We are starting a new club in the Santa Clara valley in California. It is to be a Kawasaki club with our main body mad^ up of middleweight and heavyweight bikes. However, our little brothers are welcome too. We’re in the forming stages and we need members. There are many roads to burn so let’s get on with the good times. Roadburners c/o Motors West Kawasak^ 2082 Winchester Blvd. Campbell, Calif. 95008
We CBX owners feel that Honda made a fantastic machine, and we invite all interested CBX readers to write us for more information. We want to band together ta exchange ideas, information, parts arf* general knowledge to make ownership of these machines more enjoyable. Send a SASE with your request and we’ll be happy to supply you with the International CBX Owners Association news. Stan Carpenter International CBX Ownei>* PO. Box 4824 Mesa, Ariz. 85201
MUFFLER RUST
For 47 years Fve never been without a motorcycle, including street and dirt. But . in the last five years Fve been getting riled up because of rusting mufflers. Why can’t they install a drain plug or something to drain the moisture? Or they could at least go back to making the mufflers separate so it wouldn't be so expensive. I had to replace the left muffler on my 1977 XS750 ($90) and the right one was $ l 30. Now the1 muffler on my 1100 with 7000 mi. on it will soon need replacing at the cost of $179. Even if a motorcycle got 200 mpg you’d still have to replace mufflers every 6000 to 8000 mi.
Bud Hillman Pittsburg, Calif.^
The factories do put in drains, but the mufflers rust anyway.
And stock parts are expensive. Our cure is quiet mufflers from the accessory people. They cost less and last longer.
AND MORE RUST
What prompts me to write is your January 1982 article, Up Through the Ranks. Fll reinforce the opinion that the Honda CB400F was one of the best looking and best driving motorcycles of the decade. But to my point: how about an article on keeping it roadworthy (restoration and af*^ termarket additions)? Also, a warning: If you’re buying an older 400F, inspect the frame carefully where the sidestand is welded on. They rust so badly in that spot that suddenly the sidestand will snap off, leaving a 3 in. hole in the frame. This happens often enough that it seems to be a design flaw. If you find a bike with a healthy frame, enjoy it for all its worths Maybe it’ll last until Honda decides to import the newer 400F from Europe.
J. McDermott Middletown, Conn.
MORE KEY FACTS
I just read Paul Biebel’s letter in the* May 1982 issue about Kawasaki key interchangeability and was struck by a spirit of public service.
I have a terrible secret to reveal (based on my two summers as a motorcycle salesman.) Any key that fit the hole would have worked . . . my old Triumph keys dnTr Honda keys did, and any and all Kawasaki keys were interchangeable. I don’t know if this is still true, my experience is a couple of years old now. But I've known this for a while and I’ve been remiss (as has everyone else who knows) in not making it public knowledge. SI* Brooklyn, N.Y. Name Withheld
