Cycle World Roundup

CYCLE WORLD ROUNDUP

Ship first, ask questions later

Shipments of large-displacement Japanese motorcycles to the United States surged in the months before President Reagan announced sharply increased tariffs to discourage their importation.

Imports increased between January, when the U.S. International Trade Commission endorsed the tariff increase, and April, when Reagan accepted the recommendation, according to the U.S. Customs Service.

Customs officials could not immediately supply import figures, but they described the traffic of heavyweight bikes as heavy.

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, April sales of 750cc-andlarger street bikes from the factory-owned American distributors to dealers was up considerably over sales in April 1982. The distributors (the four Japanese companies and Harley, which is included in the MIC tabulations) reported selling 35,325 of the large-displacement bikes last April, compared to 25,894 the year before an increase of 9431 bikes, or more than 36 percent.

This came at a time when year-to-date sales of 750ccand-larger motorcycles were down almost 20 percent over sales during the same period in 1982, said the MIC.

Distributor sales of 450 749cc bikes (which includes the popular 750cc class) were 16,838 last April, compared to 12,166 the year before an increase of 4672 bikes or more than 38 percent.

Sales of 125 349cc bikes, meanwhile, were down 35 percent, and sales of 350 449cc bikes decreased 56 percent.

Spokesmen for Honda and Yamaha denied that shipments were stepped up in anticipation that Reagan would order the tariff increased. Suzuki declined official comment. However, a source there and a spokesman for Kawasaki admitted that shipments of heavyweight motorcycles increased during the three-month period.

Reagan ordered on April 1 that the 4.4 percent tariff be increased for five years on imports of motorcycles with engines displacing 699cc or more. On April 16, the tariff was raised to 49.4 percent. It will drop in succeeding years, reaching 10 percent in the fifth year. A yearly allotment will be exempt from the increased tariffs: 6000 bikes the first year, increasing by 1000 annually during the five-year period.

The trade penalty was requested by HarleyDavidson. Harley argued that a flood of large-displacement Japanese motorcycles had depressed the American market, and “severely injured” the company’s sales and profits.

The ITC found that there was a massive surplus in the U.S. of the larger Japanese motorcycles. Harley said sales of the stockpiled imports at artificially deflated prices was threatening its future.

The trade commission agreed, and on Jan. 19 recommended the tariff increase.

It was after that recommendation was made public that imports jumped, said the Customs Service.

“During those three months, there was a sudden, appreciable increase in the shipments of big-cc bikes from Japan,” said Jerome Hollander, Customs spokesman in Los Angeles.

“There was a scramble,” said a Customs inspector at Los Angeles Harbor. He asked not to be named. “It looked like the factories were rushing to get those motorcycles in before the tariff could be increased.”

Bob Moffit of Kawasaki Motor Corp. U.S.A. said the factory-owned distributor did accelerate imports of largedisplacement motorcycles.

“It shouldn’t astonish anyone,” Moffit said. “It’s perfectly legal, and customary in cases like this. If a company figures that import fees are about to rise, it’s only natural that it will try to get products in before the tariff is increased.

“We didn’t bring in any more bikes than we would have otherwise; we just brought them in earlier, to avoid risking the extra costs,” he said.

“Definitely yes,” said the source at U.S. Suzuki, who requested anonymity. “Everything that was ready at the factory, we tried to get on the water, across the Pacific, unloaded and into the warehouses to avoid the chance that we’d have to pay more to get the motorcycles into the U.S.”

American Honda Motor Co. and Yamaha Motors Corp. both reported increased imports of large-displacement bikes, but maintained the increase had nothing to do with the ITC recommendation.

“We didn’t put on extra outboard motors to rush the boats in or anything,” said Ron Crawford of Yamaha. “Our big bikes just came late in our production schedule; they always were supposed to arrive in the spring. The boats were scheduled months and months in advance.”

At Honda, Mike Spencer said, “No, we can’t say that anything was speeded up. Those shipments had been scheduled for a long, long time.”

The spokesman for HarleyDavidson said the company was not surprised by the increase in import traffic.

“We’re not pleased, obviously, but I can’t honestly say that we didn’t expect it,” said Bob Klein.

“We’re just waiting to see what effect it has on the market. Something like this doesn’t do anyone any good. There already was a serious problem with the import surplus; obviously, the new imports won't help us,” Klein said.

“And, while the Japanese companies may have beat the tariff this year, a move like that isn’t likely to win them much affection from the U.S. officials watching this,” he said. “I can’t see it benefitting anyone.”

Meanwhile, dealers around the country reacted to the tariff increase in a variety of ways. Some held what they advertised as “Beat-theTariff” sales of their current stock (“Buy now. The price goes up with the next shipment!” read one newspaper ad.).

Others increased the prices of the most-popular models the day after Reagan’s announcement. Although the tariff increase had not taken effect, and while the extra charge did not apply to bikes already in the country, they explained to customers that the inflated price reflected a “tariff fee.”

Hey, that pulsing light...Arrgh!

Allowing manufacturers to build motorcycles with pulsing headlights could lead to an increase in accident rates, an insurance industry agency maintains.

The Insurance Institute for

Highway Safety says pulsing headlights—already sold as an aftermarket accessory sometimes cause reactions that could lead to highway crashes.

The Institute urged that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate the link between pulsing headlights and loss of driver concentration before ruling on a request by HarleyDavidson that the headlights be allowed as standard equipment.

“Over a wide range of frequencies,” an institute report said, “(the lights) can cause serious, relevant, abnormal reactions in some normal individuals.”

Those reactions are believed to be the cause of at least some highway crashes, the statement said.

In aerospace research, pulsing lights have been responsible for nausea, dizziness and

unconsciousness, the IIHS said. Also, the lights could trigger epilepsy in some seizure-prone persons, the report said.

“It is not known exactly what percentage of the normal U.S. public may respond adversely to varying lights, but there is reason to believe that the percentage is substantial,” the institute said.

Yamaha gets credit partner, settles with AMA

New, mid-sized-and-larger Yamahas will be eligible for credit financing by Ford Motor Credit Co., as the result of an agreement between the bike manufacturer and the auto loan company.

Yamahas with displacements of 400cc or more will be eligible for financing under the loan program.

Financing arrangements can be made through Yamaha dealers or Ford Credit offices throughout the United States.

Yamaha expects most of its 1600 dealers to participate in the joint program.

Meanwhile, Yamaha announced that it has joined Honda and Suzuki in declaring a truce in the AMA-factories motocross dispute (Cycle World, April 1983, June 1983).

Yamaha endorsed AMA’s revised 1983 motocross racing format, and is participating in the series.

Instead, how about a newspaper ban?

And we have one in mind; the Sunday Independent of Wilkes-Barre, Penn.

Recently, the paper published an editorial suggesting the creation of specially designated “cycle routes” for motorcycle travel. Motorcyclists then would be barred from using other streets and highways.

The Sunday Independent said requiring riders to keep to the special routes would improve their safety. The newspaper neglected to mention just how.

“Admittedly, we are proposing a complex solution, one that surely would be unpopular with cyclists, but short of banning them outright, how can the problem be solved?” the newspaper opined.

Hesketh crosses the Atlantic

After a year or so or on again, off-again existence, Lord Alexander Hesketh's V 1000 finally is available in America.

The 90° V-Twins are being imported from Great Britain by Aston Martin Lagonda of North America. They will be sold from AML's showroom in Greenwich, Connecticut (phone (203) 629-8830). Asking price is $10,500.

The 992cc Hesketh, you might recall, is air-cooled, dohc, and has four valves per cylinder. It comes with twin Dell’Orto carbs, a five-speed transmission, Brembo disc brakes and alloy wheels. (For more information, see Cycle World, September 1980, February 1983 and April 1983.)

Modifications for the American market are being made in England, and include new, quieter mufflers. “Other than that, changes are minimal,” reports an AML spokesman.

AML is establishing a full parts and service facility in Greenwich.

You're cleared to land, Gold Wing

When the picture arrived in the mail, we spent half an hour thinking up all sorts of funny captions. Ought to make a great Slipstream, we thought.

Then, just for the hell of it, we called the phone number that had accompanied the photo. “Ah,” said the voice on the other end of the line. “You’re interested in the Air Cycle, huh?”

Oops. No joke? This thing’s for real?

“Uh-huh,” said the voice. “The world’s first flying motorcycle.”

What the thing is, is the Allyn Air Cycle, the creation of one Ed Allyn. Allyn's the guy who brought you the Allyn Air Seat inflatable cushion for motorcycles.

His Air Cycle is powered by a two-stroke 500cc engine, the same type that powers regular ultra-light aircraft. The frame is aluminum; the wings Dacron.

Allyn says the flying bike weighs a shade under 250 lbs., and can be assembled or disassembled in about an hour. It’ll take off in less than 200 feet, carry one or two people up to 10,000 feet, and travel at 55 mph, he says. Aloft, the Air Cycle burns less than two gallons of gas an hour.

It can be soloed without a pilot’s license, although certification is required for carrying a passenger.

“How did it come about? Well, first, you have to know that I like things that are a little different,” Allyn explains.

“Second, it was a dream of mine. I’d seen flying motorcycles in movies; you know, Star Wars kind of stuff. I’d always dreamed of having one, but I’d never seen one in real life. So, I built myself one.”

Allyn says the Air Cycle has prompted a lot of interest in Massachusetts, where he lives. “When I take it up, people gawk. Then they say,

T don’t believe it.’ ”

He has no plans to manufacture the Air Cycle, but Allyn says he’s willing to sell copies of his plans. Information is available from Allyn Air Seat Co., 9 Sunset St., Lenox, Mass. 01240.

The flying bike can be built, Allyn estimates, for $4000-$5000. Among other things, the price will depend on using aluminum tubing, wing fabric, an ultra-light engine and whatever motorcycle parts the builder has around.

Air Cycle No. One, for example, has parts from a Gold Wing and a Honda 450.

Suzuki GR650 prices reduced

Suzuki has announced that it is reducing the suggested retail prices for the two models of the GR650 Tempter.

The standard model, the GR650XD, was reduced from $2149 to $1999, a $150 decrease.

The GR650D, which comes with two-tone paint, cast wheels, a running light and front air suspension, was reduced from $2399 to $2199, a $200 decrease.

Now's your chance. Take pen in hand, put to paper...

Allong with a five-cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax. the 1982 Transportation Assistance Act made provisions for an objective, comprehensive survey of the 55-mph national speed limit.

The non-political National Research Council was named to conduct this survey, which will consider the benefits and drawbacks of the doublenickel law.

So far, most of the response the NRC has received has been pro-55. Most of it’s been from elected officials.

Want to register a vote in opposition?

Contact Dr. Damian Kulash, National Research Council, Transportation Research Board, 2101 Constitution Ave.,

Washington, D.C. 20418.

Don't call me Yank. I'm from Georgia

A number of Americophiles have banded together in Great Britain to find and salvage some 250 HarleyDavidsons that as the story goes were buried by American forces just before the D-Day landings.

Rumors have it that more than $2 million worth of tanks, jeeps, artillery and, yes, Harleys rests in burial plots near the country towns of Newton, Abbot and Bovey Tracey.

The reclamation project is being called, natch,

Operation Yankee.

Honda orders audio system recall

Honda is voluntarily recalling an estimated 7000 Hondaline Type II Audio Systems sold as an option/accessory.

The recall involves the intercom/component terminals fitted in Honda fairings to link CBs, cassette tape players or headsetintercom units to the audio system’s AM-FM radio.

Ralph Gormley of American Honda said the recall was issued after customers complained of distortion and poor sound quality.

“It was an entirely voluntary move; no one was requiring us to do it,” Gormley said. “We were not obligated legally, but we felt a moral obligation.”

Gormley said notifications were mailed to Honda GL1100 owners who may own the Type II Audio System (Honda code number 1067941 ). Owners of other models who have installed any of the optional Hondalind audio components should contact local dealers without waiting for notice.