Cycle World Letters
CYCLE WORLD LETTERS
Rollie Free revisited
In regard to Carl Uelinger’s request (September, 1983) for a copy of the Rollie Free picture, the Vincent Club of Southern California would consider providing posters with Rollie’s picture and a list of the records he established.
Those interested should write to the Vincent Owners Club of Southern California, care of Tom and Mari Andrus, 1061 E. Providencia St., Burbank, Calif. 91501.
Frank Doherty Hawthorne, Calif.
Yes, I will take several posters of Rollie Free flat out at 150 MPH. Let us know when they are ready.
Also, do you have another address for the Vincent Owners Club? The one published in your list of clubs is wrong.
Randy Jewett Gainesville, Fla.
Yes. See above.
Triumph Death Watch
My 1968 Tiger 650 took me across South Texas to Santa Fe, New Mexico and back last August. She now commutes 800 miles monthly. As we ride along at 60 mph, her oil temperature is always below 145 F°, oil pressure at 78 psi, 60 mph and it’s 1 qt. of oil for every 800 miles. In two years I’ve only spent $190 on maintenance and parts. She’s given me 20,000 trouble-free miles.
My Tiger has never been challenged to wheelies or burnouts but the trade-off is worth it to me. No wonder nobody buys new Triumphs. Tony Adrian St. Martinville, La.
Sport tires
I just finished your excellent tire test report in the October 1983 issue. The information will be useful when I replace the mysterious Dunlops on my Honda Interceptor. No one seems to know much about the tires and it has aroused my curiosity. The front is a K527A and the rear a K627A. There is no speed rating on the sidewalls. Can you tell me anything about these tires?
John Palmer San Jacinto, Calif.
These V-rated tires are manufactured by Dunlop Japan as original equipment for the Interceptor, and they’re available only through Honda dealers.
There are better tires available for Interceptors (the original equipment Bridgestones as well as Metzelers and Dunlop Sport Elites), and we would recommend switching to one of these alternatives when your Dunlops are worn.
I have just read Comparing Sport Tires in the October issue. I am presently considering replacing the Bridgestone MagMopus tires on my 1982 Honda VF750S Sabre, and was confused by two statements in the article. First you say that the Bridgestones, “don’t have the stick of the sport compound tires and they will probably last longer because of it,” and then state that, “tread wear was more pronounced for the Bridgestones than any of the other tires.” This seems to be a contradiction. Please explain.
Gene Burns Skyland, N.C.
Good catch. This should have been explained in the story. The tread wear during our tire test was caused by considerable sliding. This is not normal. Tires that lost more than an average amount of tread in this test would not necessarily wear faster in more normal use. For racetrack use, our wear figures are useful, but off the track these figures, as explained in the test, are not a good indication of tire life.
A question: Do the results of a given brand and type of tire on one motorcycle brand and type relate to other motorcycles on the same tires? What about the reactions of driveshafts vs. chains?
Jon Barletta Punxsutawney, Pa.
This question doesn’t have an absolute answer. General tire characteristics can be observed on similar motorcycles of different brands. A change in tire szife may have more to do with how different tires work on different bikes. Some tire designs may work best witty large sidewalls on fat tires, and others might work best in smaller sizes. Also, motorcycles with less power put far different loads intQr tires than big, powerful bike$ do. The difference in drive systems is not likely to be^i major factor in how a tire^ works on a motorcycle. Th% purpose of our tire test was to explain overall characteristics, not specifics.
Ten Best Bikes
As an Interceptor owner T was gratified (though hardly surprised) by its selection as one of the ten best. What really excited me about the group photo was the perfectly outlined salt-encrusted Metzeier 16 inch front tire ön your Interceptor. I would greatly appreciate an evaluation of this tire vis-a-tis the OEM tire and any other aftermarket 16-inchers available (Dunlop Sport Elite?).
Gary S. Thompson Indianapolis, Ind.
Thanks. We’ll do more tires as soon as we can.
You have a good magazine and I like the variety of both motocrossers and the fulldressers. But enough is enough! How could you choose a Vision over a GPz550 in your ten best for 1983?
Don’t get me wrong. The Vision is a comparable bike ¿o the GPz but to be top of the* class, a bike should have ease of maintenance and a fair price, too. Both bikes are a type of sport bike but I don’t think shaft should be on a sport bike. And, a good oil cooler could be just as effective as water-cooling.
continued on page 16
Reader information
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continued from page 10
I love my GPz550 and I think Kawasaki has a good thing going.
Roger Tinsley Sumner, Wash.
Slip Streamer
Your Slip Streamer windshield evaluation in the September 1983 issue leaves much to be desired. You not only did more cutting than necessary, but also lowered the shield enough to limit hand and arm protection. Besides that, it looks funny.
To mount the Slip Streamer on my Suzuki GR650 I removed the two small tabs at the bottom of the headlight opening. This allows enough room to tilt the shield at almost any angle, with the top at chin, mouth, nose or forehead level. And yes, the mounting hardware is garbage.
Joe Kramer Buck Lake, Alberta
Old Norton home
It’s good to see more material by Peter Egan. But I must be a good deal older than he is—real Nortons come from Bracebridge St., Birmingham. A much more British and cast iron address. Also, it was Norton Motors Ltd. Norton-Villiers has all the magic of MercedesGogomobile.
Peter Readyhough Barrington, R.I.
Heartfelt Highways
Wade Roberts’ exciting Heartfelt Highways really struck a chord in me. I’m a native Georgian living in southwest Louisiana and I often ride through these crawfish-infested flood plains. On my next trip to Atlanta I’ll forsake the Interstate and take the Cajun backroads.
Steve Garner Sulphur, La.
New look
I have a question regarding your new look: will you continue leaving out the bold face letters at the beginning of your New Ideas and Evaluations articles? Your magazine doesn’t need these inconsistencies. Come on, Allan, we know you can do better.
Tom Donaldson Winnemucca, Nev.
It’s an old (and superstitious) tradition. Just as the craftsmen of the middle ages always put an imperfection into their work, to remind them of their human limits, so do we always manage somehow to scramble a line, lose a letter or mis-state a fact. Start worrying when you don’t find a mistake.—AG
Madison Avenue
I’ve just finished fuming over Madison Avenue’s slam against women in your September Roundup.
I own a Ducati 500 Pantah and a Moto Morini 350 Sport. Not only do I have my engineering degree, I also appreciate fine wine and art. So do my four female riding friends, who own a total of six
other motorcycles (two Ducati Pantahs, two Moto Morinis, one Honda and a Harley flathead), and our male companions. We wonmi are all college educated and hold respectable jobs. One was even a runnerup Miss America!
So there, Madison Avenife! Carmen Lynaugh Richmond, Calif.
No Free Parking
After reading your November Up Front I have only one thing to say aboufi motorcycle bigots . . . consider the source.
I would also appreciate the address of A.B.A.T.E.
Cranking Fraftk Chamberlain Orient, Ohio
There is no national A.B.A.T.E. I joined New York because the members I’ve met there impressed mb. Write them at P.O. Box l II, Owasco, N.Y. 13130 for the address of your state chapter.—AG
Your observations regarding the treatment of motorcyclists in public parks and campgrounds are right on target. Your only error was in not identifying the park in question and the responsible agency.
We will make your dues work for you if you let us know who the culprits are! Robert Rasor,
Director, Government Relations American Motorcyclist Association Westerville, Ohio
A few years ago, the local District Office of the U.S. Corps of Engineers erected large signs at the entrance of each of their public use areas requiring all motorcyclists to register at the ranger station prior to entering the use area. This involved stating your name, address, driver and vehicle license number, etc. It was an unnecessary and uncomfortable, timeconsuming procedure because most riders only wanted a short rest stop.
I had the opportunity to speak with the local staff of one of the U.S. Senators and explained that I could drive my 20-year-old truck into any of the public areas but not my full-dressed Gold Wing without acceptable credentials. In less than a month all those motorcycle signs were gone!
In short, let’s not stop complaining about those unfair situations, just direct the complaints where they will be the most effective.
Jack D. Cohen North Little Rock, Ark.
Been riding since 1958 and have encountered lots of situations like you described. Your comments come close to perfect.
Guess I’ll renew my subscription. I’ve already sent in my dues to AMA and ABATE. I used to worry that my son would never see a bike when he grows up, but maybe now he will!
C. Ragland Longwood, Fla.
Lost orders
Approximately nine months ago I advertised sets of 10 exploded-type engineering drawings depicting all engine internals of the MV Agusta America. Several months later I received orders from America and Canada. Unfortunately, my records were lost including the orders. 1 would greatly appreciate it if these people would contact me.
M.J. Evans 7 Shap Dr. Warndon, Worchester England WR4 9NY
Just the facts, please
There have been continuous reports of law enforcement officers harassing and intimidating bikers in the state of South Dakota. As a group I believe we have a responsibility to do something about this, not only as motorcyclists but as tax paying cftizens. Maybe with facts and figures we can stop this kind of treatment.
If you’ve had problems with the law and feel it was a case of harassment, drop me a line telling me the location, date, reason for being stopped and who stopped you (sheriff, highway patrol, city police).
Grey Wolf A.B.A.T.E. of Black Hills Box 241 Whitewood, S. Dak. 57763
Ted returns
When I received the October, 1983 issue and began perusing the Letters section I came upon one entitled “Herbie?” My pulse quickened and I got a queasy feeling in my stomach. I thought, no way would they kill Ted. Because I couldn’t do it, I got my sister to turn to page 82. Sure enough, Ted had been given the axe.
Ted had become a cult figure in our family and now he's gone. If you have any sense of tradition, you’ll restore Ted to his rightful position in Slipstream and dump that charlatan. If Ted Beers feels that bad he can change his name.
Ralph Reschke Kitimat, B.C.
See page 82.
