The Walkman Cometh
The Walkman Cometh
ROUNDUP
CAMRON E. BUSSARD
IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT FOR SEVERAL years now, large touring bikes have come equipped with radios and tape players. A lot of people want to ride to the sounds of their favorite music, and the manufacturers have been only too glad to provide those riders with that option. But not everyone prefers huge motorcycles; and having music on unfaired bikes in the past has not been all that easy.
But now things are getting a little easier, and there are several options available to riders in the quest for music. Any of the choices, if used with discretion, can make your riding more enjoyable if you keep in mind several factors in the search for a way to listen to your favorite music on the road. You can chose the oldand-proven method that utilizes any one of the numerous systems in which the radio/speaker box mounts on the handlebar. Or, you can choose the Walkman type of system, which, because of its light weight and portability, permits all sorts of
interesting applications—and that usually provides a better and easier solution to the sound-system problem than a bike-mounted arrangement can.
But before you rush out and stick headphones in your ears, there is some legal distortion that has to be cleared up before we can advise you to wear Walkmans in your helmet. First, it is illegal in Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington to operate a vehicle while wearing headphones; and in California, Maryland, Minnesota and New York you can have only one speaker in place, which makes for rotten stereo.
The main reason for legislation against the use of headphones while riding comes from a fear that the music might be a distraction that would prohibit the wearer from hearing road noise. Lawmakers worry that if you crank up the volume, you’ll not be able to hear the early-warning sounds of danger— things like squealing tires, horns, sirens, etc. This is a legitimate concern, though, because the level of concentration required to operate a motorcycle safely is greater than that required to drive a car. Furthermore, a momentary lapse of attention while on a motorcycle can result in far more serious consequences than a similar mistake in an automobile.
Even if, however, you live in a state that allows the use of Walkmans while riding, all is not roses. You still might have a problem finding room in your helmet for the speakers. The new systems which have very small speakers that fit inside the ear work well, but you still are always aware that the speakers are there. If you find this arrangement too uncomfortable, then it will be necessary to mount the headphone speakers in the earhole sections of the helmet. This will call for a bit of interior customizing on your helmet liner. And you should know that Honda recently quit putting speakers in its Hondaline helmets because the Department of Transportation felt that the protrusion of the speaker into the ear could be potentially dangerous.
Nevertheless, the idea of a Walkman system for on-bike listening seems positive for several reasons. It is a small, portable, self-contained system that is audible to no one but the rider. You might even be able to use it during some non-serious off-road riding, as well, because of the self-contained nature of the system. Also, there is no ugly box hanging on the bike that can destroy the looks of your pride and joy—and that can be easily stolen or vandalized.
Of course, cutting graceful lines through the canyons on a sportbike to the sounds of music isn’t for everyone. Anyone who is easily distracted, for instance, should by no means listen to music when he rides. And there obviously can be a world of difference, safety-wise, between cruising to a soothing Beethoven piano sonata and peg-dragging to the raucous roll of Quiet Riot. But if you exercise just a bit of common sense, a Walkman can offer one more way to make your riding all the more satisfying.
Biggest Ninja yet
Meet the Darth Vader of the motorcycle world: Kawasaki’s new, black-on-black Ninja 1000R.
The sinister-looking bike is powered by an enlarged (977cc) version of the Ninja 900’s liquid-cooled Four. The new engine pumps out a claimed 125 horsepower; enough, Kawasaki says, for 10.6-second dragstrip performance.
The high-horsepower engine bolts into a steel, perimeter-style frame and is then covered up by perhaps the swoopiest fairing yet seen on a production bike.
Yamaha motorcycles turn 30
Like most larger manufacturers today, Yamaha is involved in making a lot more than just motorcycles. It now makes everything from golf carts to airplane engines, and from boats to stereos. It is even making engines for Ford Motor Company. But this year marks the 30th anniversary of Yamaha’s motorcycle production. The 125cc YA-1, a fivehorsepower, four-speed two-stroke that had a top speed of about 50 mph, was the first motorcycle the company produced in 1955. From its tuning fork insignia to its sleek tank, this bike helped to determine the direction that subsequent Yamaha motorcycles were to follow.
