Letter From Europe
LETTER FROM Europe
ROUNDUP
Daredevils, Beemers and rally madmen
Dispatch riders in London, England, have become legendary for their streetwise riding talents. And with more than 100 companies employing an estimated 8000-plus motorcyclists, it’s become big business. The most popular machines for this daredevil lifestyle of dodging double-decker buses and black London cabs are Honda RS250 four-valve singles and almost any big four-stroke trailbike, and BMWs are the hot tip for out-of-town trips. Now, though, the dispatch industry has attracted the predictable attention of Mrs. Thatcher's government, and it's likely that measures will be introduced to license companies and control the number of hours the riders, who are largely self-employed sub-contractors, will be permitted to work at a stretch. Earnings of $275 per 80-hour/six-day week are reportedly available, if you survive the high-risk London traffic scene....
Prolific British manufacturer Harris recently unveiled its twin-spar aluminium chassis for the Yamaha
FZ750 engine, one of which will be campaigned by Steve Parrish in the 1986 World TT F1 series under the banner of the local Yamaha importers. White Power suspension is fitted front and rear, using the Dutch firm’s unique “upside down" fork, with Marvic wheels and Lockheed four-pot brake calipers and discs. A street version has already been produced though not yet displayed in public. It is reported to save 90 pounds in weight over a standard FZ750 and will be available early this summer. ...
In contrast to most other manufacturers, BMW reported record production figures for 1985 of 37,104 machines—up 9.1 percent over 1984—of which 42.7 percent were K100 Fours. Just under threequarters of all BMW bikes made were exported, with the USA easily the largest market, followed by Italy and Britain. Nevertheless, Beemer sales are improving in Japan, too, where the K100 recently became the very first non-Japanese-manufactured motorcycle to receive the prestigious annual award for best overall design presented by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry. ...
Plans for the launch of a new high-performance sports version of the V-Twin Hesketh have been delayed by London’s Mocheck concern, which took the project over from Lord Alexander Hesketh last year. Concern over the specification of the chassis for the Weslake-designed, lOOOcc four-cam engine are cited as the main reason. The new bike is now not expected to appear before 1987.
On the other hand, work is progressing on Weslake’s own oneliter engine for road use. Unlike the 90-degree Hesketh, this is a 50-degree V-Twin using two 500cc Single top-ends originally designed mainly for grass-track and motocross use. When Weslake was liquidated last year, the rights to the engine were bought by businessman Ron Jones, who then had the eight-valve unit converted to dohc configuration by former Weslake development engineer Ron Valentine. A road gearbox has also been designed, which, when fitted to the 90mm-by77.8mm engine, results in a 153pound powerplant. A twin-spar alloy chassis is being constructed by Harris Engineering for the new bike, which is expected to produce 100 bhp and have a top speed of over 1 50 mph. Given the number of eight-valve Weslake V-Twins already in successful use around the world, this British revival might actually get off the ground. ...
After stadium MX comes, of course, stadium trials. A world championship for the indoor feet-up sport is being discussed for 1987, comprising the five countries that already run big-attendance stadium trials contests: Spain, France, Brazil, Italy and Japan. ...
Genuine factory spares are now available for the estimated 100,000plus Norton Twins—primarily Commandos—still in use around the world. Norton Motors, successors to the failed NVT combine, is now remanufacturing components, using in many cases the original tooling and drawings. The Shenstone-based company also offers a restoration service on Commandos of any age, and several machines have already been sent over from the USA to get the treatment. Next step may be the construction of a small number of 1986 Norton 850 Commandos.
Alan Cat heart
