Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125489
TRAVEL MEXICO TO MONTREAL THE HARD WAY CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK BY CHUCK CLAYTON If you've wondered what happens when the front tire lets go suddenly on a motorcycle traveUng at 70 mph, I can report that there is a sudden waviness in the sfeering, as if the -dampener were too tight. Then as you slow down the bars begin to tug. but the real loss of control only happens when you drop below about, 40 mph. At high speed I guess centrifugal force keeps the tire billowed out, but as speed drops, the tire flattens and the forks want to turn. 1 put the muscle to the bars, slowed to a quishy stop and inspected the tragedy. The tube was beyond repair'- stem pulled clean off. Regretfully I remembered that particular innertube was originally fitted nearly five years before, at the factory. It had worn out two tires and tiptoed through all the puncturelittered streets of Mexico without ever a leak. Just goes to show you caint depend On nothin. Problem: Where to find a motorcycle innertube in the middle of New York state at high noon on a Sunday? It was too much for my mind right then so I stretched out on the green parkway beside the bike and snoozed until the crunch of tires stopping on gravel woke me up. 1 ope{led one eye and saw a state trooper standing over my supine form. "I thought you were a corpse,· he said, sounding a little disappointed. He ran a curious eye over the Matchless and its cargo tied on with black rubber bands. "You come all the way from California on this?" "Via Mexico City yet.· "Boy,· the trooper chuckled shaking his head, ·You shore like a beating." Trying not to appear overly masochistic I inquired if be might know where a tube could be had so I could continue the flagellation. "There's some fellows near here that might have something you could use. If you want, I'll run you over.· I jumped right uP, "No thanks! But if you could give me a ride, I'd sure appreciate it.' In a minute I was officially deposited at the combination gas station-home of a family named Beebe. One of the best excuses for motorcycle traveling is the chance of meeting some of the great bunch of friends you never knew you had -like the Beebes. Their envirorunent was a wonderland of wheels and machinery. Father Beebe had bought out the rolling stock of a bankrupt thrill show and the dozen or so old Barleys arid Indians rotted gratefully behind the house. Number one son was hopping up a BSA Road Rocket. Number two son had just learned to ride his father's immaculate Duo-Glide and bubbled with ambitions to revive one of the thrill wrecks and go racing at tbe local flat track. As soon as they heard my tale or misfortune Nos, 1 and 2 sons were dispatched with a truck to retch the Matchless, while father Beebe and 1 searched the premises for a suitable tube. The only thing we round that came close was a 450 x 19 auto tube rrom a 1928 Model A. It would do in a pinch and I was gratelul, but Number 1 son wouldn't hear of. il.. He sacrificed a brand-new tube out of his dismantled Road Rocket to get me noder way and only reluctantly let me pay for it. In one hour the bike was ready to ride again and an hour after that, topped up with lunch courtesy of Mrs. Beebe, I was back on the road north...next stop! Montreal, Canada. where the faithful old Matchless that had been with me five years and all the way from the farthest off to the farthest out points of this continent in thick and thin, richer arid poorer, better or worse (sob!) disappeared. Yep. vanished as soon as we got to Canada. You can bet that put me through some changes. Bow the bike got stolen and how I got it hack will be the subject of the next thrilling installments. titled "The Motorcycle Thief.· . ....... . . . . . .. . . ... . . . ...... . . .. ... ....... . .... . . . . . .... . . . . .. . ... ... CIl 'lD