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/125639
rrtlilriders, Be Preptlred By Art Raynor There you are, 15 miles back In the "hoon1es" with a broken master link, and the only rePlacement is back In the truck or at home. You could have avoided this and other predicaments if you had just remembered to carry extra parts/ equipment and properly prepared your motorcycle. Many trailriders carry only what they think is necessary - themselves. When the sun star1s sinking in the West and you're stranded or lost out there, it's too late to start tb1nkIng about the extras you sbould bavecarr1edorpreparations you should haTe made. When yon properly prepare yOlU" motorcycle, yOID" chances of brea!dng down are greatly reduced. EYentually, you, llke everyone eise, will break down, and items such as baling wire or, a spare throttle cable may make the difference of your getting back that day or spending the night under the stars. Noted ·below are two check lists. One is for the extra parts/equipment that is suggested to be carried, and the other suggests what checks to be made prior to loading the motorcycle. Itisadvlsable to save the subject lists and keep them on hand for your pre-ride referellCe. Looking at the parts/equipment list may make it seem as though a trailer is necessary to carry all the items noted. But once you start looJdng at your motorcycle, you will f1nd numerous places to store them. If there is no room, surplus stores have various types and sizes of canvas pouches that can be attached to your bike. MOTORCYCLE PREPARATION CHECK LIST EXTRA PARTS-EQUIPMENT CHECK LIST Entire motorcycle tree and clean of the last ride's dirt. 2 New spark plugs . 6 ft. of haling wire Tune-up necessary? 6 ft. of electrical wire (#16 or #18) Air tilter cleaned and serviced. 12 ft. of tow rope ChaIn cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted for con;ect slack. 25 it. of nylon twine Gasoline tuter cleaned recently. 6 to 8 In. of drive chain Brake, throttle and clutch cables In good condition and lubricated recently. 2 master links (lubricated) Chain breaker Brakes adjusted front/rear. Clutch lever (if yours is breakable' Clutch lever adjusted for correct cable slack. Throttle cable assembly New spark plug(s) Installed or ellistlng ooe(s) In good condition. Clutch cable assembly, Cable repair couplings All electrical wire checked for worn areas. If you wanl 10 make people think you are bike-wise, call it a 450HVHDK. Otherwise, just call it the world's only factory-built hiJlclimber, because that's what thc long string of numbers and letters describe; a 45 cubic inch Harley-Davidson, basically of K design_ with overhead valves. Lany Franz, of Cleveland., Ohio owns and rides a working example of this rare fuel-burning- machine, built in limited numbers SPecifically for the purpose of AMA Class A hillclimbing. Franz states that about twenty WCIe buill, but that Ius is the only complete machine he knows of today. The motor sports exposed valve gear, drinks through special Linkert-built fuel carb and is hung in a chrome-plated frame. 2 fuses (It you use them) All electrical connections tight. Directional compass Battery water at correct level. Matches (waterproofed) Oil (In crankcase/gearboX) at correct Roll of electrical tape level. Factory tool kit (or better) Sufficient 011 In auto lube tank. 6 In. adjustable wrench SufJic1ent gaso1In-;.1n gas tank. Bungee cords Tires in good cond1tl.on tront/rear• First aid kit Correct air pressure In tires - front/ rear. Pocket knife (Boy Scout type) Engine working properly (throughout all gears) Tube valve core Gas/oil tank repair stick All extra parts/equipment attached. The h_1 Unkerts point f...-d ...t .....-.1 from the right side of the motor. Upon IbIrting they blurb" and snort and COUllh. but once they get c"ned out the engine really howls. Canteen of water Tube repair canister (pressurized) and right angIe adapter for the above or tube repair kit plus tire pumP. With 45 cubic: inche ...t 0 _ _ ...tves, you could think of it • a mixture of Sportster and KR. Notice the exposed valYega•• Carburetor main jets: one size over and ~e size under normal Plastic bag (for transfer of liquids) Red material 4 ft. x 6 ft. (tor shade or slgnaltng) Ambitious Kansas M.C.A. Awarded Charter The newly formed and forward thinking NORTHWEST KANSAS MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION of Atwood, Kansas, has just received their charter from the PAN AMERICAN RACING ASSOCIATION (One of the four organJzal1ons alflllated to the F .I.M. under M.I.C.U.S. In the United States and the F .M.M. In Mexico. Their first ambitious move has been to schedule a Professional Motocross for the 19th of October that will pay no less than $1000.00 In priZe money. The club has enlisted the aid ofnearly all the town's merchants, so visiting riders can expect to find-a warm and friendly atmosphere, not to mention a really fine motocross course with lots of fun and prizes for all. The two Professtooal classes will be o to 25Occ, and 251cc to 750cc with each class paying $500.00. Sportsmen riders will compete In three classes: D-125cc; 126-25Occ; 251750cc and their priZes will be trophies. , The track will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for practice 00 Saturday the 18th and 00 Sunday the 19th from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Entry fees for the Professional classes are $15.00 until the 5th of October, alter which an extra $5.00 late charge will be made. The entry fee for the Sportsmen's classes is $7.50 until the 5th of October. Late charges for Sportsmen will be $2.50. The Pros will compete In three, twenty minute races, and the Sportsmen will race In three, ten minute events. This is the same weekend that the INTER-AM series star1s In Pepperal, Massachusetts, and becailse Pepperalis a "c1osed-to-certa1n-riders-ooly" alfair, many of the better American Motacrossmen will lie waiting around for the other INTER-AM events. One of these events will be put 00 bY another P .A.R.A. group In Wichita, ,Kansas, 00 the 9th of N0gember. U is hoped bY the Atwood club that many of these riders will tInd their way to tilts event on the 19th of October. Interested riders may contact the NORTHWEST KANSAS MOTOCRa>SASSOCIATION INC., 604 S. Railroad Ave., Atwood, Kansas 67730. By telePhone they may be reached at either 913-626-3024, or 913-626-3539. Copy of "What to do when you're lost" Copy of "What to do when it woo't start" Copy of your engine specitications: 1. Point gap, 2. Timing adjustment, 3. Carburetor adjustment, 4. Clutch adjustment MaP of the general area Road flare Heavy jacket (depending on the weather) SteePlechase motorcycle racing moves into the Friday evening, slot at Ascot Park. First post is at 8:30. Flat-track racing, a Friday night fixture for the past decade at the 183rd and Vermont Avenue course, w1l1 enjoy only one more outing this season. That's for the annual running of the 2D-lap California Championship OIl Friday evening, Nov. 1. J.C. Agajanian decided to move the steeplechasers Into the Friday night because of the popularity shown for that form of racing. Friday's outing will bring out some of the nation's biggest names In the tourist-trophy world. Foremost is Skip Van Leeuwen of Hollywood, who has been almost unbeatable In the Ascot steeplecha,sing. Another is Dusty CQIlpage, who ranks amongst the top 10 In the natioo In tilts type of action. Other headliners Include Eddie Mulder of Burban!t, Dallas Baker, Orange; RalPh WhIte, Torrance; Gene Romero, the nation's second ranking star from San Luis Obispo; Bob Bailey, Carson; and Jack Simmons, Compton. Action is over the !1ve-eights- m1Je course with left and right turns and a big jump.