Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Suzuki: Ready To Take On The Country Santa Fe Springs, Call!. - For the 1970 competition season, factory sponsored Team Suzuki w1ll field the strongest Uneup In its history. According to U.S. Suzuki National Competition Director Paul Garnant, "We are golng to enter national road racing competition In 1970 with five new T-500's and three T-250'so" The big T-500's w1ll run with more horsepower, a lighter frame, and better streamllnlng. While the T-250's w1ll have s ix port lnduction, five speed gearboxes, new fr a mes , forks, and brakes. n iellng these hot new Suzuld machines on the road race circuit will be veteran U.S. Champions Ron Grant, Art Baumann, Jody Nicholas and Jimmy Odom, Ron Grant was literally riding motorcycles before he was big enough to Idck start his first machine, Ron came to the U.S. fr om England In 1962, and jolned Team Suzuklln 1966. The rest is history. Last year, Ron came In a close second at the AMA nationals at Daytona and Indianapolis. Ron also went down to Bonnev1lle with two Suzuki 's and came back with six land speed records. For 1970, Ron Grant will ride T-500 and T-250 Suzuk1s In all National AMA road races. Art Baumann made his own niche In cycle history in 1969. Ridlng a Suzuki T-500 at Sears P olnt, Art became the first man eve r to pUot a two-stroke motor cycle to victory In an Open Class AMA National Championship Road Race. Only two months later,-riding the same Suzuki T-500, Art showed himself more than a match for the flnest European riders by winning the California International Grand Prix. For 1970, Art w1ll campaign Suzuki T-250's and T-50Cl's In all Nati onal AMA road races. Jody Nich!l as , a top ranked AMA ex1 pert, is a newcomer to Team Suzuki. Jody started r iding competitively back In 1960. In 1963, he won the lOO-mUe Expert Nati onal Road Race at LacOD1a, and the 15o-inUe National at Meadowdale, Ill1nois, f1n1shing seventh In the AMA polnt standings despite an lnjury which kept him sideUned for half the season. In 1964, Jody won the Canadlan Inter national Lightweight Championships. The following year, Uncle Sam called, and Jody Nic holas went lnto the Navy to spend three years as a pUot. He returned to cycle racing In early,1968 . But the 1970 season will be Jody 's first full year back on the AMA National ctrcult where his sldll and courage have won him a riding berth with Team Suzuki. Jimmy Odom rode last year on the .Suzuld squad. Jimmy started road raclng after four years as a scrambler. He turned pro In 1966, and spent that season on a Suzuki X-6 w1nn1ng TT's and flat track races. Jimmy was named the top novice TT champion In California that year. In 1969, Jimmy Odom was In third place at Daytona aboard a Suzuki T-500 when he had to come In on the 35th lap. In 1970, we look - forward to seeing Jimmy Odom aboard a 500cc ' class Suzuki machine at Daytona. In 1970, Suzuld will makeamajorpush In motocross competition as well as road racing, Championship motocross riders Robert Peterson and Joel Roberts will joln Suzuki's victorious Olle Petersson In campaIgning Suzuki's new RH- 70 motocross machine In both European and Inter-American motocross championship events: The RH-70 is an improved ver sion Of-last year' s highly successful HH- 69. Both are spec1ally designed versions of Suzuki 's TS-25 0 Savage. I HARLEY-OAVIOSON I Of Inglewood Use II By Russ Sanford Everybody wants into the act when 11 comes to motorcycle legislation. And 11 promised to become even worse unless we do somethlng about itl In the past two months, nearly two dozen new motorcycle laws have been proposed in our State Legislature. And other governmental agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service are 'laying down the law' for use of areas under their jurisdiction. These new laws, both proposed and actual, all stem from several basic facts: - The theft, ellsmantUng, used, aod resale of motorcycles and parts has become a big buslness. All of .us, except those who are lnvolved In this buslness, wish to see this stopped. - Intentional vandallsm, malicious mts. chief, litterlng, and harassment of livestock and wUdlife by a few of us have aroused the unbrielled ire of a great many citizens, lncluellng the responsible and respectable motor cycl1sts. - Unintentional damage to public lands has resulted from off-the-road use. In some areas, due to soU conelltions and other related factors, this damage is far-reachlng and irreparable. - Other than the irresponsible acts of a few, the biggest objection that other recreational land-users have to jolnt- CentinelaJ 611·1609 or 611-1600 -- ~ Robert M. Law- T~ * HIGHEST TRADE-IN 239 N. Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim. Cal. Phone (714) 533·1309 ;.l ~t:;Y-'IiLL i ~ KRAUSE'S II' IN IRl.·) U .F lI.. p l , " Ptrtridt's CDlf/petition Enterprise ·S.tu Dtser.. ·Se'Uli U -7J•• t. l a 1a I 3 3 7 - • •11 ."Nr.n - Sc,.••'., 120. Ir. SrI... w (..i.., C.Iif. . O rf· HONDA/~/YAMAHA IZS7 s..U. .. I Aat Cubry • ........ • ' 71'" : Most Powerful . C1l4J629-8642 - NOTE: This proposal will not attempt to deflne " a suitable muffler", however, the CHP has been ellrected to establish acceptable nois e levels for motorcycles and proposed legislation wUl be forthcomlng. 3. Speclal machlnes - no requirements, unless operated on private proptery at which time the y must be equipped to the owners' specifications . and such other governlng ordnances concernlng mufflers and spark arrestors . - Establish a law which exempts private landowners and pubUc agencies from respons ib1l1ty and liabUlty for the conelltion of recreational roads, traUs, and areas, except in those instances where hazards are lntentionally lntroduced for occupancy is the excessive noise factor the purpose of bringing physical harm to motorcyclist can interchange legallythe recreation-seeker , - Motorcycling, being the faste .growing owned components or buy, sell, and trade for m of outdoor recreation in Califor- Provide that the revenue received from legally-owned components. nia, has already far exceeded the capathe annual registration fee of $5.00 for - Deflne streets and highways as those city of land-use agencies to provide trail ma chines Is placed lnto a speclal vehicular ways, either urban or rural, , fund to be used s olely for the acquis1t1on, the necessary fa cUiti es for such recrewhich receive sufficientvehicular traffic development, and maintenance of off-theation. Faced with overrun and overto cause them to be hard-surfaced In crowded conditions, the natural reroad motorcycl1ng facili ties . The fund their normal for m . The lntent is to exaction Is to legislate against motorwill be admlnistered by the California clude certaln limited-use roadways such cycl1ng. as jeep traUs, fire roads, and logglng - State Department of Parks and Recreation on advice by the California RecreaAll but three of the pend1ng new laws roads across public lands from the exor agency regulations result from one or tional TraUs Comm1ltee. The California acting equipment and licenslng requiremore of the foregolng statements. UnRecreational Trafls Committee will rements of city streets and highways. fortunately, the people who normally vew proposals from the Parks and Re- · - Divide and deflne motorcycles lnto prepare or present these laws do not creation Departments of the various ' three separate classifications: possess a comprehensive, underlying counties and establish priorities based 1. Street machlnes - those which are knowledge of motorcycUng and their good upon current usage and demand. Each operated on streets or highways, either intentions often r esult In some untenable such project will be sub ject to approval totally or upon occasion. or unworkable la w which does not reby the Califor nia State Legislature . 2. Trail machines - those which are so lve, but merely complicates our ortTha t Is my proposal! There are no new never operated on streets or highways glna1 problem. For example: restrictions or adelltional requirements except to cross a single or two lane Recently, the Los Angeles Police Depresented thereln that are not currently highway at an approximate 90 degree partment asked a State Assemblyman to before the State Legislature In a more angle, or which do not fall lnto the introduce le gislation which would help to . restrictive or demanellng nature. Even class1f1cation of special machlnes (see prevent or eliminate theft of motorso, I know that some of you wUI object below). cycles. A beautifullntentionl The Assemto this proposal. All that I can ask of you 3. special machines - those which are blyman requested the drafting of such is to thlnk 11 out, read between the Unes , never operated on streets and highways, legislation, but . In the drafting, the ortand then see if you don't come out winon pubUc lands, or on private lands g1nal lntent was lost and resulted In the ners In terms of expense, facUities, and without the private land owners' specific lntroduction of As s embly Bills 670 and freedoms which you do not now have consent. 671 on February 11th. As lntroduced, avaUable to you. - Establish a law which sets forth the these Bills: This proposal, if enacted, will prove licensing requirements for the three - Define a tratl bike as any motor cycle that the majority of motorcycl1sts are classifications of motorcycles and their to be used off-the-highway on public responsible and respectable and that we operators: or private land and which is not regisare w1111ng to pay for what we get. It will 1. Street machines - must be equipped tered and licensed under the Vehicle eUminate the age- old excuse that there with regular motorcycle license plates. Code for street-use. This def1n1tion is " no money In the budget for motorThe operators must meet all current would lnclude three-wheelers, m1n1cycling fac1l1ties ". This is our opporrequirements with respect to age and bikes, speedway bikes, competition tunity to introduce one BUl that wtUproqual1f1catiOD while operating on streets machlnes, trlals bikes, desert bikes, vide us with some workable laws and at and highways. - and true traU bikes. the same time will ellmlnate the need 2. Trail machlnes - as a contingency of - Eliminate " ti tl e only" registrations. for everyone else tak1ng pot-shots at us operation, must be equipped with a per- Establish an annnal registration fee of In the form of miserable laws. manent identification plate to be ob$5 .00 for each " tran bike " • Whether you agree, disagree, or whattained from the DMVfor a one-time fee NOTE: There are severai other Bills ever your feellngs, write and let me of $5 .00. The lD plate number must apbefore the legislature which know. Time is of the essencel Write to pear on the Registration Certificate for require mandatory . lnsurance Russ Sanford, c/o MORE (Motorcycle the frame component. Operators need for any registered motor veOwners, Riders, & Enthusiasts), P .O• . not be licensed. hicle. Box 26062, Sacramento, Ca. 95826. NOTE: The DMV will be empowered - Establ1sh deUnquencyfeesandflnesfor to withdraw the lDplate of tratl fanure to register. _ machlnes which' become In- Require that each " traU bike" be OnlyBULTACO volved in lntentlonal vandalequipped with an identification plate to Sleve' s B ulla co ism or maIfcious miscb1ef In be issued by the DMV for aservlcefee adelltion to such other penalties Open 6 day. a week Mon. & Fri. 9-9 of $5 .00. To obtaln the lD plate, -the as might be imposed on the others 9-6 applicant would have to provide physi7627 Van Nuy. Blvd. - Van Nuys, Cal. wrongdoers. cal descriptions, photographs, and 3. Special machines - no licenslng re( 213) 180·6300 statements of lntended use. The DMV quirements for either machines or operwould decide if the applicant was entitled to the lD plate. Operation without the lD plate would be subject to severe penalty. . . It Sachs - Penton - CZ - Matco t Wal t Ax t helm's T ri umph-Suzuk i Motors 1049 WISt 5111 St. , Pomona , Calli. Ught). mlil~r~elillrom the capitol 901 N, La Brea (near Sportsters "" ators. - Establish a law which sets forth -"" the mini mum equipme nt requirements ~ for the three types of motorcycles. i:. 1. Street machines - must meet all current requirements regarding lighting VJ systems, horns, muffler, mirrors, and ~ other safety features . 1f operated In an "'= off-the-road capacity, 11 must have a t.:l suitable spark arrestor . -.J 2. Trail machines - must be equipped U with a suitable muffler and spark arrest- ;.... U or. 1f operated after dark, must be equipped with adequate lighting to warn other vehicles of its presence and Intentions (Headlight, taUlight, and stop. 1f the Bills were not bad enough already, they go on to provide that the revenues obtalned from registration will be returned to the counties In which the owners of the " tran bikes" reside to be used for any purpse which the counties desire. I met with the Assemblyman who introduced these two Bills and polnted out the obvious fallacies and reasons why the motorcycllsts would strongly oppose such legislation. Much to my s urpr is e, this Assemblyman asked me to draft a Bill which would solve the problems and which the motorcycllsts would support. Rather warilY, I outlined the provisions of such a Bill and he agreed wholehearteelly with every recommendation. The question now is, " Will you, the motorcycl1sts, support this proposal ?" 1f you will, there is a ve ry good chan ce that we can have this proposal substituted for its more ridiculous counterparts. The proposal wUl: - Establish a la w requtr'lng the mandatory registration of all motorcycles. The registration will lnclude moto r numbers, transmission number s , and fr am e numbers. 1f these components are not presently numbered, the DMV will issue numbers to be stamped on the components. The DMVwill maintaln its records and issue registration certificates for components In such a manner that a MAICO :r::1 :~IPPI Best Handling Cooper Motors 2115 w. 011.., BUlbank,Cal • LARGEST PARTS& ACCESSORIES DEPT. IN THE SOUTHLAND ' 71-11:11 . THE TWO-WHEELER a' SUZUKI ~ Ready for IlIIIIediate Deli,.,! I 167 t :- w. Collon Ave. San Bema,dlno, CallI" •. (714) 115-3445 .

• Cover