Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

m~~r~.~ from the capitol 7. Present your plan. Discuss the need for public riding areas to prevent trespass and other forms of 1 have been trying for several years to unintentional lawbreaking. Tell them alert the California motorcyclists to what your council members are doing to what is now happening throughout tbe 'improve the image' by policing their state. But it has taken the current own kind to reduce noise, litter. and land-used crisis in Southern California . needless destruction, which are the most to really awaken them to what has been offensive acts to non-motorcyclists_ In rather obvious. Unless we make our developing your plan, remember that it needs known to the land-use agencies is our acts 0 f irresponsibility which have and we develop and practice a code of aroused the non-motorcycling public to ethics which are not offensive to others, resort to action wh ich n ow bans us from off-road riding on public lands is the lands which not only belong to us, inevitably doomed. but to them. In my estimation, there is only one 8. Your initial appearance before the way out of this predicament. But every agency may not be fruitful. Do not let last one of us must get off our duffs and that deter you. Appear before them ACT. Granted, the motorcycle industry again at the next meeting. Over, and is working on this problem, but even over again, until you make them realize they cannot do the job alone. The only that your 'council' is determined and person who can save our sport is YOU. dedicated. And this is what YOU must do: 9. Do not lose heart! I. Remember, above everything else, If this sounds like too much effort, that the agency which controls the use just remember that while your riding of public lands is acting in what it areas are being taken away there are thinks is the best interest of the total similar 'councils' throughout the state public. which are obtaining riding areas by 2. That agency, whether it is the County following this exact plan. And you had Board of Supervisors, the City Council, better believe that THEY are involved! the BLM, the US Forest Service, or the The 1971 Legislative Session State Dept. of Parks & Recreation, has promises to be as busy for your MORE regular meetings and hearings where the lobbyist as the 1970 Session. public may voice its opin ion on issues MANDATORY HEADLIGHTS and problems. On the opening day, Senator 3. Contact each motorcycle club in your Grunsky introduced Senate Bill 26 area and establish a motorcycle 'council' which, HRequires motorcycle or comprised of one representative from mo tor-driven cycle to have headlamp on each club. Hold a meeting. Establish a at all times during which the vehicle is Chairman. operated on a highway." 4. Plan a course of acnon that is On the surface, this appears to be an coordinated and well thought out. act to foster safety. But, let's examine A VOID DEMONSTRATION AND the proposal further. Under present law, PROTEST. Rely upon a peaceful, quiet, no mo tor vehicle is required to be orderly show of strength. equipped with a headligh t unless it is 5. Notify the governing land-use agency operated at such time that a headlight is (in writing) that the official spokesman required. This new proposal, if enacted, for your council will be attending the would discriminate against motorcycle next public meeting- to discuss the l5ecause it would require equipment not problem in depth. required of other vehicles. 6. Notify the members of the individual .Don't overlook the fact that the clubs which comprise the council to Vehicle Code in its definition of a appear in a show of strength at that highway describes it as any vehicular meeting. Let me repeat: AVOID way which is maintained by public DEMONSTRATION AND PROTEST. funds. Because a mo torcycle is a motor Rely upon a quiet and orderly vehicle, any path, trail, fire road, forest presentation of your plan. By Russ Sanford orr Road Land Report RIVERSIDE MEETING The California Recreational Trails Committee will hold its next meeting in Riverside on Feb. 4, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 4050 Main Street, Room 114. Motorcyclists concerned with the lack of recreational vehicle trails and riding areas in Riverside County and throughout California are urged to attend and make their needs known. BROWN APPOINTED Richard M. Brown, of Sylmar, California, has been appointed by Govemor Ronald Reagan to a vacancy of the seven-m.ember California Recreational Trails Committee. Brown is a practicing attorney in Los Angeles and a motorcycling buff in his spare time. California motorcyclists can take pride in the fact that their candidate was selected for this highly contested and coveted position. Many other recreational and conservationist groups vied for this spot, bu t our concentrated letter-writing campaign brought Mr. Brown's eminent qualifications to the forefront. BlM BROCHURE A brochure which summarizes the Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Commission's report issued earlier this year, is available without charge from the Bureau of Land Management, Federal Building, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, Ca. 95825. NORTON (Continued from page 7) !" a motorcycle, vir.tually indestructible, It can be repaired without tearing the wh ole engine apart. The selector mechanism is positive and a joy to use. Finding neutral i. a cinch. And if you should ever have an occasion to take it apart you don't have to be an I8-fingered magician to put it back together again. J miscalculation on the part of the designer that has been remedied in the 1971 models. The rear wheel is easily removed and - wonder of wonders - it could actually be done with the tools that are supplied in the tool kit. If a person were to supply himself with an air bottle and a can of patches he could actually fix a flat on the roadside. I had to fix one and can testify that it is the easiest roaa bike I have ever worked on. service road, county road, etc., which is main tained by public funds will maintain the definition of a 'highway' and the headlamp requirement could be enforced! Think that one over and see if it applies to you!!! Senator Grunsky's SB 26 is bound to receive a lot of support because it portends safety, but in my opnion it would tend to crea te a more unsafe condition than we presently have. My reasoning goes like this: 1. Any thoughtful road-rider will tum his headlight on during daylight hours because, not being required, it presents an element of mild surprise to the oncoming driver and makes him aware of the motorcycle's presence. 2. If daytime headlights were required, this element of 'surprise' would become matter-of-fact and the absence of a headlight would come to be accepted as the absence of a motorcycle. Result: one creamed bike-rider who unknowingly just lost his only headlamp to a flying rock! Write to Senator Grunsky, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, 95814, and let him hear your ideas on his proposal. I will be talking to him on this end and ad vis ing that we concentrate on education which will promote safe practices by motorcyclists, rather than trying to legislate something discriminatory and unworkable. FLARES Senator Petris has introduced SB 30 which, "Requires, commencing on and after December I, 1971, all motor vehicles subject to registration in this state to be equipped with not less than four flares of a type approved by the Department of California Highway Patrol." I will meet with Senator Petris and ask him to introduce an amendment which will exclude motorcycles. It won't hurt a bit if you write to him at the above address. GOOD OMENS It appears that we did our job well last year; at least in some quarters. Three proposed laws pertaining to motor vehicles have b~en introduced with the "except motorcycles" clause already included.. Who said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks? If you have questions or inquiries, please address them to the author, c/o MORE, P.O. Box 26062, Sacramento, 95826. What broke during this time? Nothing much. We had a mumer break at the flange due, it seems, to a defect in material. We welded it, but it would have been replaced under warranty had it been a private machine. The float in the carburetor stuck once, causing it to leak. And the big nuts holding on the exhaust pipe came loose continuously until we safety wired them. That cured the problem for good. In over 1100 miles of riding on a new machine that's not so bad. My overall opinion is that the Norton is the best all around road bike I've ever ridden which, in 15 years of riding over a couple hundred thousand miles, includes quite a few. If J could afford a big bike at all, that's the one I'd have, and price would have very little to do with it. If you really enjoy riding fast on curvey back roads, the orton doesn't have any serious competition for my mone . I HARLEY-DAVIDSON I &A"A100 DOES IT AGAIN San B-ernardino M.C. Hare & Hound Jan. 17, 1971 1st Overall Trailbike Terry Clark - Baja 100 Groundsl:lakers M.C. Hare & Hound Jan. 3, 1971 1st Expert Dink Wilders - Baja 100 You can lean about as far as you'd like on a Norton. The suspension and tires work for, not against you. For routine tune-up work a reasonably adept rider could skip the trips to the shop. Timing is simple and easily performed. Spark plugs can be reached without difficulty. Idle adjustments are likewise easy. Any more extensive work on the carburetors would entail removing the gas tank and it looks like servicing the air cleaner would be a bit of a job. The battery and electrical components are easily reached, as are the clutch and alternator. The model that I tested had no shock absorber in the drivetrain, a See the Baja 100 and the entire Harley-Davidson Motorcycle line. HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE DEALERS' BELi...FLOWER LANCASTER Paul's Harley-Davidson, Inc. John Dolan's Har-Dav. Sales 16211 Lakewood Blvd. 44533 Sierra Hwy. EL CAJON LOMITA Har-Dav. Co. of EI Cajon Har-Dav. of Lomita, Inc. 621 EI Cajon Blvd. 2212 Pacific Coast Hwy. FULLERTON LONG BEACH Har-Dav. of Fullerton, Inc. Har-Dav. of Long Beach 2635 W. Orangethorpe Ave. 3654 Long Beach Blvd. GLENDALE OCEANSIDE Harley-Davidson of Glendale Inc. Har-oav. of Oceanside 3643 San Fernando Rd. 216 Via Del Monte INGLEWOOD PASADENA Har-Dav. of Inglewood, Inc. Ch ubbuck's Har-Dav-Pasadena 901 N. La Brea Ave. 1361 E. Walnut St. ASSOCIATION of Southern California, Inc. POMONA SO. SAN GABRIEL Har~Dav. in Pomona 1241 W. Holt Ave. RIVERSIDE Skip Fordyce Har-Dav Sal... 3698 14th St. SAN BERNARDINO Dale', Modern Cycle H·D SAN DIEGO San Diego Har-Dav. Co., Inc. 929 India St. SANTA ANA Harley-Davidson Motors 501 E. Fourth St. SANTA MARIA Cycle West Harley-Davidson 2160 S. Broadway Laidlaw's Har-Dav. Sales 8351 E. Garvey Blvd. TAFT Taft Harley-Davidson Sales 31B Harrison St. VAN NUYS Russell's Har-Dav. Sales 16113Sherman Way VENTURA Har-Dav. of Ventura County 77 W. Main St. WHITTIER Whittier Har-Dav. Sales 7930 S. Greenleaf n -< n ... m Z m 5j -c " '" '"

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