Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

japan, Inc., was unjust, for both of us. We all had to pay for that bureaucratic boondoggle in import penalties on new bikes. The soaring yen hits our pocketbooks as deeply as it does your bottom line. We've appreciated what you've done for racing. It's bigger and better than ever because of japan, Inc. Your support of,rider education, community relations and our image are most meaningful to us. Even your advertising (well, most of it) has boosted our egos and legitimacy of the sport in America. But serious problems are nipping at our heels and we need your help. Now, we haven't asked you for much in the past. A few issues fac;ing us now - Senate and Congress land closure bills, CPSC ATV recall, helmet 'leg~slation, etc. - have been creeping up ()n us for years. As individuals; we are somewhat helpless to fend off our more powerful adversaries. And there's always more around the corner. japan; Inc.'s, philosophy not to dabble with American politics is a good policy'and should remain intact. We respect 'it. However, the time has arrived when you should reapportion some wherewithal to activate us, your consumer base, into a strong and effective spokesman against our mutual adversaries. It won't be simply done, but we are the most powerful lobby the sport has. And up till now you've just been lying dormant. Your assistance can help us both. As with other special interest groups, a covert support program by japan, Inc., can make us into as powerful of· a lobby as any in America. We're up-' wards of IS-million strong. We just need the powder to load our postal and voting booth flintlocks. If you're interested, let's talk. Give me a call and help us get on with a program to defend our rights and, simultaneously, your business interests. o Dear Mr. Publisher. How things have changed from Petersen's original Cycle magazine of the early 'SOs. Or joe Parkhurst's Cycle World of the '60s. And Bill Golden's Dirt Bike ofthe '70s. There's over 40 - 40! - national biKe magazines out therdor me to choose from. Name another sport with that many magazines for its consumers? You, Mr. Publisher, have made us the most product know ledgeable special interest group in America. In any single month there are dozens upon dozens of road tests to read, and an equal amount of race reports. You tell us how to make our bikes better and faster and, even, safer. The high-flying, knee-scraping, berm-roosting, slipping-and-sliding sport comes to us in those hundreds of full-color photographs every month. There is hardly a personality in the sport we couldn't recognize on sight because we see them in your magazines. It's often been a wobbly and bumpy road for you, Mr. Publisher. There's been a swinging door of editors over the years - Bob Green; Floyd"'Clymer, joe Parkhurst, Bob Braverman, Ivan Wager, Gordon jennings, Dick Miller, Cook Neilson, Rick Sieman, Alan Girdler, Dale Boller, just to name a few. Cycle's on its fourth owner. Cycle World, Dirt Bike, Cycle Guide, Road Rider, Motocross Action, Rider and some others on their second. Motorcyclist, the old gal of bike magazines, has had too many to count since 1912. Some of you didn't make it through the down years, Popular Cycling, Modern Cycle, Cycle Mechanics, Biker; Custom Chopper, Motorcycle Weekly, to name some. But the strongest (and best) always survive, don't they? While we have remained the same, Mr. Publisher, we've also changed a lot. We're more mature than we used to be. In the last decade our averag~ age has shot up about 12 years. We're in our mid- to late-30s. Our concerns a.nd values are more sophisticated. We work; we have families and mortgages. We watch more· national news than ever before. We follow poliiics, . though we are seldom partisan. And, as the previous election proved" too few of us got out and voted. We want to know more than just" road tests and race stories and nuts and bolts. We want to know how politics affect our sport. We want to know who the good guys and bad guys are up on Capitol Hill and in each state. We want to write them letters when we disagree, even when we agree. We want to know that we're going to vote for the right guy. And that we're going to vote the other bum out of office. So, Mr. Publisher, show us more. Tell us more. We've grown up quite a bit. Give us another look. You might be surprised what you will see. "Political Awareness" aren't bad words. In fact, we think they're pretty important. If you are surprised about all of this, let's talk. Give me a call, any'time. Dear Mr. Dealer We spend more time and money with you than with anyone in the sport. You've been pretty good to us all these years. You're the first one with those new bikes, all shiny and glistening - lighter, faster, sleeker, more suspension, more gadgets; more of the best, Less of the worst. You're always able to get the widget or gismo I need if you don't already have it in stock. The newest and trickiestin tires and oils and shocks and all that stuf(. Your store is a great place to go. Lots of buddies there to BS or bench. race with. Always the best in information and help in solving my latest bike problem. We know, Mr. Dealer, that times haven't always been golden for you. Sure, we're always looking for a good deal or discount. But that's the American way, isn't it? And when times were bad, some of you didn't make it. Something like 3000 of you closed shop in the '80s. But those of you that stuck with it are stronger than before. We are sure you appreciate our business. But we now know that there's more to riding than buying, Political winds are shifting against us. We can't keep up with all the goings on. You get a lot of information from your OEMs and distributors and trade magazines and even from other customers. Because we are more mature, and we care more than before, we look to you to apprise us of people and groups and politicians and iss!Jes that try to take away our rights and interests. Yep, we really are interested in "political awareness." We've seen a few dealers post information and magazine clippings in their store which affect our sport good and bad. Some dealers have even handed us a pencil and paper for writing to our politicians. And others have even made up petitions for us to sign which you send off to the appropriate senator or congressman or politician. So. Mr. Dealer, we hope you'll do more than before. Help us so we can ride more and buy more. Ask me about political awareness and voting next time I'm in your store. Surprise me; make my day. Sincerely, Dave Holeman f,~ SaveBigBucks!! t\0'" 1~ ~1"". 41 Suzuki GSXR 750 $3,995.00 (Both colors available) ONE only - 1986 GSXR 1100 ~ $4,995.~ H;ghway 85 . Riverdale, GA (404)461-3541 M/C TIREWORKS AERO MXBOOTS $8995 T........../South Bey San .......ndo Valley (213) 131-4110 (118) 211023 So. w _ Lomit.l. CA 90211 SapoIlWdoo SaDu_.11MBlvd. CA Outoicle i:A (0...... Onlvl 1-(100) MZ.a3I TOLL FlID ALHAMBRA YAMAHA . . ........ P- Discounted Prices Yesr'Round 1850 West Valley Blvd.. Alhambra. CA 91803 :(818) 289-5301 1.1 • SUZUKI • BEACH SPORTCYCLES ·P'MA M '17 \'Za Now .. StocII It• .., For. Et. . . . . DelherJI N_ 'B6 YZ80S 8996 N_ 'BII VZ126S 817118 N_'B6VZ490Sa2238 'N_ 'BIIIT200S 81738 • c-= U PlIDA..V

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