MOTOR CYCLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1926, Page 14

MOTOR CYCLES.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Motor cyclists who consider themselves proficient in the control of their machines seem to take exception to the exposure of the weak points ot their two-wheeled mounts. In making elaborate claims regarding the slow-speed capabilities of their machines they should remember that there are hundreds of riders not fortunate enough to possess modern flexible vehicles. There are quite a number of "old crocks" in daily use which behave appallingly in traffic when slowed down to five m.p.h. The rider has to be almost simian hi his agility to retain his balance with the old types of clutchless or highgeared machines. Your motor cycle sponsors claim that they can perform feats of control and stability. Many riders take a pride in their motor cycles, and by careful tuning they render them very docile. These same machines may, however, be called upon to show bursts of speed which invite disaster anywhere but on the racing track. The most experienced riders have suffered occasional crashes. One has only to so back a month to find two examples of " skilled motor mechanics falling from their machines and receiving fatal injuries. Both were acknowledged to be competent riders. One was thought to have skidded in loose sand. Xo theory was advanced to explain the cause of the other crash. The rider of a motor cycle is the only one to suffer It must be admitted, he is not as dan- . gerous to pedestrians as an incompetent car driver. Xo one would be so foolish as to seek the abolition of the cheap and expeditious motor cycle. All that is wanted is an appreciation of the dangers of speed and lack of control. I am, etc., CENTRE OF GRAVITY. (To tiie Editor.) Sir, —Everybody knows some motor cycles are noisy, and some of the riders are reckless, but why blame the cycles. Perhaps I belong to this class, but why blame the machine when a spill j takes place. If it were a car under I the same conditions, I feel sure that! on an average the results would be j much more serious. The young bloods j nearly always "do their stuff" on a j cycle, but if they took a car, opened up the muffler and roared her round the j city all out, would your- expert then j condemn cars? If your expert had said some of the riders of motor cycles are j reckless I would have agreed, but they j are a small minority, and should be j properly controlled. —1 am. etc.. j INDIAN. I