"DON'T SHOW OFF"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

"DON'T SHOW OFF"

A Motor-cycle Is a Great s, If Handled Properly By ARTHUR RILEY OWNERSHIP of a motor-cycle, a sleek, shining model with lots of chromium about it and an outsize in headlamps, is the height of the ambition of the average ;boy. Such a machine represents to the enthusiast of 1G or 17 years tho last word' in perfection, and jt is common to see keen young fellows standing outside showrooms, gazing longingly at the neat machines standing behind the glass. Responsibility 'comes with the possession of anv vehicle, even a bicycle, niul this applies particularly to the modern motor-cycle. Even the smallest of them' have a good turn of speed, while tho true/ sports models are often capable of the better part of 100 miles an hour, and corresponding acceleration. Careless Riding Accidents' are never pleasant, yet they are common, and among motorcyclists there is a fairly high proportion of fatal smashes. Though not always the case,careless riding is often the cause, and a youth may find himself maimed for years, perhaps for life, through a moment's inattention or through giving way to a rather natural desire to "show otf." Modern motor-cycles are beautiful pieces of machinery, and boys are not to be blamed for admiring them. Com-

pared with tlio of even 10 years ago, they represent an enormous improvement, but. power!ul as are their brakes and lights, they still depend on human control, and this is the deciding factor in nearly all accidents. J'rkle of possession should never be allowed to' become so great that the young owner regards himself as the only user of the road. This often happens, and usually a smashed machine and a.broken leg are the result. Cn>-<\ consideration for others, skill and strict observance of the regulations are required before a'/ motor-cycle may bo considered completely safe in all circumstances. Using the Roads Vulgar behaviour on the road is common, not only among riders of twowheelers, but among all road users. Hundreds of motorists are guilty l ' x ' er > dav, of cutting-in, passing on a blind bend, refusing to give way and other breaches both of common politeness and also.'of the law of the land. 1 he chief difference between a motorist who tries to cut in and gets jammed and the motor-cyclist who does the same thing, however, is that the motorist may find his car's mudguards , buckled, b it the

rider of the two-wheeler, with no protection, usually finds himself injured, 'I hero is no desire to create a false impression that, motor-cycles are of themselves dangerous, if handled properly, they are an ideal mount for a young man, being fairly cheap to buy, cheap to run, reliable and comfortable. Almost everything depends on the human element, and this is something which designers and manufacturers cannot control. Easy to Keep Quiet Unnecessary noise is given by many people as the reason why they dislike motor-cycles and their riders. There is much'in this complaint, yet the newer machines ajy almost as quiet as a big car, and if the silencing arrangements are not interfered with, the model will remain quiet throughout its life. Wild acceleration on low and second gears and the fitting of cut-outs, which have no value, but make a tremendous noise, give the public an impression that all motor-cyclists are noisy maniacs who should be swept from the roads. All enthusiasts like to hear a welltimed motor, unsilenced, roaring a song of power that rises and falls as the throttle-grip is twisted. The place for this, however, is not the public highway, but the open beach or the racetrack. Motor-cyclists should remember, in spite of their youthful enthusiasm, that the average man does not appreciate this noise, and, musical as it may be to a keen rider, it is as bad as tho unloading of a ton of bricks on an iron roof to somebody who is ill or sleepless. Good Work of Clubs Motor-cycle clubs discourage noise. They also have a strict ban on speeding and other examples of bad manners on the roads, and generally do a great deal to educate young motorcyclists in proper highway conduct. It is a praiseworthy feature of club runs that they are conducted in a quiet and orderly manner, the club captain or leader for the day. his machine distinguished bv a little pennant, setting

at once the pace and the example to all the others who are following. I'sed properly, a motor-cycle is a good companion for a youth entering manhood. It teaches far more than how to handle a machine. It teaches the elements of mechanics, lor most riders take a delight in doing their own running repairs; it teaches knowledge of one's country, for nearly all riders manage to make tours in their holidays; and it teaches self-reliance, for motor-cyclists are nearly always solo, and have only themselves on' whom to relv if some difficulty is encountered.