MOTOR-CYCLING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18893, 7 January 1927, Page 6

MOTOR-CYCLING.

PILLION RIDING

Contrary to the popular belief of the opponents of pilliou riding. I lie presence

of a pilliou passenger on a motor-cycle tend? to increase stability and safety rather than otherwise. The addition of weight does not reduce the factor of safety. 'ike accurate balance of the moto'r-cyeJe is in no way diminished by the pii;.;.;> passenger—rather the reverse.

There is ••<.< greater fallacy than that which seeks to suggest that a motor-cycle is not under proper control when a pillion passenger is carried. A pillion passenger does not increase the anticipation of danger, provided he or she sits astride "and the driver remembers tlieincreased weight on the back wheel. (Statistics show that pillion riding has no greater percentage of injuries than anv" other form of sport.

But pillion riding may claim to be more than a sport—it is a cheap and ofcieut means of transport. There is no call for the suppression of the pillion riding as a dangerous sport any more than" in hunting, mountaineering, or boxing. The motor-cycle is cheaper than The raihvav for cross-country journers. and provides wonderful opportunities for increasing health, pleasure.

and knowledge. h can safelv lie tir-ed that there are no 'avoidable'pinioirnccidouts due to ,-au«es for which pillion riding as such is responsible. Negligence, fooihnrdi ncss. bad road conditio:.* are common lo all form« of road transport.

MOTORCYCLE RACING. NEW ZEALANDER CHALLENGED. in amt- tkkss a.ssocutioh—corrßiGHT.; (AcsiRAUA* and >•"•:- cab:,?, association.) i.TKbBOUIt.VK. January 0. in be.Uiii" 10. Ornish at the MotorJiome on Monday's. SiralU,n (New Zealand), with Uoifh ajriccin?, rode a t'i horse-power machine while Gough rode u •-•',' horse-power machine. After the contest Oough challenged htratton to rjee ou -2J hoisc-yovrcr nia-'hiuos. As, iio'v.Ti-cr Stratton is expected to be racin.',' •'a anoliior .Stale next Saturday, it appears that the duiHcnge will not be met.

' It is realised that a considerable percentage of cars being operated to-day do not have lu-akcs which bring them to a stop within a reasonable distance. This is largely due to the failure of owners to maintain their braking system in proper operating condition, and in making an effort to correct this condition the motor/trade not only renders a service to the publie, Imt also expands the market for brake lining parts and maintenance equipment.

Look over the chassis now and then in search of missing nuts and cotter pins. When it is learned what important work some of the small cotter pins are required to do, it is little, enough for the owner of the car to see that the. ends are properly bent over so as not to slip out.

An emergency, fuse in the lighting circuit can be made by inserting a common door key in the clips. Where this will not fit, the clips may be bent together and made to hold a small bolt which may generally bo found in the emergency tool chest. ]f this is kept in mind,, it might prevent an accident caused bv running at night without lights.