MOTOR CYCLE NOTES

Shannon News, 31 August 1928, Page 1

MOTOR CYCLE NOTES

The postmen of Ashford, Kent, are to be .supplied with motor cycles. The total number of motor cycles in use in France during 1927 -was 232,201. Large numbers of these were miniatures. During the first two months of this year 597 motor cycles, valued at £40,SSO, were imported into Germany—an.increase of 580 over the 1927 period. During the first three months of this year 4.(04 motor cycles were imported from the U.S.A.; during the corresponding period last year the figure was 5372. During the summer of 1914 in an "Old Crock's" Trial, promoted by the Streatham Club, England, George Erough was the winner. He rode a 1904 Brought with an automatic inlet valve. A motor cyclist summoned for speeding at Southend is reported to have said: "A guy went past me with my girl on the pillion, and he looked so cocky that I stepped on the gas and raced him." A one-armed motor cyclist has ridden from Laxey to the summit of Snafell. It is said to be the first time anybody has ridden up the side of the mountain, though 'two motor cyclists have gone up using the railway track. Change speed gears were gaining in favour in 1907, but it was not until 1911 that countershaft gears were in general use. The kick starter was introduced in 1909 and followed the countershaft gears by being generally adopted in 1912. Tests carried out by the Los Angeles Police Department to discover the most suitable motor cycles for patrol work included starting from cold against a stopwatch; an eight-mile getaway test from the time of kick-start-ing; and a stopping test from a speed of 60 ra.p.b. Pillion riding,) though frequently condemned by the /layman, is a perfectly safe method of transport, provided that the driver exercises reasonable care and the passenger sits astride. As a form of cheap transport for two, the pillion machine is unequalled, running expenses of the solo motor cycles being increased by a merely nominal extent.

In order to meet the rapid increase in the use ■ of. motor vehicles in Japan, the r-Government has cliawn up a <wmprehensive plan for road improvement an ; d CTO'nstri»tion>-thimig)iput the co\mtry. The programme will extfend over 3(*00 miles. 6f road, and will require ten years for its completion. Th'e outlay for the first year is-estimated at 12,000,000 yen, or roughly £1,000,000.