Cycle World bike test?

In this months Classic Bike Guide Mike Jackson mentions a Cycle World test of 7 of the most desirable bikes around in 1970 (inc Commando). Looks like it would make very interesting reading, even though the bikes tested were specially prepared, and not really comparable to anything you could buy from a dealer at the time. Wonder if anyone has a copy of this, and if so would it be possible to scan and put it up on the web somewhere as I think a lot of people would want to read it.

Indeed , tiss wonderous . purloined the mag 5 years back .Unfortunately most of the ones I had when Noah was a boy , havnt been seen since then .

The later " Group Test " , ten bikes I think , 73 or 4 or so , was a bit more in depth , NORTON came out voted ' Best Mountain Bike ' of the lot .

So , I will swap the mag for the works Triuph Triple artical & 73 Bonnie road test mags , LENT to winkers years back . FUDGE . etc .

Might be able to scan it . maybe. somehow. etc .

WE need a archive of this stuff , I want the Ducati Nielson stuff too , and Ive a photo of a P.R. in our driveway. pity it wasnt our P.R. FUDGE . etc .

I believe what you are looking for is Cycle March 1970 (not Cycle World) which features the 'S' set up by Brian Slark that turned a 12.69 e.t. I have a copy stashed away in the archives. I'll look for it and see if I can't scan it.

Thats the one.............seems strange the mag allowed manufacturers to hand build/tune the test bikes though? Not sure if its correct but seemingly HD performance figures didnt count, as they had built a motor using race parts..............lol

Honda boys have it online in its entirety:


http://data.sohc4.net/AR750/cycle_march_1970.pdf

That issue was a big deal in its day. I'm sure it sold a lot of Nortons.

Brithit said:

Honda boys have it online in its entirety:


http://data.sohc4.net/AR750/cycle_march_1970.pdf

That issue was a big deal in its day. I'm sure it sold a lot of Nortons.

Click to expand...

I still have that issue and it was THE article that swayed me from a Kawasaki MachIII to a metalflake blue 69S, I have been regretting it ever since... NOT :!:

Jean

Back in the day, the first thing I went for in a road test was the quarter mile time. Didn't care about the rest of things so much as "wottle she do?" Glad I've become more discriminating in my "adult" years. Yes, there is handling and braking as well. I have a book on Sportsters of the 60s, and they even included that whole test in it. Even though they were labled as "cheaters".

Jean, I was especially enamored with the Mach IIIs when I was in high school. Never owned one of the things, but just loved them. Brother had a couple, but I never could pull the trigger on one. Did have a few, err, thrilling test rides on them. A small town dealer let my brother and I take turns flogging a new '72 H2. No helmets, no insurance waiver to sign, and nobody from the dealership tagging along. My, how times have changed!

Brian Slark was interviewed for our movie recently. His comments about that test will hopefully make it into the special features. :mrgreen: