Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29
MOTORCYCLE
COMING INTO
GENERAL USE
NOW USED FOR COMMERCIAL
TRANSPORTATION
NOISE NUISANCE OVERCOME TO
ABATE ANTIPATHY
Many Improvements Incorporated in
Late Models, and Factories Are
Now Rushed with Orders
for Machines
ny /. GEORGE THOMPSON

Gradually the motorcycle as means
of rapid and economical transporta-
tion is getting its due recognition.
1t has been up till recently looked
upon as a pleasure vehicle by many
and as an internal nuisance by many
more who do not appreciate the inn
mense possibilities of the little ma
chimes.
The principal reason for the antip-
athy toward the motor wheel is the
noise of the exhaust which has not
been properly controlled, not because
the manufacturers did not provide for
it, but rather because Of the fact that
a large percentage of the riders like
to hear the noise of the exhaust There
may have been at the same time an
element of vanity in it, as by opening
the cutout the riders called attention
to the fact that they were in possess
sion at least of a motor Wheel which
in the mind of the small boy who
pumps a bicycle is a condition greatly
to be desired.
1t has been the fault of the riders,
or rather the youthfulness of them
that has brought the motor wheels into
what disrepute they have attained, and
not of the machines.
The more progressive makers have
kept abreast of all of the latest I'M
provements in gasoline motors and the
motor bicycles of today are on par
with the best that is made in auto
mobiles.
There are some much needed i'm |
proyements yet to be incorporated in |
the machines and they Will come soon, |
but at present most of the factories |
are rushed with orders for the present !
models and have not the incentive TO
change the design, which would entail
additional expense.
AS competition grows stronger they |
are gradually adding such improve |
ments as increase the efficiency of
the motors and simplifies the adjust
ment of the wheels and chains.
Automatic Intake Valves
One of the most recent changes and
the one of probably the greatest inn |
portance so far is the addition of |
mechanically operated intake valves
instead of the automatic.
This feature is one of the advantages
that the Reading Standard has over
a large proportion of the other makes
of machines and gives much higher
efficiency with the same relative cyl
inder capacity
The difference is very noticeable on
hills and heavy roads where 1t Is only
possible or desirable to operate at low
engine speed.
With the usual automatic valve the
gas does not begin to enter the cyl
inder until there is quite an appre-
ciable suction from the down stroke
of the piston, while with the mechan-
ical valve the gas is free to enter at
the moment that the piston begins its
down stroke, and consequently the en-
gine gets a fuller charge of the new
mixture and a stronger impulse.
Another good feature of the Reading
Standard which has been Incorporated
in other machines more recently is a
separate chain adjustment that per-
mits Of the difference in the two chains
being properly taken care of. what
are as much needed as any other
things are a free engine and a change |
of gear ratios. Some of the foreign |
wheels are fixed in that manner and |
the advantage over the one gear en-
gine always connected is very marked |
Such an addition would add consd- |
erably to the expense of the wheel |
but would add to it's efficiency out OF |
all proportion to the additional cost !
The contention that such an addition |
would add SO much weight that pedal |
ing would be almost impossible is not |
a valid objection, as with free engine |
and two speeds pedaling would not be
necessary except in case of break
down, and experience mas proved that
when a machine fails to work pedal
ing is not often resorted to, but tow
is taken or the wheel left until repairs
can be made
Hard to Regulate
With the present single gear ratio it
is impossible to gear the wheel so that
good results can be gotten both on
grades and on the level, and the condi-
tions of the roads are such in most
places and especially in Southern Cali
fornia that one or the other has to be
sacrificed.
With low gear to climb hills the en-
zine races at high speed on the level
and gets too hot, while with the high
gear for level roads the wheel will not
climb hills or pull through sand.
BY a simple and practical gear change
the wheel could be arranged to climb |
hills far better than it does now and
vet run at higher speed ON the Level