The Detroit times., 1911-06-22
MOTORCYCLE NOW
|. POPULAR MACHINE
Vehicle Is Regarded As Commercial
Essential and Is Being Extensive
ly Used All Over Civilized World.

Like the automobile, the motorcycle
Is apparently here to stay. While
the latter machine has been on the
market but ten years, IL Is now In
general use throughout the civilized
world. Universally II Is regarded as
a commercial necessity, as we'll as an
agency for pleasure. In Detroit there
are about 1000 In use, but the dealers
do not feel that this number is good
showing for 30 large a city. They
think that the automobile trade, for
which Detroit is famous In every part
of the globe, has initiated against the
popularity OF the motorcycle. But
they are convinced that the motorcy-
Gle is now coming into its own, and
that 1t will henceforth be big factor
In the industrial, sport and pleasure
circles of the universe.
AS a means OF locomotion, II Is ar
gued by those who use motorcycles
that they are more convenient and
| faster than an automobile. A new
machine will make from 20 to rs miles
an hour, and the more II is used the
faster 1t will go, according to the
riders of experience. They also ex-
plain that there Is scarcely any danger
In operating the average motorcycle,
especially those equipped with a
clutch, a lever which regulates the
gasoline engine. BY a mere touch of
the lever the machine slows down or
accelerates its speed, according to the
desire of the rider. In this way the
clutch-equipped machine can be
stopped on seconds notice, and the
rider can start or stop without oper-
3ting the pedals.
! Another feature which Is making
the motorcycle popular is the price
and comparatively small repair ex-
penditure necessary. The average
cost of a machine is $3.50, and, with
good care. is said to require but a
small outlay for keeping It up For
propeling purposes but five quarts Of
gasoline Is necessary to drive the ma
chine 100 miles. In other words, rs
cents will buy all the oil and gasoline
required for a century run.
In Detroit, the motorcycle is fix
ture in many large corporations, also
| the police department. The latter
installed a number OF machines few
years ago and they are now consid-
cred indispensable by the heads of the
force. The motorcycle patrolmen
make emergency calls in remarkably
quick time, frequently catching bur-
glars in the act OF perpetrating Their
/ crimes. The department is also
equipped with number OF automo-
biles. but the motorcycles generally
beat the auto on a hurry-up call, be-
cause Of the rapidity with which the
motorcycle can be started and It's
ability to eat up space at an even
| faster rate than the automobile.
Large corporations find the motor
cycle a big convenience and saver or
money. For instance, one motorcycle
and a man now do the work for one
of Detroits big concerns which
formerly required three men to do.
Inspectors and contractors also use
the motorcycle to large extent, and
they. say that II earns its cost In very
short order.
For pleasure, the motorcycle Is also
a favorite. II Is a common sight TO
see a man and his wife riding tar
dem on trip to the country or about
the city.
AS a sport, motorcycling bids fair
| to become even more popular than bi-
cycle racing in its palmiest days.
Motorcycle race meets are being held
all over the world at the present time,
and these are calculated TO boost the
popularity OF the machine immensely.
Speaking of the commercial value
Of motorcycle, a Michigan rider
says:
al ride a twin machine in my work
as salesman for grain firm and am
able to cover my territory In northern
Wisconsin and northern Michigan
cheaply and more satisfactorily than
! in any other way. II one OF my GUS
toners is busy, or happens to be out,
/ do not have to rush of to catch
train and miss seeing him.
my machine runs about 200 miles
a week at a cost Of about one cent
mile, including oil, gasoline and up
keep. This, from some reports | have
seen. Is higher than II should be, but
/ ride on all kinds OF roads and In all
kinds of weather. My machine ran
about 800 miles this spring with no
expense whatever, except for oil and
gasoline, until last week, when ] ran
off the end OF bridge and piled ur
costs OF about $40.
IF the desirability OF the machine
could be brought to the attention OK
commercial men and firms employing
them, / think 1t would result In more
sales and that the general feeling
would not be so prejudiced. AS 1t is
now. there are about twenty motor
cars to each motorcycle In my terri
tory Their first cost is several times
the cost of the motorcycle and the
upkeep much more"