Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
MOTOR CYCLE INDUSTRY
MAKES BIG STRIDES
Single Firms 1913 Output to
Be 4O,0OOHNeW Models
Are SeIf-Starting.

With the remarkable development of
the automobile industry In the last dec
ade, until it now stands sixth in i'm
portance i'll the United States, another
closely related industry has also made
rapid strides. This is the motor cycle
business, which produces the little two
wheeled brother Of the motor car While
six or seven years ago there We're only
about 1000 motor cycles in operation In
the United States, there are now many
times that number on roads in every
section of the Union. One manufacturer
alone will turn out between $4,000 and
10000 machines in the 1913 season, COM
pared with 10000 in 1912 and 10000 in
1911, and another maker considers his
estimate of a total of 10000 machines
to be produced in 1918 conservative
This year the motor cycle car more
truly claims kinship with the automobile
than ever before, for improvements of
construction in the last season have made
1t resemble more closely the motor car.
crude construction Of a bicycle frame
with a questionable and decidedly unre-
liable motor, and many We're the trying
times that the now veteran riders had in
operating the early machines. Hundred
mile tours were unthOught of in the earIy
days, and an owner was contented IL he
completed trip to the suburbs and
back without having to get off and push.
Do Not Neglect Opportunities.
| Like automobile manufacturers, the
motor cycle makers did not neglect op-
portunities to make improvements, and
| the modern two-wheeler is a moderate
price, dependable vehicle, ready for serv.
ice in all seasons and under varying con.
ditions. The noise, the dirty appearance
of the riders and other Objectionable
| features of the machine of several years
| ago have been eliminated.
| Improvements which tend toward pleas
| ant and comfortable riding have made
| the use of the two-wheelers more generally
| adaptable not only to man, but to woman
| riders. Many OF the accessories of the
modern automobile have been adopted
for motor cycle use, and the present-day
| rider receives maximum of pleasure in
return for minimum Of exertion.
Motor Cycle Self Starter.
One Of the latest devices to be used
| on a motor cycle motor is a self-starter,
| which is being introduced on the 1918
| models. With the self-starter equipment
it will be only necessary for the rider
to touch a small lever to start the
motor. This can be done while sitting
astride the saddle. The operation is
much simpler than the old practice of
running with the machine and leaping
to the saddle when the motor had been
started-an Inconvenience which was
eliminated somewhat last year, when the
free engine was devised
Electric lighting generators, two-speed
clutches and free engines are among the
new devices that have been or soon win
be adopted. Increased night riding
brought about the necessity for improve
ment in lights. and 1t is only natural,
with the development Of the self-starting
and electric light system in the automo-
bile, that similar devices should be pro-
duced for the motor cycle. In prospect
is an. electric light generator for motor
cycle use. At present acetylene LAMPS
work connected. with their maintenance
makes it sure that change to a cleaner
and surer electric system will b well
coined.