Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-03-09
MANUF ACTURER
OF MOTORCYCLE
GAINS FROM WAR
Extraordinary Work Perform
ed During Great Struggle;
Much Done Toward Elm
proving Breed"

MUCH uOtle luWdIu llil-
proving Breed"
The motorcycle has, beyond ques-
ton, performed extraordinarily val
liable work In ali theaters OF war.
and especially on the western front,
but il is rather to be doubted wheth-
er, apart from the fact that war con-
ditions have imposed upon them q
test OF strength and durability such
as they never underwent before,
very much has been done directly
toward improving the breed OF
these machines.
This state of affairs was only to
be expected, as with the exception
Of their use in the earlier days as
mounts for machine guns, they have
been employed 70 the number Of
about $4,000 almost exclusively in an
auxiliary capacity for dispatch work
and upon the lines of communlca-
tion; in this function reliability and
the facility OF furnishing repairs and
requirements have been more im-
portant than any other considera-
tions. In consequence high degree
of Standardization has been sought
and achieved, with the result that
the military and air force motor
cycles today are almost exactly SIM
liar to those sent out at the begin
ming of the war. This does not mean
that valuable lessons have not been
learned, for atrocious road condi-
tions have disclosed numerous weak
nesses which have called for imme-
date remedy, but the full extent Of
the knowledge gained will not show
itself until the new designs appear
and invite the custom Of the private
user.
On Western Front.
Out of the numerous makes be-
fore the public in 1914 very few sue
cceded in coming up to the standard
Of war requirements. On the western
front practically only two types have
been continuously in the service
under the r. A. S. c. administration,
and one only under that of the R. A.
+. The last is single cylinder mod
Ell with all-chain transmission, and
the others, single and twin-eylinder
machines, driving through chain and
belt. Other makes have been used
to a less extent on other fronts. AS
might have been supposed, the prin-
cipal troubles have been the result
oil sever wear and tear due to mud
and dust, and breakages caused by
a combination OF high speed and
abominable road surfaces. OF the
two r. A. S. G. motorcycles one
was much heavier than the other,
and for this reason showed rather
better performance on the highway.
But the lighter type was not without
its advantages when ploughed fields
and bypaths had to be explored for
a course.
Spills Frequent.
Spills and other misadventures
were naturally frequent and the
more exposed parts of the machine
such as handlebars, mudgards, car
riers, and footrests, suffered extern
siveiy, but it would be impossible
to cavil at the general reliability of
the power and transmission units.
Certain minor ailments, of course,
manifested themselves-clutch-slip-
ping for example-but requirements
of stouter design wrought cure.
If the pre-war standard of engine
and gear fitness was equal to the
demands made upon it, the same
cannot be said of frames and forks.
Seeing, however, that British motor
cycles were made for British roads, |
one can hardly be surprised az a per-
centage of failures over shell-holes,
pot-holes and WORKOUT pave. One
thing has at least been definitely |
shown, and that is that a well-de-
signed machine will go almost any
where, roads or no roads, and with |
such mechanical progress as one
knows has been quietly taking place,
It's range of utility will be very
greatly extended.
Motorcycle constructors will not |
be slow to take advantage of the val
liable experience which has been |
gained in aircraft, and more espe-
cially aeroplane engine design, Bet
ter material and technique will lead |
To d notable reduction in weight, and |
il is obvious that adequate spring |
ing, fore and aft, will remove the
only excuse which exists for maxi
ing the machine heavy, namely, en-
couraging it to "hold the road, !" with
a light rider. One is confident Of
finding the postwar model very
much more weather-proof than for
merly, and it is to be hoped that
efforts will be made to render it |
rideable in the wet without special |
clothing.
Solo Engine.
The single cylinder models adopt
cd BY both the r. A. S. c. and the
r.. A. f. have been extensively used |
for sidecar work, and, strangely /
enough have, in this form, shown |
themselves even more reliable and
roadworthy than as solo machines,
al we'll as notably superior to cer-
tain twin cylinder combinations,
which were employed for passenger
carrying to limited extent This
is to be ascribed to the fact that the
passenger attachment considerably |
reduced speed and kept the road |
shocks within the capacity of
frames and spring forks. One would |
not on this account prophesy that
the 'big-single" is the side car
mount Of the future, but it must at
least be conceded that in war CON
ditions its virtues have been prom
inent, and that it has enhanced its
reputation as "get-there" outfit,
almost ideal in point of simplicity
and reliability. These points assume I
All even greater importance when it
is remembered that in a very large