Life In America
1962 – The average family income is $6,000 per year. The average car, $3,125, and gas is $.28 per gallon. The Beatles have just released Love Me Do, in England. John Kennedy is in the White House and dealing with the Cuban missile crisis which just might have your undivided attention because there’s also a Universal Military Draft for all males 18-years and older. A new Bonneville will set you back $1139.00.
| Number One Motorcycle Trend For 1962: |
| Boomers are graduating high-school and creating a demand for motorcycles that’s being met by European, and increasingly, Japanese manufacturers. The lion’s share of the market is for sub-100cc bikes. |
European Brands
Triumph Bonneville T120 and T100R. Vespa Grand Sport 150 scooter. BSA 500cc Catalina and Royal Star. Norton 650 Manxman and 350/500 Manx. Motobi 175 Catria. Velocette Viceroy scooter. Matchless G80CS. Greeves 250 MX. Maico 250 Scrambler. Lambretta 150LI, NSU Prima scooter. Jawa 250. Parilla Scrambler 250. Ducati 250 Scrambler. Royal Enfield 750 Interceptor. Montesa Brio Grand Sport 110. NSU Supermax.
Asian Brands
Yamaha YD3, Honda CB77 305 Super Hawk, CL72 250 Scrambler and Trail 55. Suzuki El Camino. Rabbit Superflow 200 scooter.
American Brands
Harley-Davidson Sprint H Scrambler and XLCH883.
Racing In ‘62
Bart Markel is Grand National Champ
The premier motorcycle racing championship is the Grand National and to be a contender you must compete in flat-track, and road racing events.
At Bonneville Joe Dudek’s Triumph powered streamliner sets 3 AMA records on fuel and gas. 230.269 MPH on fuel. A Kiwi by the name of Bert Munro shows up with an ancient Indian Scout powered streamliner to become the “World’s Fastest Indian” at an unofficial 178 mph.
Other Events
A commercial artist and motorcycle enthusiast named Joe Parkhurst decides to introduce an all new motorcycle magazine concept. One that covers all aspects of motorcycling, and more importantly promises to provide the reader with honest, fact-backed road tests on new products. The magazine, Cycle World debuts in January of 1962. A copy will cost you $.35 and you get 50 pages of varied motorcycle content, from road tests, impressions and press releases, to racing updates, technical information and answers to your technical problems.
Disc brakes, so common today are only being considered for use on motorcycles. Pointer, from Japan is working with Airheart brakes and has developed a proto-type that works well. System is hydraulic, with a mechanical back-up. Some question the reliability and appropriateness for motorcycles,
The image of motorcycling is of such concern that at least two letters are addressed to the publisher commenting on it, and suggesting that Cycle World lead a campaign to help upgrade the image.
Honda announces a big promotion that will see motorcycle advertising in mainstream magazines like Life, Look, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, Esquire and Outdoor Life. Project is expected to cost about $80,000, an unprecedented move and expense at the time.
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