Life In America
1967 – The war in Vietnam has escalated and there are now close to a half-million troops in country. On the home front, protests against the war are spreading across the country. Comedy rules TV with the Smothers Brothers Show, and The Carol Burnett Show. Musically it’s a booming year; the Beatles release Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. At the movies it’sPaul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. Your new car will cost $2,750 and the price of gas is up a cent from ’66 at $.33 for a gallon. You can buy a limited edition Clymer Munch Mammoth for $4,000.
| Number One Motorcycle Trend For 1967: |
| Motocross is a new word to most American motorcyclists, but more coverage of the sport is seen as the year progresses. A European style motocross event is held in Dayton, OH. There’s a small trickle of new motocross motorcycles being imported. |
European Brands
Husqvarna 360 Motocross. CZ 250 Trials, 360 Motocross. Maico 360 Motocross and Enduro. Triumph Tiger Cub 200, 500 T100R Daytona Special, Saint 650, Desert Sled Special 500 and 650. Benelli 250 Barracuda. Dot 250 California TT Scrambler. Jawa 350 Californian. BSA Spitfire MkII 650, Starfire 250. Bultaco Sherpa T, Pursang 225, Metralla Mk2. Greeves 250 Anglican. Cotton 250 Trialer. Norton 750 Scrambler. Ossa 230 Scrambler, 230 Wildfire. Dunstall 750 Norton. Greeves 250 Ranger. Montesa 250 Trial. Clymer Munch Mammoth. Roma. Sachs K80GS 5 Speed.
Asian Brands
Bridgestone 175 Hurricane, GTR350. Yamaha 350 Grand Prix YR-1, 100 Trailmaster. Suzuki X5 Invader 200, 500/5. Marsho Magnum Electra 500. Kawasaki 350 Avenger, 120SS, W2 650SS, 250 Scrambler. Honda CT90. Steen SS Hodaka.
American Brands
Harley-Davidson Electra Glide.
Racing
Gary Nixon is Grand National Champ.
Bonneville. Burt Munro sets fastest time of meet with Indian, with a two-way average of 183.586. His one way speed, 190.07. Not bad for an old guy on an old bike.
Other Issues
On the legislative front, the Feds have mandated helmet laws if a state wishes to receive its 10% share of Federal road building funds. A howl of protest is echoed throughout the pages in resistance.
Ohio proposes banning motorcycles from all public roads.
Designer in Berkley, CA creates functional electric motorcycle. Has ridden it to work for two years, figures it costs him $6 per year in “fuel.” He says, “A breakthrough in battery technology would be the only thing necessary to make a real industry of electric transportation.”
Sochiro Honda predicts the day will come soon when you step into your dealer and order frame, engine, wheels, tires, etc., to create your own special bike. Guess he missed on that one.
huge entry you keep
the issue Suzuki claimed they put to rest was whether a large displacement two-stroke would self-destruct as piston rings passed over the huge ports needed to supply fuel/air to the large cylinders. The Titan was about 250 cc per cylinder. We know now that two-strokes over 400 cc per cylinder work just fine. However the Titan had other problems – like a weak electric system that made for dull lighting, a weak clutch, and brakes that were not a match for the engine’s performance. Introduction of the Honda 750 Four and Kawasaki 500 Triple shortly after made the Titan the first in a string of Suzuki’s that were more forgotten then memorable. Examples are the water cooled 750 triple (aka water buffalo,) and the RE-5 Rotary.
[...] 1967 – The war in Vietnam has escalated and there are now close to a half-million troops in country. On the home front, protests against the war are spreading across the country. Comedy rules TV with the Smothers Brothers Show, and The Carol Burnett Show. Musically it’s a booming year; the Beatles release Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. At the movies it’sPaul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. Your new car will cost ,750 and the price of gas is up a cent from ’66 at $.33 for a gallon. You can buy a limited edition Clymer…Read More. [...]
Where is the rest of the sentance about the Suzuki 500 two stroke?