Cycle Magazine: "Flashbikes" article

[Travlr]

There are two articles I remember from my youth.  Both were in Cycle Magazine.

The first was about "Flashbikes"  Probably from the mid to late 1970's.  Does anyone remember the bikes that were featured?  I think one was the LeMans 1. 

The other was called "Waking Dreams?"  I think it mostly featured modified Japanese superbikes.  GS1000 etc.

Month and year for both would be helpful.

Mike

[2WheelsUp]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165492329516?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=165492329516&targetid=1531876730078&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9010756&poi=&campaignid=15431381266&mkgroupid=128740829685&rlsatarget=pla-1531876730078&abcId=9300764&merchantid=113597888&gclid=CjwKCAjwqauVBhBGEiwAXOepkQcWssIGie76YcPsi_zvFWd85hs2pjq1t1tnDOAD4Mw1Y_BrbekajBoC1f4QAvD_BwE

[analog kid]

[Travlr]

Thanks Kid, in my youth I must have read that article 50 times.  40+ years later it still lights my fire.  I think I need to add a "flashbike" to my garage.

Mike

[twowheeladdict]

Race suit and open face helmet.   

My have times changed. 

[Tkelly]

Great article,who wrote it?Anyone thinking of delinking brakes should read this,one of the few that didn’t knock linked brake systems with good example why.

[Tusayan]

Race suit and open face helmet.   

My have times changed.

It was unusual at that time too but Cook Neilson (Cycle Magazine editor, rider in the photo and Daytona winner) was apparently claustrophobic and couldn’t tolerate a full face helmet even when racing.  More recently he’s been seen with full face helmets so maybe it was the non-pivoting visor of the original Bell Stars etc that we the issue.  In this more recent photo he’s wearing the same old Bates leathers, a man after my own heart or vice versa.

[twowheeladdict]

It was unusual at that time too but Cook Neilson (Cycle Magazine editor, rider in the photo and Daytona winner) was apparently claustrophobic and couldn’t tolerate a full face helmet even when racing.  More recently he’s been seen with full face helmets so maybe it was the non-pivoting visor of the original Bell Stars etc that we the issue.  In this more recent photo he’s wearing the same old Bates leathers, a man after my own heart or vice versa.

 

[moto-uno]

  Not only do I have possession of that magazine , I still have my Le Mans 2 that I bought new in Calgary
  40 some years ago ! Both have aged better than I  !  Peter
   

[moto]

Great article,who wrote it?Anyone thinking of delinking brakes should read this,one of the few that didn’t knock linked brake systems with good example why.

I can't find this magazine in my stash. Can you quote the relevant part about linked brakes or indicate in general what was said? If so, thanks!

Never mind! Greg has it here: https://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_more_topics_article_-_cycle_-1977-08-_moto_guzzi_850_le_mans_-_a_flash_bike_for_the_thinking_man.html

Moto

[moto]

Having now reread the article, I'll note that it contains one glaring error: The Le Mans has no proportioning valve at all, instead it uses the same simple manifold as the T3, which equally distributes force between the front and back brake lines. (This is Guzzi part number 17 66 80 50, seen in the photo on the third page. I compared the parts catalogs for the T3 and Le Mans to confirm they are the same.)

The statement in the article that a "proportioning valve . . . allocates about 30% of the pressure to the front caliper and 70% to the rear" is a claim that has often been repeated. This article may be its origin, but I suspect the same error appeared in Cycle's earlier review of the V1000 Convert, which is mentioned in this review. The actual allocation at the manifold is 50/50 to the front and rear circuits.

Another howler is that the bike pulls one way when applying the rear peddle alone and the other with just the front brake. Something must have been loose. I've never experienced it, at least.

Still, it is nice that some of the Cycle staff liked the system.

Moto

[Huzo]

The other was called "Waking Dreams?"  I think it mostly featured modified Japanese superbikes.  GS1000 etc.

I think I remember that, but I thought there was an “n” in there somewhere.
Speaking of which..
As 20 year old owner of a Suzuki GT750 triple, I could not believe how attractive to me this thing was…(the bike that is..).


A larger set of discs and a better looking pipe and I’d still take a second (or third) look.
Nothing better than flicking through old, dog eared magazines…