Page 21 - the story of motoring

tremendously by this time. There was all-chain drive [instead of the flat
leather belt), a gearbox, kick starter, hand operated clutch and large rounded
fuel tanks. In fact the motorcycles was more like the ones of today than the
veterans.
The motorcycle has been very useful in wartime. In the First World War (1914-
19181 motorbikes were used by dispatch riders. This was extremely dangerous
because amongst the gunfire and shells, a rider had to cross thick mud and cra-
tered land. During the Second World War the motorcycle onc_e_.again proved its
worth and the Germans even effectively used motorbikes and sidecars fitted with
machine guns.

The scooter became populdr during the 1950s and 60s. The Italian Vespas and
Lambrettas were widely bought as a form of runabout transport by young people.
The scooter was also the symbol of the Mods. The Mods were a common sight in
the 1960s with their scooters decorated in wing mirrors and lights.

Today Japanese mopeds and motorcycles dominate the sales rooms. The British
lost the market for a number of reasons. They failed to see the demand by many
riders for cheap but stylish and powerful light motorcycles. The British con-
tinued to concentrate on making large expensive bikes. Japanese firms like
Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha provide just the type of machine wanted at a good price.

There are many exciting motorcycle sports. The most glamorous is Grand Prix
racing. Its noisy, colourful and fast. Speeds can reach 170mph. The most
famous motorcycle race is the Isle of Man T.T. The twisting circuit through
villages and over moors is the toughest test of men and their machine. Speed- P
way is Britain's second largest spectator sport. The bikes have tremendous -
'-. i(
acceleration. The race is all about 4 riders battling it out over 2 laps. Ice
speedway is popular in Russia and Scandinavia. The tyres have metal spikes
which could give terrible injuries to a fallen rider. He wears a helmet, leather
suit, steel capped boots and a length of car tyre over his left knee and leg.
The fastest sport is world land speed record breaking. The record for two wheels
is 318mph and held by Don Vesco. Drag racing is simply going as fast as possible
over a $ mile strip. 200mph can be reached in 7 seconds. Trials riding is all
about skillful handling of a bike over very rough ground like rocks, streams and
hills -