"Dear Sir," the boy wrote, "I'm very fond of motorcycles and especially Harley-Davidsons...I think this is the best motorcycle in the world, but I don't now how much it cost.
"Would you be so kind to send me the price of Harley-Davidson, and if it is possible the address in America?"
The letter was sent in by a young man in Greece and ran in the December, 1970 issue of STREET CHOPPER. Did George Midzinos ever get his Harley? We may never know, but if he'd purchased this magazine today, he probably would've hopped on the Internet for pricing details.
Jim Clark covered a racing event at New Fremont Drag Strip in San Francisco to find out whether or not a biker gathering could be organized and fun rather than lawless and wild. The leading photograph is "one of the big Honda 4s getting a good jump on a Kawasaki Mach III." The Honda, as you can see, literally is getting the jump, half-rearing at the start much like a racehorse. Match racing went on all day, well into the evening, and was attended by bikers, civilians, and the requisite beautiful women.
And then there was Bonneville. I've always had a fascination with the races at the Salt Flats; the streamliners, the modified bikes, the people around them. "The pit area at Bonneville is different than the type seen at any other racing event, since it consists of a little city of shelters made from old parachutes, tents, or whatever other light material could be obtained." Jim went up to Bonneville in the STREET CHOPPER plane (he had a plane? Why don't we have a plane? Courtney, I'm looking at you).
One thing that has always fascinated me is the streamliner. More reminiscent of a fighter jet than anything else, I'm really not sure it qualifies as a motorcycle (relax, kids, I'm joking...mostly). Fortunately, most of the Bonneville photography features the requisite Hondas, Kawasakis, and a Harley Sportster (whose owner came prepared with a second engine for it).
"Quickest Street Chopper" should probably be the cover bike, as it's indicative of speed and works in the title of the magazine. Built by Gary Kline in Wisconsin, this modified Triumph is both attractive and agile, weighing only 312 pounds
We learned how to rake the 74 with a legal bolt-on kit; King and Queen sets were definitely considered an "in" Christmas gift; and 2-Wheel Trouble Shooting featured a guy pushing his trike off the road. Social faux pas aside, it's an informative two-page article that teaches us basic troubleshooting on the Harley engine.
Speaking of trikes, check out the Mighty Mini, a wee three-wheeler built by father and son team Nick and Bobby Avilla. It looks incredibly light, mildly futuristic, and sports two Briggs & Stratton five-horsepower engines. I don't doubt the thing is fast, but the obvious question that I came up with-being a denizen of SoCal-is whether or not it's freeway-safe.
Jock E. Shift, the STC comic, features hero Jock's girlfriend berating him for pouring all his money into his chopper (sound familiar, boys?). So what does he get her?
"How do you like your new Springer frontend, Natasha?"
"I'd rather not talk about it," she replies, as they ride off into the sunset.
Get your Springer frontend if you must, boys. Just make sure you get your girl a nice jacket so she can ride with you!