BFF Newsletter III

NEWSLETTER 3
June 1996

This issue of the BFF Newsletter marks a new beginning.

When I suggested in MCS, hardly more than tongue-in-cheek, that it might be time to start a CN250 one-make club, I little thought what would come of that - so quickly and so soon.,

I thought perhaps half-a-dozen other old hands might get in touch and we would meet and form a cosy circle for a natter about the delights of our chosen mount and the iniquities of the motorcycle industry in general. Instead, by now we already have a really sizeable club still growing fast, yes predominantly owners of the actual CN250 (see survey, below) but embracing a wealth of other motorcycling interests besides; and with enthusiasm, get-up-and-go and willingness to take active roles. And the variety of your letters and phone communications show up one thing above all; the great versatility of the CN250 along with its more mundane virtues of comfort, economy and reliability.

So, though I was happy to start this thing and run it so far, I am keen for the club to be more than an I.L.-centred newsletter circulation.

We are spread all over the British Isles (indeed, the world!) and we'll never all meet in one spot. But a number of us did meet at the BNW Rally; several of us met when we went to Southampton to PNB's lecture (again, see below); several of us met when we were invited to the Surrey Wing-Ding of Gold Wing OC (yes, CN250 "Wing-lettes" sit very comfortably alongside full- fledged Wings); and we have two more get- togethers booked so far, in July in the South and in September in the North of England. When most of us actually know at least some of our fellow- members, proposing and voting for "officials" (dreadfully formal term, but I know no other) will become meaningful.

Meanwhile, I have accepted volunteers to take office. You see their names above and for those who do not already know them I will mention that each is well experienced in their roles; Paul Atherton as Treasurer for his region of the TRF and Paul Morris as Membership Secretary to the PEMC. Both do have CN250s in use.

A hearty welcome to all those who have joined since the last Newsletter went out. To those exclusively CN250-owning members who joined right at the beginning, may I say I hope you like the evolutionary changes and the new logo which symbolises the range of our interests. The CN250/Helix remains the standard simply on grounds of numbers as well as its proven excellence but we have to hope it will not be Honda's last word. Too, by covering the whole range of FF bikes from the flagship Ecomobile (far beyond the reach of most of us) down to the modest Hexagon we can hope to get the public, the press and the industry to take us seriously as a force for change.

Besides a string of assorted items that I have been collecting over the last weeks, this issue features a full-length contribution.

I intend to have a main feature in each issue from now on; some of you are already incubating their contributions, I have others in mind who may cough up given a bit of arm-twisting!

About this format - whether you like it or hate it - as well as every other aspect of your interests and opinions, don't forget to keep the letters coming.

You can expect the Newsletter to appear once a quarter from now on. Many of you have said that that is about right and I hope it will be generally acceptable.

Ian

MEET ON 7 JULY

MEET at the AVON COUNTRY PARK, 2Y2 miles west of Ringwood on the A3 1. Norman tells us it is well signposted: turn left at the first roundabout west of Ringwood - look out for a flower stall as marker for it.

There are toilets, cafe and parking at the RV, as well as a pub and a Little Chef.

Norman Rake, our "host," suggests we go on together to either the Sammy Miller Museum or the Beaulieu Bike Day. Let's meet at around 11 and decide together.

Anyone who wants to come down the night before please contact Norman (01202 895914) for suggestions of overnight accommodation.

MEET ON 8 SEPTEMBER

MEET at Charnock Richard motorway services. M6. Northbound car park, at 11.0 or before. A local scenic run is being planned for us by Alan Patterson and Paul Atherton. For anyone wanting to come on Saturday and stay overnight, there is accommodation on the site.

CN250 MAY RETURN!

Graham Sanderson, Press and PR Officer of Honda (UK) has written in answer to an enquirer.

,"... we are sensitive to market trends and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we could decide to import the CN250 again. However, at this stage we are neither ruling it in, nor ruling it out."

No matter how tentative, this is a big advance. Please follow it up by yourselves writing to Honda to tell them what a good idea this would be, how we all know people who would like one if they could get it, how we all know of people who have paid the price for grey import models while Honda (UK) neglect to market the CN themselves.

SECOND-HAND PARTS IT HAS been suggested that we should assemble a stock of second-hand parts wherever we can find them, for passing on to members. An obvious example will be exhaust systems from crashed machines - if CN250's ever crash! We shall be advertising in the press for breakers with parts, but also will all members please keep their eyes open and make enquiries. Do you know any motorcycle breakers in your area?

SPARES AVAIILABILITY

WE HAVE heard reports of difficulty getting replacement tyres. Get in touch with: M & P Motorcycle Accessories Ltd
Unit 3, Castell Close
Swansea Enterprise Park
SA79FH
01792 775 566 (fax 01792 781 452)

In a truly vast mail-order catalogue, they list both Dunlop and Bridgestone tyre for front and rear of CN250, at prices from around £24 to £28. They also list, specifically for CN250, brake discs (choice of three makes), shoes and even discs.

Some members (not all) are dissatisfied with the CN250 suspension.
Hagon Products
7 Roebuck Road
Hainault
Essex IG6 3JH
0181-502 6222 (Fax 0181-502 6274) - list their own shocks with models specified for CN250, for both front and rear, at £78-50 a pair.

IF YOU ORDER GOODS OR SERVICE FROM ANY OF THE FIRMS MENTIONED IN THESE PAGES, PLEASE REMEMBER TO MENTION THAT YOU HEARD OF THEM THROUGH BFF.

BACK REST

I HAVE now received and fitted my back rest from Utopia Engineering. The ten-minute fitting operation was successfully completed within an hour by my five-thumbed hands and the result is truly excellent.

I can confirm that the back rest adds greatly to comfort and a feeling of being securely "placed". The rest is very well made and finished and has a good range of adjustment.

The eventual downside is that, besides a carriage charge of about $30, I was faced with a bill for import duty, VAT (charged on the postage and duty besides the basic price) - and finally a charge for collecting the charges! TOTAL cost so high I would not positively recommend the purchase.

But the advantage of a rest is so great that 1 should think many of you could somehow desian and make one for yourselves - and that 1 do recommend!

Ian

INTERNAL MARKET! FOLLOWING a note in N/L 2 about a surplus exhaust, Scottish members Ron Mouat and Vernon Cantlay rode towards each other, met halfway, and money and exhaust system changed hands to their mutual satisfaction! Ron Mouat writes about his own CN:

I first got a scooter, a Lambretta 100, of course just to try it. I worked at Edinburgh Airport across the Forth Road Bridge, so it was very handy as bikes are free on the bridge. I had numerous bikes after the scooter and a car. When the Honda CN250 was first introduced I liked the look of it and bought one straight away, selling my Spacy 250 at the same time. I have replaced the belt twice, along with two sets of tyres, numerous oil changes and a check of the transmission oil, front brake pads (replaced easily enough). Here's a warning about the centre stand: keep it clean and rust-free and brush with Wax-Oyl and oil the spindle as it gets all the muck and rain off the rear wheel. Remember the bike weighs 340 lb. so you don't want it to fail. I also use Wax-Oyl on the rear suspension and the tray just ahead of the boot, and the bottom tray under the centre of the bike.

In the time I have had the CN250 it has few faults and is utterly reliable - it still has the six-year-old battery still going well! ... People in cars must get quite a shock when I leave them standing, the acceleration of the CN is quite something.

While complaining (don't we all!) about the price of an exhaust system, Ron reflects that, on the other hand, the original one. did last six years.

Have you managed to recruit any new members? Don't let any opportunity pass!

RUMOURS Dept

Motorcycle International, July 1996, reports as "News from Japan" that "In the run up to '98 we can expect Honda to produce a new 250 scooter along the lines of the Yamaha Majesty that will fit the in range somewhere between the Helix and the Freeway..."

This is very odd. If a new scooter is to be a 250, how is it to fit "between" the Helix and the Freeway (anyone know what the latter is, by the way?) Or has MCI's contributor confounded his speculation with the long-running rumour that Honda are working on a 400ce "super-Helix."

In any event, if the project exists, if for '98, if the design is not yet finalised, there is time to let Honda know just what we would be hoping for in a new touring "scooter." Please do write: to Honda LTK, to Honda Europe, to Honda Japan. Low low seat, comfort, big luggage boot; we do agree on those points, don't we? What else? Do we really want "go-fast" lines aping racing bikes?

DAVID BULLIVANT, in the course of a long and interesting communication, sends this account of two-wheeler marketing in Helsinki. it shows that not only in England is there the disparity between companies in their relative willingness to increase sales!

... there are no other Helix machines here and at the motorcycle show in January the Yamaha importer told me that there was no market for a "touring" scooter like the Majesty so they wouldn't bother importing it... 1 asked them if they'd ever thought of importing it and CREATING a market for it, but that seemed to be beyond their comprehension, gaw bless us!

(later, being next door to the Honda importer you can guess what they had most of, so in I breeze asking them for a Helix -

"No, chum, none in Finland - sorry."

"Well, more fool you - why don't you start importing them - I want one and my friend Kari has one, so how about it?"

"Honda have a lot of bikes we should import - but there you are, you see - very small market and very conservative..."

While he's giving me the speech, I'm casting my eyes about the place - ye Gods, they stock Piaggio scooters - all of them, including that very peppy 4-stroke mini scooter that sounds like a Gold Star (slightly muted) on full chat ... a brand new Vespa too, and a Gilem with Piaggio badges, and, and, and ... "

And what about the Hexagon you've got there that's doing well in the market so there's certainly a market for a better sort of thing ... oh, that Hexagon looks a bit beaten up - been over has it? Your demonstrator is it?"

"No, the demo is not for sale but you can have a new one - blue or champagne - all singing and dancing. Extra's sir? Well, there's a higher screen if you like, or a big one that covers the hands as well, there are side splash guards to fit down the leg-shields and along the footboards. ours come with a better and adjustable rear shocker in place, and then there's a radio rack to order, - etc. - would you like to try the demo?"

David took the test ride, naturally, and writes with much enthusiasm, concluding "A poor min's Helix, or what?

Hexagons are selling really well in UK, and we cannot fail to be aware how enthusiastically Piaggio and Peugeot, and lesser European makers benefiting from the sales push by those major players, are pushing the sales of all their scooter ranges, at a moment that greatly favours them. What a chance the Honda and Yamaha importers seem bent on missing to sell their super models.

Paul Blezard, motorcycle journalist, feet first fan and owner of the most battered CN250 in the South of England, skips through his most memorable FF moments of the First half of 1996.

Put a lid on it.....

JANUARY started well with an exclusive ride on the only mass-produced roofed machines to be manufactured so far - Honda's Japanese-market Cabina and Canopy, (both 5Occ). Those who went to the '95 NEC Bike show will have seen the Cabina on the Honda stand and, in response to enquiries from the public, Honda UK registered both machines for the road. I much preferred the two-wheeled Cabina, which was very easy and comfortable to ride. It's a shame it wasn't the 9Occ version with electric centre stand which is also available in Japan and ideally the machine should be both longer and lower, from both an aesthetic and an aerodynamic point of view.

As a leaning three-wheeler, the Canopy feels decidedly odd at first but you get used to it, and it has the, advantage of a much greater carrying capacity than the Cabina (although neither machine can take a passenger). It was pleasing to have a substantial feature on the two machines published in the Daily Telegraph's Saturday motoring section (1613196) although the sub-editors unfortunately managed to get the photo captions mixed up, which must have confused the readers a bit.

Both bikes were filmed for a Carlton programme 'The Investigators' which went out on February 13th, but as is often the way of these things, the programme makers chose not to use a single second of the footage of either machine! However, both bikes were featured on Sky News's coverage of Dave Taylor's 'Action for the Environment' conference in Greenwich on March 28th at which Yours Truly gave a speech on 'Powered Two Wheelers - the answer to congestion in our towns and cities.' Starting with pushbikes and moving on through conventional mopeds, scooters and motorcycles I included several slides of FFs at the end, as the only logical way for two-wheelers to go. (Dave Taylor is hosting a second similar conference at the Fairfield Halls. Croydon on July 11th - phone 01322-525218 for details).

MCN have also just done a good little test (12/6/96) on a Canopy imported by KJM Superbikes in Lancashire including a cracking shot of Chris Moss leaning the lidded wonder like a GP bike (shortly before breaking his leg racing at the TT).

GLR DJ buys Hexagon, shock! BACK in January I sent some information about scooters in general and FFs in particular to Jeremy Nicholas, Greater London Radio's witty and amusing afternoon DJ because he mentioned that he was considering buying a scooter to commute to GLR's Marylebone Studios from his home in Bermondsey. To cut a long story short (which included me giving a brief on-air explanation of FFs) Jeremy is now the proud owner of a Piaggio Hexagon 125 which I was able to recommend having used one as a Channel One camera-bike for three months last autumn.

Another new Hexagon owner is long-time FF fan Henry Mayhew (son of Patrick) who is continuing his decade-long quest to develop a scooter-based FF commuter. He has had a group of Southampton University engineering graduates working on a new outrigger system for the past year, and as a result of my involvement with that project I was invited to give a talk about FFs to students of Mechanical Engineering at the University. (By coincidence Southampton is my own Alma Mater, although at the time I was there studying psychology from 1975-78, I was roaring around on a 1967 Honda Black Bomber CB450 cafe racer).

Reformed Cafe-racer preaches the FF gospel

I CALLED the talk at So'ton Uni 'Why Bikes Should Be More Like Cars' but essentially it was the same speech that I wrote for Norton's Ill-fated ex-boss Philippe Le Roux which he gave at the German Institute of Engineers (VDI) conference in Munich back in March 1991 and which was subsequently published in MCS in the June issue of that year. (The Future Motorcycle')

As a sort of hors d'oeuvre we also showed a video of the Feet First feature which I made with Top Gear way back in April 1988. The up-dated talk was illustrated with over 80 slides of FFs old and new. The occasion turned into a sort of informal gathering of the new Best Foot Forward club since Ian Leslie and several other CN250 owners turned up, including Cosworth co-founder Keith Duckworth, much to the students' surprise and delight. (Keith was actually riding his hub-centre steered Yamaha GTS1OOO). Several other interested parties from outside the university were also in the 40-strong audience including outsize scouser Andi McBurnie who is keen to build a serious FF roadburner (as are several other people of my acquaintance).

Crazed CN250 owner goes trail riding in Hants!

ON THE WAY back from Southampton the following day I had an extremely entertaining adventure on my CN250. Starting from Bishop's Waltham, I followed a substantial portion of the trail ride described by Dave Tilbury in the May '96 issue of Trail Bike magazine. The first ten miles or so were really easy but when I reached the top of Butser Hill (south west of Petersfield) I got a bit carried away. Butser is quite simply the steepest trail I know and as I set off gaily down the near-vertical slope 1 didn't make enough allowance for the CNs total lack of engine braking below 15mph, I gathered too much momentum, locked the front wheel and dropped the whole plot on my knee.

I dropped it twice more before I sussed out that the only way to avoid the bike immediately running away from me was to position my right foot firmly against the footbrake before picking it up. Anyway, we got to the bottom of Butser in one piece and I went on to do some serious off-road climbs just north of Petersfield on the CN, which was fully laden with all the slides for my talk and a host of other bits and bobs.

I continued further east to Titty HW (look it up!) where I joined the route of the Witley club's trail bike trial (which I rode on my XR600 last October). To my astonishment I actually managed to get the CN up three of the 'sections' used in the trial. I did get seriously stuck in the mud a couple of times and had to bodily pick up the back of the bike and 'wheelbarrow' it out, both forwards and sideways, for which purpose the Givi rack proved very useful! All this was achieved with Bridgestone road tyres front and rear - with the sort of trail-ish tyres fitted to Piaggio's Typhoon I reckon you'd stand a good chance of getting a CN through one of the MCC's classic trials. (If anyone is interested in tackling some of the easier trails in Hampshire on their CN, let me know - you'd be amazed at what they'll get up. I've done several with a passenger!).

Famous FFs and FFers at the BMF

FOR THE FF gathering at the BMF rally on May 19th I scooted up to Leighton Buzzard to rendezvous with Graham Robb, owner of the original Voyager demonstrator and we rode up to Keith Duckworth's place in Northants together. There I swapped my CN for Keith's Voyager which was the one that was originally decked out in police colours. We had an enjoyable ride to Petersburg, with the Voyager going past several conventional machines with double the power but just as we entered the Showground site Keith's machine stripped the 'outer' of its cable-operated gearchange. However, in a triumph of inspired Blez-bodgery aided and abetted by Graham, it was fixed with a couple of jubilee clips bought on site and after a little hiccup concerning the starter motor fuse everything was tickety-boo once more.

What I can't get over is that I rode Graham's bike all the way to Munich and back in 1991 without even knowing where the fuses were, let alone that the gearchange was cable operated! (Graham has actually converted his mechanism to a more robust rod-operated system).

It was great to see my dear old Flying Banana again, (Creasey-inspired, Difazio built and steered, CX 500 powered) looking as tatty as ever but actually much- improved by new owner Bob Winsper. Bob has straightened and strengthened the rather flexy frame and doubled the capacity of the fuel tank, although why he feels the need to have the filler cap protruding to within a few millimetres of his manhood is a mystery to me.....

We are not amused-..-

THE PRESENCE of HRH (His Royal Hairiness) Royce Creasey on the Best Foot Forward stand made it a truly memorable FF occasion. The only disappointment was Yamahas pathetic failure to display one of the new YP250 Majestys (Majesties?) on their sizeable stand. If the Brooklands-based boys and girls can get their act together then I may actually have ridden one of these new 'luxury' scooters by the time you read this, although judging by their failure to reply to correspondence to date, I'm not holding my breath.

On the way back from Peterborough, Graham Robb and I swapped Voyagers, which was interesting. Although Graham has made several sensible modifications to his machine, particularly the addition of more meaty rear springs, he has also inadvertently made it harder to drive. His downdraught Weber misfires horribly at low revs and in replacing his ball joints (probably unnecessarily!) he has returned the stiffness to the steering which plagued the bike when it was first released to the press at the end of 1989. I really enjoyed my ride on both Voyagers however, despite their manifest lack of gee-gees. and I'm grateful to both Graham and Keith for their indulgence. The sooner someone gets one of those Voyager engines along to an experienced F750 tuner the better! A genuine 60bhp at the rear wheel would make a world of difference to the Voyagers' performance. As it is, they can barely out-accelerate a CN250 up to about 4Omph.

Avros and Outriggers

A COUPLE of days later I was thrashing the CN back down the M3 to Southampton (just over an hour from Barnes) for the presentation of the engineering graduates' outrigger project for Henry's Maybew's FF commuter. Their system is still in its infancy but appears to be a clever and effective solution to this age-old problem. It's completely different from the sophisticated and well-proven but heavy, wide and expensive system fitted to the Ecomobile.

After the presentation and some interesting discussions with the students and their tutor Dave Whatley, Henry and I made a private pilgrimage to the Southampton Hall of Aviation. To my surprise and delight we discovered not only the 1926 Avro Monocar used in the Top Gear feature (which used to be kept at Wroughton aerodrome), but also the 1956 Velocette 200-powered machine which Sir Alliott Verdon-Roe used for the last two years of his life. The 'AVLE Bicar' was recently restored by John Bruce, who actually rode it all the way to Southampton from his home in mid-Wales. (The museum is well worth a visit for its aeronautical displays alone, which include the Schneider Trophy-winning Supermarine, its descendant the Spitfire and a complete Sunderland Flying Boat converted for civilian use, amongst many other fascinating exhibits: The Southampton Hall of Aviation, Albert Road South, next to the Itchen Bridge. Open year round Tel 01703-635830 Fax 01703-223383).

The 'Rotorasar'

I ROUNDED off the day with a visit to Steve Harris in Bitterne to have a close look at his rotery-engined, targa- topped Quasar which uses a frame built by Malcolm Newell and carbon fibre bodywork that Steve made himself. Unfortunately the bike wasn't running at the time (although it is MoTed and taxed) so I couldn't have a ride, but Steve had a go on my CN 250 and pronounced himself impressed. I hope that by the time the next newsletter is due I'll have had a go in the 'Rotorasar'.

Helix and Hexagon Hop-ups

HONDA'S HELIX is without doubt the machine by which all other FFs should be judged, at least where user-friendliness is concerned. What it most lacks of course is power, and I would like to know if anyone has any experience of hotting one up. If only it had another, say, 1Obhp, it would make such a difference to the open-road performance. With only 17bhp from a watercooled 250 I would have thought that it would be possible to get 27bhp from a mildly-tuned motor bored out to say, 30Occ. Anyone got a spare engine they'd like to donate to scientific research? Incidentally, rumour has it that a CH250 Spacey engine will fit with a little modification .... And finally, talking of more power, there is now a 17Occ Malossi big-bore kit available for the Hexagon on the Continent which turns it into a fire-breathing 8Omph 'superscooter'.

Until next time, keep those feet forward.

Paul Blezard

PS See summer '96 edition of Grey Bike for PNB's four-page feature on the CN250.

PPS There's also a surprisingly coherent test of the Yamaha Majesty in the July edition of Which Motorcycle, which includes some interesting statistics on sales of the CN250 in the UK, although judging by the comments about the Majesty's 'low' seat the author has never actually ridden a Helix!

WE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE!

I HAVE analysed our membership from the facts given by members when they join. I find the results fascinating - particularly the range of other two- wheeler societies that members also belong to, which include Vincent, Triumph, BMW, Goldwing etc. Owners Clubs, NSRA, PEMCC, LkM ... and others.

The figures work out as follows:

73% of us own CN250 or Helix: we are still, and are likely to remain, predominantly the CN250/Helix club. Hexagon and Majesty ownership is represented by a minority.

41% have other bikes as well;

65% have cars.

60% of us tour by bike

97% of us use our bikes for everyday purposes (shopping, commuting etc.)

27% belong to. BMF individually, 4% to MAG; 32% to national or one-make clubs.

Our average age is 52, with a range from 27 to 77 years old.

65% are married or living in a permanent relationship. Only 8% of us are women.

Our average 2-wheel annual mileage: 3,100, ranging from just under 100 to upward of 8000.

BMF RALLY, JUNE 1996

THIS IS a personal account but as I was talking to others for every minute of every waking hour, I think that other participants would in general agree with my feelings about this first "public" showing for BFF.

The diffidence that led me not to book a marquee was a big mistake (but when.our numbers have grown so quickly now, we shall easily afford one in future). Looking at my garden diary, I see that there had been no daytime rain for the previous 5 1/2 weeks - but of course all that changed for Rally Weekend. On our little stand we were drowned on the Saturday - and nearly blown away by Force n gales on the Sunday. On the Saturday, very little interest was shown by anybody and we began to wonder if it was all worth while. Saturday is BMF Members' preview day and it seemed that the sole interest of most attenders was in visiting the commercial stands to pick up bargains. Fair enough really, of course, but little consolation to us small band of stalwarts. What did console us was the friendliness of our next-door neighbours, the 59 Club, who invited us into their marquee to regale us with hot cuppas, and who lent us an enormous beach umbrella (which had to come down anyway, on the Sunday, or be blown away).

We had asked the organisers to put us near to the Motorcycle Sport stand if possible, but in fact we were about as far apart as possible. In any case I had forgotten that the club stands are grouped, publication stands are grouped and so on, so we could never have had our wish.

Sunday was a different kettle of fish and we never had a moment's respite all day from discussing, explaining, demonstrating. We did arouse plenty of interest, which increased even more when not one but two examples of Voyager in their shining fibreglass dress were brought to our stand, as well as a very battered but unbowed CX5OO-based, Difazio- steered yellow "banana". The comparison between the no-holds-barred fundamental FF machines and the nearest mass-market approach was most interesting and revealing, and by no means to the detriment of Honda's and Yamaha's models.

I think I can confidently offer thanks and appreciation, on behalf of the whole of BFF Club, to those members who spent all or part of their weekend "putting us on show," and riding their bikes, in some cases, really considerable distances to do so.

Despite the stand having been a sodden and wind-blown wreck, the display judges gave it 17 points and 33rd place in the Best Club Display ratings!

Ian

Toni Perry, who contacted us from far-away Tasmania, writes.

As far as Spacy goes I will give you a little of my history with it, actually I have two of them as I bought one as a spare when we shifted over to Tasmania from Western Oz in 1993 to escape the long hot WA summers. I brought mine over with me, it is a 1989 model which I bought new in 1993, it has now done 37,000 km and has been temporarily pensioned off to be got back to original in the future. The reason it has been pensioned off is that I used it to ride to work at my last job in WA which was at an open-cut coal mine where I was employed as a welder; I used to ride 16 km each way with the last 4 km being over dirt roads for which I found the bike outstanding because of its low centre of gravity, no gears and civilised power delivery plus low weight. In the summer the track was often in a terrible condition with the main problem being that the track was very dusty and with the engine breathing inside the cowling and close to the rear wheel it tended to clog the air filter up very quickly and naturally the engine finished up getting "dusted'. I now have it apart and will have a new oversize piston fitted when the chance arises to put it back into original condition; I don't blame the bike at all for this as I realise I was using it for something that it was never intended for.

The one I am riding now is a 1985 model that I bought over here for $800. It had been sitting around for four years when I bought it about 18 months ago, it had done 17,000 km when I bought it and now has done 23,000 with no trouble so far. (Incidentally I forgot to mention that I have had no mechanical troubles at all with the 1989 model other than changing tyres etc. - dead reliable.)

The Spacy is not, ofcourse, a true "FF" but I thought this totally relevant as it is the direct precursor of the CN250 and its mechanical side is indistinguishable. This fascinating account just goes to confirm how reliable and how versatile these machines are.

RUMOURS Department

A GERMAN MAGAZINE states as fact that Kawazaki are developing a 400 cc super-scooter. They even have a picture!

They say it will be a single-cylinder of 25 kW power (about 38 HP) and will have a sophisticated automatic system switchable to Economy, Touring or Sport. They even name the project bike: Kawasaki SX-4R.

However, in correspondence with BFF, Kawasaki Motors (UK) categorically deny that there is any such project.

Believe what you will... and watch this space.

WHATEVER HAPPENED...

...a review of feet-forward two-wheeler developments authoritative, clearly argued, extensively illustrated a few copies still available £5, cheque payable to Royce Creasey, please send to BFF.

BEST FEET FORWARD Newsletter, published for the BEST FEET FORWARD Motorcycling Club.

Views expressed are those of the various writers and do not necessarily represent a collective viewpoint of Club members.

EXTRA INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS ONLY

1.SUBSCRIPTIONS Once it became clear that this club would be sizeable and there was plenty of enthusiasm for our arranging, activities, an ad hoc committee formed and decided to ask £10 per annum as a subscription to make possible a regular newsletter and other activities that all cost money. If you are one of the minority who have not yet paid up, would you please do so now to avoid the necessity of individual reminders. If you are an impecunious student or for any other reason find paying the sub onerous, please let Paul our Treasurer know because we would not wish to exclude anyone for that reason. Your words will be received in the strictest confidence.

2.INSIGNIA To order badges etc. at a reasonable price we have to order a fairly large quantity so we have not rushed into this. Will members please let us know how interested in having these things and whether they would like a club tee-shirt - a cood quality item with club insignia printed on the front would cost you about £15. In the meantime, enclosed is a sticker you may like to fix to your windscreen when you take your bike to events.

3. Do keep writing. To Honda, Yamaha, Piaggio, the motorcycling press. Decide for yourselves according to context whether or not to mention BFF. We are now nearly a hundred and people are still joining, but do not mention numbers as to the sceptical world that number might seem insignificant - even though we know perfectly well that it represents a huee wellspring of enthusiasm and is a vast number to have got together when we have so little publicity resources.

4.One of our members who is boldly going where so few dare to tread - designing and buildina his own FF - has experience also with recumbent pedal-powered bikes and has used a "recumbent" as a test-bed for part of his design. Have any others of you any experience of "recumbents"? Will anyone let us have an article about them and their relevance to FF motorbikes?

5. Vernon Cantlay, away up in Scotland, reckons that he is not likely to get to many or any of our events but he offers hospitality to any members and their partners, whether travelling on their bike or not. We hope this very generous offer will be taken up.

6. A slow but steady stream of enquiries comes to us as to where to buy second-hand CN250s/Helixes.
(a)If you hear of one please do let a member of the committee know at once.
(b)Scoot-Tours newsletter always has listings of second-hand baroains available privately in USA. (Eg "Helix '86, red, 2665 miles, mint cond. - CB - helmet: $1700 - (1) 417 679 4954") Ring Ian if you would like the current full list, just received. Do any of you know the ins and outs of privately importing? Perhaps one of you has actually done this? As a matter of urgency, would you please pass on your knowledge for the benefit of fellow-members.

7. You should all have received Newsletter 3 - if any of you has not, please let Ian know straight away. If any who joined recently would like back numbers (which are out of print and would have to be copied separately) please send lan 3 x 26p stamps for N/L 1 or 2, 6 x 26p stamps for N/L 3.

8.Newsletter 4 will have lots of colour photos and, among many other things, will have an article by Steve Harris of his home-brew machine plans and an account of the Helix Birthday Party in Koblenz which lan Leslie and Robin Thomas went to.