December, 1964

December, 1964

ROUNDUP

JOE PARKHURST, THEN-EDItor/publisher of Cycle World, was a dominant figure in the magazine’s early days. As a reader 25 years ago,

I remember thinking that he had the perfect job: testing the latest models of motorcycles, traveling the globe to cover races and motorcycle events.

In the December, 1964, issue, Parkhurst’s latest adventure had been a visit to Erie Stanley Gardner’s 4000acre ranch to ride a new trail scooter. Gardner was a naturalist who thought the great outdoors should be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their mode of transportation into those areas. Gardner actively campaigned for these rights, which delighted Parkhurst, who was constantly telling CW readers of the need for an organization to fight legislators who were rapidly closing public lands to off-road vehicles.

Parkhurst had also recently built the ultimate off-road project bike, a 500cc Rickman MatchlessMetisse. The Metisse was purchased as a kit that included a chrome-moly steel frame and swingarm, fiberglass bodywork and fenders, and assorted mounting brackets. The 500cc engine was removed from a brand-new Matchless G-80. Nothing bolted together as promised, of course.

But the finished bike was great, weighing a little over 300 pounds.

The downside was the “staggering" cost of the Metisse kit: all of $500.

—Ron Griewe