Clash of the Titans

Mark Daniels

This comparison road test should have been done in 1960. Now,
40 years too late, it's Raleigh RM2 v Phillips Panda MkI in "Clash of
the Titans"

These two British built mopeds were selected for
comparison test since both date around 1960, feature single speed
gearing with a manual clutch and have no suspension, beyond the general
specification however is where the similarities end.

The RM2 is basically a tall and elegant heavy gauge lady's cycle
converted to a moped by the attachment of a factory-fitted Sturmey
Archer clip-on motor built for this Raleigh application by BSA.
By contrast, the Phillips utilised what probably became the last
manufacturing installation of the German Rex cyclemotor which first
appeared around 1950 in the form of a front mounted belt driven cycle
attachment, the strong but crude Panda frame beingMaybe it's because I was born here. Maybe it's because so much of the best of my work life has originated from this city, maybe its because I've had articles from the Chronicle taped to my fridge since I had my own apartment, but the privilege of being the guest editor of The Austin Chronicle is deeply meaningful to me.

This summer I have two very personal films coming out. Blaze is about a singer-songwriter, Blaze Foley, who died in the same hospital where I was born. Much of this issue is inspired by my experience directing that film. The other, Paul Schrader's First Reformed, completes a family mission – with me finally wearing a cleric's collar.

When I was born in Austin in 1970 my parents were UT students