Letters
LETTERS
VIEWS ON THE TOP TEN
Once again the “Ten Best Bikes” has hit the pages of Cycle World (October 1979). And once again I have figured out that Honda Motors must own 51 percent of the shares of your magazine. After trying to figure out how Honda can rate so high year after year with your magazine and not the others, that is the conclusion I have come up with.
The group that really bothers me is the 45l-650cc class. I own a motorcycle in that class and it’s not a Honda. I won’t brag about my bike because you’ll probably think I'm trying to get a plug in. My motorcycle is bigger, smoother, better handling and performing than the CX500. It will outrun a CX500 with half the cylinders unplugged and send it spinning out of sight.
Instead of feeding your readers a bunch of garbage, why don’t you be honest with us. We pay honest money to buy your magazine and would appreciate an honest “Ten Best Bikes” next year.
Gary Steigler Santa Maria, Calif.
We 're sorry you 're disappointed, although we can understand your belief that your bike should have won. For the record:
1) Yamaha is one of our largest advertisers. (One award) 2) Maico doesn't advertise at all. (Two awards) 3) The most-owned brand among the staff is Suzuki. (One award) 4) Both the guys who own Honda enduro bikes voted for the Maico. We really do vote for the bikes we believe are best.
Congratulations for having the nerve to select the ten best bikes in ’79. 1 can hear the comments in the background from those of us whose bikes weren’t selected. So be it. You said it as you see it and did your homework in the evaluations.
One of the good things about the sport of motorcycling is the variety of bikes available to us. What suits one rider may not be the choice of another and the perfect machine hasn’t been built yet.
The design trend of the recent new models has me concerned as I feel the industry is falling into the same trap that Detroit fell into. Namely, that big, powerful and complicated makes better . . . Let’s get back to the basics and forget , the horsepower and complicated design
race‘ Maclean Brown '
Ivyland, Penn.
Just got done reading the issue on the ten best bikes of 1979. I think it took guts " and know ledge to pick as you did and I say bravo! The reason I say guts is because you " have named Honda in a great percentage of the choices for which I’m sure some " people may condemn you. They may think that you are getting a kickback. Personally. I couldn’t agree with your choices more. I , own an of Honda CB360 ( 1974) which has taken the punishment of 20 years in five. It -has been knocked down on the street twice (parked) and is still running strong (dents ' and all).
Honda makes an excellent product and you people get my vote for ten most intel, ligent choices on the ten best bikes of 1979.
Michael Deane -
Chicago, 111.
FLATTRACK FAN
Regarding the October article “Chasing
the Crown” by Gary Van Voorhis, all I can say is great! For us who are liattrack enthusiasts and only get to three or four a year because it’s an 8 to 16 hour drive to see the best, we like to keep up. Gary really knows his stuft'. Let's have more of it.
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Also get the AMA to get more down here. If Texas and Oklahoma can field 10 to 15 of the top riders in the nation year after year their fans deserve more.
Frank Harrison Wichita Falls. Texas
EUROPEAN TIP
October's “On the Third Day 1 Wore My Racing Leathers . . .” brought back fond memories and chills recalling the year I flew my BMW R69S to England for a romp to the Isle of Man and back to the continent for three weeks of incredibly fast, hard riding. When I returned to Canada, everything on wheels seemed to be moving so slowly.
John Ulrich mentions money-changing in Europe and I would like to pass on a tip to anyone traveling overseas by car or motorcycle. Don’t exchange your funds (no matter what currency you have) at a bank. Go to the railroad depot or to the airport money exchange booths.
Reason? ... At the railroad station I got exactly the amount of money in marks for the amount of marks turned in via Travelers Checks. No commission, no fluctuating rates. 1 had bought marks in Canada and I got full value in an equal number of German marks in Germany. It also meant that when I changed marks into Dutch guilders I got more of them, again at the train depot, for my German currency because the U.S. and Canadian dollar had both dropped quite a few cents in the intervening days between the last exchange of currency.
Art Collins Toronto. Canada
MIKE THE BIKE
I have just finished reading the article “Mike the Bike's Last Ride" by Pete Lvons in the October issue.
I have followed Mike Hailwood's motorcycle and car racing career since the 1960s, much of it through the pages of Cycle World. I don't feel that 1 have ever read an article which so movingly portrayed what the Isle of Man is all about and what it is to ride it. More importantly, I feel that Mr. Lyons presented Hailwood’s ride in his last 10M race in a most descriptive and touching manner.
The article was one of those pieces that you stop reading periodically in mid-sentence in order to re-read certain passages over as they make such a vivid impact upon you. The sights, sounds and aweinspiring speed of the great TT were j brought so convincingly to the reader’s senses through the gifted writing of Mr. Lyons.
Richard W. Bouie A Salem. Ore.
EXHAUST TUNING
A comment on your article on exhaust tuning. Though the two-stroke motor will produce more horsepower per cc than an v equivalent four-stroke, the only one that even remotely approaches 360-400 horsepower per liter is the Morbidelli 125cc Grand Prix racer. The 250s, 500s and 750s, at roughly 60. 120 and 140 hp respectively, are far from making 360 hp (per liter) as ’ implied by the article. Generally, the smaller the engine, the more efficient it' becomes. Even a 125 Ducati racer of 20 years of age puts out 18 bhp or 144 ponies per liter. Racing two-strokes should be -1 powerful—they are built to race from the word go. rather than the four-strokes which ' are based on mass-production engines. The one exception is the new' Honda 500 i! Grand Prix racer which, from its claims. puts out comparable power with its competition. or about 250 hp per liter.
Ross Nelsor
400s DEFENDED
I must criticize you on your seemingly unfair opinion of 400cc class street bikes.
In the September 1979 Cycle World, you 1 generously refer to the GS425 as a “nice q little bike" that “gets ridden to . . . school . . . work.” Later you speak highly of its < lack of vibration even at highway speeds but still relegate it to commuter use: 400cc< cycles can easily be used for distance!
I recently returned from 1000 miles in three days on my boring, dull and slow KZ400. My company was a Moto Guzzi SP and a tricked Honda 750. ^
My KZ400 mirrors blurred terribly above 60 mph. Vibration through the grips and footpegs at 70-75 mph sometimes felt like my gloves and boots would soon disinn tegrate. But intolerance took over 100 miles so we stopped sooner. Besides, the SP rider always goes 100 miles per stretch As an added bonus, the human posterior has an amazing recovery rate. Gas stops , with some walking were usually good enough for another 100 miles. ,,
I realize that superior suspension and handling would take away the attractiveness of price but with gas prices, etc. I think a superior quality 400 is justified. In the meantime. 400s can be used for touring—adjustments and common sense are necessary—but you'll get there and you'll be there with your bike!
David Pronovost Naugatuck. Conn.
