Letters
LETTERS
FOR THOSE WHO CAN LISTEN
I have enjoyed reading your magazine and as a woman and a deaf cyclist felt compelled to write before ending my cycling career. After seven years I have been told I must stop riding for medical reasons. Needless to say I am very sorry about this but want to make some points before quitting.
As a deaf rider I found cycling brought
back to me the spontaneous conversation I lost when I became deaf nine years ago. Usually as a car driver people would walk away after realizing they had to write to me. As a cyclist they were awed I rode, and I had some of the best conversations ever, writing back and forth. I will never forget the cycling friends I met and will miss the way cycling seemed to break down the communications barrier.
I can’t quit the sport without praising Yamaha for the 650 Maxim which I found to be an ideal bike for me, a short rider, and one who toured and used the bike daily for work averaging not less than 300 mi. a week. I sold my car to ride full time—I enjoyed that bike so much.
In closing I would like to suggest that Yamaha and others print a book listing dealers throughout the U.S. so when we tour we know where we can stop for help if needed. A final suggestion is that an effort be made to compile a list of cyclists who would take travelers into their homes as people tour through the year. I can’t ride any more but my home will always be open to a traveling cyclist.
Diane Witte Bloomington, 111.
TOO MUCH SPORT?
Your test of the Yamaha 750 Seca in the June issue lent some insight as to what happened to a friend of mine recently. To use your words he “got into a turn a touch too hot,” and as a result found himself sliding down the road. This is not to put all the blame on the machine, but it seems to me> in this age of high-tech motorcycles there should be a clear-cut difference between “Sport” and “Sporty” machines. It’s just tough luck that my pal didn’t have a chance to read your article before he attempted to “Sport” around on his “Sporty” Seca.
Dan Alexander Columbia, 111.
This letter is written from a hospital bed in Denver. I’ve been here for a few days and it will be a few more before my 750 Yamaha Seca starts up again.
My friend’s Honda 750 F was behind me and the next curve was just right fojj about 65. The tires were holding, I’m feeling so good hanging off the left side of the tank—power on—the Seca straightened up unexpectedly and changed direction slightly. Oops, the foot peg. Just a slight tug on the bike, it responded so well I knew I was in love with the bike. Not ^ wobble or hesitation until I put some more of the left foot peg on the road and the bike shifted closer to the side of the road. When traction should have started again— only gravel remained. I’m in trouble, oh!!...
That Seca handles great until you lean it hard. The sales pitch I heard was “it wil£ handle.” Building a bike with great handling and not enough ground clearance is like building a Porsche with three wheels.
Paul D. Siemans Aurora, Colo.
We're sorry about the accidents, but: We’ve puts lots of miles on Seca 750s and they do handle well. Further, as Ron Pierce notes later in this issue, on a roaâ bike touching the pegs should be the motorcycle’s way of telling you you’ve gone far enough. Riding beyond what the bike can reasonably be expected to do is no justification for blaming either the machine, or the advertising claims.
ADVANCED TRAINING
I have just completed the M.S.F. advanced motorcyle course. You are right about the courses not being publicized. I was lucky enough to have been informed by* an instructor last Christmas. I rode up to a local eating establishment in a downpoui* with icicles hanging from my helmet. He made some comment about me being a dedicated rider and would I be interested in becoming an instructor. Well I didn’t have time to become an instructor but I did take the course. It wasn’t a waste of time. By the time I actually went to class I had pur* chased an ’80 CBX and was just learning the handling differences between it and my old ’72 Honda 750. The exercises proved to be tests of more than skill; as much patience as anything else, And not only mine but the;» instructor’s as well. Being an advance^ class there were cyclists of all sizes and descriptions. One of the maneuvers we were asked to perform turned out to be memorable. The instructor, in this case an attractive young female BMW rider, stood at the end of a run in the middle of a coned-off box. As each rider approached she would hold ouT one arm or the other. The rider was then (at the last second) supposed to turn that direction. How safe can you get? We were only going 35 mph. The problem came when I was bearing down on her with that Six and all its weight and she started to move and hesitated and went the other way. WELL! You can guess what happened. She moved and I opened a hole in the air where she was standing.
Please encourage all who will to take the course. With my CBX that 10 percent discount comes in handy.
Bobby Blackwell West Columbia, S.C.
THE GREAT DIVIDE
I’ve just finished reading your July editorial. I’ve always considered myself a rider, not a driver and 55,000 miles on mj/ BMW in three years is evidence of that.
My first realization of the rider/driver division was trying to counter-steer my Chevrolet into a curve. It doesn’t work, believe me.
I’ve given up driving.
Roman Becerra Loma Linda, Calif
LANE SPLITTING
Your chapter on Advanced Street-Riding in Introduction To Motorcycling is very good, but I would like to add some thoughts about lane splitting.
I used to commute on a Honda CB360T and used the space between the number one and two lanes to speed my commute. I had several near accidents—not involving automobiles, but other motorcycles.
The first near miss happened as I downshifted and moved into the space between, lanes and almost cut off the rider of an RD350 who was splitting lanes himselfc Three weeks later I was the one honking at a CX500 rider who came abross in front of me.
We need some rules of courtesy for lane splitters. We motorcyclists have our blind spots as well as the automobile drivers.
Ray Sparrows^ Palouse, Wash.
Yes. We do owe each other the courtesy we expect from others. And, in the case of the faster white-liner, letting him break trail is polite . . . and safer for the rider behind him. >
CLASSIC INTEREST
I am glad to see your magazine still has an interest in older motorcycles, vintage as well as classic.
As the North American representative for the Rudge Enthusiasts Club, I enjoyed your club feature in the March 1981 issue. t)ur club has been established for 25 years and has over 500 members worldwide. Rudges were famous for their multigear, four valve cylinder heads and many other innovations that could be of use on my modern bike.
John H. Bishop
RO. Box 71
Tekonsha Mich. 49092
Please inform Steve Middleton (Letters, June, 1981) of a very informative book on motorcycles. The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World’s Motorcycles lists 2500 brands of motorcycles including the Abako (Germany 1923— 1925) and the ZZR (Polish 1960-date). Moto Guzzi had an eight cylinder dohc watercooled 500cc in 1955. The first inline Four with shaft drive that I could find was a 1903 FN from Belgium. Galbusera also had a V-Eight two-stroke in 1938.
Wayne P. Brotherton Las Vegas, Nev.
A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Your recent editorial regarding the trials and tribulations of finding a MSF basic riding course struck a familiar note.
My son and I have been riding for ten years exclusively in the dirt. We are planning a 3000 mi. trip through Alaska and Western Canada and this prompted my interested in obtaining professional street riding instruction.
Our local dealer referred me to the riding course at Cypress College and it has provided everything I had hoped for. Our instructor was a Marine with many years of experienced riding. He made the course entertaining, interesting and informative. We plan now to take the Advanced Riding Course offered at this school.
I just wish that more courses were available so every rider, beginner and experienced alike could avail himself of safe riding skills.
Gary L. Prickett
Mission Viejo, Calif.
