Cycle World Letters

CYCLE WORLD LETTERS

750 comparison

All three of the bikes in your 750 comparison test are fantastic. However, you forgot to mention an important point: the GS750ES has a larger fairing and shorter handlebars than the 750E. This makes for a much more comfortable ride at speed. Scott Willock Williams AFB, Ariz.

Eve always heard that things were done differently in California and now I realize that it must be true. In your comparison test you mention that the exhaust system on the Suzuki must be removed to change the rear tire. Seriously, guys, there is no Suzuki motorcycle that requires removal of the exhaust system before the rear wheel can be removed. While it is the factory recommended procedure on some of the four-stroke Twins, it is by no means necessary.

Having been a Suzuki mechanic for four years in Pennsylvania I think the real money making opportunities are in California, beating the flat rate on rear tire changes. Paul Waltman Narvon, Pa.

Our reference was to Suzukis which have mufflers that block the axle. Either you remove the mufflers or the shocks, so the swing arm can be lowered (or raised) and the axle will come out, the wheel off, etc.

Our point was that the new Suzuki was easier to service than some models we’ve struggled with.

Thank you for the unbiased, honest and informative test on the 750s. Eve owned various models (1100, 1047 and a 900)but now Em getting the Interceptor. I can have 1 lOOcc power in a 750. I guess bigger isn't always better. Ken Porter Melbourne, Fla.

Doing his part

I am writing this letter while aboard a flight from Chicago to Sacramento. It is quite crowded. In the seat directly behind me sits the lovely and talented Ralph Nader. Noticing that he is almost as long of leg as he is long of wind, I quickly reclined my seat into full attack mode, crowding his knees and making him extremely uncomfortable for the entire flight.

The way I figure it, he has made it his life’s work to make so many of us miserable. Em just doing my part on behalf of America's motorcyclists to even things out. Keith Showalter Elgin, 111.

Forget it

The whole motorcycle industry can kiss my petunia.

Here I am with $3000 to spend on the bike of my dreams and everywhere I go it’s the same story. You can’t test ride and some places won't even let you sit on one.

All the motorcycle companies spend millions on R and D and advertising to get you into the showroom but expect you to use a crystal ball. Em sure not going to invest in a dream and have it turn into a nightmare. They can forget it. Ben Green New York, N.Y.

A real sale

I just tried to buy a Honda Shadow 750—the money wa^ burning a hole in my pocket. I went to three different dealers five times. They let me look at it, touch it, and told me how much I would like it. I agreed. “How does it sound?” I asked. “Grrreat!” they said. But they wouldn’t let me ride it.

So moving on, the Yamaha dealer let me ride, (in fact he insisted I ride several model%) and so did Kawasaki and Suzuki.

Em now the proud new owner of a Yamaha XV920. Frank Wiltshire Sunnyvale, Calif«

Stop & Go tire repair

I have had my share of flats and know the frustration that can follow if you don’t have the right tools at hand. The Stop & Go kit seems to have them. Bike manufacturers should supply a kit like this instead of those, cheesy tools that don’t work even if you can figure out what went wrong. A good tire kit makes more sense. Jack Swartz Buffalo Grove, 111.

The iron maiden

Too bad she didn't roll down her window and stick her head out to see how much damage the door received. We've all seen the type you describe. They will drive through groups of children at 45 plus mph, but if they hit one they will stand there in a hysterical state and cry that there was no way to avoid it. They will also piously tell the police officer that they didn't see the motorcyclist after they’ve caused the accident. Roger Chapman Kenosha, Wis.

Reader information

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MEMBER MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY COUNCIL

We, as motorcyclists, must make a serious commitment to courteous and conscientious riding because we’re always in the public eye. The actions of one motorcyclist translates to us all. We’re all as guilty as the Hawk rider in the eyes of Ms. Maiden and other motorists in the vicinity.

But while I don’t think I could ever kick in a door, I must say I got a certain vicarious satisfaction because of all the times I’ve been cutoff, passed on blind hills or had an adrenaline rush because of a motorist’s unconcern. Kevin Hughes Malta, 111.

Handwriting on the wall

There area few million of us motorcyclists out there in the world and it's about time we put aside our prejudices about somebody else’s favorite bike. (If you were broken down by the side of the road on your newly restored ’47 Pan, just live mi. from home, would you turn down someone’s offer of help just because they were riding a 1983 YamaHonSuzKaw Blitzer? It’s happened.)

Instead let’s combine our energies to zap off a few lines to our congressman or other legislator about the national speed limit, helmet laws and other things that are putting a hex on our motorcycling. How about the latest fad, cutting down on us for our contribution to air pollution?

Things aren’t going to get any better by just sitting around and thinking about it. The old handwriting on the wall isn't fading away, boys. It time to get busy and time to get together. California is a long way from Pennsylvania but when anything bad starts happening out west it has a way of working itself back east. Terry Black New Castle, Pa.

Planned obsolesence

I have purchased seven motorcycles in the past 10 years, two Ducatis and five Japanese. I currently own a Honda CX500 Turbo. I have basically enjoyed the bike but I got new bike fever and began to shop. What a surprise!

Last February I paid $4750 for the turbo because the story was that each dealer would receive only one of this model. Now the dealer will offer me only $2000 in trade. Seems there are over a million motorcycles in warehouses dating back to 1979. A new model is only $250 more and it’s lighter, handles better and is much faster. A 62 percent depreciation loss in one year is ludicrous! If I sell it myself I’ll be lucky to get even $3000. Their marketing department might call it product development. I call it planned obsolesence. John Boucher Shreveport, La.

Club news

We are a group of internationally scattered classic bike enthusiasts interested in contacting more liKc-minded individuals. Our club is the Christian Classic Bikers Association and no fee is charged for membership. We also provide a free newsletter to any interested party. Paul Arblaster 395 Kinney Loop` Eugene, Ore. 97401

If you’re interested in attending a national meeting of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (Maumee Valley Chapter) on July 23 and 24 this year you’ll see motorcycles from 1900s to the luxurious touring Indians of the 1940s. There are sidecars of every size and shape as well. Even if you’re not interested in antiques, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Tons of old parts and complete machines are brought along for trading, buying and selling and it soon takes on the atmosphere of a flea market.

For more information, send a large self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Maumee Valley Chapter, AMC, P.O. Box 189, Waterville, Ohio 43566. Mark it “Wauseon Information.” Stephen Wells Waterville, Ohio

Our club was officially organized in 1959 and as an AMA chartered organization. We’ve been sponsoring hillclimb and other events for the past 20 years. We were instrumental in establishing the first state motorcycle park in Wisconsin (the Dyracuse State Motorcycle Recreational Area near Wisconsin Rapids.) Interested folks can write to: Rapid Angels Motorcycle Club, 4265 Cty Trk G, Nekoosa, Wisconsin 54457. Sue Alft Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

We are recruiting Vietnam veterans and other veterans to form the Grunt Army Motorcycle Division. For a lifetime fee of $1 we will send them a special bike sticker and a membership card. Our newsletter will advise them of plans for motorcycle staging areas around the country (the first one was July 4, 1983 in Washington, D.C.).

We wish to stress the need for a conservative attitude on the part of our riders. The entire nation will always be watching.

Ryan Q. Emerson Society of American Vietnam Veterans, Inc. 1926 Hollywood Blvd., #A-23 Hollywood, Fla. 33020

Sound advice

Thanks for a great article. My Simpson 62 was giving me quite an earache. I took a 4 in. x 10 in. x 2 in. deep piece of foam and a broken pair of Walkman headphones to fix my problem. Cut the foam to fit inside the helmet, then cut round holes about an inch deep for the little speakers. Everything stays in place without glue or tape. You can quickly remove them and shove them down into your jacket, if necessary. Charles Berke III Allentown, Pa.

Individual bikes

Jeff Flaherty has developed the ultimate motorcycle kit (Breaking the Rules), April, 1983). It’s sort of the Meyers Manx of the motorcycle world. Individuals could purchase the basic chassis and taylor it to meet their specific requirements. Components could be purchased from a salvage yard with an economical Single or Twin. And as Flaherty explained, the chassis could be continually updated eliminating all the waste and obsolescense! Bill Hentsch Elkhart, Ind.

Regarding Jeff Flaherty’s motorcycle in the April issue. Do my eyes deceive me or is that a cable lock hanging from the front turn signal? Does he really think someone is going to steal it? Clay Howard Schenectady, N.Y. S