Cycle World Letters
CYCLE WORLD LETTERS
Snow Belt riding
I intend to ride my Honda CB750K through the Wisconsin winter (most of time below zero). I’ve been riding for 3 years but never before through the snow and cold. Any tips you can offer would be appreciated. Jose Santos Madison, Wis.
People have ridden and do ride motorcycles in winter
climates. Mostly it’s something a rider does just to see if he can tough it out. Keeping warm will be easiest if you get electrically-heated clothes and install some kind of fairing. Keeping the bike upright on ice is more difficult. Trials tires can be studded with sheet metal screws, but they make riding less secure when there is no ice. The only way to make sure a bike stays upright is to attach a sidecar, which eliminates much of the convenience and sporting nature of the motorcycle. You’ll probably find, as one CW editor did some years ago, that Snow Belt winter riding just isn’t much fun.
Honda wars
Gary Cook’s fine article on the Nagoya Harley-Davidson Club seems to express surprise that the Japanese would make terrific soldiers and fighters.
We’ve never really understood the toughness and self
sacrifice that characterize the Japanese. They remain, despite their professed hatred of war, a militarized society with their spartan discipline now dedicated to industry. Yes, Mr. Cook, they are good fighters. These days they fight us to the last Honda.
Dave Lewis
Norman, Okla.
Getting safer
As a motorcyclist and college instructor of public health I take special interest in motorcycle morbidity and mortality statistics. Therefore, I am compelled to respond to a possible misleading statistic presented in We’re Getting Safer, December 1983 Roundup.
While it may be true that West Virginia has fewer accidents per registered vehicle than Florida, one cannot deduce anything from such a statistic. Basically, motorcyclists in West Virginia do not ride anywhere as much as those in warmer states such as Florida. If accident rates between states are to be com-
pared, then the denominator should be thousand miles driven. However, this is a difficult statistic to collect so the comparisons are based on numbers of registered vehicles because this is easy to get.
The presentation of mere statistical information is not enough. Critique and analysis of the information must be included to give an accurate picture of what is really happening to motorcycle mortality rates.
Jack Caravanos Hunter College New York,N.Y.
Weighty opinions
After reading your Kawasaki Voyager test and seeing the Honda ads in your December issue, I have one question:
If off-road bikes are obviously moving toward lighter and safer models why do the manufacturers of street bikes continue to push heavier and heavier machines? They should realize that quality not quantity is what the average
motorcyclist is looking for. Whatever the reasons, I would rather crash and have a Honda Light come down on me than a Kawasaki Voyager.
Sean Ryan Walnut, Calif.
Your test report on the Kawasaki Voyager 1300 was a masterpiece of descriptive writing on a complicated subject.
There must be a dividing line beyond which the trend to heavier and more comfortable machines leads to isolating the rider from the feel and control of the bike. If we have trouble getting underway in a straight line and hold our breath when we come to a stop, are we controlling the bike or is it controlling us? If we struggle to maneuver it around in the garage or in 1st gear, can we control it if something happens out on the road? If we’re so isolated from vibration and the feel of the road do we have any advanced warning when we are on the thin edge of control?
I wonder about the old rule of thumb ... if you can’t hold it up on a 30 degree angle or can’t lift it up when it falls over, it’s too big a bike for you.
McLean Brown Ivyland, Pa.
Drag racing
It is good to see that Cycle World recognizes drag racing. I enjoyed reading about Elmer Trett and his attempt to capture the record that Russ Collins set at Ontario five years ago.
By the way, it still stands at 199.55 mph.
Wyat Melsford
North Hollywood, Calif.
Reader information
Editorial offices are located at 1499 Monrovia Ave., Newport Beach, Calif. 92663. Editorial contributions are welcomed, but cannot be considered unless sent only to Cycle World. Not responsible for return of unsolicited material unless accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelope. Rates on request.
Letters cannot all be answered. Nor can all Service inquiries be answered. We appreciate correspondence sent to the editorial offices and will use the most interesting and appropriate letters in the magazine.
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