Letters

LETTERS

Moto-librarian

Mike Stubblefield (“Books on Bikes,” August, 1986) certainly makes it sound as if the public library and, hence, the public librarian are, at best, the last source to utilize in searching for books about motorcycles and motorcycling. Even though particular books sought by a reader may not be within the library’s four walls and available for lending purposes, the librarian and reader are not necessarily stuck at that point. Books in Print is a standard reference tool that can be found in most public libraries and book stores. It lists books according to subject (yes. it does include motorcycles, motorcycle racing and motorcycle repair) and provides the complete title, author, publisher, publisher's address, cost, and international standard book number (ISBN).

The reader can then explore the following choices:

1. See if the book(s) can become part of the library’s next batch of acquisitions, or;

2. Write to the publisher on his own and inquire as to the method of getting a copy.

Why do I take offense at Stubblefield's remarks? Well, I’m a recent graduate of UCLA's Graduate School of Library and Information Science and I'm a motorcyclist, too (commuted most of last year through L.A. traffic on my Kawasaki GPz305), and I just don’t like to see stupid prejudices perpetuated, whether it be by motorcyclists or librarians. Margaret S. Deeds Torrance, California

V-motor fantasies

I was delighted to see Steven Thompson’s prescription for the ultimate touring machine, but a twoliter V-Eight? Bite your word processor, Steven! The luxo-tourers are already grossly obese. A V-Eight would surely weigh half a ton. Downsize your fantasies please, Mr. Thompson. Abandon the V-Eight motorcycle notion and think of a VSix as a 50-percent improvement in power over the V-Four. I enjoyed the V-Eights for 30 years, starting, of course, with a flathead Ford. A. Bruce Laking Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

We think of a V-Six only as a 50percent increase in the number of cylinders compared to a Four; not as a 50-percent improvement in power. Adding cylinders generally increases power output, although not necessarily, and certainly not in direct proportion to the number of additional cylinders. But if Harler couldn t man age a V-Eight. Steve Thompson would gladly accept a V-Six.

Nothing Ventured

Please make the following correction in your October or next available issue:

In the August issue of CYCLE WORLD, you printed a letter from me, Joe Schaerer, Executive Director of the Venture Touring Society in Las Vegas, Nevada, but you erroneously listed our group as the “Yamaha Touring Society.” Though we do maintain a relationship with Yamaha, the Venture Touring Society is a separate entity made up of Yamaha Venture owners. Joe Schaerer Venture Touring Society Las Vegas, Nevada

A thousand pardons. We of course shot our proofreader on the spot.

Ode to Dr. J

I would like to thank CYCLE WORLD and Steve Thompson for the excellent article about Dr. John and Team Moto Guzzi. Few people know Dr. John, and the amount of time, perseverance, determination and money he has put into making the team what it is today. He is the most meticulous, knowledgeable and friendly person you could ever meet. On top of all that, he is the least pretentious person I’ve ever known. To know the man is to admire him. Noel Portelli Lake Elsinore, California

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