Letters

LETTERS

Rush-hour revolution

Why do we, the motorcycling public, sit back and say little or even nothing when we get stepped on or left out. ABC-TV recently ran a program called. “There's Got To Be A Better Way,” concerning our nation’s transportation problems. In this program, David Hartman talked about rush-hour problems and what could be done about them. He interviewed a man who had sold all his cars and now only uses a bicycle to commute on, and a girl who gets where she is going on roller skates. The show went on about buses, trolleys, trains, ferries, subways and airplanes, talking about mass transit instead of traffic jams. But not once did they ever mention motorcycles— and I dare say that we motorcyclists outnumber people commuting on bicycles and roller skates.

Need we say how many more advantages our method of travel has than a car? Do these people still think of motorcyclists as hoodlums, gang members or idiots intent on getting killed? Why does the media only portray us in ways that are bad? Don't they know about the other 99 percent of motorcycling?

We need our own people out there fighting for justice and combating discrimination against motorcyclists. I am tired of this treatment and want to see cycle magazines, the AMA. the MSF and all of the manufacturers stand up for the people who keep them alive. Let's show how much we believe in our freedom of transportation. Bob Dufifey Cycle Stunt & Safety Show Las Cruces. New Mexico

Kindred spirits

Steve Thompson’s “Duck Soup” column struck several resonant chords in my soul. After a 70-mphplus endo in the dirt, the road back was not an easy one. The saving grace is that the pain always goes away over 30 mph. and there is absolutely nothing to compare with motorcycle riding. In today’s hectic world, the only place I can truly get into the “right now" with no concerns or thoughts about anything else is on my Honda XR500 or Yamaha IT490 (I gave up Huskies).

I started riding in the early Fifties. Got my first ticket when I was 12 years old on a Cushman. Graduated to a 650 Triumph when 1 was 1 4. In those days in Orange County, the smell of orange blossoms was everywhere when you took a midnight ride to nowhere, just to do it. Got a w ife now who rides dirt. also. Gave up road riding w hen I got back from Southeast Asia in '69. Too many crazies out there on the highway. In Thailand, had a DT250 and a friend had a Bultaco. The memories are fantastic.

Steve, keep on keeping on. The road is an endless one. A lot of us have gone before you and a lot will follow. You are not alone, brother. Thanks for sharing. Bob Gabriel Westminster. California

Jermynations

After reading the amusing letter from F.J. (doesn't he have a real name?) Jermyn in your June issue, I thought I'd better write so that beginning riders don’t kill themselves or. at the very least, scuff the sides of their bodies and/or their bikes. What a pinhead! If you are about to rearend a car as in his “scenario,” and you have enough time to “ease over to the left,” why not just ride by the car and onward instead of sliding by it in a shower of sparks and pavement rash? Also, anybody with at least a partially functioning brain would know that a motorcycle stops faster using its brakes that it could sliding along on its side. Rubber provides better traction for stopping than metal. Maybe “F.J.” will eventually figure this out when he goes scooting underneath a four-wheeler. Ryan (Quickstop) Dilsaver North Platte. Nebraska

Boo! Hiss! Please. Mr. Jermyn, go directly to the nearest community college and take a Physics course or a Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider training course. The friction between rubber tires and the road is always greater than that between the fiberglass or metal surfaces of a motorcycle and the road, or between leather and the road. Always. And as far as clearance is concerned, I find it difficult to picture your FLT fitting through any gap while on its side, particularly with “feet to spare,“ that could not be cleared upright. Brisk, smooth application of both brakes to the point of impending skid will result in the most rapid deceleration. David Skolnick Arlington, Virginia

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No experienced rider would allow himself to get into the situation in Mr. Jermyn’s scenario. You don’t go around tailgating cars and racing to beat yellow lights on rain-covered, oil-slick roads. And only an idiot would lay a bike down to avoid an accident. That’s like shooting yourself in the head to avoid getting killed. “Layin' ’er down to save it’’ is nothing but a lie fabricated to cover up the fact that a rider did not have the skill to handle his bike in a tight situation. D. Soza Beaverton, Oregon

As a motorcycle safety instructor with the MSF, I find Mr. Jermyn’s thoughts on this matter disturbing. In his scenario, he made many mistakes that lead to his loss of control of his motorcycle. “Layin’ 'er down” is what bikers say when they lock up the rear brake, get sideways and fall over. He was following too closely on wet roads, tried to run a yellow light and locked his rear brake. He states that he chose this as the only alternative to rear-ending the car in front. I offer a third option. (I would, of course, prevent the scenario in the first place by slowing down and backing off from the guy in front). If I found myself in this situation, I would bleed off what speed I could with both brakes just shy of lock-up, and countersteer around the car (left or right). Once F.J. chose to lock his rear brake and lay her down, he gave up any control over his bike. He says it “adhered to the path in which it was pointed and cleared the car with feet to spare.” If an FLT Harley on its side cleared the car with feet to spare, then he could have easily ridden the bike in the same path, with feet to spare. I suggest he contact the MSF ( 1 -800-447-4700) for information about a course near him. It could save his life . Greg Noller Savannah, Georgia

In response to your comment about why other riders don’t lay ’er down in my previous letter you printed in June, figure it like this: Take a good look at every bike pictured in your June issue, or any other for that matter. What did you see? More importantly, what didn't you see? From the Cagivas, to the dressers, the racers, the MXers and the dual-purpose bikes, they all have one thing in common, except for Harley-Davidson FLTCs, FLHs, and FLHTs. If one of these “Hogs” falls over, nothing is going to happen in the way of damage. On the other hand, the opposite is true of almost every other bike built. The reason? Those tremendously huge crash bars front and rear, which are standard equipment on those Hogs.

As you know, there are two kinds of riders: those who’ve wrecked and those who are going to wreck. I belong to the former group. I’ve wrecked lotsa bikes; Harleys, BMWs, Yamahas, Kawasakis. I’ve sustained $800 damage going around a turn at 1 5 mph on a 1 980 Midnight Special 1 100. So, in my 1 7 years of riding I’ve learned a few things about bikes, riding them, and the people who ride. I’ve learned to anticipate a spill; you could call me a cynic (and be correct), but the fact is I know I'll drop every bike I ride. Eventually. As my ’65 BSA Spitfire owner’s manual says, “Be prepared!” I always make it a point to do that. But to answer your question, I feel

that the average rider doesn’t have my experience to fall back on and so does not have my cynical, fatalistic viewpoint. On the contrary; the new riders, optimistic to a fault, think they’ll never spill and, so, block even the thought of the possibility of an accident happening to them until it is looking them square in the face.

At this point, all other aspects being even, the rider of a non-Harley dresser is faced with a different choice than I am in a “layin' ’er down” situation. Whereas I know I can lay a Hog down and escape with only scratched chrome, the other rider is faced with a choice of laying it down and sustaining mucho damage or plowing into whatever is in front of him and sustaining mucho damage.

In the split second one has when action is required, the choice of which way to mess yourself and your bike up is bound to be confusing. I feel this is why a lot of non-Harleys are never laid down on purpose. As a footnote, I’d like to add that martial arts training should be a prerequisite for a cycle driver’s license. After all, you should learn how to fall. You're going to, you know, in the long run. Or short one. F.J. Jermyn Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

For your own sake, don't ever take up flying as a hobby.

Samantha's way

Tell Samantha Way (Letters, July, 1986) that she can find high-quality riding gear in her size at ^ny HarleyDavidson dealer. My wife, who is 5feet-1 and 100 pounds, couldn’t find gloves or a good jacket anywhere. In desperation, I finally went to the only bike shop in San Francisco we hadn’t tired. Dud Perkins Harley-Davidson. We found that Harley has an astounding variety of riding accessories in their catalog, and in just about every conceivable size. Harley riders may have an aggressive reputation, but Dud Perkins’ personnel made this riceburner-rider feel right at home. So don’t be intimidated, Samantha, walk right up to the Harley parts counter and order your size XXS apparel. Scott Baldwin Redwood City, California

I smell some hypocrisy in your Letters column. You rightly take Gary Lee to task for promoting “some fictitious, pointless code of etiquette” in reference to the manner of dress of motorcyclists in public places. A few letters later, though, you pull out a Modern Language Association stylebook in rebutting Ms. Samantha Way on “proper pronoun usage” because she asks why you always refer to the rider of a motorcycle as a he. James Joyce thought the MLA pointless. Surely journalists know that language changes quite rapidly. Pronoun usage has come under examination by many groups for its inherent reflection and promotion of sexism. More and more motorcyclists are female, and a leading publication such as CYCLE WORLD should reflect that, not just in yearly special features about women and bikes but also by integrating them into the mainstream of your reporting. A creative copywriter can do that without any trouble. I wonder if T.E. Lawrence knew about the proper pronoun usage. Robert G. Lowery Seiden, New York

Probably he did; but he wou/dn 7 like you calling him a creative copywriter.

Ms. Samantha Way should have her head examined. I'm 33 years old, ride a Moto Guzzi and have two BMWs. And who cares if you use her; him, she, it, they. A bike rider is a bike rider. I love your magazine. My husband turned me on to motorcycles about four years ago, and now I read your magazine religiously. As for women’s apparel, join a women’s

motorcycle club. You'll find what you need there. Terri Larinas Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Entry-level economics

In your editorial in the April, 1986, issue, you stated that the "en try-level" Honda 250 Rebel, at $ 1 500, is not cheap. But let's exam ine the facts a little closer. Your comparison was based on the Honda step-through 50 of 1963, which you said was cheap at $ 195. I'm not a mathematician, but it seems to me that taking into consideration 23 years of inflation and the fact that the Japanese yen is growing stronger almost daily should somehow enter into the picture; not to mention the engineering and technological improvements offered on the Rebel that make it a much better and safer bike than any of the 1963 models. How much is that alone worth? And just recently, one of the local Honda dealers ran a newspaper ad which offered new 1985 Honda 250 Rebels at $998. He had five in stock at that

price. Since I just paid over $200 for new Metzelers for my bike, I'd say that $998 for a brand-new motor cycle would be considered "cheap:' Philip Eramo Columbus, Ohio

Yes, but you `re comparing a heavily discounted price oftodav against a full retail price of tile Sixties; a 50cc Single in 1963 to a 250cc Twin in I 986; oranges and apples, really. The point oft/ic editorial was that today's small est entry-level motorcycle costs more I/lan seven times as much as its counterpart back in the dais of the motorcycle boom. Inflation has been terrible, but it `s not been that bad.