Letters
LETTERS
S90 recollections
Ron Lawson's piece on the Honda S90 (April, 1987) brought back a lot of great memories.
In 1970 my best friend had a Suzuki 120 Twin, and I had to get a "real" motorcycle if I wanted to ride with him. Well, several weekend jobs and $75 later I found myself the proud owner of a '66 S90. Of course, I did manage to trash the piston in about a month, but that only provided me with an opportunity to “open the cases.” I used my dad’s Black & Decker drill and a cylinder hone to overbore it, and boy, was it snug. So what if I had spare parts left over when it went back together; the old girl didn’t seem to notice. I never did figure out if they were extras or if I had customized the engine.
That little Honda was my first bike, and it taught me to love the sport. It’s nice to know I’m in such good company.
Gary Silvers Yakima, Washington
Ah, yes, the Honda S90. Tell Ron Lawson it was my first bike, too, and appreciated the article on it.
In my junior year I put down my life savings ($ 150) for a 2-year-old ’66 model S90. Some of my memories aren’t so fond—like the time I walked it eight miles to a dealer for repairs (my parents refused to let it ride in the Chevy’s trunk). But there were many good times on that bike, and it planted the seed for more two-wheelers in later years. Now I
ride a CB750F and just love it.
It made my mom happy to see me sell the 90 back then but I'll always remember it—and I’ll always miss it. Bob Hillen
Manchester, Missouri
Imperfect logic
Well, Steve Thompson, it’s an imperfect world, but this latest imperfection to which you’ve devoted an entire page (“Proliferating poseurs,” March, 1987, At Large) leaves me cold. Having ridden everything from a Triumph that very nearly broke my ankle in '68, to my current FJ 1 100 with 40K miles on it, I’m not sure if I’ve earned the “right” to wear my new bomber jacket. After all, it did come predistressed, and to top it off, I drive a Pontiac Fiero cause this ain’t L.A. (it rains a lot here). But I’ve
always held to one piece of biker philosophy that still runs as deep today as it did in the Sixties: I do what pleases me, and I really don’t care if you approve or not.
Steve Kyle Vacaville, California
You're correct in assuming that you have the right to do whatever you wish. But remember that other people— including Steve Thompson—also have a right not to like it.
Quarter-mile fact or fiction
Based on your January story about Vance & Hines Racing (“Business In The Fast Lane,” by John Ulrich), the author will do anything to generate ink for his sponsors. VHR sponsors Team Hammer, which is Ulrich’s endurance-racing team. No wonder Team Hammer has a huge sponsorship bankroll.
To say that VHR owns the most valued real estate in racing, the quarter-mile, is simply not true. Other classes are both faster and quicker than Pro Stock. Traditionally, it was Top Fuelers who were paid show money, because promoters found that it was they who drew the crowds, not Pro Stockers. For Ulrich to write such nonsense promoting one of his sponsors is, I believe, unethical and a conflict of interest.
Further, I feel such unrealistic and biased editorial material has hurt the American aftermarket. To make VHR, or any other business, seem bigger than life makes it all but impossible for anyone else to supply and promote honest parts and services. This type of a magazine monopoly always reduces real market competition: Prices go up and selection goes down. Sales soon drop. Once sales are hurt, all businesses are hurt, and the magazines get thinner. I think these “rent-aracer” editorials are largely to blame for the current depression of the rest of the American aftermarket.
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Monty Campbell
Maxi-Products, Inc.
Montclair, California
John Ulrich may be sponsored by Vance & Hines, but this magazine is not. We also are aware of what goes on in drag racing, and we checked every point of significance that Ulrich mentioned in his story before printing it; and as far as we are concerned, everything he said is fact. The only exaggeration we've seen is your contention that stories of this type have effectively ruined the motorcycle business. If anyone in motorcycle drag racing deserves to be portrayed as "bigger than life, " it's Terry Vance. His unparalleled track record is testimony to that.
Trials and tribulations
In your Roundup column of March, 1987, “What feet uppers don’t want you to know,” there appears to be a few mistakes. Montesa is a Spanish company, not Italian as you printed. The Montesa Cota 304 displaces 238cc, not 283cc. While attending the Massachusetts and Rhode Island national events, I saw at least one Cota 304 competing and I believe this model came out sometime late last year. Aren’t you guys a little late? It is very nice, however, to see some attention paid to two such fine motorcycles as the Beta and Montesa. Now for your biggest mistake of all: The opening statement of your article. You couldn’t be further from the truth in saying that trials did not grow as predicted in the Seventies because the people who compete in the sport want it to remain small, clubbish, uncrowded type of competition. Since becoming interested in trials about a year ago, I have met a lot of great people involved with the activity; they are far from secretive and would love to tell you about their sport. Both the Tryals Shoppe in Florida and Cosmopolitan Motors in Pennsylvania were very happy to show me around and answer my questions. Anybody interested and able to visit these or any other trials establishment or club will, I think, find some very friendly people who would love to let you in on the secret. I guess I just wanted you to know.
John Rocklin
Peekskill, New York
We apologize for implying that the Montesa was made in Italy; that was an unfortunate error in editing. But we in fact did say that the Montesa 's engine was 23cc smaller than the 260cc Beta's (260 minus 23 equals 247); and since our March issue is prepared in December; you are right in saying that this model w as introduced late last year. Finally, you are talking about the attitude of trials riders today; we were talking about their attitude JO or 12 years ago. There is a difference.
From the nines to the eights
I read “Taking It To The Nines” (March. 1987) and liked it. More is better. But the problems you ran into with the rear wheels may not have been necessary. Specialists II has offered a cast-wheel customizing service allowing the widening of cast rims and (I believe) diameter changes. It shouldn't be too difficult to make an 18-incher if you have access to a large lathe and heliarc setup. Just swap rims. How about taking it to the eights next?
Mark E. LaSalle
Shaw AFB. South Carolina
All in good time, LaSalle, all in good time.
Love and addresses
We want to thank you for the article by Tal Newhart on our ranch. The story has generated a good response, and we hope it kicks off our season with a bang!
But although we appreciate the story tremendously, we have one slight favor to ask. We are getting calls from people who are having a difficult time getting in touch with us, since the article did not mention our address and phone number. If you could print these in an upcoming issue, it would sure help.
Jim Reveley Song Dog Ranch P.O. Box 175 New Cuyama, California (805) 766-2454
School daze
Here is today’s lesson in Economic Husbandry 101: HarleyDavidson asks Mr. Reagan for a tariff on imported big bikes so that it can catch its breath and learn how to compete. So my Nighthawk S gives
up 50cc to the rest of the world, and my friends' K75s, GSX-Rs and big Viragos cost more. Then Harley goes public.
What does Milwaukee do with all this breathing space and newfound capital? Does it upgrade its engineering and manufacturing facilities and produce a truly superior motorcycle? No. It continues to build unsophisticated, overweight, two-wheeled paint mixers and buys a motorhome company instead.
The moral of this lesson? The more slop you feed the HOG, the bigger it grows.
Bil Seymour
West Covina, California 0
