Letters
LETTERS
Lemco letters
I would like to comment on the article "The Man Who Would Buy Honda" in the March issue. I think that the idea behind Ed Lemco's Conquest 650 is sound, but the execution is flawed.
As a rider, restorer and collector of classic motorcycles, I, too, find the traits of a basic motorcycle that can be personalized to my riding style appealing. But, if you want me to buy one new, it’s going to have to offer the aforementioned and a lot more at an affordable price ($4000 or under).
I don’t think that people want to buy a cloned Triumph (heck, you can buy the real thing for a lot less than the Conquest’s $5300 proposed selling price), but rather they want a motorcycle with the attributes of a Triumph. A motorcycle with light weight and solid handling, as well as an engine with vigor and good lowand mid-range power. A motorcycle that looks good and purposeful, that’s comfortable whether it’s on a ride to the store or to the next state. A motorcycle with clean, modern styling that won’t become quickly dated. A motorcycle that is wellengineered, reliable, easy to maintain and has some spirit.
Ed, a warmed-over Triumph is not the answer. Sure, the Bonneville was, and is, a beautiful motorcycle, but a pseudo-replica of it is not the right response to the need for a 1990’s standard motorcycle.
Bill Ford
Gaithersburg, Maryland
If Ed Lemco ever gets 1 500 of his Conquests into production and makes them as pretty as my old Bonneville, but with an electric starter and no oil leaks, he’ll only have to sell 1499 more.
Lew Robbins Millville, New Jersey
Is it possible that Mr. Lemco’s name might be an acronym for Lame Economics Motorcycle Company? Who says we want these kinds of bikes, anyway?
Jack Lo Cicero Cambridge. Massachusetts
Ed Lemco is on the right track. Build a 450-pound Twin that'll do 0-to-60 in 5 seconds, make it handle, make it reliable, let me sit upright behind a fairing, and I will buy my first new roadbike since 1974.
Mark Bowers
Colorado Springs, Colorado
A better Bonny would be bitchin’, but you oughta tell Ed Lemco that a 900 would pull us aging babyboomers a bit better than a 650cc “mouse motor.” Triumph had a prototype 900 Twin in the midSeventies. eight valves and all!
Don’t thank me, Mr. Lemco, just send stock options.
Rich Grover Reno, Nevada
My wife hates motorcycles and would make my life miserable if I came home with, say, a Kawasaki ZX-6. Ed Lemco's Conquest 650 would be tolerable to her. So, I can only see one solution to the problem of how to buy a new bike: Is there anyone out there who will accept the trade-in of my 1 980 KZ 1000 (used but in very good condition) and my 1 95 1 wife (also used but in very good condition, and a great cook) for a new ZX-6 ? Sorry Ed. but, yes, I do want to go 140 miles per hour.
Mark Patterson Lyons, New York
Fat Boy fans
I enjoyed the Fat Boy test very much. I think Harley-Davidson did a wonderful styling job, holding true to “simplicity with substance.”
There is still room for real metal in the motorcycle world.
David W. Jacoby Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hot dang! I’ve just got to get me one of them Harley-Davidson Fat Boys. Reminds me of my old ’56 Plymouth. And only $ 10,995.
Robert Erck Lombard, Illinois
Watch your Radians
After reading the article on the Yamaha Radian in the September issue, I had to write as I have such good memories of my '86 Radian.
To me, it was the most-beautiful machine in the world, even down to the square headlight. Lor five-andhalf wonderful months, I rode it everywhere. Then one miserable day, some jerk stole my gorgeous Radian and I’ve been bikeless ever since. But next year, after I get out of school, I may just buy another Radian . . . and a couple of Kryptonites . . . and a big chain, too.
Hillary Dodge Portland, Oregon
Words to taunt by
Lollow the leader, let the good times roll, eat your vegetables, don't drink and drive, and wear your helmet. Just be careful if you see my VLR750F in your rearview mirrors some Sunday morning. You just might get left in the jet wash! Keep your chin bar on the tank and your knee to the ground.
Jim Lilly
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
I'm writing in response to a letter you printed from a Frank Markover Jr. in which he ragged on Triumphs. In its day, a Triumph was a force to be reckoned with. Mark, my Trident would be glad to suck your bike through all three of its carburetors. Jim Beaver Bennington, Vermont
Ninja name-game
One of my friends owns a Kawasaki ZX-10 Ninja. One day. he and I were discussing the Japanese character writing many of the Ninjas have on their fairings. My friend says this is a decorative way of saying “Made in Japan.” I disagree. Maybe you could help me win a friendly bet.
Jeff Charlson LeMars, Iowa
The characters, which appear this rear on the old-style Ninja 600, Ninja 750 and Ninja Í000, translate to. simply enough, "Ninja. " The characters come from Japan's Ken-ji alphabet, a Chinese-derived alphabet made up of thousands of different symbols.
And we'll take a cut of your winnings, thank you very much.
The K1 Chronicles
I had some business at the Smithsonian Institution and parked the BMW K l in front of the Hirschorn Museum of Modern Art. Within a minute, it was surrounded by admiring gawkers and art students. I visited a friend who is curator at the Phillips Gallery, and she spontaneously exclaimed, “What a strikingly beautiful machine.” Washington, D.C.’s ethereally toney Diplomatic Dossier magazine will soon feature the Kl in its first review of any motorcycle ever.
But you guys say it looks like “a John Deere tractor” and is “as ugly as Albania.” In such pithy ventures into aesthetics. Cycle World yet again underlines the differences between California and yogurt: Yogurt has an active, living culture.
Robert Heilman Washington, D.C.
Mr. Heilman is editor of "On the Level, " the monthly publication of the BMW Riders of America club. We've sent him the official bumpersticker of the Golden State: "Welcome to California. Now leave. "
I just can’t understand the appeal of BMW’s new K l. It certainly won't be appreciated by the understated, gentlemanly BMW crowd looking for aesthetic engineering.
And anyone else who enjoys the cutting edge of Japanese technology, like myself, won’t shell out almost twice the money a Kawasaki ZX-1 l costs to own a bike which falls into the 600cc performance class—especially in view of its cartoon-like styling.
I suppose some will want to own it to flaunt their status and stand out from the crowd, and I wish them all happiness. But I still don’t understand.
Robert J. Dow Austin, Texas
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