Letters

LETTERS

Moto morality

For the past few months the Letters section has left me quite disappointed.

I have come to the conclusion that too many motorcyclists are bitching, whining cry babies who apparently have nothing better to do than moan to Cycle World about profanity, sexism, cigarette ads and anti-Harley remarks.

I have not noticed all this profanity and sexism. Perhaps I am blind to such issues and read CW for its content on motorcycles. Last I checked, the magazine wasn’t published for a bunch of Tipper Gore-worshipers who read it with a fine-tooth comb in a search for anything obscene. As for cigarette advertising, I’m an ex-smoker myself, but the fact is Camel, Lucky Strike, Marlboro, et al have spent a lot of moneymore than any other advertising groupin support of our great sport. In regards to Harleys, CW publishes tests based on facts: H-D’s are not performance machines and they do have idiosyncrasies. Those are the facts. Shawn Varner Paso Robles, California

In response to the furor over the advertising morals of your magazine, I decided to take a count in the November issue. Quite frankly, I can’t see what all the excitement is about.

A whopping four cigarette ads graced your pages. In the 12 ads featuring good-looking models, eight of the models were women, 17 were men. Also between the covers were four Clydesdales, five greasy soldiers, one big fish (in the Southern Comfort ad) and ajar of homemade pasta sauce.

Homemade pasta sauce? Dan FtOCOS Nyack, New York

Please tell me which pages all these sleazy ads are on. H. Jaflome

Clifton Park, New York

That Wiggins guy again

Well, excuuuuuse me!

At the risk of starting another avalanche of letters to Cycle World, let me repeat my assertion that bikini girls on bikes are fun to look at. I remember when sex was fun and healthy, when a fine human body was regarded as a pleasant thing to behold.

I know its fashionable to be hypersensitive these days, but aren’t we overreacting just a little bit?

I suppose Alan Alda and the majority of the rest of your readers canceled their subscriptions in droves after reading the politically incorrect “Flesh Zeppelins” sequence in the Ducati Monster tour of Los Angeles that ran a couple of months ago. Fine. You’re better off without them if they can’t handle a little manly humor. It was a funny article.

I’m renewing my subscription, which I let lapse. Please send me a Cycle duffel bag as a sign-up bonus; I’ll bet Kevin Cameron has a bunch of them left in his garage. Rick Wiggins Pasadena, California

One small victory

I am astonished at the negative reaction to October’s “Monster Story.” I found the article so delightful I Xeroxed it and sent it to friends and family.

You will be happy to know that not one of them canceled my subscription.

Kelly La Rue

Hurleyville, New York

Canadian fan clubs

Egan, Canet, Cameron and Cathcart are all jewels. Cycle World would be one of my few “must-haves” on a deserted island. The wife, too (I guess).

And, on behalf of all Canuck motorcyclists, this goes to Wayne Rainey: Wayne, we love you, get better soon.

Steve Bern Woodlawn, Ontario, Canada

Kevin Cameron’s TDC column is one of the reasons I look forward to Cycle World each month. Why don’t you publish a compendium of his tech column/articles? The body of work exists, the market must be there. The man has such a lucid, concise, readable style, even in the midst of complex explanations, coupled with a large body of knowledge and historical perspective. I can’t believe I’m the only one who would purchase such a volume. Barry Watson

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Please send me a deluxe, leatherbound collection of Technical Editor Kevin Cameron’s articles and columns. If they won’t fit into a single volume, so be it—I’ll take them anyway.

Lawrence Cragg Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A compendium of Kevin ’s work isn’t available as of yet. Perhaps we can interest you in a leftover duffel bag? □

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