Letters
LETTERS
Virtual Unreality
Every once in a while, you read an article that leaves you so satisfied you wonder what it has that much other motojournalism lacks. Tech Editor Kevin Cameron’s piece on the Harley-Davidson VR1000 (“Virtual Reality,” August) was such a story.
Since its appearance at Daytona a couple of years back, Harley’s seemingly stillborn sportbike has left many questions in its wake. Cameron picked up on pert-near every one, even those that didn’t have the tidy answers to fit in with H-D’s PR agenda. When Kevin came up against the occasional lack of candor, he told us he sensed as much, then helped fill in the blanks. As a result, I can connect with the project, its problems-and its promise. Frankly, it leaves me rooting all the more for the VR.
And for more of this kind of journalism in Cycle World. David D. Brown Boston, Massachusetts
Harley wanted to design a worldclass dohc, eight-valve, fuel-injected, 12,000-rpm V-Twin Superbike, so they hired NASCAR mechanics?
John S. Gregory Kenosha, Wisconsin
With luck, someday you will stop dancing to Harley’s tune. Seriously, HD spends seven years and who knows how many millions building a VR with no success whatsoever and your article isn’t more critical? Why doesn’t Harley just buy a Britten and paint it orange and black? Lawrence Perry
Old Greenwich, Connecticut
About the only way Harley-Davidson is gonna field a winner is to buy a couple of Brittens and change the logos. J.P. Palmer
Balboa, California
A VR1000 streetbike? If you (H-D) build it, they (us) will come. Nuf said.
Ray Sanders
Memphis, Tennessee
Ah, the Harley VR1000, finally after seven or eight years of “development,” it hit the track last year, a welcome addition to the Superbike grids. While watching Miguel Duhamel ride the wheels off it at Brainerd, I found myself yelling and rooting as loudly as I ever had for any other brand. But, 1995 has shown me that the VR’s 1994 success was more the result of being ridden by one of the top riders in the world, rather than mechanical superiority.
In answer to your question on the cover: “When will it hit the streets?” Probably never. Or by the time it does, I’ll be more concerned with my prostate and whether I’m getting enough fiber in my diet. Shawn McCormick
Loudon, New Hampshire
Here’s hoping some rich s.o.b. finances John Britten and his V-1000. Someone, anyone, get to this guy and set him up! Hey, John, if I win the lottery, I’ll be calling. Craig Ramey Coalinga, California
Fair is fair. As Contributing Editor Allan Girdler points out in the latest issue of Big Twin, it was 25 years ago that Harley-Davison introduced the XR750 flat-tracker, a bike that suffered from poor power production and worse reliability. H-D stuck with it, though, and now has in the XR one of the most dominant racing motorcycles ever. Also, remember that Ducati didn 7 have an easy go of it at first with the nowall-conquering 851/888/916s.
On a more somber note, it’s our sad duty to report that New Zealander John Britten is currently fighting a serious bout with cancer. We at Cycle World wish him a quick and complete recovery.
OK City aftermath
As a friend of Ron and Margaret Goodson, and a riding buddy as well, I’d like to thank you for your kind words in August’s “Oklahoma hits home” Up Front. Margaret was a fine person; Ron the matching complement to a great couple.
It’s wrong to live in fear of tragedies like the Oklahoma City bombing. Instead, I would rather search out the Ron and Margaret Goodsons of this world. David Gorham
Friendswood, Texas
I’ve read a lot of crap about the Oklahoma City bombing, from the New York Times to the Washington Post, but your piece was the only one that brought tears to my eyes. You made it personal. Thank you. Greg Wise Keyser, West Virginia
Bribes-R-Us
As one of the thousands of proud > Yamaha V-Max owners, I took offense to Jon F Thompson's description of the V-Max as being ugly in your June Editors' Notes review concerning the Honda Magna Deluxe. Ugly? I have received numerous compliments on my motorcycle's styling. I have never heard anyone tell me that my V-Max was ugly! Perhaps Mr. Thompson is a product of the Buck Rogers era? Does Cvcle World pay him or does Honda? Eric J. Monte Southington, Connecticut
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Actually, Thompson is independent ly wealthy and works at Cycle World solely for the goodwill he generates among the readership. He .says that reward enough.
Bolts of thunder
Being an avid motorcyclist and a lover of things mechanical, I read with great interest Kevin Cameron's "Thunder Bolts" column in the Au gust issue. As an Aviation Safety In spector with the Federal Aviation Administration, I was recently in volved in the investigation of some unapproved connecting-rod bolts.
FAA analysis of these bolts found them to be made of bar stock as op posed to forging, and had cut versus rolled threads. With the OEM bolts selling for $60 apiece, there is a strong economic incentive for un scrupulous individuals to try and profit from this kind of work. You may be able to fool the person in stalling these low-strength bolts, but you won't fool the engine for very long. Rick Hermanns Cincinnati, Ohio
As I read August's TDC column on the life (or, more accurately, the death) of con-rod bolts, my hands started shaking, my breathing became rapid and shallow, and perspiration broke out on my forehead. I almost reached full-panic mode, imagining what mechanical mayhem was await ing my motor's bottom end. I was ready to make two calls-one to a me chanic, one to a therapist-before I re alized Harleys (with their roller big ends and one-piece rods) don't have con-rod bolts. I'm feeling much better now. Scott M. Fischer Berwick, Pennsylvania
Speed freak
Having owned and ridden just about every high-performance motorcycle available from many different manu facturers worldwide over the past 30 years. I always thought the only way you could really enjoy them was to ride them to their absolute fullest po tential.
However, since purchasing my Kawasaki ZX-1 I last year, I no longer find this to be necessary. Why, I can have just as much fun at 165 mph as I can wide open. Jim Stucker Humble, Texas
Uni-Cycle World
Yo, guys, just writing to clarify this wheelie thang. I'm questioning your social responsibility in this matter (now that I'm 40, 1 can do this). Most of your road tests feature photographs of this questionable activity-July's cover features a largish wheelie on a YZF75O. Pat Jollimore Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
It c either wheelies or riding with that crazy Stucker gui' on his ZX-II. What would you do?
