Letters

LETTERS

Deer Peter

Peter Egan's "Of Deer and Dogs" column in the February issue was right on the mark. I don't know any rider who hasn't had a close call with an animal. I can't understand why someone doesn't come up with a good, reliable electronic animal-repelling device. I have little faith in those cheesy, plastic deer whistles. What we could use is a decent ultrasonic sound unit. I’d gladly pay a little more to have some peace of mind, especially here in the wooded suburbs of Pennsylvania. Don Watts

Newtown, Pennsylvania

I have installed a set of deer whistles on my bike. They are not foolproof, but I am convinced that they help. Early one morning last summer as I rode through a wooded area, I noticed a deer standing a short distance ahead of me and about 10 feet off the road. As I desperately tried to slow down, I noticed the deer’s ears twitching aggressively. Then he turned and ran off into the bush. I believe the deer whistles helped me out in this case.

Bryce Heartwell Story Plain, Alberta, Canada

A suggestion to help the meritorious Mr. Egan and his Duck survive the southwestern Wisconsin twisties and its deer populace. In 1988, I attached a pair of finely machined black steel deer whistles to my Moto Guzzi LeMans. Since installation, I have witnessed numerous roadside grazers turning their heads in the twilight. No longer do these prancing gazelles present themselves as pavement adversaries. My hope is they do not spoil the purity of his 900SS’ silhouette.

Richard Stillman Belton, Texas

I’ve become known by my family as “The Bambi Killer.” To some of my friends (especially the vegetarians), I’m lower than a liability lawyer and should pay for my crimes, which include the vicious slaughter of two deer, one dog, two groundhogs and a fox.

I’ve learned to slow down and warn the poor defenseless creatures of my coming. Now, as I travel on those silent moonless nights, every 10 miles or so I activate my engine’s kill switch allowing the unburnt gasses to build up in the exhaust system. After a four-second delay, I return the switch to the Run position. The resultant explosion echoes through the cool night air and makes them little suckers run for dear (deer?) life.

Mitchell Rhine Long Beach, New York

Tell Egan that here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan we have discovered a cure for deer collisions after dark. It’s called “staying home.”

Nile Byers Jr. Manistique, Michigan

CW goes PC?

I am a long-time reader of Cycle World. I enjoy the technical articles, the touring articles and the test reports on new (and sometimes old) bikes, but I deplore your frequent “wheelie” pictures of streetbikes. Two examples are the March road tests of the Suzuki TL1000S and the BMW F650ST. It’s hard on the bikes (which I assume are loaners, and not your own). Far worse, it doesn’t encourage good street-riding habits. And for non-riders who may spot it, it helps reinforce the perception that we’re an irresponsible group. Wheelies on the cover are the worst.

Keep up the good work, but consider toning down your road tests.

Nicholas J. Carrera Falls Church, Virginia

As I was thumbing through the February issue, I noticed that the 600cc comparison test was full of dull and, dare I say it, politically correct pictures. Where are all the wheelies and burnouts? Are you guys at CW going soft? I hope that you are not listening to the hogwash that comes from the people who moan and complain about such great things as giant CW-signature burnouts and vertical stoppies.

Even though the pictures needed work, I must say that the writing was superb, as usual. Tim Kohnko

Mendota Heights, Minnesota

UP: To Cycle World's cover photos, even the wheelies-hell, especially the wheelies.

DOWN: To the whiners who complain about wheelies and smokin’ rubber on the cover. Get a Better Homes and Garden subscription!

David Hilton

Grapevine, Texas >

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Egan Institute

Many of your readers have been highly suspicious of Peter Egan’s ability to write such great motorcycle prose while entrenched in the snow-encrusted state of Wisconsin, far away from sunny California. How does he do it? Well, this winter I hired a crack team of private investigators and set forth on a fleet of snowmobiles to find out the truth.

We reached the Egan Farm at dawn and circled around the back side to avoid the guard towers and german shepherds. And there, towering into the cold blue sky...The Egan Research Center!

Further exploration inside revealed a private test track, a Bavarian brewery and a wine cellar full of rare Italian chianti. We even found, tucked far away in the basement, a team of mechanics hard at work on Peter’s fleet of bikes and cars! These people, apparently, have not seen daylight since the early ’80s.

Very clever, Mr. Egan, very clever.

Gregory V. McQuide Somerville, Massachusetts

Nick-knack

I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to find an article by Nick Ienatsch in your February issue (“The Muscle Mile”) and then again in March (“Full Race”). I look forward to future articles by Nick in Cycle World.

Joshua Wade Chicago, Illinois

Kudos all around for bringing Ienatsch on board. I’m glad to see Nick in print again. Have you asked Sport Rider's other ex-staffers, Lance Holst and Jason Black, what they’re up to?

Patrick A. Reagan Portland, Oregon

At this moment, both Holst and Black are toiling away in the basement of the Egan Research Center. After-hours activities include boning up on their wheelies, stoppies and giant smoky burnouts...

Actually, Nick, Lance and Jason all are hard at work producing our new-and-improved Sportbike annual. Look for it on newsstands beginning April 15th. □