Letters
LETTERS
Kustom World
The article about Easy Rider's Billy Bike and Captain America (CW, June) was spectacular! I’ve always felt the same way about the importance of those two motorcycles. Moreover, I believe that the Billy Bike has had more of an impact on today’s cruisers than any other so-called chopper. You hit the nail on the head. Robert Nussbaum Butler, New Jersey
In regards to “The Billy Bike” story: The outlaw lifestyle was alive and well during the goings-on in Hollister, California, 50 years ago, predating Easy Rider by 22 years. Events there inspired the first chopper-lifestyle movie, The Wild One, and that movie was probably more influential in launching the whole chopper movement than any other. Long before Captain America and Billy took their highly improbable ride across the country, I had a poster of Brando on his Triumph Thunderbird, trophy tied atop the speedometer.
I personally regard the stretchedand-raked era of chopper history to be a technological cul-de-sac. The modern trend is much more functional; these bikes sport major-league engines in frames with relatively short, steep front-ends and mega front brakes. Most even have rear suspension now.
And while Harley’s current Bad Boy is a fine aesthetic representation of a Fifties-style chopper, my present bike, a Buell S-l Lightning, is what would have occurred to the breed naturally if it had not been sidetracked for two decades by Easy Rider and J.C. Whitney. Peter Denzer Sleepy Hollow, West Virginia
June’s six-page “Rock & Roll” article depicting custom motorcycles kluged together by Cobra deserved no more than one page in total. This corporatefunded debauchery of the world’s best motorcycles is deplorable, and your blind participation is sad.
The Valkyrie Super Six is the ultimate shame. After the torch-wielding hacks at Cobra got done, it looked like a Corvair-powered banana. I just hope that they kept all of the old parts so when the Taste Police arrest them they can reassemble the bike to its original condition. Fenton Painter Florence, Kentucky
I have to say I was quite disappointed in the June issue. I almost mistook it for Hot Bikes or Custom Cruiser magazine. The first 76 pages were crap! If this keeps up, I’ll be considering canceling my subscription. Kevin Plourde Lisbon Falls, Maine
The last couple of issues of Cycle World have been almost unreal. You’re really pounding the nails in those other magazines’ coffins. The Cobra Valkyrie is pretty awesome, but choppers are supposed to have smaller gas tanks, not larger ones. As for the other two bikes, they don’t look much different from stock, and the Kawasaki Vulcan is downright ugly. A custom bike’s frame, gas tank and fender(s) make the motorcycle, not expensive wheels, brakes and levers. So, for the $150,000 these bikes cost, I say, “Where’s the beef?” Kent Pentzer New London, Wisconsin
Muscle mania
Awesome! Classic! Powerful looking! I’m referring to Honda’s X4, of course. Then, the end of the article (CW, June) says it won’t be for sale here. Great! Another in a long line of bikes from the Big Four out of reach. Honda even calls it a “street-rod.” How much more American can you get? I personally don’t think we need more sportbikes or Harley wannabes; we need a powerful, stylish and allaround usable motorcycle-something to fill a huge void.
For me, the X4 hits the nail slam dead on the head. It looks like a modern, pumped-up, brutish big brother to my 12-year-old Nighthawk S. So, come on Honda. I’ll wait ’til next year, just to give you guys a chance, before running down to the Suzuki shop to buy a Bandit 1200. Oh, and how about a better name than X4, maybe... Nighthawk SS! William Peterson Clovis, New Mexico
When it comes to cruisers, the Japanese are missing the boat. Every magazine I have read applauds the cruiser look but bitches about the lack of performance. Yamaha has it nailed down with the V-Max (which hasn’t changed since ’85), so why isn’t it feasible for the other companies to follow the path? Just imagine a GPz 1100powered Vulcan or a 1200 Bandit in an Intruder frame.
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Braggin' rights on Main Street, you betcha! Jodie Adair Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada
916 yea-sayer
Thank you, thank you, thank you Cycle World for "The Great 916 Chal lenge." In response to all the 916 "nay-sayer" letters you received, I must say that if purchase price and commuting abilities were all that mattered in a motorcycle, things would be very dull. How about a little respect for people who have the courage to create such a narrowly fo cused and exciting bike as the 916. Long live enthusiasm! Without the 916, there would not be a Honda VTR1000F or Suzuki TL1000S. Think about that. Kurt Carison Reno, Nevada
No. 55 forever
I met Roger Reiman back in the late '50s at Daytona, of all places, compet ing in an Amateur scrambles. We were both young racers riding Harley 165s. Being of the same age and both in the motorcycle business, Roger and I crossed paths quite often over the years. It was always a pleasure to see him, get a big smile and have him rag me about being "too old" to race. As Dick Mann said in June's Up Front, if it had to hap pen to Roger, I guess Daytona should be the place. Blame Birchfield Anaheim, California
David Edwards' remarks on Roger Reiman were well done. A classy re quiem for a classy guy. Russell White Decatur. Alabama
Ring-ding Norton
Regarding David Edwards' "Ditch Day" column in the May, 1997, issue: When I take my 1974 Norton Comman do Interstate for a day trip this summer, the one thing I'm not putting in my tankbag is a cell phone. The reason I ride, literally and figuratively, is to "get away," and I can't imagine a nice ride in the mountains interrupted by a ring from the tankbag! Frank 1. Palmeri Schenectady, New York
Edwards argues that Norton riders should always pack a cell phone-not to mention a flare gun, a box lunch anda good novel...
