Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

No-go showboats

I just read the August issue, best one yet! A few comments: David Edwards’ observation that if you can’t or won’t start a motorcycle, it’s just a work of art (“Go Show,” Up Front), is right on the mark. I probably get more pleasure riding my R69S Beemer than the owner of that concours Triumph gets from his room full of trophies. No one cares that there is a little oil mist around the crankcase breather, or that some of the nuts and bolts have started to rust from riding in the rain. I still get “Great bike!” remarks wherever I ride it. Carl Best Eugene, Oregon

Editor Edwards’ slant on bike shows is very good, and I know of what he speaks. I’ve seen winners at car shows on which the paint wasn’t rubbed off the fan pulley, or the restored battery wouldn’t light a Christmas-tree bulb.

I really enjoyed the “CIE Readers’ Collection” story. I can’t explain it, but them Nortons are still damn good-looking bikes-especially those black Commandos. Vick Afltkowiak South Bend, Indiana

Edwards’ editorial is dead-on. While in Phoenix, a friend and I went to an air museum. One of the guides explained that while all but two of the planes had been restored to flying condition, they were considered “too valuable” to fly. That took me back to 1974, when I was in France on my new Norton 850 Interstate. I saw what I thought to be a Bugatti replicar stopped by the side of the road. 1 walked over to see what the driver was doing under the bonnet (since there must have been a VW engine in the tail). I was gobsmacked! There was an inline engine and beautifully “turned” firewall.

“That’s the real thing! I never though I’d see one on the street,” I muttered. “Well,” the owner replied, “if you put a car in a museum and do not drive it, it’s no longer a car, only a museum piece.”

That day changed the way I look at things rare and valuable. They are made to be enjoyed. Eat off that old china, ride that old motorbike. We are only on this Earth for a short while-enjoy. Randy Treece Wichita, Kansas

Commando Caper

I enjoyed August’s “CIE Readers’ Collection” articles. Imagine my surprise when I saw a full page devoted to my old Norton cafe-

racer. Before selling it, 1 owned the bike for six years and took home quite a few trophies at East Coast shows.

This Norton took four years of my time to evolve into what (current owner) Jim Barsano claims to have built on his own. Worse, he states that I had “butchered” the bike. When Barsano purchased the bike from me, it had just won First Place British Special at the AMA Vintage Days show in Mid-Ohio. They do not award first-place trophies to butchered bikes!

So, a bike I built makes it into Cycle World, but I can’t show the article to anyone.

Doug Mason Unwood, New Jersey

The Cafe Commando that Jim Barsano takes credit for creating-while berating original owner Doug Mason-was a masterpiece of fine craftsmanship long before he ever took possession, from the John Tickle front brake to the handcrafted rear-brake air intakes.

Shame on you, Jim Barsano. Did you actually think no one would see that issue of Cycle World? Did you think no one would notice that special Norton? Jack Ward

Canadensis, Pennsylvania

After correspondence with both parties, it seems that the cafe Norton was in truth a collaborative effort. Doug Mason built the bike, then rode it hard for a summer before selling it to Jim Barsano. After purchase, Barsano incurred several problems (broken sidestand, burnt valve, bent main shaft), and ended up re-doing the bike, adding a few of his own touches (new engine plate, belt primary) along the way.

Secret to success

Please convince Triumph to do the following: 1) Look at the 1967 Bonneville on page 80 of the August Cycle World; 2) build a modern, decently performing bike that looks as much as possible like the ’67; and 3) make a kazillion bucks

Now, is that so tough?

Steve Toorman Charlevix, Michigan

Pick of the nitter

Please note that the “Immaculate Restoration” 1967 Triumph Bonneville has the wrong seat trim: Chrome trim came out on the 1968 T120; 1967 was a black vinyl-type plastic with a rough texture that appeared to be seam-crimped. There is also no horn on the featured bike: It mounts between the head and front downtube, under the gas tank. Also, the bike has short sparkplug boots (should be long) and a screw-type clamp on the oil-tank hose (should be a clamp with bolt).

There’s one in every crowd.

Mike Momchilov Jeromesville, Ohio

Unlucky 13

It’s hard for me to believe that Yamaha has a naked, upright, air-cooled I300cc musclebike, the XJR1300, yet sells it mainly in Germany and Australia. The raves about it on the web are numerous and flattering-namely, it handles well, looks good, is comfortable and delivers 100 bhp with 75 ft.-lbs. of torque. Best of all, it sells for the equivalent of about $7100 U.S.

What would it take to convince the marketing guys at Yamaha to try the XJR in the USA? What would it take to convince them to send Cycle World one to review? Albert Leibholz

New York, New York

Wav ahead of you, Al. Yamaha considered bringing in the XJR1200, pre-runner to today’s 1300, and lent CW a testbike back in April, 1995. We liked the bike a lot, but Yamaha, (quite rightly) scared off by the dismal sales records of Honda’s CB1000 and Kawasaki’s Zephyr 1100, decided against U.S. importation. Given the recent buyer acceptance of the Suzuki Bandit and Kawasaki ZRX super-standards, though, it might be time for a re-think.

Glove at first sight

The other day I pulled into the driveway, climbed off my Ducati and spotted the August issue of Cycle World sticking out of the mailbox. Always a good thing. I went inside and peeled off my helmet, earplugs, leathers, boots and gloves, threw on some sweats and sat down to read.

There, in “25 Years Ago,” came the realization that it had been a quartercentury (y ikes ! ) since I became the first scribe to ride the new Benelli Six. What a trip that was.

After the April Match Races in England, I flew to Italy to visit Benelli and test the new bike for CW. The workers were on strike (naturally) when I arrived in Pesaro, and I had to wait a week to be allowed into the factory. Since the deadline for that issue was fast approaching, a photo shoot took place the moment 1 got my hands on the bike. 1 had set my helmet and gloves down while waiting for the photographer to arrive, and when I went to get them, the gloves were gone. My hosts (including Alejandro De Tomaso) thought someone in the factory wanted an American souvenir, and were very apologetic.

That’s why I wasn’t wearing gloves for the photos, as duly noted by Brian Catterson. Some guy named Antonio probably had them hidden in his lunch box. D. Randy Riggs Editor-in-Chief Sports Car International

Spelling be

Their appears, August 1999, an editorial witch I red written buy David Edwards, Editor-in-Chief. Computers with spell-checkers are grate, butt keep Webster's handy...watt wee intend mite knot bee what oui right. Dolores Allen Houston, Texas

Easy fore ewe too say...

Duuude

I was surprised to read the letter “High on Wings” that CW chose to publish without comment in the August edition. I do not think that smoking a joint while operating a trailer-towing Gold Wing on the highway is any kind of recommended riding style. Also, there is the question of the legality of transporting marijuana across state lines on a motorcycle.

I found it even worse that following the next letter, you published a cute remark from the editor about the implications of smoking weed. There is simply nothing funny about the operation of a motorcycle under the influence of marijuana, and the light-hearted approach your editorial board chose to take in dealing with these letters is clearly inappropriate. Jack A. Nolish Southfield, Michigan

Unclench a bit, Jack, then look up “sarcasm ” in your Webster's. Firing up a medicinally prescribed doobie might not hurt, either.