Letters
LETTERS
Indian givers
I am not the letter-writing type, but this is the last straw. I know it is not your fault that the factories never actually build these things, but to run pictures and specs of concept bikes that will never hit the street is wrong. It's teasing. It's not nice.
Making matters worse is the Indian sportbike you pictured in February's Roundup. It has sent me into a tizzy of fantasies, most of which involve me on my Indian lapping Ris and 916s at my own little fictional Manx TT. It's almost 2000 and America hasn't built a sportbike worth fried chicken since.. .well, I was only born in `72, 50 I don't really know.
This letter comes with an extra in centive. If you, the bigwig Motorcycle Mafia, could ask whoever for a favor and have this Indian built, I promise to come to California and be the of fice slave for two weeks. I'll cook, I'll clean, I'll lie to your wives. Just see what you can do. Eric Lander Clemson, South Carolina
Ban baby bikers
I think I speak for many when I say I would gladly pay a dollar or two more for my subscription if you promise to never again run an adver tisement for anything as obscene as "Bobby the Little Biker Baby" (CW, February). Items of this nature are in sulting and damaging to your maga zine's credibility. Tim Temple Costa Mesa, California
Can we put you down for a "Furby the Freerider" instead?
Retro rage
Fine if all motorcycles want to look retro, fine if they all want to look like Harleys, fine if there is no kickstarter. But, don't do away with centerstands! Since I do my own maintenance, I guess I'll have to get a ramp or a jack or ropes or a rock just to change a tire! Maybe it's a factory ploy to send people back to the dealer for simple maintenance.. .or could it be that today's bikers can't follow directions or can't get dirty? I sure like the new Yamaha Venture, but no centerstand, no sale. Jorge Sanchez La Jolla, California
Last year, Volkswagen appealed to our nostalgia, if not our machismo. This year, we can purchase a Japanese Big Twin with pushrods. Thank good ness electronic ignition does not affect the appearance or sound of a motorcy cle, or we'd be going back to breaker points! At least Volkswagen had the good sense to provide the new version of their Bug with modern and appro priate technology-the nostalgia is oniy skin deep. At the moment, motorcycle consumers are just plain backward. They value fluff-pushrods, wire wheels, chain or belt drive and the V-Twin en gine configuration. I can't wait for someone to bring back the hand shifter. Kevin Cameron recently wrote an insightful column about the weight and performance of today's sport bikes. Too bad he misses the point en tirely. Today, motorcyclists want weight, the more the better. The pre dominant theme is form over function. Thomas J. Dufty Concord, New Hampshire
Parts picker
Nice Peter Egan column on valuable bits that are stand-alone sculptural successes ("Paperweights of the Gods," Leanings, January). Hey, why not add the Vincent/Miller "STOP" taillight? I also nominate the Ducati 916 single-sided swingarm, the spark plug and high-tension lead cover from a Sunbeam S-7, and the cast-alu minum finned exhaust manifold from a 1953 Ariel Square Four. These truly are a blending of engineering and art. Once again, Peter teaches us to appre ciate the mundane more cerebrally. Burt Richmond Chicago, Illinois
High on Hector
Why is your dazzlingly gifted draftsman Hector Cademartori not given more space? I've missed a few issues since I discovered CW in 1963, so maybe in one of those gaps you've already given him room to il lustrate his favorite mechanical pieces. If a collection of his works is available, please give us the particu lars. The December `98 Letters illus tration of the Indian gas tank is good from every angle; even upside down, it's beautiful as an abstraction. Please consider giving him more space than the two tiny boxes he gets now, which require use of a magnifying glass to fully appreciate. Also, did I miss the issue in which it was revealed what Peter Egan does for a living? Bron Taylor Seattle, Washington
Reader Information
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Egan, otherwise a man of leisure, moonlights as Hector Cademartori `5 literary agent.
AWOL ELR?
Just writing to express a gripe with your otherwise fine publication: Where's the coverage on the new Kawasaki ZRX1 100 Lawson Replica? My dealer has had one since early November, but none of the magazines have tested it yet. I'm one of the guys who's been asking for a standard superbike, but in this world of not being able to test ride at the dealership, I count on magazine reviews for a lot of input before I buy. Alan Loshbaugh Fulton, Missouri
Gotta read a little closer, Alan. Cycle World did the first (and so far only) riding impression of the ZRX in December of 1997. This was followed up by an editorial (“UJM Redux? ”) and news item (“Green Monster Lives ”) in November of ’98. See below.
After reading your article in the November issue concerning the Kawi ZRX 1100, I went directly to all the dealers in my area looking for any and all literature. Now, I am very proud to say I have my new ZRX1100 at home, parked next to my ’84 GPz750. The bike is beautiful and handles like a dream. Best investment I could have made. The detail work on the bike is extraordinary...seeing is believing.
Thanks guys. Jetlll@aol.COm
Miami, Florida
Buell rules
As a subscriber to your magazine, and several others, I regularly read riders’ complaints about either their motorcycle, dealership or manufacturer. I have not seen too many letters of praise, so I would like to take this opportunity to equal the balance.
In August, after test riding more than a dozen motorcycles of various manufacture, I purchased a 1998 Buell M2 Cyclone from HarleyDavidson of Washington. I chose this particular bike primarily because of its looks and handling. In three short months, I put over 5000 enjoyable miles on the bike. Unfortunately, it became apparent that my bike was plagued with troubles. Now, every manufacturer, from time to time, produces a defective unit. It may be a car, a motorcycle, a dishwasher or a TV-I found Buell’s!
In November, I started communicating my dissatisfaction with the motorcycle to both Harley-Davidson of Washington and Buell. I expected to get the runaround from an uninterested company rep. I expected a fight, a long, nasty legal battle that would leave me totally disillusioned. Instead, I received a courteous, prompt, honest response from both parties. Within days I had met with the dealership manager and the Buell area manager. Two weeks later, I took delivery of my 1999 M2 Cyclone. I won’t go into details of the deal, but Buell was more than fair with me. It’s good to know that there are still honorable businesses out there that make customers a priority.
Andrew S. Parker Waldorf, Maryland
Book 'em, Dano
I was surprised that Peter Egan omitted The Art of the Motorcycle in his “Great Book Explosion” column (CW, February). This book was published as a companion to the Guggenheim Museum’s fantastic motorcycle show this past year. With over 300 pages of great articles and photos, it’s helping me to cope with the new Ice Age here in New Jersey. The book is available at most larger booksellers, and well worth the $60, especially for anyone unable to attend the show in person. Louis Fellman
Oceanport, New Jersey
Yo quiero cojones?
Regarding Editor Edwards’ 1998 UP to the Guggenheim Museum, “for having the curatorial cajones...” My dear boy, what are we going to do with you? Thou hast taken the sacred language of Don Quixote and rent it asunder. Qué vergüenza! You see, cajones means “drawers,” as in desk, not as in Monicagate. The word you sought is cojones. Singular, of course, is un cojon, but the nature of the noun hardly lends itself to less than two.
No doubt thousands of Spanish scholars have berated you for this most grievous error, and the Real Academia Española has withdrawn its ambassador to Cycle World. El Cid has arisen from his grave and seeks vengeance.
The castigation is well deserved, as any respectable Hispanophile would agree, but I believe you should be given a lighter sentence. Public flailing? The stocks? Ride a Bultaco backward through Mexico City?
Nay, all too harsh. I suggest that you be required to conjugate the past perfect indicative and future subjunctive of the verb equivocarse.
Enough of this absurdity. By the power vested in me, I hereby forgive you. Go, and sin no more. Raul Watts Clovis, California
Edwards, whose knowledge of Spanish runs no deeper than the Taco Bell menu board, offers sincerest apologies. □
