Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Flopper choppers

I just mailed in the check for my Cycle World subscription renewal, but after reading the January issue I think I may have been a little hasty.

I was seriously miffed by your “American Flyers” feature on custom cruisers. I don’t think many CW subscribers want to read about lumps of iron that could have been put together by a talented 19th-century blacksmith. Although several of my bikes are Harleys, these stretched and lowered creations have about as much to do with motorcycling as blimps do with jet aircraft. You should leave the writing about them to those rags whose readers call each other “bro” and who receive most of their letters from penitentiaries.

Pleeeeze, I beg you, write about bikes that can do more than pose.

E.M. Simon North Royalton, Ohio

Another satisfied reader

Thanks, guys, for the enjoyment you give me each month in prison. With my debt paid back to society in 2002, I plan to trade my ’83 Interceptor for a Harley-Davidson Bad Boy, and someday “peel” the pavement with some of the CW staff. Until then, guys, keep up the good work. Cycle World rules!

Kris Blais E.C. Brooks Correctional Facility Muskegon Heights, Michigan

Flyin' high

Your “American Flyers” features have become my favorites in Cycle World. Though I am just an old fat guy riding a mostly bone-stock BMW K75 with lots of virgin sidewall on my nicely squared-off tires, I do enjoy seeing the imagination, creativity, engineering skill and artistic talent that goes into these “Flyers.” Please keep this series alive.

Jack Bellinoff Burnet, Texas

Chica check

Nice article on the “Bauhaus Bobber” Knucklehead street racer (“American Flyers,” January). I tried to contact the builder, Chica Custom Cycles, but had no luck finding an address or telephone number.

Harold Bensinger Landisburg, Pennsylvania

You can reach Chica at 7522 Slater Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92647; 714/842-9587.

A bobber for Bucky

I love the Bauhaus Bobber! It’s virtually the Bikers’ Dictionary definition of “minimalist.” Only, up here in The Land of the Midnight Sun, I could shed the headlight, too. Less is more! Also, please build mine with a hand shift and foot clutchyou know, that bobber you’ve been wanting to provide me for coldweather evaluation...

Michael “Bucky” Warenda Anchorage, Alaska

Old Hondas everywhere

Make space in your pages to congratulate Phil Schilling on his “Making Space for History” article about the old Honda CB350 (CW,

February). Very entertaining, it instantly brought back fond memories.

I was one of the 700,000 people who plunked down $800 for a new CB350. Just out of high school, I took that baby on a cross-country trip from New York to Arizona, and without any breakdowns. A 350 across the country? Unthinkable today!

When I got home, I bought another, slightly used 350. With some Ferodo brakeshoes and safety wire, I entered it in a few roadraces, including the “Sportsman’s Race” at Daytona 1975 in the 350cc four-stroke class and in Formula Two, pitted against mostly Yamaha TD250 roadracers. Oh, sure, they cleaned up on the straights and exiting turns, but going into some corners I passed a few riders on their TDs. Back in the pits, their faces dropped when they saw my ride was a stock CB350 with the footpegs ground down to almost nothing!

Hail to a great article, and to the 350 Honda.

Bob Antini Johnson, New York

The VR line forms here

I have been keeping somewhat of a watchful eye over Harley-Davidson’s campaign with the VR1000 in AMA Superbike. I love the idea of a real American sportbike (I don’t count Buells), especially one available to the public. Mark Hoyer’s January Race Watch noted that Picotte has resigned with Team Harley, Russell wants to stay and the Ford partnership will lead to more R&D dollars. Is there any sign of this leading to a production bike available to you and me (me first)?

Alex Rosenberger Florissant, Missouri

Lots of people want a streetable VR motor (not the least of which is Erik Buell), but no word on when that might happen. Meanwhile, the Porsche-Harley collaboration (see Roundup, March) has resulted in a prototype liquid-cooled power-cruiser engine, though it appears to be too heavy for serious sportbike duty.

Too late, mate

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of riding the new Excelsior-Henderson Super X. I enjoyed the ride immensely. I disagree with reader Steve Brown {Hotshots, January) that this bike misses the market. It hits the power-cruiser market perfectly. The power, style and atten, tion to detail of this bike are just right. Unfortunately, some of its outstanding features, like stainless-steel components, won’t be appreciated for years to come.

The Hanlon brothers can raise money and they can build a bike. I just hope they can stay in business so others can experience the Super X.

Joe Dille

Telford, Pennsylvania

E-H has filed for bankruptcy and is presently in “reorganization.” The company is down to 15 employees and looking for additional funding, but experts predict an uphill battle

Clone is correct

Methinks Sheldon Coleman, CEO of Big Dog Motorcycles, doth protest too much {Hotshots, February). I’d like to contribute a few observations from the real world: 1) The so-called “clones” (Big Dog, Ultra, Titan, CMC, etc.) are so called because they look and sound like Harleys. 2) Their engines are built from aftermarket parts (mostly S&S) designed for the H-D Evolution engine. 3) There would be no Big Dog, Ultra, Titan, CMC, etc. if not for the good design and popularity of the Evolution motor (is anyone replicating the Shovelhead en masse?). 4) With enough dough and the right catalogs, I could build my own Big Dog, Ultra, Titan, CMC, etc. in the comfort of my own living room. 5) Mr. Coleman’s VEight analogy (“Why aren’t all car manufacturers using V-Eights called clones?”) doesn’t wash-nobody confuses a Big Dog, Ultra, Titan, CMC, etc. with a V-Twin Ducati.

I’m not saying the Big Dog isn’t a cool bike-it is. But Mr. Coleman’s objection to the term “clone” isn’t going to change the fact that the word is both convenient and accurate. Until Big Dog develops its own engine, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...well, you know the rest.

Joe Nagy Manakin Sabot, Virginia

Helium-filled tires?

Okay, guys. You've gotta tell me how you get all the bikes in your studio shots to stand up on their own! No mat ter how hard I try, I can't get mine to balance on its own for more than a cou ple seconds. I'm becoming very popu lar at my local dealer's parts counter...

Greg Nemish Goose Creek, South Carolina

Close but no cigar

Dear sirs: "Lewinski" (CW, February), is the Polish spelling. Monica, not being Polish (thank God), spells her name "Lewinsky." Haven't we Poles suffered enough?

K.C. Jankowicz Mesa, Arizona

Bombs away

I just purchased the February, 2000, issue and read the test of the Kawasaki W650. I couldn’t believe what I saw in the “Editors’ Notes” from Brian Catterson: “...the last time Kawasaki tried tapping into its own history with the Zl-cum-Zephyr ll 00, it bombed bigger than Hiroshima...”

Now, this man is entitled to his own opinions, but this is too much. He might as well make light of the Holocaust while he's at it!

Emillo Pugliese Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Repent ye sinners

The "Christ-on-the-cross" reference to the new Indian Chief's riding position in the January issue was a disappoint ment, as well as a lapse in taste and judgement. The fact that this issue ar rived in December, the month we cele brate His birth, was an additional dose of irony. Surely, a better metaphor could have been chosen to use in this particular case.

COrn Bell San Jose, California

Sorry, but Catterson had dibs on the tasteless A-bomb metaphors.