Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Blast Masters
Okay, hold on, stop the presses! How is the Suzuki GSX-R1000 the "Mas ter Blaster" in July's 17-bike compar ison? It might have turned the quick est times on the track, but how does that help Mr. & Mrs. Consumer, who are street riders not racers? Now, every squid on the block is going to go and buy a GSX-Rl000 because he thinks it handles on the street the way
it did at Jerez. Can you say higher in• surance rates for everyone?
Sad thing is that a Suzuki SV650 will spank a GSX-R1000 on most mountain roads. But, how dare I buy a 54-horsepower bike when there sits one with 500 hp that weighs what the SV does? It must be a better bike.
When are the Big Four going to give up on the horsepower battle and start focusing more attention on what really matters for the street: real-world handling and horsepower? By the way, I ride a Ducati 748.
Brad HuJse~ Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Hey, Canet, did the painkillers from the broken leg go to your head? Are the Italian companies not greasing your pockets enough? I fail to see the logic in your "Master Blasters" arti cle. It seems the only thing that affect ed the bottom line was lap times. Both the Aprilia and Ducati 996R had higher rider ratings, and the Aprilia was less than . 1-second slower around Jerez, and yet your final statement was about how good the Gixxer was. I am sure Suzuki has a much larger ad vertising budget, but come on!
Michael Loss Bettendorf, Iowa
In your supersport shootout you include V-Twins like the Ducati 996 and Honda RC51, yet you didn’t include the Suzuki TL1000R. I own one and it’s fantastic, with a decent amount of low-end grunt and a very nice top end. Why doesn’t anyone put this beauty in their magazines anymore?
Andrew Green Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
Sorry, Andy, but all of Suzuki ’s money goes to getting rave reviews for the GSX-R1000.
Duckman
Peter Egan is always interesting, even when he writes his bit for the car mag. Sometimes he does silly things (like sells his 996), but other times his writing makes me feel like I am actually riding with him on a cool fall day along the roads of which he is so fond. His “Back home in old Bologna” column on the Ducati 900SS was the best yet. I never knew it was his favorite bike, but it stands to reason. He is sort of the 900SS of motor journalists-not the slickest (David Edwards?) or the most technically informed (Kevin Cameron?), but most definitely capturing the essence of good motorcycling and great motorcycles.
Thanks, Peter, for putting into words what I feel about my own 900SS.
Pamela Shewan Smyrna Beach, Florida
After reading August’s Leanings, it has become very clear to me now...hell, if I’m this excited just reading about a 900SS, I can’t imagine what it’s like to be in the saddle. I’m scanning the want-ads and online traders and hope to be "in the know" soon. Hold the opera music and the vino.
411 Ted Devin Posted on www. cycleworid. corn
I knew that Mr. Egan would come to his senses. I also am ruled by a Ducati 900SS and share his views. Mine is set up similarly. My advanced age (54) and my creaking bones only allow me shorter rides, so I now spend more miles on my Guzzi, but the Ducati still gives me more giggles per mile than anything else in my 38 years of riding. It is a timeless machine that still makes my gums sweat when I look at it.
Scott Set tin Redford, Michigan
Does Egan work for Ducati or something? Benn S. M
Posted on www.cycleworld.com
What, and queer our deal with Suzuki!?
World famous
Peter Egan is NUTS! Vincent, the world's most famous bike! Furget aboudit! Everybody knows it's Captain America's Harley chopper! You ask people about Vincent, and they think you're talking about Coach Lombardi! Getoutahere!
James Hayes North Bergen, New Jersey
Adrift
I like what I saw of the Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Drifter in the June, 2001, issue so well that I went out and bought one. I or dered a windshield, an engine guard and a set of saddlebags to go with it. The windshield was backordered. The engine guard couldn't be mounted because the dealer couldn't figure out where to relo cate the horn. And the saddlebags require the dual seat to mount-a $479 additional expense! I made the dealer refund all my money on the accessories. Kawasaki re od; thiso;e.
Ed Buffatoe Austin, Texas
You state the Kawasaki 800 Drifter has a top speed of 98 mph, however, you also state that this bike does the quarter-mile in 14.52 seconds @ 103.97 mph. How can a bike that has a top speed of 98 do 103 in the quarter-mile? Maybe the laws of physics don't apply at the dragstrip, or did you do this magical run downhill?
Wn~iii~iie Cary, North Carolina
Actually, Wayne, it was downhill and with all of Ed accessories in place, giving gravity that much more purchase. Actually, we flubbed it, the DrWer real
trap speed was 89.56 mph. Want ajob as proofreader?
Desperately seeking sport-tourers
Okay, it’s now just short of one year, nine months, since the Honda X-Wing concept sport-tourer was introduced to the world, and nothing seems to have been heard of it since. What happened?
I am a very proud owner of a 1995 STI 100, but it is getting to the point that I would like to replace it. I’ve looked at the BMWs, but they didn’t do it for me. The Gold Wing is just too big, and I’m not a cruiser-type.
The sport-touring market is heating up, and it seems strange that Honda would not want to be competitive. Do you have any information about the ST 1100 replacement? If not, lie to me! I need some news, even if it isn't true. (Don't worry about the truth part. I'm a government contrac tor and I have a career based on "almost" truths, so I'm used to it. Besides, I promise to believe you.)
Richard Beckwell Greenbelt, Maryland
In 1993, I bought a new Honda ST1 100. Although this has proven to be a fantas tic bike, each year I attend the Cycle World Show in Seattle, looking for my next mistress. The Ducatis are sexy (ST2 and ST4), and the new Futura is truly eye-candy. But, when I saw the Euroonly Yamaha FJR1 300, my heart skipped a beat, and I knew we were destined to be together. Yamaha needs to quit teasing us, and bring their fire-breathing steed to the States. In the meantime, I will con tinue to surf the web, sneaking a peek at two-wheeled ecstasy.
Keith Morse Portland, Oregon
Vroom with a view
David Edwards' Up Front rant on lug gage-less bikes ("In the bag' Au gust) was on the mark. After years of naked bikes, I bought a 96 Tn umph Trophy with factory hardbags, and put on 30,000 absolute ly trouble-free miles. The Triumph bags come on/off in probably 30 seconds. At first, I thought of them as luxury items, to be put on only for trips. However, daily usage became habit-forming, and soon they served as a great excuse to get milk and bread, taking a detour of 100 miles or so! Hardbags-and centerstands-are truly liberating, and should be standard equip ment, or at least an easy factory option, on any modern bike designed for more than 100-mile round trips.
Rick Hartwick South New Berlin, New York
There are 20 bikes in our stable. Which get the most use? 1) The Honda scooter will do 72 mph with $100 worth of gro ceries in the add-on tail box. 2) The Hon da Pacific Coast has a large trunk and a wide back seat that make for optimum carrying capacity. 3) The BMW sidecar has transported small trees that would not fit in a car trunk. Sure, with the other bikes we can use backpacks, saddleand tankbags, but un less we are just on a Sunday-morning ride, we always kick ourselves for not having taken one of the first three.
Bruno Canale Las Vegas, Nevada
In discussing why Americans log so few miles on their bikes, David Edwards said that the problem is the bikes are not "commute-friendly." But I think it hap pens because people use bikes as toys and not as a way of transportation. I own a dual-purpose Yamaha XT600E and log about 15,000 miles per year. And no, my bike doesn't have a windshield, nor hard bags, and the tank is good for only about 150 miles. So, stop saying that the prob lem is in the bikes; it's in the people who ride them.
Linus De PaoH Arcanjos, South America
Bag man
Hey! Where's the chicks? That 1999 cov er with the new Norton girl got me harder than detaching a BMW Integral case from a mid-'80s K-bike.
1. Scott Easthampton, Massachusetts
Cruisin' for a bruisin'
I caught a picture of Tom Cruise in People magazine riding his MV Agusta F4 with one of his friends (on a Ducati 996), both not wearing helmets. Now, I know that it's his right and all, but when you have a fam ily is that not a bit selfish? I don't think all of his millions will save him from a possi ble head injury.
Chan Le Montreal, Canada
Hey, the idiot dumped Nicole Kidman, he has no reason to go on living...
