Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Gaining ground
With the election of George W., we may see a slowing of the loss of off-road riding areas. But the Sierra Club and other evil organizations’ efforts to eliminate all motorcycling on public lands will not end. We must stand together with the snowmobilers, ATVers, mountain bikers, etc. Some people in the government think they know what we should be doing with our spare time and money, and it isn’t riding motorcycles.
Theodore B. LaRouche Auburn, California
Just a note, post Indecision 2000, to urge you to keep up the good work concerning discussion of federal regulations. To the readers who don’t agree, these issues concern not only riders, but all “user-groups,” as federal regulators refer to us. Like to hike, hunt, fish or camp? Then these issues concern you. Already federal land managers have limited these activities in many areas by eliminating motorized access. Maybe you don’t ride a dirtbike—I don’t myself right now-but I do enjoy getting to the backcountry for other activities. Unlike congressmen or federal service employees, however, I don’t have weeks of vacation time to walk or paddle into places where I used to be able to drive. I am in favor of responsible land management and resource utilization, not exclusion that allows small groups to eliminate activities they don’t like. Paul Cheramie Slidell, Louisiana
I voted for Kirk Cameron. He’s dreamy!
Teenybopper
Posted on www.cycleworld.com
I voted for Cameron Swayzee. No, I think it was the Cameroon Islands. FXEF79 Posted on www.cycleworld.com
Too close to call
Gore? Bush? I voted for Kevin Cameron!
Guyran
Posted on www.cycleworld.com
How to smuggle a European sport-tourer
How could Yamaha not think the numbers are here (in the U.S.) to bring the new FJR1300 sport-tourer to the States? I want a recount. David Sabol
Thomaston, Connecticut
The new Yamaha FJR1300: 145 horsepower, 93 foot-pounds of torque (wow!); dual counterbalance shafts (smooth!); fuel-injected, liquid-cooled (nice!); twin-spar aluminum frame, 523 pounds (great!); electrically adjustable windscreen, color-matched saddlebags and heated handgrips (sweet!). Did you say it has shaft drive? This has to be the ultimate sport-tourer! Love the family resemblance to the Rl.
I was all ready to plunk down my deposit money, then I read that another great
motorcycle would not be coming to the United States. Screwed again! Another bike Europe gets and we can only sali-
vate about like Pavlov’s dogs. You called it a “shame” that it would not be imported. I call it criminal. I’m still hoping Yamaha will get smart and import the F JR 1300 later this year or in 2002. I’ve already given my local Yamaha dealer a $100 deposit to have first dibs on one just in case.
Ron Dougherty Alexandria, Ohio
Many thanks for showing the sporttouring motorcycle of my dreams, the 1300cc Yamaha. Man, this has
all the right stuff. I can’t stop staring at the picture. I’m hooked. Are you going to help me smuggle one home, or do I renounce my citizenship?
Ted McKain
Kalispell, Montana
Mark-up muckup
Just a comment about the ad on page 78 of the December issue, “Own Your Dream Bike Today!” What brilliant marketing strategy! Take little 1:18-scale, die-cast motorcycle replicas that you >
can buy at Wal-Mart for $1.99, and offer them for $12.95 (well, $8.95 plus $4 shipping and handling). You wouldn’t be insulting the intelligence of your readers just a little bit here, now would you?
Anyway, if this little venture works out well for you, maybe you can buy some Bandit 1200s at list price, put your name on the tanks, and sell them to your readers for $48,000 at the same percentage of markup. As they say, “Betcha don’t print this letter.”
Niel Parker Boise, Idaho
Fly American
I’ve always looked forward to the next issue of Cycle World, all of which are very informative and entertaining. I most enjoy the “American Flyers” series, and I am writing to ask how the bikes are selected.
I have a 1970 Honda CL 100 dual-purpose bike, completely custom-performance-modified with ram-air induction, liquid-fuel rock et booster, oversized suspension and a host of other mods. It’s also aesthetically clean. I feel it would
be a nice bike for “American Flyers.” Please write back. Ivan R. Davis
Pass Cristian, Mississippi
Better idea, Ivan: Go into small-scale production with those suckers and we can sell ’em for $48,000 a pop! It’s all in the marketing.
Thanks a lot, Pete
Peter Egan has gone and ruined everything. This past summer, I bought a 1995 BMW. The best motorcycle I have ever owned.
I dreamt of the fun I would have in the future. As the RS/RT from
series
ran
1976 to 1996,1 could buy, sell, trade, repair, modify and restore them at reasonable cost. After Peter’s praise of the bike in his December Leanings, though, now everybody will want one. The prices will go through the roof.
Thanks a lot, Egan. (Those Irish are all the same.) RJ. Francis
Machesney Park, Illinois
The Coast Express
If David Edwards wants to win Max Bubeck’s downhill coasting race next year (“Mad Max & the Valley of Death,” Up Front, January), he needs to remove his drive chain. My high school days were filled with coasting races on RD350s down Stunt Canyon Road near Malibu. No more tranny drag and you win. I bet this is not in the rulebook.
Larry Weissman It Posted on www cycleworld.com
Unknown champ
In reading January’s Roundup, I noticed that when you listed past and present U.S. roadracing world champions, you inadvertently-I hope-left out our first one: Steve Baker. Most scribes and fans don’t seem to know he even existed. He is truly the “Rodney Dangerfield” of >
U.S. roadracers. In 1977, one year before Kenny Roberts started his threeseason reign as 500cc World Champion, Steve was second to Barry Sheene in the 500cc GPs and won the championship in the Formula 750 class. Not too shabby for a guy who now gets no respect. Guy Holt
Shreveport, Louisiana
Skratchin’ Skorpion
So, Fm flipping through the January issue eyeing all the middleweight hype. I see a little blurb about the MZ Skorpion in the Budget Bikes section. I must say that you weren’t all that enthusiastic. Have you guys ever ridden one?
English frame, great brakes, good looks, great motor (for a Single), cheap and easy to maintain, plus it’s comfortable. This is the best bike in that article by far. The top speed may be low at 110 mph, but the handling is wonderful. I’ve person-
ally seen these things ride circles around ZX-7Rs, CBR900RRs and all the 600 Fours. You can throw the MZ around much harder on curvy roads. And all this for under $5000? This bike is about fun and riding hard, not posing at the pub. Where do you spend your riding time?
Jesse Murphy Bozeman, Montana
In the bag
I would like to express my deepest disappointment in your decision to allow
the phrase “has
enough room for 1.3 Jimmy Hoffas” to be printed in January’s soft-luggage shootout. This is completely unprofessional and unnecessary in a publication that is generally respected as the best motorcycle magazine in the United States. I fail to find the humor in it, and I am quite sure many others feel the same way. The demographics of your magazine more than likely include union members. They would not appreciate such a colorless comment.
Thank you, in the future, for watching the print a little closer. If Motorcyclist weren’t so unreadable, I would cancel my Cycle World subscription.
David J. Hoffa
(Grandson of James R. Hoffa) Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
Letter World
Judging from the prime collection in the January, 2001, issue, the time has come for you to edit and publish, probably in paperback, a collection of readers’ letters and your responses.
Great stuff! Write on! John JOSS
Los Altos, California
Easy for you to say, Joss, you re not the one pissing off the Teamsters... □
