Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Parmesan Flyers
Great special section on “Italy 2003” in the October issue. You better cut back on the grappa and chianti, though, because you managed to invert the Italian flag on every page! If you think the Carabinieri aren’t amused with 81 in a 70-kph zone, just try flying the Italian tricolore upside down.
As penance, I recommend you go back to Italy ’til you get it right. I’ll be glad to come along as a consultant (on grappa, especially). Bill Hagan Inman Park, Georgia
Actually, the flag was right side up, we just inverted the rest of the magazine... I was very offended by the cover of the October issue. “Italian Mob 2003?” I’m disappointed that CW would help perpetuate the negative stereotype of Italian-Americans as mobsters. The fact is that only a tiny percentage of Italian-Americans are in the Mafia. The rest of us just work for them...
I will keep my subscription for now, but if you do not issue an apology, I will come over there and personally breaka yu kneecaps. Davide “Ball-Peen” Schipani Saco, Maine
P.S. Tell Edwards that unless he went to Sweden for an operation, he’s a Ducatisto, not a Ducatista. Of course, I don’t speak a lick of Italian outside of some curses I learned from my grandmother, so maybe I’m wrong. If so, fuggidabowdit.
We re fuggiding. In regard to Brian Catterson’s article “Italian Citation,” and his surprise that persons of “advanced age” can still ride fast: Junior, when one reaches 50, it is not mandatory that he trade his Desmoquattro for some overweight, underpowered cruiser so he can go up and down the straightaway for the remainder of his years. Pilgrim! Patrick Kane Dansville, New York
Nice work, Brian. A fun read about a great trip. You’ve added to my already inflated reputation and ego. Excellent! I needed that. Hope to spend more time on the road with you and the other CW criminals. Sorry about the ticket. Peter “Bad Influence” Wylie Seattle, Washington
Next year s speeding citations will be issued in August when the 11th annual Cycle World GP Euro-Tour bombs around the Alps before dropping down to Brno for the Czech Grand Prix. Join in the fun by contacting Edelweiss Bike Travel at 800/582-2263.
Honorary Italian
At last, the U.S. finally has a true worldclass standard in the Buell Lightning. Build-quality, ergonomics, handling and looks to challenge the best from Japan and Europe. Heck, they’ve even beat Ducati’s best minds to the punch on this one-a cheese grater built in behind the taillight! So, uh, where’s the corkscrew? Tony Meadow
Choppers rule!
I skimmed the October issue making mental notes of the tastiest-appearing articles that I would save to read last. Not being a chopper guy, I decided to get Kevin Cameron’s “Chop Shop” story on Billy Lane out of the way first. Well, I screwed up. This is one of the best articles I’ve seen in your magazine lately, due in part to Mr. Cameron’s writing style (he may have surpassed Egan as my favorite motojournalist). His method of describing the hubless rear wheel concept left me with a complete and instant understanding of how it works. Many’s the writer who would have taken a whole page to do what Kevin did in a few lines (and I would probably have had to re-read the description three times to get it right). Whatever you are paying Kevin, give him a raise; he is one of the reasons your magazine is the best in the world.
And Billy Lane? The guy makes me feel lame...but in a good way. He is an artist and builder. He is the anti-Ness. Keep finding and writing about people like him. They are part of the soul of our sport. Joe Alley Boonville, Missouri
Nice job! Thanks for giving American customs a place in this fine mag. Kent Fager Luenberg, Massachusetts
I am awestruck by the work of Billy Lane. I’ve spent many an hour staring at the photos in the Choppers Inc. spread. Every time I looked, I’d find another detail that sets his work apart from even the most radical designers and builders.
I plan to start saving my pennies for a Choppers Inc. ride. Any and all donations to the Byron Wants A New Bike Fund will be greatly appreciated. Byron Ellis Surprise, Arizona
Hey guys, just received the October issue. Another quality piece of reading material. With craftsmanship being kingfish in my mind, I loved the “Chop Shop” article. Just goes to show what good ole American ingenuity can provide! Kyle Knapp Wellington, Ohio
Thoroughly enjoyed seeing some real customs in the pages of Cycle World. These days, most American bike magazines are mired in the “Ness Mess.” Thanks for the break. Chuck Cox Aledo, Texas
Chopper fools!
Billy Lane’s creations are absolutely the most hideously ugly bikes that I have ever seen. Do us all a favor and don’t run articles on loser cruisers like these. ZBigBadWolf Posted on www.cycleworld.com
Who would be dumb enough to spend a year’s pay to get a monstrosity that handles poorly, ruptures your kidneys and requires a gas stop every eight blocks? George lliff Sun City, Arizona
Why even publish this? There are plenty of magazines that cover the chopper scene. Who cares anyway? Steve Banks New York, New York
Battle of the 1300s
Hot damn, “Battle of the Sport-Touring 1300s!” As always, CW came through with another well-written article. The idea of testing the Honda ST and Yamaha F JR at varying altitudes and extreme temperatures over a distance that even Iron Butt riders must respect is as good as any I have read. But, “There isn’t a ‘better’ bike here” for the conclusion?
Puleeeze! Don’t tell me you can’t pick your personal favorite between the two. The Yamaha is a “vibrant, almost playful” bike and, dare I say it, faster. Keep the critics at bay and my faith alive; pick the Yamaha as the better of two state-ofthe-art sport-tourers. Tony Bainum Gilbert, Arizona
Thanks for inviting Messrs. Taylor, Sandborn and Ilg to the sport-touring party. These three gentlemen would, no doubt, ride rings around most of us, and probably don’t own trailers. These bikes are an idea whose time has come. Those of us who are long of limb and look silly folded onto repli-racers have begged for bigger motorcycles with roomier riding positions, but without “detuned” motors and cut-rate, partsbin suspensions. I’m pretty sure we would like Blackbirds, Hayabusas and ZX-12s more if they had had just a little more inseam. If Honda builds the rumored Super Blackbird and gives it an inch or two more legroom, I’ll be all over it. Until that time, the new generation of sport-tourers makes sense. Wes Bridges Plant City, Florida
You’ve got to be kidding! These are two of the more anticipated bikes to hit the States this year, and this is the best you can do? After 10 minutes of reading, I know absolutely nothing about the bikes and way too much about the three guys you had along as guest-testers. Please tell me you are going to re-do this article with none of the “Society Column” crap. How this article made it past any editor’s desk is unbelievable. Mark DiCocco Cave Creek, Arizona
Hey, DiCocco, keep up with everybody else or you get left behind. You must have missed our FJR1300 riding impression in May of 2001, our sixpage Alps tour-test in November ’01 and the full U.S.-model road test in July, 2002. Likewise, you weren’t paying attention to August ’02’s Euro-editor review of the ST1300. We’ll let you catch up this one time, but no more skipping issues.
Hey, who said you could use my name in vain? That guy don’t even look like me, and I don’t have a BMW or an ST4, I have a Suzuki! You guys get it straight, eh? Okay, okay, if you let me have that FJR1300 for a while, I’ll forgive you. Thanks, I’ll bring it back next year. Steven Taylor Buckley, Washington
I was amazed that you guys took the time to review two new sport-touring 1300s, but didn’t bother to take a passenger. Megan Wenski went out on the “World’s Best Streetbike” ride, but she wasn’t available to test ride these bikes? So, as a two-up touring couple, we’re no more knowledgeable about these bikes than we were before. Your assessment of the luggage capacity cracked me up, too-it doesn’t take much room to pack five pairs of underwear for two guys on the road. Make a note for next time: The “other half” is interested in these tests, too, but not just the technical aspects. We want to know about riding position and comfort level, legroom, luggage capacity and passenger amenities. Teri Tracey Bartlett, Illinois
How about an article on the delay in delivery of the new ST 1300 Hondas? I have been on a waiting list since last September. Honda will not tell me why there is a delay. Bill Harr Stockton, California
Honda did indeed delay the release of US.-model ST1300s. As we noted in our test, in warm weather the V-Four passes a lot of heat to the rider. A heat-shieldfix is in the works and should be completed by the time you read this.
Enjoyed the comparison of the faster, lighter, more economical Yamaha FJR1300 to the slower, heavier and pricier Honda ST 1300. Only two questions: 1) Does the Honda make up for its higher price tag with a better warranty? 2) Does the Yammie require constant preventive maintenance, a.k.a. 4000-mile intervals between valve adjustments like my current ride, a V-Star 1100?
James C. Lydon Annandale, Virginia
1) Yes, the Honda has a 3-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, while the Yamaha offers a 1 -year/unlimited-mileage package. 2) No, the FJR ’s valve-adjust intervals are 25,000 miles; the Honda goes 16,000 miles between inspections.
The new ST 1300: Good looking, more refined, improved over the old model, yes. A legitimate sport-touring machine? No chance! What hasn’t come out much in publication is the load-carrying capacity of this bike-all of 395 pounds! Add a tail trunk, a slightly above-average-sized man and wife, and either you’re over the GVWR already or you have to travel with bags empty! The Yamaha FJR carries 20 more pounds; the BMW K1200RS 80 more! Bruce Wilken Madison, Minnesota
I noticed in your ST 1300 review that no mention is made of the empty speaker grills that North American riders can only look at, while Europeans and others get the option of sound coming from a built-in radio.
It seems to me that in the “Land of Plenty,” North Americans should have the same accessory catalog to choose from as the rest of the world. The market for this bike, like those who did your guest-testing, can well afford and would like to have the options available. If I were Honda, with arguably the best sport-tourer in the world, I wouldn’t give anyone a reason to ride a BMW again. Kevin Warren Toronto, Canada
Baggin’ on the VFR
Honda’s promise of luggage for the new VFR may have garnered the company a few sales it did not deserve. The bike’s high pipes preclude the use of soft luggage and, with no Honda hard bags available, scratch touring off the thingsto-do list with an ’02 VFR.
I talked to the folks at Honda Canada and asked if they would consider taking their bike back, in as much as I could not use it for the purpose I had purchased it for. The Honda customer rep told me, after researching the issue for a day, that Honda had never claimed there would be luggage for the VFR, there was no luggage available and, further, he would not speculate when, if ever, it would be.
I suggest Cycle World retract the 2002 VFR’s “Best Open-Class Streetbike” award if it in any way was based on touring potential. John le Vann Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
VFR stands for “visual flight regulations,” an aviation term for an airplane without equipment to fly in low/no-visibility situations. With this connection to the airline industry, is it any wonder that Honda lost the Interceptor’s luggage? Dana Sanderson Houghton, South Dakota
The Interceptor’s saddlebags are here! No, really. Honda assures us the luggage is in dealerships now, priced about $1000, including mounting hardware.
Tedhead
Tell me you’ve got a big coffee table book about Slipstream’s Ted. Poor guy. He tries so hard. Who is he? Does he have any friends? Family? Does he live near me? I think I know him. Is he my cousin? My brother? Me?
Sometimes Ted’s a cool calculating genius (Buick sticker on a Gold Wing, August), and sometimes it’s evident that Ted’s brother/dad and sister/mom acted on the deep love they held for each other (“SOTP,” September).
I don’t care what Ted’s brother, dad, mom and sister did. I love him. He’s becoming more important to me than Edwards, Egan, Cameron and all of the other stuff in your great magazine (where’s Burns this month?). Please tell me you’ve got a Ted book, or are working on one. Everyone should get to know the Ted within. I must have a Ted book! Savage Glascock Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
Sadly, we almost lost Ted recently. Honda hired him away to work on their saddlebag development program... □
