Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
World's Best Bike
Great article in search of the One True Bike ("World's Best Streetbike," October, 2004). Recently separated, I was looking to move on from my Suzuki SV650S and was considering the Honda VFR, the Yamaha FZ1 or the BMW R1200GS. I trusted you, bought the FZ1, and fell in love 100 feet from the sales lot. I'm calling you guys when it's time to pick the next One True Wife! Thanks.
Tom Hall Hampton, Virginia
Congratulations on including the han dling and skid circle course in the "WBS" test. I've often wondered why bike testers didn't begin using this for mat long ago, as automobile testers have. Along with acceleration and top speed, standardized skid pad and slalom testing adds much needed ob jectivity, and allows me to directly compare performance features. I would not have guessed that long, tall, skinny tired bikes, such as the KTM Adven ture, could hang in there with the same grip on the skid pad as the short, squat Buell; or that the heavy, low-ground clearance Harley-Davidson Dyna Sport would be only half a second slower through the slalom than the V-Strom. This is information that I can use.
Leverett Lowrie Dallas, Oregon
As the owner of a 2003 FZ1, I really enjoyed the 13-bike shootout, but I am confused. Rather than spend all the time and money that the test cost, you could have just called me! I would have told you that the FZ1 was the best bike. But I suspect you already knew that, and that the 1000-mile cross-country test was just an excuse to go riding on some great bikes. Good article.
Scott Leggitt Biloxi, Mississippi
Besides including last year's top three (makes sense), what was your criteria for selecting the 10 other bikes that competed in the "World's Best Streetbike" shootout?
Scott Huff Lexington Park, Maryland
Pretty simple: We picked the one (and only one, see below) model from each manufacturer that we thought was their best all-around motorcycle.
Missing in action
The Kawi Z1000 but not the ZRX1200R included in the Best Bike comparo?! Ergos, styling and power to boot, all in a retro style that just shouts cool. Maybe not the "Best," but, c'mon, at least inthe pack. --
Jim Campbell Redondo Beach, California
There is a large and loyal collective that feels the Kawasaki ZRX1200R is the per fect motorcycle. No repeated slight by your magazine can ever take that away. We're just sorry your readers never get to read about the Z that put naked bikes back on the map. Next time you guys do a corn paro that includes the venerable Speed Triple, the FZ1 and other worthy hoolie bikes, drop us a note at wwwzrxoa.org and someone here will be happy to lend you a Z-Rex, just for the hell of it. What Jo you say?
Joe Espinoza ZRX Owners Association Morristown, New Jersey
Who slighting who? It was the response to Cycle World 1997 "Jolly Green" arti cle on a prototype ZRXJJOO that helped bring the big brutes to the US. in the first place. Plus, until recently, the Editorin-Chief owned a 1200.
You gave Buell's XB 12S short shrift in the streetbike comparo. The Lightning not comfortable? Does CW only hire former basketball players? My Light ning, an `03 Low, is the most comfort able, best-handling motorcycle I've ever ridden. I regularly log 300-to500-mile days on mine and I never have a problem.
There are faster, more powerful bikes, but I can attest, there isn't a streetbike built right now that's more fun to ride than the XB. It should be on everyone's short list.
Dave Dusterbergi Ayden, North
Gee, 13 road-burning streetbikes, and with my 28-inch inseam the only one I could even think of buying is the Harley Su-. per Glide Sport. In 4
the race for ever greater lean angles that most real-world riders will never use, nearly every other bike manufacturer has abandoned the short-legged market to The Motor Company from Milwaukee. I won der if that's why Harley enjoys such a large share of the on-road market. Maybe it isn't all the pseudo-outlaw styling, maybe it's just that there are a lot of riders who would like to stay upright the next time they have to stop on a steeply cambered \ road. It's a good thing I have one of the now-discontinued Triumph Legend ITs with its 27-inch-high seat in my garage. Otherwise, I'd probably have to spend way too much money on a Harley.
CONTINUED
Raymond Mkhakwski Rimrock, Arizona
In your selection of bikes, several of my friends and I would like to applaud you for ignoring the Aprilia CapoNord yet again. As long as CW doesn’t ever mention this bike, there will still be leftover 2002 and ’03 models available for the same price as a Suzuki V-Strom.
None of us who own them are able to understand Aprilia’s failure to promote the ’Nord in the U.S., nor the lack of interest from the U.S. motorcycle press.
Carl Best Eugene, Oregon
What were you guys thinking with that streetbike shootout? You left out at least three worthy candidates. Next year you should include the Boss Hoss, the Royal Enfield Bullet and a Vespa! Hell, throw in my Husqvarna lawnmower, too!
Rick Hermanns Cincinnati, Ohio
Maxxers attack!
I just saw your article on the Yamaha MT 01. Wow! I was blown away! Power-cruis ers keep getting bigger and fatter, longer and heavier. What happened to the barebones, mechanical musciebike with mon ster torque and acceleration that could slide you out of the seat? When did pow er-cruisers become 800-pound shaft driven fashion statements? (Honda, I'm talking to you.) Thank you, Yamaha, for re minding me what a power-cruiser is sup posed to be-short wheelbase, cool pipes, aggressive lines and a Big Twin.
Steve Jones Troy, Ohio
Well, it looks like Yamaha stole a little thunder from Honda's VTX Techno pro totype with its MT-O1. Both bikes are the type that I salivate over (bucket under chin). But Yamaha is missing out with the MT-Ol. It appears that it is shy a couple of cylinders! What an opportunity Yamaha is missing by not powering this chassis with the nastiest motor ever bolted be tween two wheels, the V-Max's V-Four.
The MT-O1 looks like it would be the perfect chariot for Mr. Max to tool around in. A Max-motored MT-Ol would be trea sured, and if priced under $15,000, out of stock in a heartbeat!
Brent Wann Amarillo, Texas
I have a comment on your MT-Ol story: A V-Twin with 80 horsepower will never replace my V-Max. Thanks, Yamaha, for nothing.
• Shane Hasert Loveland, Colorado
I dare all motorcycle manufacturers to build a V-Four power-cruiser that's af fordable, comfortable for two, looks good and is able to absolutely shred the back tire, `cause that's the one I am go ing to buy. Where is the new V-Max? No changes in 20 years, except for paint?
John Sommer Cleveland, Wisconsin
What the hell is Yamaha doing? The best they can do for a 20th-anniversary V-Max is throw on a little red paint and flames? And what's up with that sorry-ass tag they put on the airbox cover? Is Yamaha just being lazy or what?
Kirk S. Ewing Cincinnati, Ohio
I thought you might like to know that some Yamaha dealers have had a mysteri ous "XV 1 8ARS" inventory listing since April, 2003. Suspecting the much-antici pated all-new V-Max, other Maxxers and I put down deposits. It's only been 69 weeks (May 7, 2003) since I placed my deposit, but who's counting? Besides, it now looks like we're on the waiting list for MT-0 1 s, not the new Max
Phillip Goode Falls Church, Virginia
Sand man
I just read the September issue, and after wading numbly through the lat est mandatory overpow ered crotch-rocket com parison extravaganza, I came across the best article I've read in a bike magazine in a long time, "Sands of Time," about BSA's Daytona dominance in 1954. I think Kevin Cameron may be replacing Peter Egan as my favorite part of CW. . after Ted, of course.
Barry Ervin Norristown, Pennsylvania
Hats off to Kevin Cameron, I've never read a better-researched BSA article. Makes me appreciate my `54 Gold Star Clubman even more. Kevin is a worthy successor to one of my childhood heroes, Gordon Jennings.
Joel Greene Dunedin, Florida
Loved the story on the Daytona BSAs. Great to see motorcycling history in a mainstream mag.
David Fleischmann Owensboro, Kentucky
Over the years, I have accumulated a thick folder of Mr. Cameron's work. Every month, his TDC column is an en gineering short course, and with feature articles like "Sands of Time," he interweaves the technical, the historical and the personal as well as any literary essay ist. So consider this letter, please, a long overdue thank-you from one Midwestern enthusiast for allowing him the privilege of reading Kevin Cameron's work each month. And, of course, to the writer him self for keeping our dendrites well-connected for all these years.
Jim Walker MassiUon, Ohio
Klassy guy
The Up Front editorial on BMW icon Ernst Henne, "Der Meister aller Kiassen," was an empathetic read. It showed me, once again, that in life as well as in mo torbiking, it's all about style and grace.
Dirk Reuter Atlanta, Georgia
Mein sehr geehrter, Herr Edwards! I loved your piece on Ernst Henne, one of the greats. Well done.
Ultan Guiltoyle New York, New York
When I saw David Edwards' column in the September issue, I thought that after 40 years of read ing Cycle World, I was finally getting the recognition I deserved. Well, at least I got to see my name in the magazine.
Doug Kiassen Casa Grande, Arizona
Genius!
I am writing to you about the Cycle World magazine. I am requesting that you have posters of hot motorcycles with hot women in bikinis. I think that you would get more people to buy your magazine. In every issue, one poster, and for the De cember issue, two posters as a Christmas present. Can you please check into this? The only way I will renew my subscrip tion is if you include posters.I
include posters. Brian Miller Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
Request from Iraq
I was wondering what you guys do with bikes when you are done testing them? You see, I am currently deployed to Iraq, and after I get back to the States to go to school, I'll need something to ride. I'm hoping to kiss up to just the right person, so I could buy your KTM 950 Adventure testbike cheap. I'd be more than happy to let you come out and ride around in my Bradley Fighting Vehicle, or I could take pictures of your magazine next to Sadam's spider hole-anything I can do to get you to sell me that bike.
Sgt. K~vi~ Stab Operation Iraqi Freedom
Worth the wait?
You are making my life very difficult! I decided a few months ago to save all your magazines to read over our long Midwestern winter. I had been doing okay until today when the October issue arrived. I love shootouts and concours articles, and this issue (according to the cover, because I haven't opened it yet) has both. Do you have any idea what tor ture this is? Do you care? Besides, even if you print this letter, I will not see it until three months from now when my self-imposed moratorium is over. All I can say is that the wait is excruciatingly painful, so it had better be worth it.
John Bonsett-VeaI Madison, Wisconsin
Sadly, John, you missed our heavily dis counted testbike auction and your kid probably absconded with the bikini posters...
