Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

DEPARTMENTS

Southern comfort

Just read the article on J.T. Nesbitt’s Confederate Wraith (“Cutting Edge,” April). Finally, an American motorcycle company with some cajones! Hopefully, this will spark a revolution that the South can win! Hey, Willie G., maybe you should take a trip to Louisiana for some Confederate gumbo! As to guest-columnist Craig Vetter’s “Time & Design” critique of the Wraith’s styling: Gee, Craig, maybe we could fix that “fixable” front end with one of your really cool Windjammer fairings? Kristian Armstrong Airville, Pennsylvania

I thoroughly liked your article on the Confederate Wraith. The design is spectacular, and the whole experience of viewing the pictures was topped off by Craig Vetter’s right-on analysis. Thanks also for showing his 1973 Triumph Hurricane X-75, in my opinion the finest example of motorcycle design, ever. Sam Dawson Dulzura, California

Vetter’s piece was the best thing I’ve read in a motorsports book in a long while. Bruce Armstrong Santa Barbara, California

I’m not sure about the Wraith, but anyone who considers John Britten an influence is on the right track. As for the production Hellcat, the swingarm exhaust is interesting, but certainly not unique. The 1949 Imme R100, which was part of the Guggenheim’s “Art of the Motorcycle” exhibit, had a similar setup. Mario PatutO Union, New Jersey

I feel compelled to write about something dear to my heart, namely the articles on stripped-down streetbikes that you’ve been featuring. What prompted me was the Confederate Wraith and, before that, the Jesse James VTX1800 café-racer. It seem as though the style/marketing mavens in the industry may be coming around at last, recognizing that stripped streetbikes capture the essence of motorcycling style, attitude and performance. Richard Collins Berlin, Maryland

I have delighted in your recent issues; they have remnants of design mags like ID or Innovation rather than the usual redneck attempt at “talkin’ ’bout them newuns.” (I’d write the names of some magazines down, but I don’t want to further acknowledge their existence.) CfPs article about the Confederate will inspire responses from critics, I’m sure. To me, the Wraith speaks for itself as a powerful symbol of freedom, and I give kudos to your ability to interpret the sophisticated language the bike so shrewdly speaks. Ethan Parker Phoenix, Arizona

Apparently not everyone is listening quite as intently, Ethan. Read on.

Wraith wrath

You ran this article just to see how many of us out here would titter, giggle, howl, roar or curse, didn’t you? Come on now, fess up. Obfuscatorially speaking, the Wraith may be art, but it sure as hell isn’t a motorcycle. I truly admire Craig Vetter’s tact and diplomacy as he damns it with faint praise. He says the front end is “fixable.” Right, after they lose the grasshopper mandibles, that is. Who wants a bike that scares farm animals, sends little kids howling for their mothers and curdles the cream in your coffee? Ray Sutton North Vancouver, B.C., Canada

The Confederate Wraith is certainly the ugliest bike to come across CFTs pages in a while. It belongs in an art museum for the blind. Dave Reid Mahwah, New Jersey

Over the years, Cycle World has shown many strange and interesting motorcycles. This said, after looking at the Wraith, I can see no redeeming features; it is as ugly as a can of smashed a-holes. John Ebert Phoenix, Arizona

Mr. Nesbitt can talk about “kinetic sculpture” and “listening to the material” all he wants. The Wraith is still ugly as sin. Trevin Vonburg Beatrice, Nebraska

Which has to be a step above oV “Thumbs-Down ” Ebert ’s opinion, no? I’d love to see a picture of a 300-pound redneck with a Nazi helmet astride the Wraith. Ray Truant Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Us, too. According to Parker, though, he works at another magazine...

The Wraith, huh? Gottlieb Daimler would have been proud. They should have made this thing out of wood instead of carbon-fiber. The future of motorcycle design? I’ll continue to ride my 1999 Kawasaki 1500 Drifter and pretend it’s 1948. That’s about as far back as I want to go. Rik Savering Meeker, Colorado

Let me state first that I am not a Harley owner; I ride Japanese bikes, always have, always will. But to read some of the comments made by the wizened 32year-old J.T. Nesbitt regarding the future of American design not being set by Harley?! I gotta ask, was he smoking dope the day of the interview? Of course, H-D is defining American motorcycle design; it has been for the > last 25-plus years. When boutique builders like Confederate can produce a model line anywhere near as successful-or as imitated-as Harley-Davidson, then Nesbitt will have the right to let his ego say otherwise. Until then, he might try to keep his overblown opinion of his own work to himself. Lee Spector Cooper City, Florida

What a load of crap! If Nesbitt wants to “make a difference in the world,” he should get a medical degree and save lives in some Third World country. He says he’ll either “design motorcycles or be a waiter.” Better get fitted for that uniform, J.T. Andrew Hoehn 'A'aterford, Michigan

Prospective owners of the $40,000 Wraith needn’t worry about the bike’s lack of seat padding. At those prices, their wallets should suffice. Peter Freiberger Los Angeles, California

Pain-killers, please

Just got the April issue. Saw the Wraith, saw the Ducati choppers, saw the Flying Pan. Enough! I’ll talk. I’ll sign the confession. Just stop the pain. Please. Hans Bertelsen Renton, Washington

There is a very good reason Ducati’s illfated Indiana cruiser was produced for only one year. Seeing Mr. Zabas’ Frankenstein creations brings back the frightening memories and nightmares all over again. Brad Ramsey Lima, Ohio

Scooter trash

Cycle World's riding impression of the Vespa Grantourismo in the April issue gently mocks the idea of traveling by motorscooter. How ironic it is that the Vespa is the only two-wheeler in that whole issue primarily designed to transport a human. How about less coverage of cartoons like the Wraith and those “Chopped Ducks?” Some of us still ride, even scooters. Riley Tharp Greencastle, Indiana

New knee

Give us a break, one whole page on Edwards’ knee operation! He should write for a medical mag. What a waste of space. Bill Frauenpries Gibsonia, Pennsylvania

I really enjoyed "Season of the Knee" (Up Front, March), especially David's appreciative mention of the 30-year-old man who donated the Achilles tendon now in his knee. I myself am a regis tered donor, and if I can save or help one person with what remains of me, that would be the ultimate. The point of this letter is to encourage people to think about bettering the human race with a selfless donation of your organs after death. I mean, what are you going to do with them, anyway? David Kellington Meifort, Saskatchewan, Canada

After reading about the Editor’s ACL replacement, I thought it might be a good time to enlighten the readers of Cycle World about organ and tissue donation. Here are some recent facts:

• More than 83,000 Americans are currently waiting for life-saving organ transplants. About 3000 more people are added to the list each month.

• An average of 17 people die each day while waiting for an organ transplant.

• Up to 50 people in need can benefit from one person’s decision to be an organ and tissue donor.

My wife and I lost our 12-year-old son in October, 2001. Within hours of his death, we got the call from the Arizona Donor Network, asking if we wanted to donate Max’s organs and tissue. How could I say no? As a result of our decision, two people now have sight, and a young boy in California can now lead a normal, healthy life thanks to a transplant of my son’s heart valves.

I encourage every reader of this magazine to be a registered donor. Contact organ-donor organizations in your local area for more information. Scott Colbath Scottsdale, Arizona

My cruisin’ Vinnie

Loved the new Vincent Black Eagle power-cruiser (CW, March). I want it! I’m hoping that they offer an introductory offer of... let’s say $7K for deserving graduate students! Robert Rogers Piscataway, New Jersey

I really enjoyed reading about the RC51 -powered Black Eagle and wish Barney Li good luck in getting it to production. But why has it taken so long for someone to use a truly high-performance engine to build a cruiser? It’s a shame that looking and sounding like a Harley VTwin has dictated displacement being the only way to increase power. The Black Eagle has me picturing other potential power-cruisers-maybe Suzuki could find yet another home for that TL1000 engine, or Kawi could build a new-generation Eliminator with a big, bad ZRX mill. Dana Klay Prides Crossing, Massachusetts

Or maybe a Harley-Davidson V-Rod... ?

Is it just me, or does every other powercruiser suddenly look really slow and old? The Black Eagle’s radiators actually make the engine area more businesslike, with those exhaust pipes making up for any lost beauty. Good luck, Mr. Li! David Florida Kalamazoo, Michigan

Give Jesse James the RC51 for a towering mega-chop, and hand Li the VTX1800 engine for a realistic chance at his Vincent revival. Hey, Barney, narrow-angle V-Twin, narrow-angle V-Twin, narrow-angle V-Twin! Randall Leonard Watsonville, California >

Anger management

I am a huge motorcycle roadracing fan, and a lot of it has to do with how the riders conduct themselves on the track. Not like those NASCAR brats. However, Aaron Yates’ conduct after his crash in the Daytona 200 changed that. To kick a competitor in the back is beyond reprehensible. Yates is a ticking time bomb and if the AMA, Suzuki and every company that has a logo on his leathers lets him keep riding in this condition, the sport isn’t the only thing that may be damaged. Remember last year, when he took out a row of riders at Laguna Seca? His actions are a disgrace to the sport. Pat Bandy Austin, Texas

For his conduct after tangling with backmarker Anthony Fania during the closing laps at Daytona, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Yates was fined $5000 by the AMA and suspended for one race; Suzuki docked him an additional $25,000. As of presstime, Yates had issued no formal apology.

Send résumé

Do you, or anyone else out there, know how my hot girlfriend could get a job promoting merchandise at the races this summer? Umbrella girl or something? Mel Woolf San Mateo, California

We’ve heard that the Aaron Yates’ Zoloft concession may have some openings...

Rotary Club

My advice to Peter Egan’s friend Jim Buck {Leanings, March) is to avoid the Suzuki RE-5 like a cold sore. Its only redeeming quality is that it’s different. Imagine trying to find parts for that toad.

But I laugh out loud every time I recall the 1976 RE-5 press intro, for which yours truly, representing CW, and other scribes were flown by Cessna Citation to a remote location in the SoCal desert, where we jumped on new Rotaries and headed off onto Interstate 8, bound for Yuma in very warm conditions.

Arriving at rush hour, our instructions were to follow Suzuki’s van to the hotel so we wouldn’t get lost. But my RE-5 wasn’t happy in traffic, and soon the temp needle was pegged. I pulled up behind the van at a light, as did Cycle Guide’s Sam Moses on my left and a Japanese Suzuki engineer on his left.

Sam’s needle was pegged, too, so I told him to tell the engineer, a tiny guy who spoke no English. Sam pointed to his own temp gauge, and the engineer leaned over to see. With short legs, he leaned too far and tipped over into Sam, who tipped over into me. Just like dominos, we went down. I wound up on the sidewalk, laughing hysterically, as car horns honked behind. The van driver looked in his mirror when the light turned green, and we had disappeared! Just like the RE-5 did from the market a short time later, and with good reason. Peter is lucky he missed the RE-5 era. D. Randy Riggs Novato, California

Former Cycle World Senior Editor Riggs is editor-in-chief of Vintage Motorsport, senior writer for Racer and U.S. editor for 4 Wheels, a Greek auto magazine. He stays busy racing vintage cars and riding the backroads of Marin County, California.

Egan noted that, “No one had many good things to say about the bike.” Good point, as some journalists were just plain closed-minded about something that new. After riding various RE-5s most of my adult life, and with my current “driver” showing 379,000 miles, I have found them to be a most rewarding, dependable touring bike. There’s plenty of help/parts out there, such as the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, Rotary Recycle (www.rotaryrecycle.net) and the LeMans America Suzuki Owners club. Happy Rotoring! Tim Johnston Riverside, California

Please tell Peter Egan if he would like to try out a Suzuki RE-5, 1976, black, under 5000 miles, let me know. I will drop it off when the snow melts and he can evaluate it for a few days. Del Martin Marinette, Wisconsin

What, and risk bothersome mind-opening enlightenment... ? □