Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Mighty One

I just read Peter Egan’s “On the Trail of the Mighty One” (Leanings, March) about communist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara as portrayed in the recent movie The Motorcycle Diaries. Peter, you not only need Spanish, but geography lessons! The country is Colombia, not “Columbia.” If you ever dare to cross South America on a motorcycle and plan a trip through Colombia, please contact me. I will be glad to help with logistics, advice, even riding along.

Today the country is not as dangerous as you suggest. Security has improved substantially under the Uribe administration. Of course, if someone who hasn’t done his homework gets the urge to ride a mountain backroad that’s off the map, or take a shortcut, there might be trouble. If that someone doesn’t speak the language-or at least know the name of the country-chances of trouble can be higher... Felipe Gaviria Bogotá, Colombia

Like Peter, after seeing Motorcycle Diaries, I also wanted to go on a long ride through South America. Stories from a friend, an ex-Special Forces Marine who rode from Chile to California, show that it can be done. He made it through with a heavy throttle, a bandana to hide his Midwestern grin and a belt-buckle dagger. Morgan Smith La Jolla, California

Peter Egan shows a level of interest in South America that goes beyond what I’ve perceived from the average American. Although I’m not in a position to contradict Mr. Egan regarding possible difficulties a foreigner might face in many countries down here, I think it is safe to say that, at least in Chile, U.S. riders probably won’t have to deal with any unusual hazards or unexpected interruptions in their trips, as long as they avoid raw vegetables and stick to bottled water. Uwe Luttecke Rancagua, Chile

Che vs. Che

Egan’s characterization of Che Guevara seemed to imply that he was a criminal in his later life. I find it highly suspect that Egan would accuse Che of such if he had truly read and understood “The Motorcycle Diaries,” the book on which the movie was based.

Was he not able to see why Che became a revolutionary? Che wanted to equalize the world. Granted, some of his followers were not the best of men, but even the United States has done terrible things in its pursuit of global hegemony. Maligning Guevara in this article was unnecessary. All Che really wanted was for all the people of Latin America to rise up and take their place in the world. Yes, he did bad things. Yes, he killed people. But he did it with an eye that the end justifies the means. How different was he from our own CIA? Don’t criticize someone that you do not, or will not, understand. Jon Current Hillsboro, Oregon

Note to Peter Egan; Che Guevara was a doctor whose expertise became torturing and mutilating people. He was put to death for a reason, but not soon enough, Criss Mattingly Columbus, Ohio Wow! I am speechless. Egan writes, “Other than a few, glaring fatal flaws, of course, Guevara had many admirable traits.” I have subscribed to Cycle World for decades and have every issue since Vol. 1, No. 1, but I have now cancelled my subscription. As an apology to the thousands of people Guevara imprisoned, tortured and murdered, I think Cycle World should send my refund to the Cuban Liberty Council. Noel Squitieri Kunkletown, Pennsylvania

Capitalist pig

As Egan notes, not only did Che Guevara have one of the first Ducatis (Little Pup engine attached to bicycle), but he also advertised for the company! On his return to Buenos Aires, he took the engine in for an overhaul. When the dealer learned of the distance Che covered, he agreed to rebuild the engine in exchange for an endorsement. There is a famous photo of Ernesto, spare tires over his shoulder, astride the bike. Che wrote, “It has functioned perfectly during my extensive tour, and I have noted only that toward the end it lost compression, the reason for which I send it to you for repair.” Bob Wojta St. Louis, Missouri

Loewy blow

In his Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe test (CW, March), Steve Anderson mucked up the surname of Raymond Loewy, the famous industrial designer of the 1930s-50s. FYI, Loewy (on left in photo) was the designer of the Studebaker Avanti, just about the best body that ever got built on a mediocre chassis. Michael Lubin San Leandro, California Great article on the 2005 H-D Softail Deluxe. But could you alert Anderson that while his Raymond “Lowery” was designing radios, Raymond Loewy was busy designing not only radios, but also locomotives, cars and the classic Coke bottle, as well as logos for Shell, BP, Lucky Strike and even Air Force One. What might he have done with America’s other “classic,” Harley-Davidson? Sadly, we’ll never know. Dan Bear Westerville, Ohio

Ray “Lowery” is a Scottish light-bulb technician and part-time custom motorcycle builder from Gary, Indiana. He is responsible for initiating the trend of using an acrylic doorknob as a handle on a jockey shifter, completely ruining otherwise stylistically beautiful motorcycles. John Tokarz Brookfield, Wisconsin

Okay, fine, but on the plus side he never tortured or mutilated anybody, nor was he a simpering shill for Ducati.

Forgotten Hondas?

All those Hondas your staffers had/have (Hotshots, March) and no 1983-84 700S Nighthawks? You missed one of the best, don’t you think? I wish Honda could recreate it. Christopher Brindell-Wat Hendersonville, North Carolina

Not one of you has ever owned a Valkyrie, a GL Gold Wing or a Blackbird? You are collectively shunning three of Honda’s finest bikes! For shame! Norman R Olt West Linn, Oregon

So, a CW reader named Mr. “Runswith Scissors” (Hotshots, March) thinks you’re unfair to Hondas, especially the VTX1800N in the Sturgis Shootout?

The comparisons performed by the magazine are just that. They are the staff’s collected opinion. I am tired of reading all these crybaby letters. Get over it. If you are happy with your choice of motorcycle, then who cares? I ride a Honda Shadow Spirit VT1100. If the folks at CW wrote a negative review about it (they didn’t), I am not gonna throw a fit like some kid. I am not going to write to them and whine about it. I like it, and I do not need external validation to know it’s a good bike for me. So relax and enjoy the great compari and insightful tests. Take what you and leave the rest. Arnold Sai Anderson, Indiana

Girls, girls, girls...

Who is the girl in Triumph ads? Inquiring minds want to know. Glenn Coffi Salisbury, Maryl

I have decided to up riding and devote my spare time satisfying all the poor Triumph wo whose men are too busy riding around on their giant rockets. Dirk Diggler Las Vegas, New Jersey

Tracking Triumph

As a 50-something male, your article on the “Triumph Tracker” (CW, March) hit a nerve. If Triumph were to build this motorcycle, I would buy it and I think many others would follow suit. Think of it as the anti-Harley, classic looks combined with modern elements. And. dare I say, a price that woii't deplete the piggybank. Some of us grew up riding Triumphs and some grew up wanting to ride Triumphs-this fills the bill for both. Rick Robinson Azusa, California

Just make sure that Diggler fellow doesn’t start hanging around the house...

I was absolutely blown away by Richard Pollock’s Triumph Tracker. Based on the positive reaction at my local Tokyo Triumph dealer, the folks at Hinckley should start tooling up to produce it! A trip to the Mule Motorcycles website (www.mulemotorcycles.com) confirms that Pollock is one of the most talented custom builders working today. Burton Biume Tokyo, Japan

Allan Girdler refers to the Japanesemade magnesium wheels on the Triumph Tracker as replicas of 1970s Lesters. They are, in fact, copies of Morris mags from that era. Richard Nowels Yorba Linda, California

Quite right, and we need to make another correction. The seven-spoke Sundance wheels retail for about $3000 a pair-not each, as we wrote.

Cheap choppers

Regarding “Working Class Customs” (CW, March), how refreshing it is to see a real-world chopper that does not cost as much as most people’s mortgage! Pete Wilson Vancouver, Washington

The machines from Sucker Punch Sallys are nothing less than a revelation for this dedicated sport-touring rider. For years, Fve been disgusted by glittering billet queens built by people who seem to feel the need to prove that they are multaneously counterculture rebels and capitalist fat cats.

In a world of eye-candy choppers that look like they were designed by Christian Dior on acid, the “antiqued” SPS showbike is like an honest pair of leather work gloves. It’s like a 40-year-old “public rack” bowling ball or a cold can of Schlitz beer. It’s got, “I just came home from helping win WWII, I want to ride and I don’t give a damn what you think” written all over And really, isn’t it time that choppers were reclaimed by the working class? Jefferson T. Packer Salt Lake City, Utah

Lesson learned late

After seven years’ absence from motorcycling, I have once again entered the brotherhood by purchasing a new Honda 919. A couple of observations: 1) Tires are very slick leaving the showroom floor. 2) Unfaired bikes sustain much less damage than faired bikes should one immediately lay the bike down upon leaving the dealership due to above-mentioned slick tires. Vandiver Boyles Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Ted MIA?

What the hell happened to Ted? Ted was smart and funny. Bring back Ted! Steve Burnside Duncan, B.C., Canada

Last we heard, Ted was somewhere between Chile and California, wearing a bandana and a belt-buckle dagger...