Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Talk about déjà vu all over again: Just last week I was wondering what ever happened to Jay-Don’t Call Me PeeWee Anymore-Gleason and not only do you give me the answer, you have him testing the new Yamaha VMax (“Max Muscle,” December)!
Mr. Max & Jay, together again
I remember Jay being used to extract the best quarter-mile times from all kinds of production bikes in the Eighties, but of course my memory bums brightest about the V-Max. Tell Jay “Hi,” and thanks to Cycle World for bringing him back. Richard Krebs Pensacola, Florida
Read the road test on the 2009-model VMax. Good luck, Yamaha. Tell me why I need to drop 18 big ones on a bike that
is slower than the original! I read that when the project designer was asked why only 138 mph, he said they decided that was fast enough for 1 the Max's riding position. I'll decide what's fast enough for me! Mike Detert I Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sadly, the new Max is topend limited and traction-challenged. To quote an appropriate oldie, “Where’s the ¡($17,990) beef?” Stan Sinex Everett, Washington
Please do not ask how I found this out, but if you hold page 37 of the VMax test up to light, you will see an older Jay Gleason smiling down on the younger!
S. Berkemeier St. Louis, Missouri
Editor Edwards references the V-Max coverage in CW...23 years ago; Peter Egan reflects on his time at Road Track...23 years ago; and Executive Editor Hoyer mentions his...23 years of legal road riding.
Is 23 the new cool prime number?
Marck Aguilar Posted on www.cycleworld.com
No offense intended, Marck, but you and Berkemeier need to get out a little
Giro heroes
While reading the story about the Motogiro America classic-bike rally, I was extremely pleased to see the paragraph that stated there’s an interest in using this event to create a whole motorcycle week in the Monterey Peninsula.
I have long wished for an annual West Coast event to rival those east of the Rockies. There once was hope with the AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle Days West at Sears Point Raceway, but that lived a short life.
If CW has any influence in creating such an annual event, my hope is that you will pursue it. And thank you for the terrific story and photos of Motogiro. Edward Frank
Pauma Valley, California
There is just such a movement afoot. Friend of the magazine and Motogiro America co-organizer Burt Richmond is part of a group putting on “The Meet” (uwv.themeetatmonterey.com). bookended by the Motogiro on one end and the Laguna Seca USGP on the other. In between there is a vintage motorcycle auction, a concours, rides, symposiums, club meetings, etc.
CHATTER
What the Forums at cycleworldcom are saying about the 2009 Star VMax The original V-Max wasn't put into any of the stupid sub categories we have today-it was just a fast friggin' bike. The new one is a disappointment; too bad Yamaha didn't stick to a more-focused plan to build the baddest s.o.b. on the planet. I know they wanted to keep old V-Max owners happy, but lose 200 pounds and the shaft drive, and it could have been a contender. If the previous V-Max is any indication, then I must assume that Yamaha has other uses for this wonderful engine... as in the Royal Star, the Venture or who knows what? Shoehorn that V-Four into the Yamaha Warrior and give it chain drive. Uh, no thanks. Not light, not efficient, not priced right and not good looking. The new VMax is 1 0 years too late. To introduce an expen sive, inefficient and basically pointless Max now is poor market timing. But the market always decides who is right. I guess we'll all see, won't we? Dunno, it's priced really well when compared to, say, a Harley V-Rod Muscle. Inefficient? Hahahahaha! You cannot run a low-i 0-second quarter-mile and still be fuel efficient; that is too funny! Pointless? Totally false, some people just do not get it. It is not a mass-produced bike for the lambs. I think my biggest disappointment-which seems to be the generally shared feeling-is that the VMax comes across like a modernized freshening of the original, rather than a truly inspired design. I guess I expected a new motorcycle with the soul of the original, rather than an engine and frame update.
For the record, Steve Flach, Motogiro America `08 over all winner, was on a Honda CL16OD. The "D" stands for dealer-installed kit. The motorcycle was produced by Honda as a CB 160. To promote sales of the then-popular street scrambler style, Honda produced kits to turn CBs into CLs. Seat, handlebar, gas tank and exhaust were the main parts. But the CB front fender and fork remained, so you can always tell a bike with the D kit.
My own 160 is a CL160D returned to CB160 configuration. What a great little bike! I even think there is a little Italian content in the design.
Ralph Noble Poulsbo, Washington
Thanks, Ralph, we are now fully armed for the next Honda trivia contest.
Spyder ryder
Steve Thompson’s article about the CanAm Spyder (“Three Story,” December) was interesting and insightful. What stood out most for me, though, was the picture (page 50) of Mr. Thompson on the Spyder with his disabled foot bungeed to the pedal. I think this is the quintessential photo that captures why we motorcyclists ride, and the lengths we will go to do so. Paraphrasing Mr. Thompson, motorcycles “can transform a drive into a ride and a trip into an experience.” Well stated. Thank you. Bernard C. Anderson Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Thompson’s article was great because the viewpoint was from a passionate “prevented rider,” not a two-wheel rider who fundamentally doesn’t like three-wheelers, as in past stories on the Spyder I’ve read.
I, too, am handicapped or “ride challenged,” paralyzed in both feet, although I do walk with the aid of a cane. I currently own a 2004 BMW RI 150RT, with modifications to the shifter and seat to make sure I can still ride. The linked ABS brakes ensure adequate stopping despite my handicap.
I think it would be interesting to publish an article about how we ridechallenged people have not let our disabilities prevent us from riding.
Todd Thompson Southbury, Connecticut
Girl Power
You gave a Down to Harley-Davidson {Roundup, December) for excluding men in its women s riding guide? Seriously? Poor babies you men are, being excluded from such a huge part of the industry.
Please don’t call me a women’s libber, as I am not by any means. I realized when I started riding that it was a testosterone-dominated world, and it always will be. That doesn’t bother me. I ride for me and not to look cute in my pinkand-blue tasseled leather bra and matching chaps-just to satisfy the stereotype.
Accept H-D’s guide for what it is, a publication to let women know that there are options. If it doesn’t meet your requirements, no need to stomp your feet and pout about it; go to your local bookstore and pick up one of the 15 other motorcycle magazines geared for men.
Tami Finch Richfield, Minnesota
Sportin' a Norton
Can you give me some tech data on the Norton shown in the lead photo of the Legend Concours article (“Coming and Going,” September)? The frame looks Italian, and I see some Kenny Dreer influence but can’t be sure. I can hardly believe all the equipment still available for such a vintage bike. A guy could build a real hot-rod. Ed Saxon
Taji, Iraq
Red menace
IJI~II~~~ How could you say that Ducati "won" Pikes Peak (Roundup, November) when its Hypermotard, in winning the 1200cc class, only came in fourth overall? An Aprilia SXV55O won the 750 class and was first overall. This smells of "red" journalism and makes me think that Ducati is buying more advertising from you than Aprilia.
Dave Richardson Seaffle. Washinaton
Say Ténéré
Great article on the Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré (CW, November). I hope the bean-counting marketing department at Yamaha U.S. will give us the opportunity to buy one. Fat chance of that happening. We don’t all ride cruisers or sportbikes. BMW’s best-selling bike is the R1200GS. I have a 1200GS, an HOOGS and an F650, but I have room in my garage for a Ténéré. Yamaha, my checkbook is open.
Dave Kidder
Chandler, Arizona
Sorry to say it ’ll probably be a cold day in, er... Chandler, Dave, before Yamaha brings the Ténéré to the USA. Same goes for Honda and the Transalp. O
OP/ED
L I read with great interest "Blast from the was ordered to appear at the U.S. Consuls Past" (Race Watch October) abo~ the in Melbourne Arrangern~~~~ were ma Daytona Battle of the Twins-winning neofor him to work his way back home on Vincent racebike built by Australia's HRD us. merchant ship. I Stayed for anoth Engineering. The reason for the interest is eight months and returned in 1969. Ric that I am the brother of Eric Hawkinson who was inducted into the Army; after basi was mentioned in the article as selling his training he went to Tank School, then Tan to HRD's Homer brothers back in Commander School and advanced to stal 1968, which got the whole project started sergeant in just 10 months He was sen I am not blaming anyone for the errors to Vietnam and was a tank commande in the article, as it took place 4Q years ago seven months later during the Cambodian and neither the writer nor Ken Homer were invasion. In that operation, he encountered a in much of a Position to know the truth, hand.gren~~~ booby trap and the war was but I hope YOU will see fit to correct this Over for him. He spent 18 months at the VA misinformation, hospital recovering from his Wounds. The article pre~ much made us out to To the Homer brothers: In the last 40 years, be a Couple of draft dodgers. However my I must have kicked myself 10,000 times for brother and I had legitimately immigrated to letting that Vincent engine slip through my Australia in the summer of 1964. We had fingers when I could have bought the project permanent visas, and I had already served from my brother and finished it for my Own four years in the U.S. Navy and had been use. However you guys have taken much honorably discharged. I was 23 and Rick farther than I would have ever dreamed. I will was 19. This was before the Vietnam War consider my inadvertent and minor, but ve~ was really rolling, so saying we went Down real, sac~fjce as being well Spent in setting Under to escape the military is totally incoryou on a path that has added a significant ect. We went there because we Wanted the chapter to the mighty Vincent legend and the )pportunity to live in Australia and for no legacy of Phil Irving, who we met once while )ther reason, in Melbourne. Good on ya, mates, you've About a year after our arrival, Rick done a fantastic job. Let's face it, nothing ceived a draft notice, It had been delivbefore or Since has come even close to a red to our mother's address in Detroit and Vincent for sheer, awe-inspiring badass. I y the time it got to us in Australia, it was couldn't be more delighted at seeing the end ready past the date he had been ordered result of the humble start Rick and I made so report. So he wrote a letter to his local long ago. Al Hawkinson aft board asking what to do and telling Carlsbad New Mexico m he didn't have the money to get back. never received a reply and for the ne~ Got somet/~g to say about ee years he would get annual draft noticThen fire away! Letters chosen for Op/Ed that always arrived after the reporting win the writer a C~cIe Woild T-shfrt E-mail e. He would write again and ask what to to cw/etters~hfll/us corn sna//-m~/ to CW and flO reply ever came, Letters 1499 Moprowá Ave., Newport Beach, nally, in 1968 they got serious and he CA 92663.
