Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Flight Red

I just finished reading Peter Egan’s piece titled “Flight Red” in the June issue and it brought a tear to my eye. The story made me proud to be an American and even prouder of those brave men and women in the armed forces who have served, and are still serving, our country today.

While returning home from the HOG Posse Ride two years ago, I stopped at a small café in a little out-of-the-way town in eastern Oregon. After finishing a great meal, I went outside to get back on my bike and continue my 2000mile-plus journey back to the East Coast, when an elderly gentleman and a young boy approached me. The man admired my Harley and said he used to ride one in the war. He proceeded to take a faded photo from his wallet, and

there he was in leather helmet and goggles holding a Colt .45 astride a WWII Harley! He told me of his exploits serving as a courier. I then asked if he and the young boy would like to sit on the 2006 version of a Harley and he nodded yes. As he and his great grandson settled in, a tear came to his eye and I could see he was reliving part of his past.

So, yes, motorcycles are like great books. They can transport us to another place and time and conjure up memories from a faded past. Kudos to the Harley Museum for taking the time to honor those who have served and to Mr. Egan for another great story, and special thanks to Jack, the old soldier from Oregon, for serving our country so many years ago! Lou Fraulo Clifton, New Jersey

Hot for librarian

I did not receive the May issue of Cycle World at home and was really missing it. I am a librarian, so I simply went over to our magazine collection and read it at work. I was so pleased to read Peter Egan’s column (“The Empty Bookshelf”) about visiting his old hometown library. Em sorry that there wasn’t much on motorcycling there for him when he was a boy. My library, the Plymouth District Library in Plymouth, Michigan, has a terrific collection of motorcycling books, DVDs and, of course, your fine magazine.

It helps when the librarian is a motorcycle enthusiast. Patrons expect to see my BMW in our parking lot and motorcycling materials on our shelves. If other riders don’t see what they want on their library shelves, I hope they will tell the librarian so she/he can fix that problem. Alice McCardell Plymouth, Michigan

Dave’s Used Bikes

Oh, how quickly they forget! In the June issue, David Edwards rides the new Suzuki Gladius and says its 12.08-second quarter-mile pass is “quicker than any SV we’ve ever sampled, save for last year’s 11.99-second rocketship.” Excuse me, but currently tucked away on my external hard drive is a scan of OFs test of the 2003 SV650. According to your data, the ’03 tripped the timers in 11.93 seconds at 110.59 mph. Tell the new “Happy Buns 650” that my ’03 says hello.

And tell Edwards that all will be forgiven if he’ll just ship me his auction-bought Spondon chassis (“The Bargain Boutique,” Up Front, June). To make things easier, I’ll even cough up some money for the freight. I do need a weight estimate for the shipper, though. How much less does a pallet weigh with a Spondon chassis strapped to it?

Scott Larson Grand Forks, North Dakota

I applaud Editor Edwards’ taste in picking up a good used Bimota at auction. When I worked at Honda R&D, we would from time to time purchase interesting motorcycles and cars, and then ship them to Japan, allegedly for “research,” but actually because some exec wanted to play with a cool American or European toy.

In 1978 or ’79, we got a big crate that turned out to contain a Bimota, I believe an SB 1. This bike was so ahead of its time, and so incredibly intelligent in design, craftsmanship and engineering, that I can still see it in my mind’s eye 30 years later. This was the model in which the space frame surrounded the Suzuki GS engine and came apart with four joining cones, each with three or four little bolts holding the two mating parts together.

Yes, it was ridiculously expensive, and it wasn’t too many more years before the Japanese began making production sportbikes that were almost as nice, but when it comes to dream bikes, an early Bimota like David’s Dieci is way up on my list. John Olsen

Posted on www.cycleworld.com

Ogre in memoriam

CWs late, great Off-Road Editor Ron “The Ogre” Griewe had such a way of turning a phrase. One time I ran into him at Mike’s Sky Ranch in Baja and he warned me not to ride a certain trail by simply saying, “It’s more work than fun.” Nuff said.

I purchased my first streetbike, a BMW R100GS, based on the Cycle World test Ron did on that bike, in which he wrote, “If Indiana Jones rode a motorcycle, it would be a BMW R100GS.” Well, a couple of weeks ago when I was parking my brand-new 1200GS in front of the Rock Store off California’s famous Mulholland Drive, some guy parked his new GS next to mine. His name was Harrison Ford, better known as...Indiana Jones!

The Spirit of The Ogre lives.

Kirk Garber Simi Valley, California

The Great Peter Egan Relocation Program

After reading Peter Egan’s confused musings on where he should relocate with his frozen black toes (“Climate Control,” Leanings, June),

I feel obliged to assist his quest for a more temperate clime.

Of course, he should move to Texas! More curves than Florida, less stupidity and taxes than California, more guns than the Russian Army-hell, more guns than anybody’s damn army. Those other little states he mentioned are of no consequence and need no real consideration. We’ve got music by Stevie, Willie, ZZ, 13th Floor Elevator (that’ll date you), Lyle and Robert Earl. There is no better life-résumé enhancer than walking tall and letting them know you’re from Texas. The pretty women just melt and swoon, which is handy because the prettiest ones already live here. Joe McGuire Nacogdoches, Texas

Hey, Pete, I just read your column on the nasty winters up there. I live in a hangar on a grass airstrip just outside of Cleveland, Georgia. There is a sweet 15-acre tract next to me for sale that I’ll bet could be had reasonably.

Doug Vance Cleveland, Georgia

Peter, you can borrow my Aprilia and visit a nearby airpark subdivision. Seriously, fly down, pick up the Mille and have fun. By the way, the weather is only nice here 362 days of the year; the other three are just awful.

John Czubas Liberty Hill, Texas

Peter, let me suggest Sierra Sky Park in Fresno, California, the first development of its kind in the U.S., a historical landmark. For riding, the Sierras are just minutes away; the coast, about 1.5 hours; the desert, 2.5 hours. For tracks, there is Laguna Seca (2 hours), Buttonwillow (2 hours), Willow Springs (2.5 hours). The summers can be hot but the humidity is low. We have an active vintage bike club and are the home of Dan Rouit’s Flat Track Museum.

At 64 years young, I am a licensed pilot, own and restore motorcycles, and have two Taylor guitars and a uke. Guess who my favorite Editor-at-Large is.

Gary Rosa Clovis, California

If you’re quite done freezing your umlauts off in Wisconsin, consider this: Santa Paula, California, about 65 miles north of the L.A. basin, has a small airport crammed with vintage aircraft, and live-in hangars are available. Directly adjacent to the airport is the Santa Clara riverbed, fit for a few quick rides on your dirtbike of choice. Highway 150 nearby leads to Ojai and Highway 33-true nirvana. I heard that it snowed once 50 or so years ago, but I’ve only been living nearby for 45, so can’t comment.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t invite anybody here, as the place is already way more populated than it was 40 years ago, and I like to keep the secret, but to you and Barb I send a big SoCal welcome. By the way, just to pique your interest, a B-l 7 flew over my house this afternoon... Dave Allen

Santa Paula, California

Peter, I was so moved by your recent column about Wisconsin frostbite that I feel obliged to tell you the secret location of The Perfect Place to Live: north-central Washington. Way less rain than the coast, snow in the winter if you want it (live 30 miles east if you don’t), hundreds of miles of scenic twisties, hundreds more of Forest Service dirt roads. I wouldn’t tell this to just anybody, but you seem like you'd make a nice neighbor, especially since you own a lot of tools.

Jack Mynatt Leavenworth, Washington

Peter, why don’t you consider moving to central Texas? There is an endless supply of small farm and county roads with almost no traffic, winding through green fields with wildflowers in abundant supply and native live oak trees everywhere. Almost no winter, no state tax, year-round riding, countless barbeque establishmerits, motorcycle-friendly people and live music everywhere, even in grocery stores! I’ve lived in Colorado and New Mexico, but central Texas beats them all. Bring your Harley down. We’ll go riding. Pete Vera

Georgetown, Texas

Feet heat

Tell Egan he doesn’t have to leave Wisconsin, he just needs “Mickey Mouse Boots,” wool-lined rubber winter footwear first issued to G.I.s in the Korean War. A quick Google will show several places to buy them. I found out about the

boots in the ’60s and have had I several pairs since. There are very few things I’m sure about, but warm feet are a guarantee with these boots

Bill Holaday

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Just in time, Bill. The Texas contingent almost had Egan swayed...

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