Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Score one for Hayes

I just finished reading Andrew Wheeler’s article on Josh Hayes racing the Yamaha MotoGP bike in Spain (“World Class,” February). I was rooting for Hayes the entire time, although I realized the obstacles he faced were enormous. Your article was outstanding and gave an intimate insight of just how daunting those obstacles must have been. What an incredible opportunity and experience for him to be able to rise to the occasion as he did. Congratulations!

Keep up the good work, boys. Steve Lang Temecula, California

Thanks, Steve. Josh Hayes is one of the most refined, methodical, “thinking” riders in the AMA roadracing paddock. Clearly, after his performance in MotoGP, he s got to have a strong ranking in these qualities at the world level, too.

Time marches on

Congratulations on your 50th anniversary. I still have Volume 1, Number 1 and almost every issue thereafter. The dog didn’t eat any but Fve loaned a few issues in recent years and not had them returned. When the first issue appeared, I was in college, had sold my third bike to make expenses and was one year away from my first CB77.1 am still riding, putting break-in miles on a Concours 14. But, like the editorin-chief (Up Front, January), I am especially fond of those ’80s bikes and have retained two (Yamaha XJ900R and Suzuki GV1200 Madura) while, sadly, having sold a perfectly good GSI 150E years ago to a buyer who promised to cherish it yet soon trashed it. Actuarial tables being what they are, it isn’t clear that I’ll be able to salute your next decade’s anniversary but it is at least possible. With luck, the C-14 will still be in the Good Times lineup, like the longlived first Connie, and you’ll doubtless be referring to it as “old-tech.” Patrick Halstead Tumwater, Washington

Congratulations on your 50th anniversary. I’ve been along for the ride for 45 years and look forward to many more. However, the celebrations seem to be causing some problems for the editorial staff when it comes to numbers.

Kevin Cameron’s reference to the 1990s in regard to hub-center steering is off by a decade (“Genesis,” February). The GTS 1000 was indeed an early 1990s’ bike, but the Tesi, Elf and Nico Bakker Quick Change System were definitely from the previous decade. No problem; I’ve misplaced the odd decade myself I just blame it on the ’60s.

Marc Cook took a Yamaha FZ8, cheaper than the FZ1 by $2000, then spent $4133.45 (not including tires) and concluded it was only $1000 more than the FZ1. This type of math is used mostly by politicians. Considering $1421.91 was spent on upgraded suspension to match the more upscale FZ1 suspenders, and to add the “missing” centerstand and windshield— you’ve now narrowed the price differential to $580. The rest of the loot was spent on additions, substitutions and upgrades that would be the same for both bikes.

Perhaps as an FZ1 owner, I’m somewhat biased, but for a paltry $580, the additional displacement, horsepower, torque plus larger front brake rotors make the FZ1 a better bargain. I’ve no idea who or what these Kardashians he refers to are, but give me a heads-up if these critters start migrating north toward Canada. Hein Vandenberg Union Bay, British Columbia

Bimota launched the Tesi in 1992, and we think the Kardashians may be Cook’s accountants. In all seriousness, the project idea was to explore possibilities with the FZ8 while addressing some of its inherent weaknesses. Don’t forget that the upgraded FZ8 s suspension is better than the FZ’s stock stuff, and that the $1000 spent allows it to be finetuned for your riding style and weight.

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The Five Greatest

After initially skimming Kevin Cameron’s “The Five Greatest” article in the February issue, I was jumping up and down, ready to cancel my subscription (hollow threat) and simultaneously blaming CW for global warming and civil unrest over not including the Ducati 916 on the list. Then I read it. Well done, sir. Eric Chiarelli Atlanta, Georgia

Norton nuts

I enjoyed Mark Hoyer’s review of his experiences as a Norton owner and rider in his February Up Front. He very accurately describes the feelings that Norton owners have about these bikes and working on them. And, boy, does the sound of that Twin stay with you, years after the bike has been sold or traded!

Of the four Nortons I’ve owned, the one I’ve always wished I had back is the 1971 Fastback. I purchased it in the crate from Nickelson Brothers in Canada, had the bike shipped to Atlanta and (with the full support of my wife) assembled it in the living room of our small duplex. I sold it to buy something more comfortable for two-up touring. Big mistake. I can still see the orange metalflake paint job glistening in my driveway... Tom Reynolds Atlanta, Georgia

Thank you for “The Throaty Ghost.” What an incredible essay! As Yogi Berra said, it’s déjà vu all over again.

I purchased my new 1973 750 Interstate almost 39 years ago after I came back from the war for the last time. Bought it in Tucson and had five weeks of leave before reporting to my next assignment at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. During those five weeks, if I wasn’t sleeping, peeing, pooping, shaving, eating or showering, I was on the Norton revisiting my country: The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Rockies, the open plains of the Midwest in late June were all mine with no real timeline.

I still have the bike and ride it every week, barring snow or ice. It has over 60,000 miles and has never had the cylinders off. I have owned a BSA Super Flash, a Triumph Trident, a Gold Star and my Norton. All the others are gone. A motorcycle is just a motorcycle, but a Norton is a ride. John Morrissey Lee’s Summit, Missouri

I, too, had a 1974 Norton Commando 850, red with what I believe was the Interstate seat—longer with an upsweep on the rear. If you weren’t friends with your passenger when you got on, you were when you got where you were going. Paid $1500 for it in 1975. The British had such a way with words; there was a section in the manual titled “How to leave the machine at speed.” Thankfully, I never had to use the procedure. Sad day when years later I had to sell it because my children had become addicted to food. Wonder what became of it? Joe Ciacco Arvada, Colorado

Thanks, Mike, for your heartwarming description of the Norton Commando. I bought my ’74 850 new in 1976 and have been fortunate enough to hang on to it. It is reassuring to me that people like you and your staff, who ride all the best new bikes, still find an appreciation for the classics. Jim Todd Boone, Iowa

Ride on, Tim!

Mr. Hoyer, stop stealing moves from Egan’s play book. Bob Burns Chicago, Illinois

Longitudinal

Your description of the Moto Guzzi Griso 8V engine configuration (Quick Ride, February) is incorrect. It is not a transversely mounted engine, as the crankshaft runs longitudinally near the bike’s centerline in the chassis. Just because the cylinders stick out doesn’t make the engine transversely mounted. Larry Weitzman Placerville, California

Your “Long-Term Wrap-Up” on the Honda VFRT200F in February shows that you spent approximately $500 for repair costs and $1500 for maintenance costs, for a total of $2000 to ride 10,400 miles! Wow, this is almost 50 cents per mile! This is certainly more than I want to pay to ride this bike. Maybe you people can afford it but most people cannot. Harold Taulbee Daphne, Alabama

Who does your accounting, Harold, the Kardashians? The cost is actually 19.2 cents per mile, although that still ain’t cheap.

Casting couch

I just read (for the third time) Mr. Cameron’s “Casting Chronicles” (TDC, February). He wrote an essay that makes melting metal captivating. How does he do this? For me, it is the sensation of “understanding” some complex yet fundamental aspect of a topic I really care about—motorcycles—clearly in my small, dimly lit mind. The sensation doesn’t last; I’m soon right back to knuckle dragging and inappropriate scratching. But in the moment, I was walking in the light with giants! Thanks. John E. Sperka Stephens City, Virginia

What’s old is new again

I just started reading Cycle World recently when I deployed to Afghanistan, and I always like the letters and photos people submit. I took this picture while on patrol. Afghans use these types of Hondas more than cars out here, and it’s amazing how old the bikes appear because they seem to run like they just rolled out of the factory. Just wanted to share! PFC Taylor, 2/11 HQ Company, Afghanistan

Thanks for sharing and serving. They ’re still cranking out those “old Hondas ” by the millions in India.

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