Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Brave new world

First, as a longtime Harley rider, I find it a bit funny after 30 years of hearing how H-D is so hopelessly archaic with its undersquare motors that now we get to hear all about the geniuses at Honda bringing out an undersquare motor. That aside, I think this new Honda will be an important motorcycle. The status quo has reached an end, IMHO. Sportbikes have attained levels of horsepower and acceleration that simply cannot be used on public highways. I see no future there, only the beginning of decline, and it's not just sportbikes that have jumped the shark. The displacement race in the cruiser market has gotten ridiculous, as well. Displacement and weight keep rising, and for what? I see the NC700X as a return to sanity and the start of a big trend.

B. Shuput Orlando, Florida

Someone at CWis smokin' the Kool Aid! Especially considering one can get a zero-percent loan and standard ABS on a newly redesigned and freshened 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 for less cash than the DCT Honda. That the new V-Strom has real horsepower, as well as easily getting nearly as good mileage as the Honda, should make up for it not having a stylized milk crate where the tank should be. It's not that I think the new Honda is a suxxy (sic) bike-I'm sure it's plenty of fun (what bike isn't?), but really.. .DCT? An answer to a question

oniy Honda asked (okay, and Aprilia!). Anyway, hats off to Honda for the [Best Standard] win! I really do hope it's a success for them. Scott Silvers Plymouth, Michigan

Your review of the new Honda NC700X made it sound like a pretty amazing motorcycle. In fact, it sounded a lot like the BMW F65OCS parked out in my shed.

Like the Honda, the BMW features an underseat gas tank, storage where the gas tank oughta be, around 50 hp and 60-plus mpg. Even the tires are the exact same size. The F65OCS has an edge with its belt drive, one-sided swingarm and simpler-to maintain engine. You can generally find one for half the price of the Honda with low miles and ABS included. Jim Mattson Washington, DC

Another X man

I am going to hunt down the next "moto-journalist" that calls the Honda NC700X a "beginner bike" and run over his foot. How many potentially great bikes have suffered an early demise in the U.S. because the motorcycle press at large seems to think any sportbike with less than 150 horsepower or a cruiser weighing less than 700 pounds is some how a beginner's bike? The beginner tag puts off a lot of riders who wouldn't want to be seen riding something less than cool. I've been riding since the early `70s, I bought one of the first Honda V45 Interceptors in the U.S., and Ijust traded in my 2008 GSX-R750 for the first NC700X sold at my dealer, and I couldn't be happier with it. Sportbikes have become so focused on being race-ready they've lost all rideability on the street. Cruisers have become fat-tire-wearing half-ton show pieces for the weekend "bad-ass biker"

set. The NC700X is a "standard bike," with "standard bike" power, great torque and ergonomics that allow you to ride that six-hour leg and have it be more about the ride than the destination. What say we don't call anything over 25 0cc a beginner's bike, and maybe a few more of these great-style bikes will make it to our shores and find a strong market again? Jim Evans Port Charlotte, Florida

King of Cool

Hector Cademartori's cartoon about making an adventure bike out of a Dan Gurney Alligator (November, 2012) made me laugh. I own Alligator #2, and one day while riding with Dan, a bunch of us watched him do just that. We were sitting on our bikes watching some hang gliders when Dan, inspired by the aerial display, took off up a very steep, rutted dirt two-track-I guess to get a better view. All of us were stunned. I certainly

wouldn't have risked my $40K beauty of a Gator. But Dan marches to a different drummer. And being Dan, he rode that hillclimb beautifully, serenely watching from his mountaintop for a few minutes before gliding just as gracefully down, all without ever taking his feet off the pegs. Remember, this is the guy who came 21st out of 166 riders in the 1959 Big Bear Run, in between racing Ferraris. Perry King AMA Board of Directors, Northwest Region Cool, California

Who knew?

Found it interesting that in the : November issue's Roundup article ("No Quarter Given"), Blake Conner speaks of the all new Ninja 250 or perhaps even a 300, depending on which rumors we are to believe," and that "rumors imply that its dis placement here in the U.S. may be 300cc"-and when you open the front page, there's a two-page ad for the new Ninja 300. Awkward! Steve Frierson [1gm, South Carolina

Indeed. Almost hard to square that with the notion of us being in the pockets of our advertisers, isn `t it?

Test drive?

I have been a loyal reader for years and have never had a reason to write.. until now. Peter Jones' "Can I Test Drive your Personality?" had me cackling out loud like a schoolgirl at the mall. He hit the mark on this article. I don't want to bore you guys with my same-type scenario. Keep `em coming, Peter. Thanks for the fun. C.J. Roth Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Where did Peter Jones come from? Wherever you dug him up, quit digging. You've struck gold. Chip O'Brien Silverton, Oregon

Blame Egan

Having just downsized to what I consider a perfect bike for my style of riding, a 2004 BMW Ri 15ORT with a IJNIGO single-wheel trailer, I was set. More room in the garage, lower insurance payments, only one bike to maintain, it was perfect. Then, I read Egan's article, "Middleweight Motorcycles" (November). The next day, I ran across a 2000 Kawasaki W650 with 4100 miles three miles from my house for about $1300 less than similar bikes listed on eBay. I blame Egan. Kent Youngman Dayton, Ohio

Knows his cartoons

Kevin Cameron is not only an engineer ing genius, but he must also be one of the most well-read individuals on Earth. Who else could, in one article, elaborate on design specifics of the Cyclone motorcycle and reference Gyro Gearloose? My hat is off to you, sir. Ted Guthrie Salem, Ohio

Stryking similarities

I was just reading Burns' review of the Star Stryker (November) and noticed his comment about sliding a Chevelle into a tree backward. I'm writing because back somewhere around 1975, I worked with a guy named John whose reason for missing work one day was a story about sliding his Chevelle into a tree backward. Could it be you? Ken Davis Manassas Park, Virginia

Burns replies: "No, but thank~for asking. How many Johns can there be who `ye slid Chevelles into trees backward? Probably no more than 100,000."

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