Intake
Intake
HARLEY VS. INDIAN -> NO, REALLY -> DOWNSIZING -> AGING GRACEFULLY
KICKSTART THE CONVERSATION
LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT. PETER EGAN GOT TO RIDE THE NEW INDIAN, DRINK SPOTTED COW, AND GET PAID TO DO IT ("AMERICAN EXPERIENCE," JAN.)? LUCKY BASTARD.
RUSSELL BREYLEY TIRO, OH
Egan makes it look easy, but it takes tremendous skill and discipline to remember enough of what happened on a trip like that to write a story up to a week later.
HOLLOW VICTORY
In reading your January comparison between the Indian and the HarleyDavidson, I couldn't help feeling like something was missing I'm wondering why you didn't include a representative of the other American motorcycle, Victory I'm not an offended Victory owner. In fact, I don't own (or ever expect to own) a Victory, an Indian, or a Harley. I prefer motorcycles that make more power than noise. I just think that including a Victory would have been a more interesting exercise. I would have liked to see how the Indian compares— not only to the Harley but to its own stablemate. I understand Victory doesn't have the history of these other two names, but at least the game wouldn't have been over once Harley bailed.
DANIEL /. ROE FORT WORTH, TX
We pitted H-D versus Indian for two reasons: 1) It was the first chance for these classic American name-plates to truly go head to head in decades, and that's pretty hard to pass up; and 2) the Victory Cross Country didn't win when compared to the previous version of the Street Glide ("Have Bags, Will Travel," Aug. 2010). As a rule, we don't include bikes that previously lost a comparison test unless they've been subject to substantial revision, and the Cross Country hasn't changed significantly since then.
ONE MAN'S NUTTY OPINION
I'm sure the new Indian Chieftain is a nice motorcycle, but I see trouble ahead for the resurrected brand. That the bike compares favorably with the Harley Street Glide is just the issue. Remove the valanced fender and the brandspecific chrome, and it would be hard to tell the two bikes apart: heavy V-twins, similar riding characteristics, similar sound, price, etc. Once the novelty wears off, the Chieftain's just another me-too Harley clone. Never mind that it's built by Polaris in the United States; it might just as well be built in Japan by Yamaha. Polaris/Indian needs to compete, not copy. My crystal ball tells me that Polaris is going to get a good financial whipping out of this and that this latest incarnation of Indian will be belly up in a few years.
PETER HAYDEN MANCHESTER, MO
COG IN THE MACHINE
Gee, I don't know, guys, if I wanted an old "bagger" with a lot of nostalgia and heritage, I think I might opt for the slightly updated (from the original 1986 model) 1994-2006 Kawasaki Concours. Compared to the Street Glide Special and the Indian Chieftain, it weighs about a C-note less, puts out more horses, has a higher top speed (and a charming "buzzy handlebar"), gets about the same mpg (but has a larger tank), has a full fairing, a 20-year production life, and is as reliable as an anvil (see Concours Owners Group website). It also has a great set of lockable, easily detachable hard cases. And you can have your choice of colors and buy them all day for what would be a down payment on either the Harley or the Indian.
RICHARD CREED BELTON, TX
PS: I thought riding a motorcycle provided enough "infotainment" without all those outside and unwanted distractions and annoyances.
DOWNSIZING
Dear Kevin Cameron: Thanks for your October column, "What Price Progress?" Clearly, we cannot help our historically headlong rush for more horsepower, torque, speed, electronics, and expense. The global downturn has impacted all our wallets (excluding the 2 percent) and for me, it corresponded with my 8oth turn on the planet. I sold my beloved Ducati Multistrada 620 and left behind Ducati style, cost, and performance. The money received paid for 90 percent of a new Suzuki TU250. In return, I received uncanny retro styling, 100 pounds less weight, 75 mpg, easier handling (arthritis), and a great deal more fun. Yes, it has 16 hp instead of 60, and I can't pass with impunity, but what's the hurry? I race less, pass less, enjoy more. God bless Suzuki for importing this sweet little bike. Less can be more. Perhaps, at 80,1 am maturing.
DAVID ROOT MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA
Sandbagging sounds more like it, David.
BEARS REPEATING
John L. Stein's December article, "Look Before You Leap," and the accompanying illustration, were especially interesting to me. A few years ago on a Sunday morning ride, I was coming out of a right-hand sweeping curve on my FJR when a bear ran out of the woods from the left. I straightened the bike and got on the non-ABS brakes hard, the bear stopped and so did I—when I hit him. He managed to amble off; I was not so lucky. I was knocked unconscious and broke a collarbone and ribs. Bears don't come to mind when you think about New Jersey, if you even want to think about New Jersey, but I have had two similar close encounters with bears since that fateful day. I was, thankfully, wearing a full-coverage helmet or I may not have been here to share this story.
BENKALAFSKI LED0EW00D, NJ
GOOD TIMES
The other day, while going through some old stuff, I came upon a copy of CW circa April 1974.1 placed it on the coffee table for later rereading, and the magazine happened to end up right next to my latest issue, which had just arrived. It struck me that, wow, we've been doing this a long time. And I still ride, whenever we can get together, with the same group of friends that rode together 40-plus years ago. The riding is still fun, and the reading is still great. Life is good!
DAVE MITCHENER HUNTSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA
WRONG BRANCH
Blake Conner wrote a great article on Ron Mercurio's FXLR ("Star-Struck FXLR," Jan.). I would, however, like to point out one small mistake. Mr. Conner refers to Mr. Mercurio as a soldier, which signifies service in the US Army. In fact, Mr. Mercurio is a sailor. US Navy sailors can be sensitive to that, especially SEALs. Trust me. Many thanks to Roland Sands Designs and Bell Helmets for doing this for one of our fighting heroes and to Cycle World, my favorite magazine, for publishing it.
MARC LIEBHOLD LIVERMORE, CA
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