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Intake

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KTM 1190 ADVENTURE -> SAY IT WITH US > THANK THE POLAR VORTEX

THE NEW KTM 1190 MIGHT BE THE BEST ALL-AROUND BIKE IN THE WORLD (MARCH), BUT IT’S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST BUTT-UGLY. IT’S A SHAME THAT MOTORCYCLES HAVE SHARED THE SAME FATE AS CARS, MOSTLY: FAT GIRLS WHO CAN COOK. LIKE MY BUDDY BEN SAID, “IT’S LIKE ALL THE ATTRACTIVE DESIGNS HAVE BEEN USED UP, AND ALL THAT’S LEFT IS UGLY.’’AMEN!

DOUC BOUCHTON

SAND LAKE, NY

Doug, those are the girls you want to marry.

See page 52.

MOTORCYCLE LANGUAGE

Just read Kevin’s TDC column “Motorcycle Language 101” (March). While I knew how to pronounce “Husqvarna” and “MV Agusta,” the Italian engineers’ names had me. I always knew I was mispronouncing them, so I have a strong notion that we Americans are somehow butchering the name Panigale. Any help?

JEFFREY BRADY BELTSVILLE, MD

It’s pronounced “Ve-loh-chay.”

To add to your list: Brough Superior.

The first part is usually pronounced like “brogue” or “bro.” It thus follows that “rough” would be “rogue” (which isn’t too far off as a descriptive), but I know of no other “ough” word pronounced thus. “Bro” is, at least, excusable, as in “though.”

Ah, English. Ain’t it grand?

JIM YOUNC VIA CYCLEWORLD.COM

Thanks, Kevin, for straightening out my own confusion about Italian names. So how could you leave out the most commonly mispronounced one? It’s Moto Goo-tsee. When you say it, think pizza.

STEVE RAYMOND MANKATO, MN

We were already thinking pizza.

In Kevin Cameron’s “Motorcycle Language 101,” he has a paragraph that begins: “My last peeve is one I have whinged about before.”

Can you explain what he means by “whinged”? Is this new term of motorcycle language? I cannot find “whinge” or “to whinge” in any of my dictionaries.

BENNY SMITH SANTA ROSA, CA

Benny, stop complaining.

INDIAN DEBATE

I could not restrain myself from responding to Mr. Hayden’s letter,

“One Man’s Nutty Opinion” (Intake, March). I cannot begin to fully express my excitement about the Indian brand coming back onto the scene as executed by Polaris. It is undeniable and obvious that Mr. Hayden’s opinion is, in fact, a “nutty opinion,” as he clearly has not followed the stories surrounding the release of this new Indian and the painstaking engineering and design that went into producing this motorcycle.

I would encourage him to look deeper.

I see a very bright future for Polaris and a whole spectrum of offerings in the form of many different Indian motorcycles, just as they have done with Victory over these short 15 years.

MARK BIENZ FREDERICKSBURG, VA

NORMAL RESPONSE TO RACING

Really enjoyed your recent Race Watch articles. The February write-up on Bryan Smith and his Crosley Radio crew (Race Watch, “Black is the New Green”) was a great read with some awesome photos. Nice to see the sport of dirt track get some coverage and exposure. Also, the article on the Vance & Hines dragracing team (“Perfect Fairness,” March) was very interesting. Crazy to see an exhaust company be able to build those kind of modified motors. Insight as to how the NHRA rules work put that sport in a new light for me.

MIKE GORDON

NORMAL, IL

I found your article about the Vance & Hines dragster somewhat disturbing. The NHRA and AMA’s attempts to “level the field” would seem to be stifling innovation. It seems that when a team comes up with an innovation, these governing bodies then ban the new concept or punish the team with new rules meant to eliminate any advantage obtained.

We the consumers benefit from the trickle down of technologies derived from racing. I wonder if these capricious rules will hinder or eliminate this. Didn’t racing used to be about speed?

GREGSEEGER SANTA ROSA, CA

LONG WINTER’S NORTON

So someone gives Peter Egan a “free” Norton and the next thing we know, there’s a new Leanings column (March). Very interesting. Cycle World, you’re good. Let’s just hope Road & Track doesn’t get wind of this. Otherwise Egan will be getting a “free” Lotus.

JIM PONSTEIN

WOODSTOCK, IL

Shhhhhhh, Jim, you’ll ruin the whole scheme!

Although friends might point out the financial insensibility of what Egan is doing rebuilding an old bike, they are forgetting the more discrete side: psychic satisfaction. How many people have worked all their lives, looked forward to retiring, and upon doing so found themselves bored out of their skulls? The golden years turn out to be gilded with pyrite. We all need to beadblast our minds every now and again— keeps us fresh and functional.

JAMES ENG MOUNT LAUREL, NJ

What a joy to open the March issue and find a column by Peter Egan. His presence has been dearly missed. For those of us who restore our young man’s dreams, he speaks to our souls. I wish him a happy semi-retirement, though I know future issues will bring a certain withdrawal when I see his column is absent. But I am prepared to wait and see how much he spends on that “free” Norton.

JERRY NELSON

DUMAS, TX

TRIPLE FAN

Bought my FZ-09 in October and can’t say enough positive things about this motorcycle. Enjoying riding every day thanks to the drought here. For all you doubters out there: Forget the Triumph, ignore the MV (both very nice), and spend your hard-earned—or ill-gottengreenbacks on the Yamaha. You will not be displeased! I do believe I’ve become a bona fide triple fan.

DAVE JOHNSON

FRESNO, CA

RANDOM NAKED COMMENT

It’s great to see all these new, highperforming naked sportbikes, but why do the manufacturers feel the need to tack on those cheap-looking plastic pieces over the engine? Don’t they realize a major appeal of a naked bike is actually seeing the engine?

BRIAN ADRIAN LAS VEGAS, NV

Because it leaves something to the imagination?

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