Intake

Intake

ETERNAL LIFE! -> HIGH VALUE! -> DEFENDING COOL

HÊCHSTHHT THE EOfíVEHSHTCOn

Enjoyed the “Turn & Burn II” comparo article. Einstein theorized that time actually slows down as a body approaches the speed of light. Assuming he was correct, if I ride my H2 at very high speeds, will I live forever?

MARK FINKLER CYCLEWORLD.COM

No, you’ll run out of gas, but you’ll feel great until then.

PERFORMANCE VS. DOLLAR

BMW must be thrilled its SioooRR performed so well in your recent “Turn & Burn II” article. Perhaps besides rating bikes with a power/weight ratio, a new rating should be added: performance/ dollar. The $isK BMW was the clear winner here compared to the three other bikes, one priced at $22l and the others are $25l

JOHN LOCKWOOD BLAIRSVILLE, CA

AND... KUDOS

Kudos to Kawasaki for building the H2R. I just don’t think it should have been named the “Best Superbike” because it’s not street legal and was a no-show at the 0-180-mph shootout.

BRUCE KASTEL CYCLEWORLD.COM

ELEVEN BEST BIKES?

Excellent write-up on the Ten Best Bikes (September). I’m certain there was unanimous agreement among the staff for most of the choices. Best Superbike: Kawasaki H2R, of course. Best Open-Class Streetbike: Yamaha YZF-RiM, a shoo-in! And the KTM1290 Super Adventure I’m sure was the uncontested choice for Best Adventure Bike. However, don’t tell me there wasn’t much “wailing and gnashing of teeth” over your Best Touring Bike selection, the Ducati Multistrada 1200S. I’m thinking to avoid such strife, you need two touring categories: “Extended weekend” touring and “Iron Butt Rally” level touring. Because of course, the Ducati is best suited for the former, not the latter.

JON COSTA MARTINEZ, CA

WEIGHT, WHAT DID WE SAY?

I would like to order up one of those bikes with “a fabulous power-to-weight ratio of around 3.4 hp per pound” (“The Limits of Acceleration,” September). A 150-pound bike with 500 hp would be fine. Unfortunately a correct figure for power-toweight is usually a decimal (0.294 hp per pound in this case). Rather awkward, so even though we call it power-to-weight it is really weight-to-power, also awkward.

This often leads to confusion, eh? On the other hand, thanks for considering the weight of a rider in your numbers (about 195 pounds?).

CHRISTOPHER LASCOUTX CYCLEWORLD.COM

Hoyer wishes.

FROM A (HAND)BUILDER

I just read the comment from Dave Rogers in your October “Intake” page about the bikes at The Handbuilt Show in Austin (August). He stated that they are “cobbled together, cartoonish, and unrideable machines.” It’s sad that he can’t appreciate what we are doing. It is my “Twin-Scout” dual-engined custom that CW graciously put on the cover. I am an avid motorcyclist, with 27 bikes of all kinds. I am also a Bonneville land speed racer and custom builder with many Best of Show awards. Building custom bikes is my way of expressing myself artistically. To people like me, it is far more rewarding to go out and ride your art than to just admire a painting on a wall.

As for “cobbled, and unrideable machines,” my Twin-Scout is licensed, insured, and street legal. It was one of the most dramatic examples of a handbuilt bike at that show, but it is actually quite rideable. I put in over 700 street miles developing the bike for salt flat racing before putting it on the salt. The testing paid out, because it has already set four world land speed records so far (CW incorrectly said two) and it would be eight by now if the meets hadn’t been canceled this year. It is always fun for me to see the expressions on people’s faces, when they look over my customs. It makes it all worthwhile!

JIM MOSHER SANTA EE, NM

Comments? Suggestions? Criticisms? Write us at intake@cycleworld.com.