Intake

Intake

So cool to read about Harley-Davidson’s new Milwaukee-Eight engine while at the same time Discovery Channel airs the miniseries Harley and the Davidsons. I don’t own a Harley, but given H-D’s current engineering excellence and incomparable heritage, it’s no surprise so many do-and so many more want to.

GARY ZANERCIK BOSTON, NIA

HARLEY IS BIG IN JAPAN

After reading the articles in the October issue regarding the new Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight lineup, I would just like to say: Congratulations, Harley-Davidson. You finally built a Japanese cruiser.

K.R. KEEFAUVER HARRISBURG, PA

Milwaukee-Eight—oh, good, a new generation of noise.

JAMES KURK

ST. PAUL, MN

Congratulations to Harley-Davidson on the new Milwaukee-Eight Big Twin. This new powerplant, with more of everything the Harley faithful want but in a larger, more refined package, should ensure The Motor Company’s sales, financial, and cultural success for quite a few years to come.

But something slightly cynical deep inside insistently whispers that we might, at least in part, have resurrected and currently thriving Indian Motorcycle to thank for this new HarleyDavidson mill. Perhaps this new Big

Twin would have come about in the normal course of product development, absent the existence of the Thunder Stroke ill, but now Harley has something it hasn’t had to seriously contend with for some time: authentic domestic competition for its huge market share. Good, old-fashioned American competition is good for everyone.

The revived Harley/Indian rivalry is providing employment opportunities, lots of interesting conversation in the motorcycle industry, and a great number of really terrific new products for us consumers to enjoy. So thanks to HarleyDavidson for giving us another reason to part with our hard-earned money and for stepping up the game. We’re all winners as a result.

KEN LACHMAN

FRANKLIN, Wl

FORGIVE OUR TRESPASSES

Regarding “Gone (Cruiser) Camping” in the October issue. I’m for freedom as much as the next guy, but a national publication endorsing the attitude “Never mind the ‘No Trespassing’ sign” strikes

me as irresponsible. More so when justified by the childish comment “because freedom.” Grow up. That’s not freedom. That’s trampling someone else’s freedom. Please respect others’ freedom when enjoying yours.

ANDREW WATRY BERKELEY, CA

LUTZ YERSELF

Inasmuch as I respect the presence, and limits, of age and experience, Bob Lutz has been out of the drivemob for quite some time now, right (Up Front, “Rise of the Machine,” October)? So I was on the 880 going through Oakland, when a Range Rover appeared to lose a tie-rod bushing and began to violently weave between lanes one and four. Everybody on that highway, at that moment, laid back as one, observing and accounting for the action. The Rover made it to the right-lane shoulder, all good. Just another day on the 880. What would have autodriving cars done then?

TONYHEYMAN

OAKLAND, CA

I read “Rise of the Machine” with great interest. But one sentence reached out and slapped me: “You can read the driver’s face.” As a motorcyclist, bicyclist, and jogger, I depend on that. But here in California, where it is against the law to darken front side windows, the number of faces to see is nonetheless diminishing very rapidly. Law enforcement must have higher priorities because enforcement is so minimal as to appear nonexistent. I did not realize how much I used drivers’ eyes and which way their heads were turned until I didn’t have it anymore.

JOHNSHREVE

CYCLEWORLD.COM

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