Intake

Intake

DIRT-TRACK LANGUAGE EGAN, THE BETTER HALF PONDERING HORSE POOP BUGGED

HIEHSTHHT THE EHn VEHSHTIOn

ON DIRT TRACK AND STREET TRACKERS

In spite of Michael Lock’s efforts to introduce “English,” (“American Flat-Track Revival,” March) this is America and flat-track has a “pit area” not a “paddock.” As Theodore Roosevelt said: Immigrants need to learn our language.

The DT-07 is nice but Yamaha needs to support the sport of flat-track with a real effort rather than fantasy and tribute bikes.

For what Yamaha spent on the DT-07 concept and tribute TZ750 dirt trackers someone like Babe DeMay could have fielded real Yamaha racebikes at the track.

BILL MILBURN CYCLEWORLD.COM

Milburn is a motorcycle industry veteran as well as a noted dirt-track historian and collector whose bikes have appeared in these pages.

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

BARB REPLIES

Just to set the record straight, I am not the “long-suffering Barb Egan who’s had to put up with a life of motorcycling” (Intake, March). I was riding my own bike, a Wards Riverside Benelli 125, when I met Peter at age 18. He was much older, of course (age 19), and had a great big Honda CB160. Since then, we’ve both owned other, larger motorcycles. Life on the road with Peter has always been a grand adventure, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

BARB EUAN STOUGHTON, Wl

Thanks, Barb. You’re the only one who loves him more than we do, and we are, like you, enjoying a grand adventure on the road with Peter. Thanks for sharing him!

NOISE MANAGEMENT

I am writing about the noise issue in John Stein’s Ride Smart article, “Say What?” (ahem). While writing this, a flight of screeching crotch rocketeers goes by followed by some hoggy bikes with blooey pipes! The article indicates that there are four methods of managing noise. I would like to suggest one more: Don’t make any in the first place! I have a cafe’d Victory Empulse TT—you'd be surprised at how impressive not making noise can be! (Beside the electric job I have a Buell and a BMW.) Anyway, my dog has a problem telling when dad is home because he can’t hear this bike as far off as the others! I hope this makes it to the Intake page and not the Exhaust.

BARRY O'NEAL FORT WORTH, TX

LEFT VS. RIGHT

Peter Jones’ musings on why our racetracks turn left sure hit home with me. (“Hurricanes, Poop, and Flat-Tracks,” March). As a longtime amateur flat-track racer and competitive horseback rider

I have often considered this. I think horses are leftor right-handed just like us. When a horse is asked to “pick up the canter” (gallop) there is a different stride depending on which way we will be turning. The inside legs come out first and farthest. Most horses seem to naturally pick up the left-hand canter, thus our racing, which started on horse tracks, became “turn left.” If you change directions, a well-trained horse will do a “flying lead change” to get on the correct stride without dropping back to trot.

Why do tracks in Europe mostly “turn right”? The British had a major influence on early roadracing, and you want the driver on the inside of the corner as much as possible. Now why they drive on the left side of the road does not make any sense to me at all. It is like, why do they have a queen?

Feel free to call horse poop on me.

GEORGE PATRICK MAROUETTE, Ml

COME TO YOUR SENSES

Regarding the picture of the barbecue in “Enduro Escape” (November 2016):

A thermometer? Really?! Was this the first time you used a charcoal grill? Real men don’t use a thermometer. Grilling is done via sight, smell, and time. Your California mannerisms are showing.

JANBAETKE MANITOWOC, Wl

BUGGED BY SEAN

Regarding Sean MacDonald’s piece on the 2017 Triumph Bonneville Bobber (March). Great article but I found an error: mosquitoes being drawn to light. Actually, they are attracted to carbon dioxide, which is what you exhale, and why they can always find you even in total darkness. As long as you are breathing, that is.

GARYROGIER

CYCLEWORLD.COM