The Goose
The Goose
LETTERS
Your test on the Moto Guzzi 1000 SP told a lot but not all. Moto Guzzi loyalists exists because of the superb handling stability brought about by the machine’s gyroscopic action stemming from a flywheel and crankshaft
rotating inline with the bike’s chassis. This results in long touring hours with little fatigue, fast and easy changes of direction, and the comfort of knowing that as a rider you can easily avoid accidents through reflex control.
In addition, the Goose is simple to maintain and repair. It has an outstanding braking system and comes with long range cruising abilities because of the large gas tank.
Parts are hard to come by and they cost far too much but if you would do a maintenance and repair analysis on major machines I’ll bet you’d find the Moto Guzzi number one in overall freedom from problems.
Dick Morgan
Phoenix, Ariz.
For sure
Ê couldn’t understand why you picked the Vision as one of your Ten Best motorcycles in 1983. Then it hit me like a bolt of lightning! I couldn’t believe I didn’t notice it right off.
The Vision is the perfect valley boy bike. Wow, it’s really super for cruising suburb streets or going to a hot tub party or a ride to the beach to look at some bitchin’ bods. Like it looks so tubular, man! To me the Vision is:
Barf me out to the max, for sure.
Ken Binegar
North Platte, Neb.
BMW fan
M y first impression of the BMW K100 was that it was ugly. Now the more I look at it the more I wish I had the money to buy one.
Having always been a European motorcycle fan (I’m currently riding a Triumph), it’s great to see a European company competing with the Japanese. As far as quality and engineering of the K100 it comes as no surprise to me. They have been building fine motorcycles throughout motorcycle history.
Denny Doyle
Pleasant Hill, Pa.
The challenge
A t a friend’s house I happened to check a couple of issues of Cycle World and noticed your objections to the treatment or attitude towards bikers. No offense, but why is it I have never seen a motorcycle rider follow rules of the road? When I’m driving the freeways I constantly see riders dodging in and out of traffic, riding between cars and usually speeding.
Hey, it’s no skin off my back (my mother is a radiologist and can’t get over the number of casualties from motorcyclists) but it’s no wonder you guys have the trouble you do.
Steve Michaels Mission Viejo, Calif.
Several years ago, at a public hearing concerning pending noise-level legislation, we heard a man say he’d never heard a quiet motorcycle.
In that vein, seeing as how motorcyclists are two percent of the traffic stream, we’re not surprised you’ve never seen a motorcycle that wasn’t going faster than you or passing you in traffic.
By the way, 1 ) sharing lanes is legal and not as dangerous as it looks, and 2) banning portions of the public from public facilities because of what they might do violates the spirit and perhaps the letter of the Bill of Rights.
Not to take offense, but if it’s nothing to you, why did you take the trouble to issue the challenge?
PS: Our moms say they’re dangerous, too.
Oh, feathers
I thought I would lay an egg when I read the Honda Nighthawk 700 test in your February issue! What’s with the fowl play? You guys didn’t chicken out did you?
Chris Parker Norwalk, Calif.
Father and son
What about that photo in your Honda CR500 test in the December issue? You know, the one that shows Ron Griewe trying to catch a space shuttle. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me but I could swear the name on the rider and the photographer are the same. Are there two Griewes?
Roger Lamoureux Vancouver Island, B.C.
Yes, there are two; Ron thf Test Editor, and Don, his oldest son. Ron is old and smart and doesn’t jump over buildings and such anymore. Don, AMA national motocross pro number 86, thinks sky shots are great fun, and he usually survives them. Kids heal quicker, you know.
1975 YZ250
Y our article on the old YZ250 (Revival of the Fittest) got me laughing because I own a 1977 YZ125. Why the story humored me so is a few of my friends own new RMs and YZs. We got together for a little race and I won on my old bike!
Good old YZs never die, the just look that way.
Rick Calgada Wasilla, Alaska
Reader information
Editorial offices are located at 1499 Monrovia Ave., Newport Beach, Calif. 92663. Editorial contributions are welcomed, but cannot be considered unless sent only to Cycle World. Not responsible for return of unsolicited material unless accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelope. Rates on request.
Letters cannot all be answered. Nor can all Service inquiries be answered. We appreciate correspondence sent to the editorial offices and will use the most interesting and appropriate letters in the magazine.
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Back issues from 1980 to 1983 (except 4/80, 4/81,5/81,7/82) are available for $2 each from Old Del Mar Emporium, P.O. Box 1621, Spring Valley, Calif. 92077. Please add 75 cents postage and handling per order.
Advertising: See SRDS. Circulation audited by ABC.
MEMBER MOTORCYCLE INDUSTY COUNCIL
Me and my Ascot
This letter is only for guys over 45 who can remember the sight, sound, and sensation of the 1952-53 Harley flathead 750 V-Twin K models. If you loved those bikes you’ll go crazy over the Honda Ascot V-Twin. I have 5000 miles on mine now and all it does is what a motorcycle is supposed to do, plus make me smile a lot.
After waiting 30 years for someone to build a fast, all-around good bike with a V-Twin engine I sold my one-owner ’63 Volvo 122S, my Troy-built Rototiller, my 1948 Powell P-81 scooter plus a few other odds and ends (that I haven’t missed since) and used the proceeds for my Ascot.
If you want to bring back a lot of old memories with a new bike, do what I did. Get an Ascot.
Thomas Lyman, D.C.
Cedar City, Utah
Clutch fix
I hope you publish more articles like the clutch overhaul in the January issue. My KZ650 sat for five weeks at the local dealer awaiting clutch repairs last summer. Finally, with a manual and parts ordered from another dealer I easily repaired my own clutch.
More people should learn how to fix their own bikes. This same shop also took six weeks to heli-coil one spark plug hole.
Albert Anderson Yanceyville, N.C.
CX epitaph
The CX650 runs as smooth as a wet kitty, only scrapes the pegs through the esses, accelerates quicker from the stoplight than the 750 Shadow, has a top end of over 110 mph and it’s comfortable, easy to maintain and reliable.
They may not be perfect but I still commute 80 miles a day on mine.
Honda may have found it cost-effective to stop producing the CX500 and 650 but they’re still effective Twins on the road.
Peter Stegner Beiford, N.J.
Road hazards
When I first began riding about nine years ago, I really didn’t complain when traffic signal sensors couldn’t detect my presence in a left turn pocket or when they didn’t open up carpool lanes to motorcycles on the freeway. Even when they threatened to deny access to cer> tain expressways and parks in places around the country or ban motorcycles from New York's city streets after dark I may have grumbled a bit but I wasn't too perturbed until now.
Imagine arriving (speedily) at your daily freeway onramp to discover it neatly covered end to end with sand.
This is the method by which CalTrans dries and cures asphalt sealer they apply
to road surfaces. The night construction crews have been repairing freeway lanes, one at a time. It now requires a running start across three lanes of traffic to make it over the 30-inch high ragged berm that now passes as a boundary between number three and four lanes.
Images of million dollar lawsuits come to mind. We need some consideration and some common sense. I wish they would think of us once in awhile.
Christopher T. Kobel Torrance, Calif.
The AMA is conducting a survey of road hazards (Roundup, March, 1984). Report them to: AMA, PO. Box 141, Westerville, Ohio 43081. And you’ll have more luck triggering signal lights if you look for the lines in the pavement. Park directly over them and you'll usually find the inductive pickup triggered.
Wrong again
In your January issue you say Honda listened to owners for all the improvements this year on the Gold Wings. You're wrong for once. Honda listened to the sound of Yamaha passing them up.
If they listened to you or the owners a lot of these changes would have been done long ago.
Ed Armstrong Eox River Grove, 111.
Underground Canadian Railroad
7"hanks for printing the Two-Wheeled Underground Canadian Railroad. We loved it!
Jim and Gerry Anthony Colorado Springs, Colo.
The N.S.L.
E ditor Girdler correctly identifies the absurd double nickel law as amateur meddling by politicians. Historically, every time politicians get to mucking around in people's daily lives, it is the people who suffer. In recent years we seemed to be suffering some form of madness. Not only is the futile 55 a symptom, so is the ludicrous 85 mph speedo on my 1982 Interstate.
Everytime we turn toward government to ensure something for us, to reduce the risk of simply living our lives, we pay a heavy price in freedom.
J. E. Reviere Conroy, Texas
On January 2, 1984 it was the 10th anniversary of the 55 mph speed limit law. The only thing I can think of is that prohibition was with us for 13 years before it was finally repealed. I hope it takes this country less than 1 3 years to wake up and repeal the National Speed Limit law. It’s time this noble experiment is ended.
Adrian Braithwaite
Las Vegas, Nev.
Interceptor tires
John Palmer’s letter in your January issue is an important one. I had the stock Bridgestones (for Interceptors) which were great grippy, wide profile and I got about 8000 twisty miles from them. Their replacement cost was astronomical so I went with an R compound Dunlop Sport Elite on the rear.> This tire is very sticky and never comes close to breaking loose on dry pavement This tire, inflated to 32 psi for street riding, has a very forgiving feel. Sticky means soft, though, and the R compound seems to wear very quickly. And in the rain all bets are off.
On the front end I have the Metzeler Perfect Sport. This tire, also a sticky compound, has seemingly limitless traction and never feels pushed in corners. The steering response is dead neutral and the amount of feedback from the road surface is eerie. You can feel the texture of the pavement, yet bumps and large irregularities never lead to chatter or vibration—just useful information. This tire has also dramatically improved braking for me. The Interceptor has great brakes but it wasn’t until I had the Metzeler that I felt comfortable applying their full power.
The word for Phantom fans is: maybe. They make a 16-inch but it’s a hunk. It’s taller and broader than stock but it does fit and looks ferocious. My friend let me try a ride on his Interceptor with Phantoms and after almost going off the road in the inside of the first curve I calmed down enough to concentrate. The increased mass and weight at the front end led to a distinct case of oversteer. I felt like I was falling into every turn but after awhile I adjusted to the increased momentum and could enjoy the great road-holding and stability of the Pirellis.
The 1984 sporting bikes have tremendous power and speed. The tires used on them will have great effect on their handling. I think if we choose the right tires for our motorcycles and riding styles, we can improve our skills in sport and in safety.
Artie Cohen
New York, N.Y.
Cycle World calendar
With all the great photographs your magazine produces each year have you ever considered doing a calendar? I’m sure a lot of your readers would be interested in such a project.
Charles McElrath
Redmond, Wash.
For several years now we’ve wished we could do a calendar. Some of the better test photos, or perhaps the leading racers, or great bikes of the past, or (our personal choice) The Adventures of Ted. The accountants aren’t convinced: blizzard us with mail and next year, for sure.
Safety helmets
^ull-face or full coverage helmets for street riding are always recommended in motorcycle safety articles. What’s the deal then with police officers riding around on their motorcycles wearing those halfie-helmets? They’re constantly riding in city traffic and involved in high speed chases. Do they know something we dfon't? And please, no one word answers.
Marco Jurich Buffalo, N.Y.
The answer is two words. Public Relations. The police know they are already not popular as they walk up to the just-stopped operator. We fear we’re gonna get written up, so we don’t like the people who are going to do it.
What the police officials don’t want is for us to be further intimidated, as we’d be by faceless humanoids in full helmets, dark shields, etc.
So they want the cops to look human, and the easiest way is to keep those faces visible, and that’s why the shorty helmets. (In California when the state police switched from shorty to jet style, they painted the lower panels black so the helmet would look smaller than it is.
Harris frame kits
IVe are pleased to announce we are importing and have in stock, the English manufactured Harrsi chassis and frame kit.
Price on the complete rolling chassis is $5195 and the frame kit is $3195, FOB, Shohola, Pennsylvania. We also offer a conversion service. For more information contact J.M. Service, Box 246, Shohola, Pa. 18458, phone (717) 296-7256.
Jim Martin Shohola, Pa.
Tipsy Ted
The drunk driver who knocks down his neighbor’s mailbox in alcoholism-cure commericials on television is named Ted.
Winston Beaumont Advertising Wrightwood, Calif.
Remember, you saw him here first.
