Letters
LETTERS
Enough is too much
Please! No more on the secret bikes of Japan (November, 1984 issue). I used to be happy with my RZ350 until I saw the RZV500s at the racetrack. Now you're tempting me with a half-dozen more highly de sirable, frustratingly unavailable street rockets. Not being able to have these bikes is as frustrating (almost) as enforced speed limits. Bob Scott Washington, D.C.
Actual/v. fvou `re willing to buy through tile increasing/v large `~gray market" in this country, any one of those secrets oft/ic orient could be yours.
Going Tokyo one better
Thank you so much for "The To kyo Grand Prix" in the November issue. I spent 5 months in and around Tokyo and Yokohama last year and had the use of a Honda 125 and a Yamaha 400 street bike. The images your excellent article brought to my mind really made me yearn for those bikes once again. One thing, though: I'm amused by your phrases such as". . . only in Japan. . . "and". . . where else. . etc. Prior to my stay in Japan, I was 5 years in Bangkok, Thailand. Take the mad pace of Tokyo, in crease the congestion by 50 percent, reduce rider-skill by 75 percent, and throw in pedestrians who are totally oblivious to traffic hazards, and you have Bangkok. Fortunately, 99 per cent of the bikes in Thailand are under 2 50cc, so most spills, of which there are thousands, cause little more than embarrassment. That's why going from Bangkok to Tokyo was for me like going from Tokyo back to L.A. must have been for you.
Charles Harris Riverside, California
Thanks for the memories
Having been to Tokyo several times, I was thrilled to see such an extensive write-up on motorcycling in Japan. I wish I could work in a place like HRC. Your description of Tokyo traffic reminded me of many frightening but exciting taxi rides I experienced there. Thanks for shar ing Japanese motorcycling with your readers.
Rich Lee Trenton, New Jersey
You `re welcome. But is there any place "like" HRC?
An appetite for forbidden fruit
Do you have any idea what we club racers could do with those pintsized weapons from Japan (Novem ber, 1984)? If we all wrote to the Big Four, perhaps they would get the idea that there is a market here in the states for hot, under-500cc ma chines. Here, on the tight and twisty roads of New England, it would be a pleasure to strap on one of these bikes to strafe the locals on their way to church.
Mark Little Roadracing Greenbush, Massachusetts
Write those letters, but take it easy on the locals. Image. and all that, you know?
Making amends
Some unthinking idiot has gone too far, and an apology is due. But this time it is I who must make amends in regard to a letter sent your way ("Mis-reading between the lines," December, 1 984) by some fool who ran off half-cocked about your "Changing America's Stan dards" editorial, September, 1984 issue. That person made several mis takes. One, criticizing a well-written article before actually reading it: sec ond, the personal attack on Mr. Dean, which was done in poor taste, to say the least; and last, the final insult of signing the letter "A consensus of the MRA" instead of using his/her name.
Let me assure you that our club president. committee members and I knew nothing of that letter. As the Media Relations Rep for the Moun tain Roadracing Association, I have taken that letter as a personal slap in the face. It's been tough enough to get the coverage our club deserves without having some dummy prej udice the press against us. In the future, please disregard any letters that implicate the MRA without a name and title of office included. This will not only spare your readers from such drivel, but will help keep my blood pressure at low tide. Clark R. Marley MRA Media Relations Rep Boulder, Colorado
No hard feelings at tills end. Every one is entitled to an opinion-even f it's wrong.
The man from Uncle
Excuse the skepticism. I doubted that someone from a magazine that employs several people with unusual names could replace Allan Girdler's common-man editorials. Being open-minded, a rarity inthe Cin cinnati area, I decided to give you a chance. The October issue, with its "But seriously, folks . . . " editorial, arrived the same day I was officially passed over for a promotion. The only reason given was that my pro fessionalism, hence, my maturity, was less than optimal. My un professional activities consisted of: (a) riding my Turbo Seca to work frequently: and (b) having fun while working, occasionally exercising what is known as wit when you are a 60-year-old Regional Director but wise-assedness when you are a 23year-old Assistant Manager. I was told that my Dodge Shelby was suit able "professional" transportation to uphold (or create) my mature image.
Seeking to enlighten said Re gional Director. I sent him a copy of that editorial, complete with high lighted excerpts. Discretion pre vented me from adding, "Your nephew writes well." Needless to say. he was neither amused nor amazed at the parallels. He has since been dismissed, for other reasons, but I was still haunted by the "what if" dilemma.
Today. the December issue arrives with its "Is there life before death?" editorial. And despite my concern about my future in the business world, my conscience forces me to continue to ride to work, in appro priate business attire, of course. All I ask is that you stop writing editorials that hit so close to home. Kenneth R. Colburn Fairfield. Ohio
In search of equal time
Paul Dean's October editorial ("But seriously, folks . . . ") wasn't about him and his uncle, but was a commentary on the continuing atti tudes expressed by non-riders. "Get no respect" stories are something we all have in common. I would ven ture to say that women motorcyclists hear even more of these unasked-for opinions than the average rider does. After all, to the narrow-minded or the non-rider, a woman motorcyclist is a passenger or an optional acces sory. She's the beautiful blonde who manages to lose her helmet in the Kerker ad. Only rarely is she por trayed in full leathers as in the Esprit or Yoshimura ads. Granted, women riders are a minority, and ads will be directed toward the largest potential source of revenue. But I am also the Ci'c/e World reader. Maybe you can get your ad department to run a small ad-in black and white, some where around page 73-just for me. You can end it in large print with, "She's a nice guy to know. Source: Cycle World Secondary Audience Study. `Man And Her Machine.'" Well, on second thought, maybe not. Dianne Moen West Germany
No talking down, please
Granted, a five-foot, no-inch lady tooling down the road on her low ered, dressed CB65OC Honda might not be a common sight. but that's what you'll see if you meet me on the highway. After two years and 1 5,000 miles, I have never had an accident (although I've been known to act like the little old man on Laugh-In on occasion). My gripe? The men I don't even know who are are always telling me to be careful. Women don't tell me to be careful~ they seem to take it for granted that I know what I'm doing. I just want to let all you fellow bikers know I would appreciate being told, "Have a good time" or "Don't get bugs in your teeth," but please don't be condescending and tell me to be careful. Pamela K. Kidder Robins AFB, Georgia
Kindred spirit
The editorial in the December is sue really said it all. My own philos ophy toward motorcycles and life runs parallel to yours. I work as a millwright for a large firm in Toledo. The job can be very dangerous. working with live steam, chemicals and 440 volts or more, plus climbing and other maintenance jobs involv ing large and sundry machinery. So how come no one ever says. "Hey. stupid. you could get hurt doing that"? They don't because society condones the risks involved with working but not with playing.
Belie'~.'e me. I knowtwell the risks of motorcycles. I started riding Whizzers in 1 947 at age 11. I've had two really bad crashes (neither were my fault). one of which kept me in plaster for eight months. But I'm still riding, and will continue as long as I am able and can afford it. I take a lot of criticism from almost every one. even family. but I fully accept the risk every time I straddle one of my three cycles. If you have to ex plain it to someone, they won't get it anyway. Sure, motorcycles are dan gerous. but if you never take a chance you'll never do anythingexcept become a houseplant. Mark Schalow Holland, Ohio
Ted learns to write
Isn't it high time you people changed li/s name to, say. George? I have removed my initials from both my bikes and, until you take care of this little matter. I am signing my name T. Edward Dawson. Ted E. Dawson Hazard, Kentucky A Ted b a,?)' oilier name is si/Il a
Guzzi testimonial
After reading Mr. Parrette's letter in your October issue referring to his bad experiences with his Moto Guzzi. I feel compelled to write and tell you about my good experiences. This last year we campaigned a 1 984 Moto Guzzi LeMans in the AMACCS National Endurance Se ries that consisted of seven six-hour races and one four-hour race, plus several sprint races and Battle Of The Twins events, and the occa sional two-hour race. Our team fin ished in the top three overall positions in five of the eight races in the series and won the Middleweight Superbike Championship. finishing second overall in the point standings to Team Ontario. Even more impressive is the fact that our Le Mans is 99 percent stock and is the au/i' bike that competed in the series that finished all eight races. We have logged over 7700 racing miles on our Guzzi without a single mechani cal failure. If any other manufac turer makes a motorcycle as strong and reliable as our Moto Guzzi, I haven't seen it. Nick Phillips Dr. John's Team Moto Guzzi West Chester, Pennsylvania
Reader Information
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Letters cannot all be answered. Nor can all Service inquiries be answered. We appreci ate correspondence sent to the editorial of fices and will use the most interesting and
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Killer redline
In response to your test of the Honda VF700F Interceptor in your November, 1984 issue, I was particularly impressed by the claimed torque peak of 44.5 lb/ft at 80.000 rpm. With an average power curve (considering 8 1 horses at 10,000 rpm). the horsepower should easily exceed 6000 bhp. And the top speed should be better than 1000 mph. By any account, this is a quan tum leap in motorcycle engineering by Honda. Only one problem: How does Honda top this in 1986? Brad Goodwin Saugus. California
6000 horsepower? 1000 miles per hour? Boy, do you exaggerate. You `d never catch us making such a dumb mistake.
Big toys for big boys
I missed the letter in September by J.W. Phillips. but it appears that a sensitive nerve has been struck in our populace. I own a HarleyDavidson and I didn't buy it for any rational reason such as high resale or dependability. I drive two Japanese cars for work and travel. They both are dependable, easy to work on, comfortable and so on. Everything you would expect from one of the world's foremost industrial powers. Now, let's talk about iors. Since I use Japanese products every day, I wanted a toy that was different, unique. Enter Harley-Davidson, a fantastic museum piece of a bike that somehow captures the Walter Mitty in me. They sure don't build em that way anymore, you know? Cept for Harleys. that is. I don't mind ifJ.W. wants to ride anything from a Cushman to a Ninja as long as he realizes that the essence of motorcycling is not what you have between your legs. hut what you've got between your ears. Vic Scarvada Idyllwild. California
Sexual Evolution
After all the excitement over the new Evolution Harleys I took one for a ride during the Demonstration Program. Who knows, they might really run after all. But the bike reminded me of something put together from spare parts-skinny forks, a bicycle front tire. MickeyMouse instrument lights. etc. The vibration was terrible and the position of the shift lever was ridiculous. However, it did come with cute leather tassels on the clutch and front brake lever, and all for around $9000. Say. I've got an old, beat-up truck that I'll let go for around $ I 5.000. It runs better than the Harley and I'll throw in a leather steering-wheel cover.
For 9OOO. Harleys must do something besides make noise and get in my way. I heard that riding a Harley is like dating an ugly girl: It's not that bad as long as your friends don't see you. M.R. Henderson Richmond. Virginia
The final conflict
Re: "Tales of intolerance and intolerants." November. 1984. Letters: Enough. Ehrich Koch St. Paul, Minnesota I)one.
