Letters

LETTERS

Goosed

I'm writing to say thanks for the Moto Guzzi articles in your August issue. It seems lately that all the major bike magazines think it’s necessary to run a 600cc showdown or superbike shootout every month.

I'm quite sure that the FZRs and ZX-11s et al are excellent motorcycles, but the world of motorcycling is so much broader. It's important for the motorcycle press to tell readers about bikes like the Guzzis, BMW's. Buells. and all the others that are built by people with their own concept of w hat a motorcycle should be.

I've ow ned a Guzzi for the past I 2 years, and I think it's great. It has never been in a shop for anything, looks and sounds beautiful, is fun to ride, and I'll probably keep it forever. I've owned other bikes during those years, but the Guzzi is almost family.

I've been reading Cycle World for over 20 years, and have always felt your magazine maintained a good editorial balance, more so than any of your competition. Please keep it that wav. and tell us. amongst the reports on the Ninjas and C'BRs. about the Guzzis and Triumphs of today, and remind us about the BSAs and Nortons of the past.

Also, tell Peter Fgan that if he wants to greatly improve that pastawith-peppers recipe he mentioned in the March issue, to soak the anchovies in one-half cup milk for 15 minutes, drain, then sauté in olive oil along with some finely minced garlic, then add the red peppers.

Michael Bruno

( 'omwal I. New York

Enjoyed the couple of articles on the new Moto Guzzi S and S PI 11 in the August issue. 1 purchased my Guzzi Eldorado in December of 1973. Except fora broken bolt head in a non-critical area, it has cost me virtually zero to maintain over the last 1 7 years. Tires, oil. gas and an occasional sparkplug change are the major costs. Gas mileage runs from 44 city to 5 I highway.

If your readers want a bike that w ill be providing pleasure when most contemporary “fad" bikes are just a dusty memory, they should invest in a Moto Guzzi. and pocket the savings they'll achieve over the long haul.

Robert A. Greene Williamsville. New York

Triumph's return

As a life-long Triumph motorcycle enthusiast, 1 thoroughly enjoyed reading the article about the new Triumphs in the September

issue of Cycle World. I know there are many old-time Triumph riders out there who think little of these new machines, dismissing them as tardy Japanese replicas with all the charm of a major household appliance. Similar to Oriental designs they may be. but I. for one, am glad to see the Triumph name once again displayed on a freshly made fuel tank.

David Gaylin Baltimore, Maryland

1 just finished the September issue (cover to cover in one sitting, as usual) and thought I'd drop you a line w ith a few thoughts.

First. I want to thank you for your global approach in covering motorcycles. 1 w'as pleased, frustrated, and teased by your review of the new' Triumph lineup, just like every other time I read about the bikes sold only in Europe or Japan. It drives me nuts, but 1 love it!

Also, thanks for the nice articles you do from time to time on vintage bikes. The piece on the 1947 Speed Twin was a good complement to the article on the new Triumph lineup. Please keep them coming.

Leo L. Holzman Bothell, Washington

Eco-duck?

Being the owner of a 1 974 Honda (`B750. I read with interest Harold Johnsons letter, "Economics 907," in your August issue, in which he praised the resale value of Italian motorcycles. He failed to mention how many miles of riding pleasure he has enjoyed on his 1974 I)ucati > 750SS. I le also neglected to note how deeply the cost of valve adjustment has cut into his profit margin. Resale value in a motorcycle is an admirable quality, but all too often the usability of the machine in question is compromised. It is nice to ride an investment, so long as one remembers that riding is the only thing that motorcycles are made ior: living experience is the true measure of their value.

Reader Information

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Joseph G lydon Vallejo, California

Translation, please

Fortunately, Cycle World was not included in the Suzuki GSX 1 lOOG's design (see road test. CW, July), for you have missed the point completely of why this bike was created in the first place. How could you suggest substituting a cheap chain for the driveshaft just to save some weight? If chains are so good, how come Beemers never use them?

Don’t you realize that the GSX 1 100G is a class by itself—as was the Earles-fork BMW R69S—for riders in coat-and-neektie or dressed in full leathers?

I weigh 1 35 pounds (at age 60) and. unlike Cycle World. 1 find the front suspension more than adequate. like those of my previous bikes in Jakarta. Indonesia—a BSA Golden Flash, Norton Dominator, and BMW R51 and R69S.

While my maroon GSX 1 100G looks splendid, 1 wonder why Suzuki chose to call the bike's other color option “Progress Gray." It's neither gray nor brown. But then, color is a matter of personal taste.

Eddie Yo

Davidson vil le, Maryland

We eon 7 orgue with your logic, Yo. Mainly because we couldn 7 find it.

Life’s sweet mysteries

Is David Edwards Japanese? Is Steven L. Thompson a yuppie? Is Peter Egan president yet?

.1. Collins

Glenpool. Oklahoma

To answer your questions. no. no, and not yet: Egan's waiting to see how Frank Zappa fares. 0