Letters
LETTERS
Pre-owned perfect
I was faced with a dilemma. I had $6000 and my trusty Kawasaki KLR600 as trade-in, and wanted to buy the Perfect-Do-It-All-Bike. So I began reading motorcycle magazines to see what my choices were. One day I would drool over the Honda CBR600F2, the next day it was the BMW R100GS, then I would see a Harley FXRS-SP and my head would spin. It was a no-win situation.
Then I read Cycle World's April. 1991, issue about used bikes. I now have clear titles to a Honda Hawk GT 647, a Harley 883 Sportster, and I kept my beloved KLR600, to boot. I even had enough money left over to buy a top-quality leather jacket. The two bikes I bought were in excellent condition and needed little more than an oil change, a tune-up, and a good wash and wax. Thanks for the great used-bike articles. Are there any more in the works? Gino Pokluda Sandia Park, New Mexico
Even as we speak. Contributing Editor Joe Minton is toiling away, fixing up used Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha project bikes. Look for those stories, and others, soon.
Classic clash
Regarding the “Ups & Downs” Roundup section in your August, 1991, issue: A DOWN rather than an UP should have been given to Rick Cole for including motorcycles on his “Gold” list. Cole, whose
company has ruined the affordable classic-car market for real enthusiasts and has put many desirable vehicles into the hands of nonenthusiast investors, now wishes to do the same damage to the classicbike market following the collapse in car values.
Please do us a favor and leave people like this to readers of the Robb Report. Perhaps that way we can all enjoy riding our bikes instead of hiding them in hermetically sealed chambers for eternity next to the Ferraris.
Stuart M. Rigler. President Detroit Triumph Sportscar Club Troy, Michigan
GP vision?
After reading David Edwards’ editorial, “Grand prix plight,” in the October CW, it seems to me that a large number of the people involved in 500cc GP roadracing are confused about the purpose of
motorsports racing. Television contracts and tobacco-sponsorship money have led them to falsely believe that they are in a business that is overly important.
In reality, they are in a sport that is supported by fans and enthusiasts, not in a business that serves customers or clients.
I have nothing but profound respect for Kenny Roberts’ riding skills, but those skills in no way. qualify him as a person with the vision to lead an industry. In the 1990s, further development of existing 500cc two-stroke designs will be as valuable as the development of Monster Trucks. Mr. Roberts needs to wake up and realize that the machines he races need to be much more representative of what enthusiasts can own and afford, to say nothing of being more environmentally friendly.
As time uncovers the environmental holocausts that took place behind the Iron Curtain, a reactionary environmentalist wave could easily sweep through Europe to abolish all forms of motorsports whose rules and regulations are not seen as being environmentally aware. The prospect of this happening frustrates and angers me as much as the next guy. However, in a world where the Soviet Communist Party and the KGB were vaporized in seven working days, we would be very bold to assume that nothing could end the motorsport that we all enjoy so much. Harry Klemm Yorba Linda, California E3
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