Letters
LETTERS
Cooked Goose
In his June article on the Suzuki Goose 350, Alan Cathcart says that a bigger version using Suzuki's 780cc DR Big Single would be "overkill." Well, I've waited 20 years for a big street Single to come along, and to me, big is 1000cc. It would vibrate a little. So what? I'm beginning to think I'm the only one out here willing to take a little pounding for a fun ride. Robert A. Yuqnon Racine, Wisconsin
I question Cathcart's statement that an 800cc Suzuki Goose would be too much. What I really like about Singles is that they're light and agile, and have plenty of midrange snort, which allows me to enter a turn at a fairly re laxed gait, then kick `er in the flanks at the apex and literally leap out of the corner. I've dusted many a multi cylindered stallion in tight sections. A Goose 800 would pack quite a kick, and saddled into the right chas sis would make one fine barrel racer. Michael Boles Susanville, California
An 800cc Suzuki Single? That would be a Goose of a different color. Now quit horsing amund.
Stunned
Cycle World's article and photos on the Britten V1100 in the June issue were outstanding-just like the bike. That thing is awesome. Archie Rodriguez Houston, Texas
"Stunner!" and "The World's Most Advanced Motorcycle"? Sounds like ad copy to me. But after reading Kevin Cameron's article on the Britten v-i ioo Daytona, I'm convinced that the bike is either a well-disguised back-door factory effort or truly the product of a creative genius and wor thy of such praise. Whichever, I can't wait to read more about the Britten in Cycle World. As to the team's need for sponsor ship, perhaps Mr. Britten should con sider changing the bike's colors to a more conservative orange and black? George Wittman Wingdale, New York
Bashful
David Edwards' June editorial, "At the Bash," about the sledgehammer destruction of Japanese motorcycles, shows that the United States is not an isolated country. We are part of a global community, and motorcycles are just one of many examples.
As a global consumer, I am glad I have the chance to purchase the best products available. I will have ab solutely no regrets or hesitation in getting rid of my Honda ST1 100 and buying a bike from Milwaukee or Milan or Munich the day America, Italy or Germany produces what I be lieve to be a better performing ma chine. Isn't competition and personal choice great? Not only do I get the motorcycle I want, but thousands of Japanese and Europeans can buy Harleys and help support people in Wisconsin, Planet Earth. W. Grant Norman Houston, Texas
Words to live by
.~ IIw~ My wife and I were out riding our Honda Sabre when an oncoming rider gave us a big slowdown wave. Just around the corner was a motorcycle accident. .
The rider was dead, his Gold Wing upside-down in a stony ditch. A quick glance showed that his rear tire had two, sometimes three, layers of fabric showing all the way around the tire. There was little doubt that a blowout had killed this man. I'd call it negli gent suicide.
I have in my garage some rear-sus pension parts from a wrecked Ninja 900. The wheel has an old Pirelli worn right through. The former owner had destroyed his bike by not buying a new tire. I've looked around a couple ofjunkyards, and most of the wrecks have bald rear tires. A couple of days ago, down at the local McDonalds, there was a nice Interceptor 750 with the cords showing. I saw a similarly neglected Suzuki at the DMV.
Maybe it's the recession, but some body should address this. It's uncom monly stupid to ride a bike with badly worn tires, yet I see it everywhere. Brian Knowles Los Osos. California
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Crossways critiques
Cancel my subscription. All of your issues seem obsessed with glitzy “speed machines” and new models.
John Alexander Waukegan, Illinois
I like keeping up with the new bikes, but in May’s issue I could also read about early British bikes, Moto Guzzis, dirtbikes, the history of sportbikes and Sound of Singles racing. Your magazine is getting better-and it’s been really good up to now.
Carl Menzik Covina, California
What’s in a name?
In April’s “In Search of the Ultimate 750,” Cycle World comments, “We can’t understand why the Kawasaki Zephyr 750 isn’t selling.” The answer is fairly simple: The Honda Nighthawk 750 costs $500 less and doesn’t carry a model name you’d expect to find on a Plymouth, Chevy or maybe an attic fan.
Allen Leathers Centreville, Virginia
Wondering why Kawasaki’s Zephyr isn’t selling better than it is? Could it possibly have anything to do with the name of the bike? Who wants to ride something called a Zephyr? It’s even hard to spell.
Michael Smith
San Gabriel, California
Grin, grin, grin, I read all the test reports. Grin, grin, grin, I bought a Kawasaki Zephyr 750. Grin, grin, grin, thanks for the tip.
Michael Howatt Modesto, California
Design by wine
Discussing Honda’s new CBR900RR in the May issue, Cycle World states that, “Computer-aided design has allowed Honda to add a new chapter to the history of the sportbike.”
What nonsense! Computer-aided design another Honda exclusive? I guess Ducati’s world champion 851s were drawn up on the back of a cigarette package over a cold beer.
Nick Abramczyk Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
It was a tablecloth, and the chianti classico was room temperature. □
