Letters

LETTERS

Ugly is as ugly does

Regarding Peter Egan’s “Are dirtbikes ugly or is it just me?” column {Leanings, August, 1996): I’ve got to agree. I think the last nice-looking dirtbikes were the Yamaha XT500s of 1979-80.

Then there were the old BSA 441 Victors and Triumph Trophys, which bring back memories of Steve McQueen in the ISDT. The BSA 441 with its yellow/aluminum tank, upswept pipe and mini-muffler was a blast to ride just about anywhere. And the bike looked smart! Norm Perchikoff

Defiance, Ohio

Peter Egan’s latest Leanings was extremely interesting. I ride a 1981 Honda XL500 on the street, but would hesitate to ride it in the dirt. It’s heavy, slow, has very little suspension travel and isn’t all that comfortable. If Egan is looking for a clapped-out old 500 to ride in the dirt, I’ve got just the thing for him. On the plus side, he can surely swing his ancient leg over it, and garish it isn’t.

I ride a 1988 Honda XR250 with a Baja Designs dual-purpose kit in the dirt. It too, is pretty plain looking. I’m shorter than Peter and have no trouble with seat height. It has about 10 inches of travel, which comes in real handy when I find myself suddenly and stupidly 6 or 8 feet in the air off the side of a wash. At that point, I wish I had 20 inches of travel. The bike is fast enough for me, but I would imagine that Peter might want something with a little more horsepower. I recommend the Honda 400 and 600 XRs. Fred Smith

Cool, California

Pete, it’s not you. Current dirtbikes are ugly. My dirtbike riding time covered the early 1970s to the early 1980s, and I had European and Japanese bikes. All were good looking, especially my favorite, the Ossa Pioneer.

Last year, I went looking for a dualsport 650. All were refugees from the ’80s-splash graphics and purple frames. I even wrote Kawasaki that I would buy the KLR650 if the “DeKooning-gone-mad” graphics were removed. I even checked out how much of the design was removable by the hot hairdryer/peel technique.

Granted, nothing could come close to that lovely BSA Victor 441 you mentioned, but the manufacturers could make a better effort. Bruce Webster Granite Bay, California

Hey, Peter, if you can’t climb on any of today’s dirt or dual-purpose bikes, it’s because you’re old and unfit to ride one, enjoy one, appreciate one, and shouldn’t even be writing about-much less considering buying-one. Unless, of course, it’s a BSA 441 or equivalent. That way, you could stay in your garage staring at it (Wow! What a thrill!), and leave

the task of writing about dirtbikes to Off-Road Editor Jimmy Lewis.

Alfredo Mello Las Vegas, Nevada

Peter, the answer to your question is yes, dirtbikes are ugly! Scott Boettcher Pasadena, California

Peter, dirtbikes are not ugly, it’s just you. Apparently you haven’t ridden a modern dirtbike. Their beauty becomes quite apparent once time has been spent in the saddle. I really don’t think you’d notice “graffiti graphics” while zipping down your favorite section of soil. Whether you’re enjoying the scenery, the weather or the incredible speed that a modern dirtbike is capable of, their beauty is in their function.

Furthermore, your complaint about lack of “artistic welding?” Well, I’ve been pounding the piss out of my XR for four years, doing things that would make a CR cry, and I haven’t been able to break any welds yet. I think if you would quit worrying about what you looked like going down the road, you might just experience the joy of motorcycling.

If you can’t find the dirtbike of your dreams, you can always spoon some knobs onto that Duck of yours, and you will have created a dirtbike using your “old bastard” technology.

Peter Graves

Chino, California

I agree with Peter. Dirtbikes are ugly. They have no style. I have not seen a good-looking dirtbike or dualpurpose bike for years.

A couple of years ago, I found a 1972 DT250 Yamaha Enduro. A great bike for the woods and on backroads; runs good and looks good. You know, with some style. And just a week ago, I purchased a 1972 TS250 Suzuki in mint condition, a good looking dual-purpose bike also. They just don’t make them like they used to. Jon Razvoza Washington, Pennsylvania

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Fortunately for Mr. Egan and others equally out of step with the last three decades of motorcycling, there is hope. A British company called MRD Metisse sells rolling chassis complete with the aluminum tank and nickelplated frame Peter rhapsodizes about. I suggest he order one to accept a modern Japanese or Rotax Single.

Fletcher Anderson Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Peter Egan hit it right on the head with his piece on dirtbikes. I ride a ’91 Suzuki DR650S and bought it new because of these features: large, 5.5-gallon gas tank, air/oil-cooled engine, heavy-duty luggage rack and a kickstarter (as long as I’ve got a right leg, give me a kick start). Things I don’t like about it: silly mini-windshield that gives no wind protection, silly decals on the tank and side covers, and it’s too tall for anyone to put their feet down if they aren’t on level ground.

Japan, are you listening? Everyone over here isn’t a 6-foot-6-inch MTV new-wave rocker. Brian E. Ribblett Hampton, Virginia

Different strokes

Back in 1984, Kevin Cameron, in the September issue of Cycle magazine, wrote of the RZV500R, “Yamaha presents a bike to leave technophiles star-struck. The RZ makes you wonder what in the world comes next.”

It’s been 12 long, technologyadvancing years, but at last Mr. Cameron has shown us the answer: the brilliant Bimota BB 500 (see CW, September, 1996).

I can’t wait to get my second twostroke 500. Gary C. Van Handel

Charlotte, North Carolina

Looking back, I can remember seeing two-strokes literally “smoking” everything on wheels, and looking forward in the future to doing so without the smoke. Bimota’s on the right track, but it will take one of the Big Four to make street two-strokes accessible to the masses. Ring-ding-a-ding, ring-ding-a-ding...how’s that Christmas song go again? Jim Reinhofer Franklin Park, Illinois n