Letters
LETTERS
Indian burial grounds
What’s with this Indian revival? Indian is dead. Oh, I sympathize with Indian lovers. In the late 1940s, I waited in the rear of a gas station while my father’s Hudson underwent dialysis. Oddly enough, the gas station was on the outskirts of Springfield, Massachusetts. Near terminal boredom and for no good reason, I wandered through an open doorway. There before me was a two-wheeled magic carpet-an Indian Scout, paint as red as fire. It was massive, with fat tires, a yard-long saddle and a chrome tiller of a handlebar. I was about to throw a leg over the beast, when my father poked his head through the opening and told me to “get away from that darn fool thing.”
A few years later, Mother Indian stopped dropping foals for all time. Indian is dead. Get used to it.
Frank J. Regan Ellicott City, Maryland
The only Indian I want is Pocahontas, and I’m too old for her.
Norman Mastrup Whiting, New Jersey
In love with Connie
Just wanted to drop you guys a note saying how pleased I was with your long-term test of the Kawasaki Concours in the January issue. Your three-page assessment was fair and honest, and pretty much said what we “COGlodytes” have been saying all along. Yes, there’s more technology out there, and if you can ride ten-tenths, you’ll find some flaws. But the cost differential between a Concours and any of its competitors will buy you a lot of gas, insurance, helmets, gloves, etc.
You also uncovered one of the bike’s greatest assets: reliability. There’s more than a few COG members with 100,000-plus miles and their Connies are still hummin’. Someone once remarked that it was the Timex of motorcycles-it takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’ (as did yours).
Tom Adams, Executive Director Concours Owners Group Savannah, Georgia
Star-crossed
Thank you for your wonderful review of Harley imitations! Now all the wannabes are gonna run out, buy ’em up, and replace the exhaust systems with straight pipes. A Yamaha Royal Star without mufflers will make a drag-piped Softail sound quiet! Well, I’m off to Wal-Mart for some earplugs.
W.E. Nelson Huachuca City, Arizona
The Royal Star may look somewhat like a Road King, but put it next to the real thing and see which bike will get looked at and admired. Take that $15,399 the Tour Classic versionQ costs and put it on a $15,000 Harley Road King, wait five years, then see which one makes you smile if you want to sell it. Doug Caríson
Clearlake, California
I’m going to put on my “Roll-X” watch, my “Lephies” jeans, my “Bill” helmet and ride my Hark..(oops), my Yamaha Royal Star all over town. When I’m through, I’m going to go home and fake an orgasm.
Joseph H. Walker Rosco, New York
David Edwards’ statement in the October, 1995, issue regarding Yamaha’s Royal Star and the “dummy” cylinder fins that give it a certain “Indian Flathead feel” is definitely one man’s opinion. Nothing about that engine in the Royal Star resembles an Indian and no reference should be made to an Indian motorcycle.
Dave, you might be wise to visit a few antique motorcycle meets and learn what Indians really look like.
Woody Carson Fort Collins, Colorado
To see an old Indian, Mr. Editor Edwards needs only to step into his garage and gaze upon his 1940 Sport Scout bob-job. Thanks for the advice, anyway.
Brake dancing
Thank you for the excellent “Full Stop” article by Steve Anderson published in your January, 1996, issue. The data is simply gorgeous. Applause to Mr. Anderson and all the contributors to the experiment.
Joseph T. Elliott
San Pedro, California
You people kill me with your January `96 brake test. That opening-page stoppie would have given me a pound ing headache and dislocated shoulder about 1 millisecond after the picture had been taken.
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Now that you've shown us which )rake systems work best for novice rid rs, why don't you tell the rest of us ow to use the conventional brakes that ire on 99.9 percent of motorcycles. I ;ee too many riders braking wrong, ong, or within an inch of their lives. lake my advice: You're never too old o learn. Enrolling in a rider course is he smartest thing you can do. Brian Smith Charlotte, North Carolina
All the MSF instructors who con tinually write-in whining about two finger braking should look closely at the picture of the nose-standing Suzu ki RF900 in the January issue and shut up! John S. Womack Colonial Heights, Virginia
Short, sweet
Great article on the Vertemati four stroke ("Thumper Force," CW, Decem ber). Unfortunately, it was too short. Bob Williams Mojave, California
Fightin' words
I bought the December Cycle World solely for the WWII bike arti cle. If that was my relative's grave you parked the Harley WLA on, I would bury my boot in your ass. Jim White Iowa City, Iowa Remove it from your mouth first, please, Mr. White. In the lead photo for "Wheels of War," the Indian and Harley Army bikes were respectfully placed on a grass service lane be tween the rows of headstones.
Hire the handicapped
Your December issue was great, as usual, especially the columns. You have in Kevin Cameron and Peter Egan two of the most knowledgeable and respected columnists in the motor-.j ournal industry. Editor-in-Chief Edwards is no slouch either, especially considering his obvious handicaps. John Adams Raleigh, North Carolina Edwards says that no way to talk about his BSAs.
