Letters

LETTERS

Bike vs. Car

As I was ripping down the road on a cold November day knowing that nothing on four wheels stands a chance in hell of keeping up with me on my Honda CBR900RR, I couldn't help but feel cheated by the Yamaha YZF 1000 vs. Dodge Viper shootout in the December issue.

The bike blew away the car in price, power-to-weight, quarter-mile, 0-60 mph, top-gear roll-ons and braking. Now, had you thrown in one of the top finishers from your recent "Ultimate Sportbike Challenge," the Suzuki GSX-R750 or Honda CBR900RR would have also smoked the Viper with 1 :28s at Willow Springs and made the top speed battle a little closer. Besides, who decided to award the victory to the much more expensive (and broken) car anyway? I say we won! Rich Dimare Revere, Massachusetts

You should be ashamed of your selves! We lost!?! How could you let this happen? Glenn Gillette Everett, Washington

The car vs. bike thing was a fiasco from the biker's point of view. First, the bike. Even Catterson said, "In retrospect, the YZF1 000 probably wasn't the right bike for the job." In retrospect? I could have seen that going in. The contest parameters begged for a nimble machine, so why not go with something like a GSX R750? And if you're stuck on the YZF, use one that's at least running well (read the section on top speed).

Second, the rider. Catterson may not be slow, but unless I miss my guess, Canet is faster. He's on the payroll; why not use him?

Third, the venues. If you know you're going to Willow Springs or the Angeles Crest, why not go out a day ahead of time and scope out the conditions and figure out what you can do to make them better? (A different section of highway, renting a rotary broom, tire warmers; just a few thoughts.) Instead, Catterson sounds like a whiner-there's dust on the track.. .my tires are cold.. .there's too much sealer on the road.

Fourth, spin control (as in politics, not TCS). THE VIPER BLEW UP! Three laps on the track and the thing throws a rod, and a good thing, too, as the brakes were going away. Who cares if it's a pre-production prototype? The vehicle was Car and Driver's choice, not yours. It quit after three laps and didn't even make it to the Streets of Willow course. Do like we should have done in `Nam: Declare victory and get the hell out of there. Michael Reid Westerville, Ohio

Just needing to vent a little steam and make a few comments. I was reading the Viper vs. YZF shootout and got the feel ing it was about as fair as Mike Tyson vs. Tony Danza would be. It's obvious from lap times that four tires are faster than two when it comes to race vehicles. Next time, how about limiting vehicle choice to the top 10 sellers of each type? That way it would be more of a real world comparison. Just imagine the con tests.. .Ford F series pickup vs. Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster...Dodge Caravan vs. Honda Goldwing. . .Honda Accord vs. Honda CBR600F3.

Or you could simply limit choices to average purchase price of new vehi cles of each type. This might lead to, say, a Chevrolet Camaro Z28 vs. Suzuki GSX-R750 pairing. Lookin' forward to the next shootout. Mike Case Jr. Brea, California

Your logic is as defective as your negotiating skills. Street racing only measures your willingness to take risks. Making a mistake in a car scares you, making a mistake on a bike can kill you. Then, agreeing to compare lap times on a dirty roadrace track only proves the guys at Car and Dri ver are smarter than you. Autoweek said it best: "Compared to roadracing motorcycles, cars are for wankers."

I can overlook your lapse of judgment if you put together a Porsche 911 and Ducati 955 next time. Craig Skinner Tempe, Arizona

I do not enjoy your recent leaning to ward terminal irresponsibility. I hate to sound too politically correct, for motor cycles are first and foremost about hav ing fun. I giggled at the pictures of wheelies and stoppies on the Si Buell and KTM Duke. I smiled at the Suzuki Bandit 1200 burnout signature shot. But racing a Viper on an open public road is unforgivable. It may not have been head-to-head, but then neither is the Isle of Man. You have crossed the line. Please step back immediately and pub lish a heartfelt apology. Mark Gardner Victorville, California

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In your Bike vs. Car comparison, you discussed power-to-weight ratios, drag coefficients, traction and g forces, but left out the most important thing; namely the fun factor.

NOW, lets see, I can buy a Yamaha YZF1000R plus a lifetime's worth of any number of other two-wheeled fun, or a Dodge Viper that is 23 mph faster and 2.5 seconds per lap quicker at (gasp!) Willow Springs? Gee, I dunno. What to do...? Rick Harbeck Sioux City, Iowa

It was a stupid comparison. I did learn one thing, though. If I ever come across a Viper GTS on Angeles Crest while riding my $5000 Honda CBR600F2, all I have to do is keep close and sooner or later he'll either fry the brakes or blow his motor. Then, I'll just cruise on by the smol dering pile of overpriced junk, wav ing my checkbook with the $68,000 still in it. Steve Cooper Pasadena, California

Interesting comparison, but you forgot one important point in evaluat ing the fun factor: Cars lean the wrong way. Russell Pearce Fort Knox, Kentucky

Vote for Vincent

Peter Egan wrote a terrific column about wanting to buy a Vincent (Lean ings, December, 1994) and how it was just out of reach at each stage of his life. Then, we read that he bought a new Harley (Leanings, November, 1996) that must have cost about what a Vincent V-Twin in reasonable shape would cost. With all the other bikes he has, I don't understand his sense of pri orities. If he is not going to spend his Cycle World salary wisely, perhaps you should cut it, as a good lesson for him. Please reinstate full pay when he comes to his senses. Bruce Metcalf Vincent Owners Club Mt. Prospect, Illinois

Actually, Egan just asked for a big raise.. something about buying a Vincent Black Lightning and a 1955 Corvette for the ultimate Bike vs. Car shootout.