Letters

LETTERS

My cruisin' Vinnie

Peter Egan lucked out getting a Black Shadow with good brakes ("To Ride a Vincent," September). Most Vincents require a memo sent months earlier, politely requesting a future stop (place, time). Part of the problem is that Vincents were made from scrapped Spitfires, themselves made from scrapped pots and pans donated by British housewives during the Battle of Britain. Modern materials technology? Ha! That's why my '54 Squariel fell apart, too... I still love 'em for what they are/were. John Joss Los Altos, California

Here’s the first thing I want to know when the new issue arrives: What’s Egan up to this month?

To many of your readers, the wall thickness of frame-spar extrusions on the new Kawasaki or exciting news about the revolutionary thinking involving camchain placement on the latest Suzuki are items of interest that deserve maximum column inches and bold typeface, but not to me. No, that job falls squarely on Egan’s shoulders.

Over the past few years, he has addressed the really important issues that motorcyclists everywhere wake up nights wondering about. How many bikes are enough? Why are dirtbikes so ’kin’ ugly? Why is some footwear appropriate for an afternoon on a Harley but not on a Ducati? How is it that sitting in the perfect garage with a fine cigar and a bottle of wine staring at a new motorcycle is nearly as much fun as riding through Mexico on someone else’s BMW? These are the important issues.

Last night as I rested in bed in that state that is neither awake nor asleep, I was shaken back to consciousness

by a question that made me mutter “Damn...” under my breath and jump from bed to run downstairs to fetch my latest issue of Cycle World. “What is it?” asked my wife. “I forgot to see what kind of boots Egan wore when he finally got to ride a Vincent Black Shadow!” said I.

From her laugh, 1 could tell that she doesn’t understand about the important things, either. Tom Zurschmeide Indianapolis, Indiana

Perhaps Mr. Egan is ruining his own chances of owning a Vincent by writing about them in a way that can only increase the demand for them.

Leon Hyatt Stayton, Oregon

Too late, Leon. As you 'll read in this month 's Leanings, Pete 's already got his Vincent.

Defending Victory

In response to reader Jean-Michel Esperet’s complaints (Letters, September): While voting the Polaris Best

Cruiser of 1998 may be somewhat premature on Cycle World's part, I've ridden several (as a former Victory engine technician) and the Polaris handles better and feels more confidence-inspiring than any other cruiser, with the possible exception of the Moto Guzzi.

As a resident of Switzerland, the deleterious effects of stringent environmental protection regulations (both sound and exhaust) shouldn't come as a surprise to Esperet, much less be termed a “lousy excuse.” Before being strangled by the EPA, the development bikes that I rode made more than 75 ponies and sounded good doing it. As for styling, Polaris is in the business of selling motorcycles, not dictating style. If a Harley lookalike is what the buying public wants, Polaris would be remiss in not providing it.

Michael Weston Minneapolis, Minnesota

Not asking, not telling

After reading the letters from R. Mitlif of Philadelphia and Paul Baderman of Driftwood, Texas, in the August issue berating your printing a “nude” Dennis Rodman photo (“Fave Raves,” June), I just had to respond. I’m gay. And while I have no attraction to Dennis Rodman, I appreciate his willingness to be a highprofile athlete and to push the boundaries of society’s rules and regulations. The overwhelming majority of your readers might be heterosexual men, as Mr. Mitlif states, but there are plenty of us homosexual men (and women) out here riding motorcycles.

All my life I've had to put up with automobile and motorcycle magazines giving us near-naked pictures of women spread-eagle on the hoods, tops and trunks of automobiles, and leaning oh-so-seductively on motorcycles. So 1 applaud Cycle World and thank you for putting a man on one for a change. Russel R. Kirk San Diego, California

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MEMBER

MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY COUNCIL, INC.

Aud't Bureau of Circulations Member

This is in response to the two letters you published from men who were “shocked” and “sickened” to see Dennis Rodman nude on his Softail.

I’m a 52-year-old woman, mother of three grown men, who’s been riding for 12 years with more than

500.000 miles on my bikes (currently, I’m on my ’89 Yamaha FJ1200 with

18.000 miles). I don’t buy other magazines that show naked women draped over bikes. T&A means nothing to me or any serious rider. The difference here is, these women are not bikers-Rodman is.

As a serious motorcyclist, I always ride safe and dress accordingly, whether in the California desert or on the streets of NYC. But I didn’t mind looking at Dennis, who lives his own lifestyle as all bikers do, posing on his H-D.

To the guys who feel obligated to write wimpy letters about this nonissue, get a grip! Margie Hassan Claymont, Delaware

I don’t entirely agree with T. Mitlif and Paul Baderman, but if Cycle World finds naked black (or white) men on motorcycles attractive, fine. But please don’t make me look at these pictures. Keep them in your own closet, thank you.

Now I know why my money goes to Rider magazine. Tom Anguish

Ontario, Canada

Bump-start blues

I just got myself a new ride. She’s got an overall length of 64 inches and weighs in at a mere 115 pounds. She’s got a great seat and a fine pair of headlights-she was made to ride! My problem is she won’t start before 9 a.m. I’ve tried goosin’ ’er, rubbin’ the tank, even some sweet talk. Once she finally turns over, though, she’s a high-revvin’, hold-on-tight, WFO spin through Pleasureville. She’s a keeper!

I was wondering if you knew of anything I could do to get my ride going at the crack of dawn? Danny Inmon Spring Hill, Tennessee

Oh, nice goin Inmon. We just about get all the Rider readers calmed down, now you go and stir things up with the feminists. We 'll forward the mail... □