Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Cat fight

I read Brian Catterson’s remarks on that butt-ugly V-Rod. What should be important to him is the “finite number of old-school bikers” who are looking forward to bitch-slapping him for his comments about us! When is his next public appearance, so I can get in line? Warthog

Lafayette, Louisiana

At least twice before, the “styling genius” of Willie G. Davidson has been applied to production motorcycles: the 1970 “Boattail” XLH and the 1977 XLCR “Café Racer.” Both were received as the Edsels that they were, with less than impressive sales. His latest abomination, the V-Rod, is at least as dorky-looking as the others, but now that Willie G. has been anointed Our Lord and Savior it doesn’t matter how “far ahead of his time” he is. There are countless Brian Cattersons out there who will buy any pile of crap at any price, just because Willie said to. And I guess that’s the reason behind the most vacuous road test you ever printed! Could we try to be a little more objective? Marv R Katz

Beaumont, Texas

So, reader Tim Hunter hates yuppie bikers, huh? (Hotshots, November, 2001). I say the more the merrier! It’s that much more money the manufacturers have for R&D and improvement of their lines. And to the question of yuppie bike buyers driving up the prices of machinery? Sorry, Tim, look no farther than your Harley dealer: Greed Surcharge is the reason for unreasonable H-D prices.

Sarem A. Yousif New York, New York

Revenge of the Rodmen

I cannot believe the negative comments I read from supposed Harley-Davidson enthusiasts regarding the new V-Rod. Harley finally builds a motorcycle more advanced than my lawnmower, and this is the thanks they get?

The V-Rod is simply the Harley that will keep the company alive.

David 0. Rodriguez Anaheim, California

Wow! The H-D faithful definitely have opinions about the V-Rod. But calling it a “Honda” just because it is modem? That’s a bit too much. Hey “bros,” were you sleeping during Motor Company history class? Harley-Davidson made its first eight-valve V-Twin in 1916. The 1936 Knucklehead was a milestone motorcycle because it was very high-tech and stylish for its era. The V-Rod carries on that tradition. Get over it, guys. Mac Miller Portland, Oregon

As a shareholder of H-D stock, I’m looking at Harley’s new lineup as a smart business decision. Entry-level Buell Blast, Firebolt sportbike, traditional V-Twin Harleys and the V-Rod as an import alternative. Who, I’m wondering, will traditional H-D Big Twin riders loathe more? V-Rod owners or Sportster riders like me? Jim Crosby Wyoming, Michigan

Hey, get in line behind Catterson!

I can’t believe all of the people whining about the V-Rod in Hotshots. Seems you old guys need to get over it. Do you really think the company is going to be around in 15 or 20 years if they don’t do something about their lineup? Harley needs to sell bikes to future generations of riders, and they have taken a bold step in appealing to the coming marketplace. T. Christian Bellmyer Eugene, Oregon

Regarding Mr. Zeiser’s letter comparing the V-Rod to the slow-selling XLCR of the ’70s: If Zeiser did his homework and checked with his local H-D dealers, he’d find that virtually every V-Rod is sold-out in advance. You won’t be able to find one in the showroom the day after they come in, let alone “years after they went out of production.” Vince Mofla Jr.

Blackwood, New Jersey

RUB’ed the wrong way

Hire Drew Povlock! His letter to Hotshots in the November issue, defining what a “real biker” is, was an all-time classic! It should be printed on plastic cards and given out with the purchase of each new bike!

There has been a cloud of confusion in terms here, between “real bikers” and “real outlaws.” Living a block from a “real outlaw” clubhouse, I can certify that they very seldom ride bikes, but are mostly seen in pickup trucks. Possibly the activities they’re involved in make it more prudent to drive a four-wheeler, in that it’s far easier to just put the firearm under the front seat. It seems obvious that these > gun-toting thugs are what some RUBs aspire to emulate, and that is a real shame. William C. Willcox

Buffalo, New York

Careful, Wilcox, or someone named Warthog may bitch-slap you into the next century.

Missing Marauder

Hey, Suzuki, wake up! Where’s your entry into the power-cruiser market? You’ve got the right idea already with the Marauder 800, but it’s a deception.

How about this: Take the Marauder design, throw in an Intruder 1400 motor, bore-and-stroke the heck out of it, fit EFI, put a stylish free-flowing exhaust on each side and tuck away the airbox so that beautiful engine can be enjoyed!

Now add the goodies: pullback risers with drag-style tubular bars. Keep the inverted fork, but give us full adjustability. Dual, sportbike-spec front brakes, plus a rear disc. Radial tires (fat in the rear) on 17-inch polished aluminum wheels. Shaft drive, ’cause we hate grease on the pretty stuff! A comfortable seat and usable ergonomics. A larger tank, so we don’t look stupid pushing it. Most of all, keep the price reasonable. Peter L. Paul

Perry, Florida

America the beautiful?

Silly me, when I heard that the Triumph Bonneville platform would serve another model designation, I was thinking Scrambler (with retro side-pipe styling, yeah!) or maybe a café job (take my money, puhleeeease). But when I saw the new America, I was disappointed to say the least.

Apparently, Triumph did not learn its lesson from the TT600.

The company needs to refine its own unique persona, not go head-to-head with established players. In my opinion, the America does nothing but dilute Triumph’s image. Corot, the French artist once said, “When one follows another, one is always behind.” The tradition and the technology are there to create new models with strong traditional accents that would foster a loyal following. Is the America what U.S. Triumph enthusiasts were really asking for?

Meanwhile, my ’67 Bonnie looks better every year. Steve Toornman

Charlevoix, Michigan

Naked fun

I place my vote for a naked comparo between the re-motored Triumph Speed Triple, the Kawasaki ZRX1200R, the Yamaha FZ1, the Suzuki Bandit 1200, the new Honda 919, the Ducati Monster S4 and the MV Agusta Brutale. In the comparison, could you include some nice photos of Mr. Canet doing vertical wheelies, burnouts, flatout speed runs...and any other politically incorrect, senseless behavior. It would be much appreciated!

Ed Maynard Buffalo, Wyoming

In the December issue, there’s a picture of the bad-ass hooligan 2002 Triumph Speed Triple with a Daytona-type double-sided swingarm, but from what I’ve been told the Speed 3 retains the single-sided swingarm. Where did you get the picture? Tito Sanabria

Orwell, Vermont

From Triumph, Tito. We were mistakenly sent a photo of a styling experiment. All 2002 Speed Triples are single-sided swingers.

Less sound, more ground, please

When magazines conduct trail tests, especially for the four-stroke dirtbikes, it always seems that the machines end up with loud aftermarket exhaust systems. Test the bikes with their stock exhaust systems! I just cringe when I hear Yamaha YZ250/400/426s out in the woods. You can hear them coming well before you see them! I'd sure like to see publications such as yours go on a crusade to encourage users to quiet their machines, especially the new fourstrokes. The fbture of off-road vehicle recreation depends on it.

Motorcyclists in many ways just continue to be our own worst enemies. There are a lot of groups dedicated to eradicating off-road vehicle use from our public lands. Why on earth do we continue to add fuel to the fire? John Keutes

Buckley, Washington

Ex-Excelsior

In the July issue, in the Roundup article “Excelsior-Henderson Gone Forever?”, the Hanlon brothers are quoted as saying that they are not finished with the motorcycle industry, and that they have several ideas that they are working on. Well, first, how about apologizing to the Minnesota taxpayers for fleecing them out of $7.1 million, or explaining to the

good people of Belle Plaine how selling out to corporate raiders is intelligent restructuring? Gary Furberg Denver, Colorado

Stromin’ Suzuki

The Suzuki official who told you “VStrom” was German for “storm” didn’t know what he was talking about. Being a born-Gcrman, I can tell you strom is defined as a current, typically an electrical current. So, V-Strom must mean Very Electric? Anyway, the name VStrom sucks no matter what language.

Garet Wetzel LaCrescent, Minnesota

Shocking stickers

Regarding reader David Brooks letter (Hotshots, September) about Yamaha FZls selling above suggested retail: Don’t even slow down when you pass a Harley-Davidson dealer...

Oeek Emmons

Livingston, Texas

Those who find Yamaha dealers pricing the FZ1 way outside of MSRP need to come to Oregon to buy one. I found two dealers willing to take $8800, out the door, cash, with the three-year Yamaha Extended Service included. No sales tax in Oregon, by the way! And, yes, I did buy one, blue, and I love it. Boyd Brown Grants Pass, Oregon

Order up!

Regarding the new 2002 Honda VFR800: It seems you were able to convince Honda to give us the extra torque, extra horsepower and those hard saddlebags we’ve always wanted. Now, would it be possible for you guys to wave your magic wand and persuade Kawasaki to make its ZX-6R fuel-injected, put in a fuel light, soften the saddle and, for God’s sake, give us a helmet hook that we can actually use?

Jody Couture

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Hey, we ’re good, Jody, but not miracle workers...

Mrs. Egan lives

I have to know. Does this “Barbara” Egan really exist, or is she just part of Peter’s creative imagination?

Bob McKee Douglas, Wyoming

Yes, she ’s real. Here s the Family Egan in the flesh, missing a few cats, British sports cars, Ducatis, etc. □