Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Buck-a-Runes
I think the folks at Honda made a typographical error in naming their new Valkyrie (“Elements of Style,” CW, March). After studying photos of the fork on the Rune, I’m sure they meant to call it the Rube (Goldberg)!
Dav Pauli Long Beach, California
I think Honda heard incorrectly when seeking rider input on the styling of their new Valkyrie. The word they were hearing was “Ruined!” John McAdOO
Bakersfield, California
The super-cruiser market has never really appealed to me from an aesthetic side, but I have to admit that the new Rune has piqued my interest-more than I can share with my wife, until I get caught trying to sneak it into the garage. Chris Buonopane
Wilmington, Delaware
Okay, Ducati’s desire to replace the sexiest exhaust display on the planet with a catalytic converter from a Taurus is disturbing, but what on Earth were the engineers at Honda thinking? Rune! Sweet Jesus, where do you sit? Why do you sit there? What’s it do?
Charlie Stevenson Clarksville, Indiana
I predict the new Honda Rune will join the Pontiac Aztek, the Lincoln Blackwood and the whole French motorcycle industry in rousing consumer disinterest. This is far and away the ugliest freaking thing to ever come out of Japan, Inc! At least all the criticism the Ducati 999 got now will be redirected at Honda. Hope the new CBRóOORRs sell well enough to cover the Rune’s development costs!
Mark Backiel Garden City, Georgia
Honda’s Rune looks as if it were designed by superhero cartoonist Jack “The King” Kirby-and that’s a compliment. Wow! Talk about sensesshattering design! Can’t you just see Captain America and Nick Fury, agents of SHIELD, riding forth on Runes to put the kibosh on the Red Skull or a gaggle of HYDRA baddies? Man, I want one, too!
Mike Reese Chicago, Illinois
Is the overstuffed Rune the Anna Nicole Smith of motorcycles?
Loni Specter
West Hills, California
The new Honda speaks volumes about Americans, and none of it is very flattering. Gargantuan, gaudy and devoid of any practical merit, it was designed for folks who obviously have an inferiority complex and need to be noticed. The only things missing are foxtails, curb-feelers and dual chromed trumpets on the front fender. Then, you’d really have something!
Perhaps the purchase price should include free neutering or spaying to prevent this type of conspicuous consumption from being perpetuated.
Jim Shannon Cox’s Creek, Kentucky
Yes, the Rune is the 1958 Buick Limited Riviera of motorcycles, but you know what? I simply must have one, and no motorcycle has inspired that sort of lust in me since the original Honda CBX Six. I currently own a 2002 Harley Road King Classic, and it has become passe to me as of today.
Motorcycles should inspire passion, and the Rune succeeds. Kudos to Honda for once again walking the edge.
John Cazin
Lakeland, Florida
Find the hidden Rune
I like fine-art photography as much as the next guy-maybe even a little more, given that I studied it for four years in college. And I have been chompin’ at the bit to finally get a good look at the new Honda Rune. Then the best motorbike magazine in the world comes to my door with the Rune - on the cover. I greedily turn to the pictorial and what do my lustful eyes behold? Photos of a radiator and wheel hub, perhaps? How ’bout showing the bike next time for Pete’s sake. I’m 43, and after a 20-year hiatus, I’ve been riding again for about the last year and a half. Started out with a little Honda 550 to commute 40 miles back and forth to work, and soon started thinking about that touring bike I’ve always wanted. So one Saturday, I coerced my wife into taking a trip with me into Little Rock to the Harley dealership. They had two fulldress tourers sitting in the showroom, one brand-new, the other a year old. And each one of them was within a few nickels of $30,000!
Charles F. Giordano
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Sorry, Chuck, that pushy Captain America had a date with Anna Nicole, and split the photo studio before we could complete the shoot.
Egads, Egan!
Although I am a preacher, I muttered something generally rei served for discussions involving eternal condemnation, and left the shop sickened and disappointed. How in the world did Peter Egan (“Famous Harley Myths,” Leanings, March) get an Electra Glide Standard for $13,700? Tell me where his dealership is and I’ll buy a bus ticket there.
James Stogner Ely, Nevada
Out here in Colorado Springs, I can assure you that the prices are a lot closer to that “mythical” $25,000 than they are to $13,700. And it doesn’t seem to matter whether you show up in your leathers, stockbroker suit or your custom backless hospital gown.
Robert C. Ginnett Colorado Springs, Colorado
Here in the Dallas area I have sampled several dealers and found they are all selling their products for at least $4000-$7000 over the MSRR Your ability to obtain an Electra Glide for $13,700, Peter, could possibly be because of your position as a well-respected editor of a very fine motorcycle magazine. The rest of us can only suffer the pains of dealing with Harley-Davidson dealers.
Please don’t publish my name, as I still may have to patronize the local H-D shops. Name withheld
Dallas, Texas
We who live and work in the real world know the truth about the $25,000 Harley. It is not a myth. It is alive and kicking savings accounts in the butt! Terri Satomi
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
How could Egan and I have owned the same number of Harleys with two completely different maintenance outcomes? With the money I’ve spent on parts alone, I could have bought a ranch with cattle roaming.
I think Peter is revising his personal Harley history to coincide with the big 100th birthday bash. Either that or he writes some great science fiction.
Gene Medford Hohenwald, Tennessee
Was Peter Egan wearing a blindfold when he rode to Sturgis? I rode to there from New York in August, 2002, weaving through an obstacle course of trailers piled with Harleys heading along the interstate, doubtless their destination Sturgis. The fact is that many, if not most, of the Harley “riders” that I saw in Sturgis had trailered them in. Furthermore, pulling some of the trailers were, in fact, giant RVs costing upwards of $150K. What was even more fascinating was the frequent sight of the expensive RV pulling the expensive SUV pulling the trailer loaded with expensive custom Harleys! Leyla Kiosse
Albany, New York
Peter, Peter, Peter, don’t worry, your real fans know that you just keep the Harley around for parades and such, and that your true love is imported from Italy!
Don Allen Marshall, Wisconsin
Sorry, no VIP deals needed. Egan ’s 2002-model stripper Electra Glide Standard was sold to him at the handlebar sticker ’s list price by Kutter HarleyDavidson in Monroe, Wisconsin.
Peter Principle
Dear Peter, I’ve been reading your column for years and it is clear to me that you’re totally in touch with the pulse of what motorcycling is all about-fun, adventure, friends, bench racing with the appropriate beverage-beer or fine (or not so fine) whiskey-and being a gearhead. There is one thing you might want to change, though. That would be the portrait in your column. Based only on your image (and the two or three evolutions of it), I’ve always pictured you as some kind of geezer. But I saw you last night on Discovery Channel’s “Modern Marvels,” and I had to do a doubletake, as in, “That’s not Peter Egan, he’s an old fart.” You look much better, much healthier and way more hip on video than in your portraits. Talk to your people, do lunch or something.
Don Cox San Diego, California
You d think with all the money he ’s saving on Electra Glides the man would be able to spring for a better illustration, wouldn't y a?
Myth-buster
Okay, I’ll admit it: I ride a Harley. I’m almost ashamed to tell people (especially other motorcyclists) that I own one, for fear they’ll lump me into the “Fringed Chaps” or “Tupperware Helmet” crowd.
I’ve ridden motorcycles for the last 37 years-all sizes, all types. I remember the awe that Sportsters inspired in the ’60s, so about 12 years ago I bought a used ’83 XLX. What a great bike! It’s old enough to be cool, but new enough to be reliable. You’ll find no billet, fringe, skulls, etc. on it-just motor, suspension, tire and brake upgrades along with a Superbike bar and a sport seat. It’s a real MOTORCYCLE, not a fashion accessory, and I ride it like one. One other thing: I actually know that there’s a race in Daytona during Bike Week!
Dale Proctor Huntsville, Alabama
Craft course
Hey, guys, where’s RideCraft #2? Let’s have one in every issue. Great series for the novice and the expert!
Daniel White
Lake Worth, Florida
I applaud the fact that you have added Nick Ienatsch’s RideCraft as a regular feature. The observation about many riders being on the wrong bikes is spoton. One of the reasons this happens is because motorcycle purchasers are generally not allowed to test-ride motorcycles before we buy them. Yes, there are demo-rides, but usually not at a dealership-you have to attend a rally or race for that opportunity. Let us have more opportunities, bike-makers, and we can reverse bike/rider mismatches.
W. Bryan Edwards Wichita, Kansas
Big Bertha, TT Queen
Great story by Allan Girdler (“Big Bikes, Brave Men,”CJT, March), and great shots of Big Bertha, the dowager queen of TT racing. Let’s see more in Cycle World about historical, “Concours d’lack of Elegance” motorcycles like this. I also agree with Allan’s theory on the origin of today’s “cruiser look” coming from these racebikes-a connection so obvious, yet I had not seen it before.
One small point from a local New Yorker’s view: The name of the TToriginating club and the town in which meetings were held is Crotona (pronounced like Daytona), not Corona. That’s in California. Both motorcycle club and town are still going strong.
Steve Kulcsar Highland, New York
Girdler’s article was cool, but “...in 1952, Harley introduced the KHRTT,” huh? Nah, and not in 1953 for that matter. Maybe 1954 at the earliest, 1955 for sure. Doug Dahlke Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Speed fest
Okay, guys, Ian Norris’s story (“Gone to Goodwood,” CW, March) about Lord March’s garden party, a.k.a. the Goodwood Festival of Speed, has solved my dilemma about where to go next summer. Please send information on dates and how to get tickets to attend. As a vintage bike and car junkie, I must go see for myself all the great stuff.
Floyd A. Crow
Beaumont, Texas
For dates, info and online ticketing, log on to Goodwood’s extensive website at www.goodwood.co.uk.
Holy gender bender!
With regard to the “Jesus rocks!” letter in March’s Hotshots, I take great offense to the letter written, and even greater offense to your editorial response. I am a minister, I love motorcycles and I also enjoy your magazine. But to call God a “She” shows a great disrespect. God is neither man nor woman; God is greater than that. But Jesus always prayed to his Heavenly Father, not to his mother, who could not help him. I suggest you keep your religious opinions out of your magazine, or you will lose readers, just like you lost me.
Dennis Avedisian
Fresno, California
She?! I am shaking, I’m so enraged. Oh man, the expletives that want to pour forth here. I’ve been irritated by your spewings before, but never enough to drop my subscription (when I actually had one) or boycott the magazine altogether, but rest assured, not only will I never look at it again, I will destroy every back issue I’ve collected over the past 20 years. Not only will I boycott Cycle World, but every publication your parent company publishes. I cannot imagine how freaking stupid you obviously godless morons are in real life, and I really find it hard to believe that inane comment got past editors and proofreaders and was published. This is especially bad for you clowns because I work at a large motorcycle dealership, and my customers listen to me. Have a nice life. You vote for Gore, too? Thought so.
Thomas Moss
Birmingham, Alabama
Apparently you were somewhere else when God was passing out senses of humor, gentlemen? □
