Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Nudist colony

Your December, 2003, “Naked & Naughty” issue was awesome! It has been years since I wanted literally every bike on a front cover. You guys really got your finger on my (rapid) pulse with this Special Issue. Bob Bennett

Seattle, Washington

Wow! KTM’s Duke 990 has absolutely blown my mind! One hundred twenty rear-wheel horsepower, 395 pounds dry and just plain rowdy looking! KTM, don’t change a thing, because I’ve already started saving. Keith Walker

Colorado Springs, Colorado

I feel that your “What dealer network?” remark about MV Agusta was over the line. MV is basically a boutique marque, and as such does not need a dealer on every street comer. It could have been pointed out in a much less acerbic fashion that the potential Brutale buyer may need to travel in order to find a dealer. I am neither an owner nor a dealer, but if I were the importer, it would be a cold day in Hades before you got another demo bike.

Tom Fucili Bloomsbury, New Jersey

Hey, Tom, you tell the guy in Montana that he needs to get to Post Falls, Idaho, so he can have a look at a Brutale. .. or get his warranty work done.

I think the MV Agusta Bmtale is one of the most beautiful motorcycles I have ever seen, but why is the MSRP on these naked bikes so high? For just a few dollars more, I can buy a Mazda with electric windows, electric seats, cmise, A/C, radio, CD player, etc. Bob Willet

Garland, Texas

What, and miss the lovely commute to Post Falls!? Actually, to find your closest MV Agusta dealership, log on to www, mvagustausa. com.

Has anyone else noticed that the headlight assembly on the MV Agusta Brutale looks conspicuously like a slightly “overconfident” European male in a deliberately too tight Speedo, or is it just me? Damon E. Heim

San Rafael, California

Safe to say, Damon, it’s just you.

Read about the naked Güera 850 Ferro concept bike in Roundup, the one with the dual-mode continuously variable transmission. Sweet! That bike looks like it could see production. My buddy had a 400cc CVT-drivetrain Polaris ATV and absolutely destroyed a friend’s worked-over GSX-R1100 in a zero-to65-mph drag race (it’s true, saw it with my own eyes, couldn’t believe it). On the street, a CVT bike would rule!

Terry Mahoney Livonia, New York

Talk about the proverbial gorgeous girl with a big, hairy mole on her nose.. .the

offending growth in this case being the swingarm on the new Yamaha FZ6. What an aesthetic disaster on an otherwise flawless new design! Couldn’t they at least have rounded off the ends just a little bit? George Pio

Grand Rapids, Michigan

In your announcement of the new Yamaha FZ6, Cycle World commented about the unfortunate sales performance of the Yamaha TDM850, Cagiva Gran Canyon and new Suzuki V-Strom. Here’s the rub: They’re fooki-nugly! I lived through the ’80s and the horrible “square-edge” styling that was de rigueur back then; I don’t want to have to do that again, thankyewverramuch!

Fortunately, Yamaha seems to know that good looks help move the metal, so the FZ6 has little to worry about on that score! But are they going to offer it in their classic “bumblebee” livery?

Bruce Brodnax Laguna Niguel, California

Armed robbery

Mark Hoyer’s “Mining for Old” article about Cliff Majhor, a.k.a. “The Sandy Bandit,” and his cache of old Britbike parts was great! His was one of the last real bike shops in the country. Jerry Ennis

Spokane, Washington

As long as you didn’t want to actually buy anything, apparently. Read on...

Although Hoyer took pains to be diplomatic about Cliff Majhor, I feel that as a

local Portland resident, I need to set the record straight about this “character.” Majhor would have your readers believe that he earned his volatile reputation by refusing to sell a $20 part for $19. The truth is more like this: Customer walks in and inquires about a front fender for, say, a 1960 AJS, Cliff disappears into his Aladdin’s Cave and materializes some time later with, amazingly, said item in hand. Customer, suitably impressed, reaches for

wallet and inquires, “How much?” Cliff responds with some figure that is likely to be three to five times the fair market value. Customer, stunned, stands gulping air like a beached beluga and is already calculating the associated freight charges required to get the part shipped from, say, Kuala Lumpur, as his wallet reverses its arc and returns to his back pocket. Cliff, noting that his prey is no longer as hooked as he appeared five minutes earlier, says, “What did you think you were go> ing to pay for it?” Customer, sensing (stupidly) that Mr. Majhor might be a reasonable man, responds forthrightly with the amount he feels it is worth. Now Cliff is in his element. Seizing the prize with both hands, and raising it over his head, he proceeds to pound it into a piece of vintage scrapmetal on the counter top. Holding up the ruined item before the disbelieving eyes of his now truly alarmed quarry, Cliff loudly proclaims, “I would sooner do this to it than sell it to you for that! Now get the @#$% out of here!”

CONTINUED

Our local area has a lively and thriving vintage motorcycle scene, and all of us Britbike fans have, sooner or later, come across Cliff Majhor. Sadly, his gold mine of vintage bikes and spares was never accessible to those of us who could have actually benefited from them.

We have local heroes. Witness Kenny Dreer of Vintage Rebuilds and lately of the resurrected Norton. Sadly, Majhor and his amazing collection of vintage British bikes and tons of OEM parts and spares will not be missed. They were never meant to be for us. That this collection, now in others’ hands, is currently being sold over the Web is as fitting a footnote as any to Majhor’s legacy. He was never here for us, anyway.

In time, I won’t have to wince as I pass his old “bike museum” on Sandy Boulevard. I, for one, can’t wait until the place is emptied out and turned into a Starbuck’s or Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. You know, something we really need. Paul Nadas

Portland, Oregon

Mark Hoyer’s “Mining for Old” is just a gem of great writing. He includes everything I wanted to know about this, the ultimate “bam find.” The story would have struck the same resonant chord in the Atlantic Monthly. Just superb. Where did you find this guy? John Phillips

Editor-at-Large, Car and Driver

Little old shop on Sandy Boulevard in Portland, right next to the new Krispy Kreme...

Urban renewal

I’ve waited for a VR-powered sportbike ever since I first saw the factory Harley Superbike in the capable hands of Chris Carr. But did Harley sell the VR for the street? No. Did Harley give Erik Buell one of the motors to play with? No. I rode a V-Rod as soon as my local dealer got his only example. I like the motor, but...

Make it look something like the “Ghetto Blaster” bike featured in December’s American Flyers, though, and I’ll buy one tomorrow. Alan Amark Placerville, California

Send that thing to Willie G. and let him see how close he was to an absolutely awesome look! Those guys at North American Warhorse did an outstanding job of turning a chrome-plated penis into a super-looking ride. It probably handles better, too. James Daniel

Red Oak, Texas

Ex-rated

Kudos to David “Hood Ornament” Edwards on his Up Front column “Exfiles,” pertaining to the Excelsior-Henderson fiasco. His reflections of the Excelsior-Henderson saga were not only honestly candid, but also a humorous > aside of what alter-egos can attain when left unbridled. Bike company stock anyone? Anyone? Refreshing, Dave, refreshing! Jack Tieben

CONTINUED

Whitney, Texas

The “Ex-files” editorial on start-up motorcycle companies was terrific. It’s a frustrating thing that in this remarkable country we have not yet figured out a way to design, engineer and manufacture a friggin’ motorcycle with less than $200 million, 400 people on the payroll and an office tower full of lawyers. Madness!

Arni Katz Marietta, Georgia

Really enjoyed December’s editorial about E-H’s former CEO Dan Hanlon. At Minnesota’s University of St. Thomas, where I attend, he’s hailed as some kind of Entrepreneurial God. Hanlon gives speeches frequently and has even convinced our Business Department to make his new book mandatory reading-of course, the only way to get the book is through his website. Anyway, I have to see him speak next Monday and (armed with Up Front) I can’t wait to ask a few questions. Justin Dreeg

Mendota Heights, Minnesota

Guzzi not gone

Let me be the first to say that Cycle World's coverage of the Milan Show in the December issue basically sucked. Did you guys even go to the show, or do we have a case of New York Times-sty\ç reporting? For instance, after saying that Moto Guzzi is “living on borrowed time,” you go on, “Getting the best out of what remains on the shelves in Mandello del Lario, the Moto Guzzi Breva 1100 is powered by the old two-valve,

1064cc V-Twin.

Um, I guess you missed the new frame, the single-sided swingarm with enclosed driveshaft, the updated motor with external alternator, dual plugs and new fuel-injection setup, the integrated luggage, the optional ABS system and electronic multimedia/GPS interface?

Jeff Brannen Medina, Ohio

Reports of Moto Guzzi ’s premature death were greatly exaggerated, true. Apologies all ’round.

Tyke on a Bike

I want to thank everyone on the Cycle World staff. I have a 5-year-old son who loves to read. We started with Hop on Pop and other Dr. Seuss faves, and moved fl up to CW. He can’t get enough. Loves to read Race Watch because he understands the words better. So, thank you from a proud parent, and keep up the good work.

Mark Langdon

Grand Haven, Michigan

Ham we am

I just happen to like every single thing about your rag. See? There are some folks who know good taste when they read it. Thumbs-up to the entire staff. Keep your quality up there, and may your ratings never slip.

Forrest Daniels

Smithviile, Missouri

Hey, we ’re already whipping Dr. Seuss ’ patootie in several critical demographic sectors... □