Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
High Roller
From the moment I laid my eyes on an MV Agusta F4 photo about two years ago, I’ve loved the bike more than life itself. It belongs in a museum somewhere next to a DaVinci painting. The only time I ever saw one in person, I was almost hit by a bus trying to take a picture of it with my cell phone.
A day will come when I’ll buy an Agusta-even if my parents disown me and I’m forced to live on the bike. Or I can just sit here and stare at the MV poster on my wall all day.
As far as the Tamburini goes...it’s like a supermodel, and I’m the hunchback of Notre Dame. Jodhvir Chahal San Jose, California
I wonder what makes the MV Agusta Tamburini the best sportbike in the world, as you claim in the October issue. Is it because it’s red and costs $42,000? Nagy Youssef Bayonne, New Jersey
No, it’s because it’s like a supermodel and we ’re...
I agree that the MV Agusta F4 Tamburini is an awesome bike in design and engineering. I agree that it is the most expensive production sportbike on the planet. But everyone knows that the Suzuki Hayabusa is the fastest production sportbike on the planet. Your “Mission Mile” sidebar results would have been much more rewarding if you had used a ’Busa for the speed runs against those supercars, not the Tamburini. Kurt Septer Port Charlotte, Florida
I know you’ll get thousands of letters like this, but how come the MV Agusta was the only bike run? Great job riding the MV, impressive stats, but a Hayabusa, Gixxer Thou or Kawi ZX-10/12 would have been quicker and faster. What about a turbo ’Busa, God forbid, for maybe $20,000 total? Would have killed ’em. Guess the car guys needed a chance. Richard Krebs Pensacola, Florida
We were invited to bring one bike by our car-guy pals at Road & Track magazine-it was their story, not ours. Yes, a stock 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa would have been faster, but only by 9 mph. No way would it have done the 200 mph needed to run down the fastest of the supercars. Now, a new Kawi ZX14 with a turbocharger and gearing...
Magna-tized
With regard to Hector Cademartori’s cartoon of the tired Honda Magna (Hotshots, October), I invite you to do a bit more research about these “Super Magnas.”
Members of the Super Magna Owners Group are passionate about their rides.
The Magna 700 V-Four is an excellent all-around bike made only in 1987-88. There are a few out there, although less are available each year. Despite this, our group seems to grow as others discover the love we have for these bikes. I use mine to commute close to 100 miles a day round trip. It’s the most capable bike I have owned.
Please take a few minutes to check out the club website, www.supermagna.com.
Dave Chisholm Lake Sherwood, Missouri
So, Super Magna Owners Group? That’s SMOG isn’t it? Just a comment on that cartoon featuring the ’87 Honda Magna: There’s a group of diehard Super Magna owners that would never let that bike look that bad for long. I own 10 of them; one has 1036 original miles and is showroom-mint. I even have one with a sidecar! Chris Bacon Woodinville, Washington
Faulty Vision?
I read with disappointment how much Editor David Edwards disliked the Yamaha XZ550 Vision in a recent Up Front column (CW, July). Perhaps if Mr. Edwards actually rode a Vision, he just might change his mind. I own and ride a Vision as a daily commuter and for long distance. I cannot find a modem bike comparable to the Vision in terms of styling, comfort and handling. I do admit that as the bike ages, I find more and more quirks, all of which I can easily fix in my basement. When a Yamaha Vision is running well, there is no comparison.
Christopher Froeschl Callaway, Virginia
Regarding Edwards’ comments about the “late, unlamented” Yamaha Vision, I challenge you to find as active an owner community as the one that exists for the Vision. Look at www.ridersofvision.net and by any measure-number of members, postings, etc.-this 20-plus-yearold bike is hardly “unlamented.”
Not bad for a single model made for just two years. Owners are dedicated to preserving one of the best bikes Yamaha ever made. It’s good even by today’s standards, and I’ll ride mine ’til I drop!
Brian Matthewson Toronto, Canada
David, in reference to your stand on the Yamaha Vision, I am willing to let you take my 550 for a test ride, so you can then have the knowledge to form a valid opinion of the bike that many of us consider a classic motorcycle. Peter Franco Beverly Hills, California
Hemi’s sphere
That 426 Hemi-powered bike (“Zoomie,” CW, October) was awesome! The craftsmanship was superb. Now you guys need to do a joint ride with the Hemibike, a 502 Boss Hoss and see if you can talk Dodge into letting you borrow that
crazy V-10 Viper showbike.
Dave Arnold La Vernia, Texas
First, we’re getting a pristine Honda Super Magna and one of those amazing Yamaha Visions.
Moonshine Highway
Peter Egan’s “Eastern Mountain Time” (CW, October) was one of the best articles I have read on motorcycling/touring/ events in Cycle World. The way that he conveyed the ride to and from the Honda Hoot, the Wheels Through Time Museum and the CW Rolling Concours just flowed from the pages like a fine winewell, maybe like a good micro-brew in Egan’s world. Either way, I hope that more such pieces are to come. It was so refreshing to see so many different, but related, stories coalesce into one very well-written article. Jon Current Hillsboro, Oregon
I just finished reading “Eastern Mountain Time.” What a great story! I, too, have taken a flight in a B-17 bomber. A close friend of my family was a B-17 pilot in WWII, got shot down in 1943 and was a POW until the end of the war.
Hearing his tales of heroism firsthand and being able to absorb some of the same sights and sounds he experienced in that bomber gave me a whole new level of respect for all of our war fighters, past and present. William Mazelifl Chino, California
After attending classic motorcycle events for years, I had become convinced that I wasn’t going to be able to find one where I felt comfortable...until now. My wife Crystal and I planned our fifth wedding anniversary around a trip to Knoxville to participate in the Cycle World Rolling Concours. It was the right decision-beautiful countryside where you could actually ride instead of sitting in traffic waiting for your motor to decide that it’s mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. The setting paled only in comparison to the participants and CW staff. Not once did I hear an errant comment about one’s choice of motorcycle ownership. Nor did I find anyone frowning upon those machines that were not “as factory.” My class-winning custom Indian Chief, for example.
The day after the ride, we stopped at Dale Walksler’s Wheels Through Time museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. While the museum contains some outstanding artifacts, Dale is the real treasure.
We have already decided to attend next year if the good folks in Knoxville will have you back. Will Limehouse Summerville, South Carolina
Consider it a date, Will. As soon as the Honda Hoot schedule is set, we ’ll pass along the pertinent info.
I also got to visit Wheels Through Time, and I have one question for Mr. Egan: How did you get Dale’s dog out of the sidecar long enough to get your picture taken? Mike Gordon Millsboro, New Hampshire
Hints to Honda
I have been a loyal fan of Honda for more than 30 years. I now own a ’98 Superhawk, but have been patiently waiting for the long-rumored V-Five sportbike. Having now seen the 2006 models, I am majorly disappointed in Honda’s lineup. The company seems to have lost the path of innovation and excitement that led it to a position of industry leadership, and replaced it with a corporate attitude. Now the big bucks go to the R&D of their damn cages. Other motorcycle companies are giving us what we want, not what some corporate committee thinks we want. Goodbye Honda, it’s been a good 30 years. I’m filing for divorce this spring. Martin Tynan Cincinnati, Ohio
Why no 1800 Valkyrie? It’s been five years now since the new 1800 six-cylinder debuted, why the delay? Is Honda too concerned about lackluster VTX sales? I personally don’t want a Me-Too V-Twin. I want a hot, shiny, badass cruiser/tourer that doesn’t make me feel like a 50-year-old.
Please knock some sense into your Honda connections over there.
Pedro J. Diaz, M.D. Lakewood, Colorado
Daytona done?
My wife and I are done with Daytona! We’ve gone every year to the AHRMA vintage event, and the racing is great, but we will not spend $75 for ticketsthis year, I had to pay $25 to get our trailer into the infield, plus $50 for the two of us. Then I got hassled by a renta-cop at the Busch garage while trying to say “hi” to Nixon and Springer; apparently we needed AHRMA credentials. We decided not to attend the AMA 200-miler; we will not pay premium to watch 600s run the 200. So, as a last resort we went to the downtown chopper show, for free, and had a blast! Next year, we plan to go to the AMA races at Barber Motorsports Park. Instead of the Daytona vintage races, we will spend extra time in the Georgia mountains at the British in the Blue Ridge Rally! Geoff Ahrens Melbourne, Florida
Hey, Hall of Fame!
I enjoyed reading about two friends of mine in “Hogslayer’s Last Pass” {Up Front, January). Your description of Norton rider T.C. Christenson and tuner John Gregory was spot-on, which brings me to pose of this letter. How can the AMA Hall of Fame committee i people who have had as great pact on the sport of motorcycling? They have been nominated many times.
Edwards mentioned an awed teenager Terry Vance referring to T.C. as “the Don ‘Big Daddy’ Garlits of bike racing.” Is there a hall of fame f car drag racing that not include Garlits? Vance is a multi-time national champion, and so are T.C. and John. Vance (as he should be) is in the Hall of Fame. T.C. and John are not! The description of the Hall of Fame given by the AMA is as follows: “The Motorcycle Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made significant contributions to all aspects of motorcycling, including those who have excelled in motorcycle business, history, design and engineering, in addition to those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of motorcycle racing.”
By that description, it would be hard to argue that they do not belong in the club.
Tony Lenard Posted on www.cycleworld.com
T. C. Christenson, Hogs layer s pilot, was in fact inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame this past October. We'd like to think “Hogslayer s Last Pass ” played a small part in T.C.'s nomination. In any case, it’s well-deserved and long overdue.
