Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Indian Larry
Thank you for your Up Front column, “The remarkable Mr. Desmedt,” in the December issue. I never met Indian Larry, but I’ve been a fan of his visionary building style. He never lost sight of his motorcycles being machines, and the fact that they operate with cables and are held together with nuts and bolts. When so many builders are trying to make you ask, “How does it work?” Indian Larry’s bikes seemed to say, “Ride me.”
I work at a Harley-Davidson dealership and thumb through many different magazines devoted to the biker lifestyle, but I haven’t read one that honored Indian Larry’s memory any better than you did. Mike Rehberg Rockford, Illinois
Mr. Editor Edwards is the only mainstream motojournalist or TV type to give props to Indian Larry, and I thank him for that.
I gave up choppers years ago for more rideable bikes, but Indian Larry’s simple and elegant pieces serve as a reminder that we must not ignore the entire genre. Rigid-framed choppers may be spine-crushers, but Mr. Desmedt’s creations were damned beautiful. I’ll miss him.
Thomas Zurschmeide
Indianapolis, IN
It’s a sad testimony to CWs head-in-thesand attitude toward motorcycle safety that David Edwards’ column spends several hundred words waxing poetic about Indian Larry's achievements and his untimely passing without mentioning one glaring, obvious fact: Larry did not have to die. If he'd worn a real helmet while standing on the seat of his motorcycle at that stunt show, the odds are nearly 100 percent that he’d have gotten up, dusted himself oft' and limped back.
It usually takes a godawful, grinding accident to kill a helmeted rider. They don’t die in simple fall-down-andtumble accidents such as the one that killed Indian Larry. I’ve learned this from the 3000 or so riders I’ve seen (sometimes at autopsy) in 29 years of research on motorcycle accidents.
Like just about every other activity that’s a ton of fun, motorcycling has a dark side. You do your readers a disservice by failing to tell them how to avoid it.
Jim Ouellet Los Angeles, California
Bird-watchers
Will Cycle World continue to have a place on my coffee table? You have a great magazine, effectively covering the many different aspects of motorcycling, and, up until now, I felt that CW was a family-friendly magazine. I certainly hope that the “Confessions of a Sturgis Virgin” feature in the December issue, complete with the author flipping off your readership, is not a trend. I do not have anything in my house that is not appropriate for my children to see.
Don Feldscher Lakeside, California
Who the hell was that pretty-boy wuss
shooting me the finger? Chuck Burkhard Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Would it be possible for you to leave the images of Brian Catterson flipping off the camera out of the magazine? Wasn’t he recanting about his early days of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll a few issues back? Are you looking for market share in the Easyriders crowd? Now that I have children riding off-road and reading Cycle World-as I have for the past 18 years-I will no longer encourage them to browse through the magazine while Catterson is going through his mid-life crisis. Let me know when he is done. Keith Pierce
Rescue, California
Back at ya, you greasy-haired punk,
and refund the balance of my subscription to your fetid rag. Good-bye. Stan Ward
Mountain View, California *
Okay, there is pointless and crude satire, but this isn't it. For those of you who missed it, this was a shot at the hardasslooking, chopper-ridin’ wannabes tuned into OCC and buying these penis extensions. Lighten up. Jeez. Tom Crnkovich
Chicago, Illinois
It was just a bit of fun had at the weekendwarrior types’ expense. Next they’ll all be wearing wigs mocking Catterson’s hair...
Chad Montag
Cincinnati, Ohio
“Confessions of a Sturgis Virgin” was great! I went to the rally in August of 1990 and vowed never to go back. * However, last summer, a month prior to > the rally, I went on a family motorcycle trip to the Black Hills. As Catterson suggested, without 500,000 fellow bikers, it was excellent. I hope to return next year in the spring. Thanks, Brian, for telling it like it is! Dennis Kalthoff Cold Springs, Minnesota
The Sturgis Seven
Great article on the mega-cruisers. Most of them are bikes I’d like to own, but that being said, they also make me really appreciate my ’03 Honda Valkyrie, which combines gobs of power, great handling and all-day comfort among its many virtues. I have to admit that it gives up some style points, especially to the Yamaha Warrior and Victory Kingpin. Sounds like a good reason to update the discontinued Valkyrie, Honda (no more Runes, please). Bruce Boraas Sacramento, California
I have to admit I’m absolutely amazed that the Victory Kingpin came in second only to the CVO Harley in your Sturgis Shootout. Not only did it virtually tie its 100-year-old competitor in your ratings, but it also outgunned the Japanese bikes to boot-this after being in business for all of six years. The people at Harley-Davidson must be quaking in their boots worrying about what’s going to happen in the next six years. Jim Zeiser
Deposit, New York
Your odd evaluation of the Honda VTX1800N as being a bland ride confused me. What do you prefer, a wobbly, shaky bike? It seemed you went out of your way to criticize Hondas and their riders for some pretty lame reasons. What’s up with that? The only explanation for your snotty attitude is that you got spanked badly by too many Hondas in your life. Runswith Scissors
Reseda, California
Blunt thinking, Runs. Let’s see, to date the current staff has owned a 305 Scrambler, Wo 305 Super Hawks, a CB72, a 150 Benly Touring, a Cub 50, a Mini-Trail 50, a Super 90, two CBlôOs, a CB175, a CL 175, six CB350s, a CL350 chopper, an RSC350 roadracer, two SL350s, two SL70s, Wo 125 Elsinores, three CB750 Fours, three CB400Fs, a CB500, a CB550, a Duns tall CB750F two CR250s, an MT250, two XL250s, an XR250, an XL500, a CBX Six, an MB5, a 250 Interceptor, Wo 500 Interceptors, Wo 750 Interceptors, an HRC Superbike, three VFR750Fs, a VT1000F Superhawk, two CBRóOOs, a Shadow 750, an ST 1100, two CR500s, Wo CRF450Rs and a passel ofXRSOs and 100s.
Every “real motorcycle enthusiast” should experience Sturgis, you say? Let’s see: naked women on leashes, drunken bikers, black leather and obnoxious straight pipes. A cartoon caricature of motorcycling stereotypes. No thanks from this real 35-year rider. My friends and I will take our wives and kids to the Honda Hoot instead. Seldon Gifford
Wylie, Texas
Make sure you say hi to Catterson, who ’s attending as CW’s goodwill ambassador...
Long may it wave
As a self-proclaimed supreme grammar geek and etymologist, I thought it only my duty to enlighten you to the derivation of the term “stonk” as used in Cycle World's “Seven For Sturgis” piece describing the Boss Hoss V-Eight’s prodigious torque.
In World War II, the British developed a standard, 525-yard block of artillery fire using all of the guns available to a typical regimental battery. The term used to describe this resulting unit of firepower was Standard Regimental Concentration, shortened to “stonk.” Of course, it was instantly misused by the troops in the field, and soon morphed simply into a word meaning a massive dose of anything.
As gratifying as it is to see stonk used in a road test, I have to admit it takes a distant second place to Paul Dean’s own colorful description of Boss Hoss owners “trying to win the dick-waving competition” just a little farther along in the same piece. Bet that gets some mail from an uptight readership! And as to the etymology of that one, I'll leave it to Mr. Dean. Mark Lindemann
West Hollywood, California
The Sturgis issue reaffirmed why I like the magazine-not just the varied content, but also the great writing with no worries about political correctness.
GTS
Posted on www.cycleworld.com
Get real, guys. The Boss Hoss “snapped sideways so violently it cracked Mark’s molar.” C’mon, are you serious? Cernicky, point it where you want to go before you grab a handful-and brush your teeth at least once a week. Mr. Dean, sorry you were excluded from the "competition." Grow one and wave back. Kurt Roll Tampa, Florida
That Boss Hoss is the freakiest thing my pathetic eyes have ever seen! If it were me on it, I am sure all my caps woulda fallen out. Pat Ricca
Staten Island, New York
What? No Dodge V-10 Tomahawk in the “mega-motor” Sturgis Shootout? You call the Dodge Boys, I’ll bring Cernicky a mouthpiece and, for a nominal fee, some stunt testicles. Brad Nus
Sugarland, Texas
I’m not a cruiserphile, but I really enjoyed that “Magnificent Seven Do Sturgis” article. However, as good as it is to see Paul Dean’s name still associated with CW, I have to say at the risk of sounding snooty, that if I should ever meet him on the road and he waves at me in that “Boss Hoss” way, I will not return the gesture.
And if he blows the horn with no hands, I’m gonna report him! Ray Crenshaw Greenwood, South Carolina
If you don’t run the Boss Hoss in the quarter-mile, how am I supposed to know if I can beat one with my ’Busa?
Nathan Johnson
Fulton, New York
Excellent blend of motorcycles in your Sturgis Shootout. Plus, the Boss Hoss was actually tested by your staff, the first time I remember seeing any figures from a respected magazine. It’s 7.72second clocking in the eighth-mile isn’t all that impressive, but wait, 104.6 mph in the eighth?! OMG, that machine has some power! And 1.4 seconds to go from 40-60 mph; 1.5 from 60-80? Holy cow, I need to try one of these out!
Steve Baumann Saint Joseph, Missouri
Step right up, Steve. Boss Hoss (wxnv.boss hoss.com) runs a series of demo rides, including Sturgis, and during Bike Week and Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach. Bring a valid motorcycle license...and if you see Paul Dean, please don 't wave.
