Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
MasterBlasters
I must question your reasoning regarding the 2007 MasterBike finalists ("Fast Times," CW August) and your Ten Best Bikes choices.
When 11 Supersport riders post their best times on the Triumph Daytona 675, why send the Honda CBR600RR to the Ten Best level? Ditto for the Superbike class, where the Yamaha YZF-R1 was pushed aside in favor of the slightly less incredibly fast Suzuki GSX-R1000. Then your article says that certain attributes of the Honda CBR1000RR give "...it a slight edge in daily life," but doesn't objective observation like that rightly be long in the Ten Best Bikes report (where the Ducati 1098 won Best Superbike)? I thought MasterBike was a slugfest to find the top performance bikes in their classes, but this article appears to be something else. Joe Sommers Telford, Pennsylvania
It was something else, Joe. After the MasterBike track-only test in Spain, we rounded up all 13 participants for stateside street evaluations and performance testing, which was factored into the Ten Best Bikes voting, since were not picking the Ten Best Track Bikes. Incidentally, the MV Agusta F4 1000 R312 was MasterBike 2007s overall winner-which youd have known had you been reading the ads...
My August issue arrived the other day and I couldn’t have been more excited to see that it was MasterBike time again. I sat down to read my favorite article of the year. The table of contents said that the MasterBike story began on page 44, so I started flipping through the pages, and what catches my eye on page 23? More than 20 pages before the article is a full-page ad for MV proclaiming the R312 as “Winner of MasterBike 2007.” Great. I guess I don’t need to read the story now. Dumb move, fellas. What were you thinking?
Kameron Tidwell Sacramento, California
Just got the highly anticipated MasterBike 2007 issue. Track test, dragstrip times, top speed. Holy smokes, I’m in for a good read. But, on page 23, there’s a stinking MV Agusta ad proclaiming victory! Thanks for the spoiler, guys.
William Jones
Burleson, Texas
I would like to request that whoever is in charge of advertisement placement for your magazine be fired. Here I am, full of anticipation and excitement after seeing the beautiful MasterBike 2007 photo teaser on the cover, only to have the entire article ruined by an illplaced ad. It was like seeing that brandnew video-game system sitting in your parents closet, two weeks before Christmas. Jeff Morris
Franklin, Tennessee
Euro-flavored?
I have a question regarding MasterBike: On the cover there’s a red-and-white Honda CBR1000RR and a red-and-white Yamaha YZF-R 1.1 really like the paint schemes, but I have been told you can’t buy them from dealerships this way. How did you guys get red-and-white bikes?
Kenneth Postage Moorseville, North Carolina
MasterBike takes place in Spain, so the bikes used are European-spec models. Often, but not always, paint schemes differ between continents.
Passing the smell test?
In Matt Miles’ MasterBike comments on the Honda CBR1000RR, he notes that the underseat muffler placement seems to cause an issue in that exhaust fumes are pulled up in the low-pressure area behind the rider, who ends up smelling like exhaust.
I have never seen Cycle World or any other magazine comment on this, yet I’ve certainly noticed it myself on my own CBR1000RR. Is this a problem on the R1 and ZX-10, too? Their up exhausts are >
positioneel slightly to the outside. I'm deeply dismayed over this bodily exhaust stench. I’ve seen more than a few crinkled faces looking back at me when 1 walk into the office. Michael Cavalero Posted on www.cycleworld.com
Sure it’s just the exhaust smell, Mike?
Tailpipe Chronicles
Interesting to read your analysis on the impact that possible new emissions standards may have on bikes in the future (“The Tailpipe Chronicles,” Roundup, August). While your view was more balanced and holds out the promise of engineering being able to address the issues, IVe noted that many other magazines, particularly those that serve H-D owners, seem to believe that new regulations will mean the end of the motorcycle.
It seems strange that one of the most commonly cited arguments against tighter regs is that the bike population is too small to have an impact on the environment. To put things into perspective, Harley sold more than 340,000 new bikes last year, which equates to something on the order of 57,000 typical-displacement automobile engines. Factor in the sales of the other manufacturers, and you have a significant number of engines contributing to vehicle emissions.
With the current emphasis on environmental change and global warming, we motorcyclists are going to see new, more stringent emission standards-it’s only a matter of how much/how soon. And yes, bikes will be more expensive and many engine modifications (particularly pipes, rejetting, etc.) are going to be prohibited. Automotive engineers have addressed emission requirements in their industry and today all manufacturers have clean, high-performance vehicles in their product lineup; the same will happen in the motorcycle industry and, as noted in your article, manufacturers are hard at work on this.
The real worry is that someday, a government agency might propose a regulation that prohibits and/or heavily taxes the “recreational” use of fossil fuels. Taking steps to clean up our sport now may help keep this from happening.
John S. Lowe Posted on www.cycleworld.com
First, we start with those smelly CBR1000RR exhausts...
Bella Benelli!
After seeing an ad for the Benelli TnT 1130 in the August issue, I Googled a few images of it and, boy, was it love at first sight! I’ve never seen such fine lines on a bike!
In the process of my search, I came across a forum that mentioned the Benelli is going to be sold in the USA. Is this true? Has CW done a review on this beautiful piece of art? Please road test this bike at the earliest, as I am dying to read more about it. Brijesh Jagan
Wichita, Kansas
Page 76 of this issue early enough for y a, Brijesh? You ’re welcome.
Versys vs. the World
The Kawasaki 650 Versys (“Lust in Translation,” CW, August) is no Suzuki SV650 or DL650. Even the 2008 Kawi KLR650 is lighter, better looking, more versatile and about $1700 cheaper. To compare the Versys to a Brit 650 from the ’70s makes me think the author never rode one or had to put up with their lack of reliability. I hope they keep the Versys in Europe and Canada. Hell, send them to China, Brazil, Russia, anywhere but here.
Mike McCormick Baltimore, Maryland
As a vintage Triumph owner, I find the Kawasaki Versys an interesting ride. I hope the company is successful in marketing it here in the U.S. Mark Backiel
Garden City, Georgia
I would like to know when the Kawasaki Versys is scheduled to hit the U.S. market. I want one really bad.
Gerardo Lazalde
Posted on www.cycleworld.com
Kawasaki ’s U.S. dealers should already have their allotments of Versyses (Versi?). For the record, Mr. McCormick, we never compared the Versys to any Britbike old or new; we simply suggested that the 650cc parallel-Twin-an engine type made famous by the British—still makes a lot of sense.
Hoo-rah!
To the entire crew working at Cycle World, I would just like to extend my thanks to everyone for putting out such a great magazine. It has definitely kept me entertained while on deployment in Iraq. Aside from reading the articles and reviews, your magazine has provided arts-andcrafts time, as well. Most guys here adorn their walls with pictures of home or lovely young ladies in scanty attire. As you can see from the photo, I went a different route.
If you take a closer look, you will find I incorporated a little bit of everything, from Homer Simpson to my first bike (1978 Suzuki GS750) to my current Aprilia RSV Mille.
One of the best parts about being deployed is having money in the savings account when you get back home, but what to do with that cash is wracking my brain. Do I take the money along with my beloved Mille and trade it in on a new Ducati 1098? Or maybe take a trip to the California Superbike School, since after 10 months away I will come back a “born-again squid.” I gotta say, though, if the 1098 looks as good in person as it does in pictures, I’m in trouble. I still have a few more months to make up my mind. Until then, keep putting out your great magazine and keep the pictures coming. I still have room on the ceiling!
TSgt. Josh Carter Camp Bucca, Iraq
Thanks for the good words, Josh, it’s entirely our pleasure and privilege.
