Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Max attacked!
I’m not so sure about the new Star V-Max ("Back in Black," CW, August). Some attempts at retro rejuvenation have been successful, but this Max looks like it’s been pieced together with old and new parts. It reminds me of the guy who keeps driving his old Camaro because he just can’t get over the Eighties. John Cleveland Clay, Alabama
You state that the V-Max’s “hybrid chain/gear cam drive is clever and saves space.” How “clever” is this when the exact-same feature has been in production since 2004 on the BMW K1200. It is also employed in the Rotax-manufactured Helicon engine that powers the new Buell 1125R. This was clever the first time around, but now it is the established way European engines are built. Yamaha is simply applying a proven engine architecture. Phil Salvatore Ridgecrest, California
While I admire Yamaha for redoing the V-Max, have they heard of the Suzuki B-King, which looks similar to the new Max, has the same power, is lighter and $5000 cheaper? Inquiring minds want to know. Richard Krebs Pensacola, Florida While extremely snotty looking-kinda like a bull fixin’ to bust out of its pen-the new V-Max is probably the ugliest motorcycle I have seen since Suzuki turned loose the lavender-andwhite version of the GT750 Water Buffalo in 1972. John Richwine Fallbrook, California
The new V-Max could have been a hit but with its neutered 137-mph motor, the bike is now just a bluff. Hell, a squid on a 600cc sportbike could outrun it; maybe the old V-Max could, too?
But I hope all isn’t lost with the new V-Four motor; let’s see if Yamaha/Star is smart enough to use it in an updated Venture tourer! Phillip Meier
Jamesburg, New Jersey
Nice article on Yamaha’s updated muscle-cruiser. Good pics, too. When Cycle World writes the full evaluation, perhaps you could get the spelling correct? It’s VMAX, no hyphen, all caps.
Glenn Woolhiser San Jose, California
Old habits die hard, Glenn, for us and for most readers. The reasons are unclear, but after 22 years Yamaha altered the V-Max ’s name to VMAX. From now on, we ’ll split the difference and refer to the new model as the VMax, which “scans ” easier in print than the allcap version.
An American XR?
Just read about the Harley-Davidson XR1200 street-tracker only being available Over There (“Yankee from Europe,” CW, August). What the #@%&! I don’t care if The Motor Company sells a billion of them overseas to the Eurotrash. In fact, I hope they do. But I see no reason to hold out on the faithful here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. I want one, too, dammit!
Rob Snyder Houston, Texas
Oh my God, this is it! This is what I have been wanting for years! Then I read that the XR1200 will not be sold in the U.S.? It is as American as baseball and apple pie, and yet the American motorcycle company has decided that the Euro market is worthy of the bike but the U.S. is not. The design department has created the bestlooking, best-handling and possibly the best standard motorcycle that H-D has ever produced, and then management leaves it out of the home market?
Jim Adams Webster, Pennsylvania My 2003 Harley FXDX and ’06 Buell XB12X Ulysses are finally paid for. Please, please, H-D, don’t bring the new Sportster XR1200 here. I really can’t stand any more debt. Ed Gerken Sandusky, Ohio
I am a traditional “Harley Hater,” but the new XR1200 is a serious bike. I love it! It’s about time Harley built something to take my mind off the Ducati Hypermotard and KTM 950 Supermoto. Thanks, H-D. Gerry Reed II Warroad, Minnesota I am thrilled by the XR1200, but what will happen if this model is released in the U.S.? Buyers will instantly add sissybars, forward controls, pullback bars and drag pipes!
Harley-Davidson’s marketers are between a rock and a hard place here, limited by an aging market segment as well as the “lifestyle” they promote. They will have a hard time divorcing themselves from the very image they embrace. Dave Cook Otsego, Michigan
I own a Harley 883 Sportster, bought two years ago as my first bike. I would love to stay with the Harley brand for my next purchase but I’m not interested in any of the bikes currently offered-too big, too heavy. Then I saw photos of the new Sportster XR1200.. .but, so sorry, not coming to the U.S.
Harley, what’s the deal!? This could be your chance to bring younger riders and new buyers to the H-D brand, and it could also keep current owners, like myself, who want just a little more from your bikes. Jason Stafford Jackson, Michigan
The quintessential American motorcycle manufacturer finally makes a Sportster true to the model’s roots, but guess what? Harley tells U.S. buyers, “You’re too fat, dumb and slow to enjoy the XR1200.” In marketing-speak it was probably described more like, “Extensive consumer demographic research has shown little to no potential market niche for this product in our domestic lineup.” The average black-leather-and-skullcap-costume-wearing parade rider wouldn’t know what to do with that thing if it fell from the heavens and landed in the garage. I can just hear it now: “Where do I bungee cord the flag and the stuffed animals?” Ughh! It was bad enough when all the other manufacturers made cool bikes we couldn’t buy, but Harley, too?
Matt Wolfe Butte Valley, California
Oh, no, H-D won’t bring the XR1200 over here! Heaven forbid we don’t get another slow, heavy, air-cooled V-Twin. Yeah, it’s the best-handling Harley, but that’s like saying it’s the prettiest tractor. Who cares! Gabriel Saegaeart
Ashford, Connecticut.
My college graduation present from me to me in 1970 was a brand-new Sportster XLCH. Well, I’m 60 years old and wanted to relive my youth, so I bought a 2007 XL883R. I enjoy the 883 but sure would like to try that XR1200. Hope to see it stateside soon-or maybe a trip to Europe could be in my future. Don Kathke Appleton, New York
Just returned from the local bike night here in good old Milly-Wok-Kay, where a very young and extremely congenial Harley engineer had the new XR1200 out to show it off. Holy Bejeezus, that machine is beautiful! In person, the exhaust does not look as bulky as it does in the photos, and this version was sinister and purposeful in silver-and-black. Technically, if it lives up to what the Juneau Avenue boys have accomplished visually, I think the XR1200 will be awesome competition for the rest of the standards on the market. John Tokarz Brookfield, Wisconsin
Latest word from The Motor Company? “The XR1200 was developed specifically for the European market,” repeated a spokesman. “And while we can’t comment on future plans, Harley-Davidson will continue to monitor customer feedback and demandfor the XR1200 in other markets, including the U.S.” That’s not a “no,”folks...
Made in Michigan
I read “Moving Forward” (Race Watch, July) on the progress of the MotoCzysz C1 with great enthusiasm. However, that mood came to an abrupt halt when I read the following passage: “The only American start-ups to have survived since Harley-Davidson are Victory, and with Harley’s help, Buell.”
The facts are a bit different! While Cobra Motorcycles does focus only on the youth racing market, we are in many measures a very successful American manufacturer of motorcycles and ATVs. Our little bikes and quads are designed and constructed in our factory right here in Michigan, and they have helped launch the careers of many of today’s top professionals including Davi Millsaps and Nicky Hayden. Thus our motto, “Champions Start Here.” Over the past decade, we have amassed 22 amateur national AMA championships at Loretta Lynn’s, and our riders have more than 200 other amateur national titles.
Our chassis and engines are engineered and produced in-house; bodywork and other plastic is made by a variety of Midwest companies; suspension is from Europe (Öhlins and Marzocchi). Please keep us in mind the next time you talk about American motorcycle manufacturers!
Sean Hilbert President, Cobra Motorcycles
Our last Vincent letter
This Vincent saga (“Wrath of Vincent,” Hotshots, July) needs to be put to rest, so I am forced to write you. I was editor of the SoCal Vincent newsletter and ran a copy of that slanderous 1965 Cycle World road test. As a result I got a history lesson on what really went down.
The Black Lightning in question was owned by Bill Cottom at Century Motorcycles in San Pedro. It had originally been used as a dragster in Texas, thus the low but hard miles that were on her. Bill put the bike in his showroom with the many others he had and never gave it any road use. When approached about putting the bike on test, he was reluctant as the tester was a noted Vincent detractor in previous articles. When he did agree, there was a problem as the bike had not been run in years.
Marty Dickerson (ex-Vincent dealer then working as service manager at Thousand Oaks Honda) was contacted. Marty recounts he was never told the bike was going to be tested. All he was told to do was “get it running.” Thus, the running, rolling disaster chronicled for perpetuity.
That Peter Egan threw in the towel after two years of Black Shadow ownership (“Living with Vincent,” Leanings, CW, June) does not surprise me. The joke among Vincent owners is that the bike was designed by two engineers for engineer owners. To own one is not a casual relationship. It has to be a consuming love affair. Hence the passion of its owners in defending it. Dr. Tas Tevel
Thousand Oaks, California
Which hopefully brings this issue to closure. Unless the Vincent faithful find something amiss with this month ’s Race Watch story that is...
