Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

ILLUSTRATION BY HECTOR CADEMARTORI

Bulletproof

Thank you for your excellent exclusive on the new Enfield Bullet Classic C-5 (“Dynasty,” CW, March). I love the cool, classic look, a mouth-watering product resulting from the marriage of modem technology to meticulous workmanship, a perfect ride for a lazy Saturday-morning jaunt through the backroads.

Congratulations, Royal Enfield. Can’t wait to take the seat and feel “the beat.” Narendra Kamath Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Glad to see your mag spent quite some pages on the Royal Enfield. Just to give you an idea of the reliability of the bike, I bought mine (older-style Military version) in Johannesburg, South Africa, on my way home from the Congo. Rode her out of the showroom, filled her up and spent four days and 2000 kilometers cruising homeward to Windhoek in Namibia. Did the initial oil change and valve clearance at 500 km at the roadside with onboard tools, checked for any loose nuts (does not include the rider) and bolts-found none.

The bike never showed any problem and remains fun to ride. Just get the shorter muffler for better sound and install the tractor seat and pillion pad for looks. Stefan Muller

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ah, progress comes to India! Catalyst exhaust, computer modeling, pressure die castings, CNC machines, wedge combustion chamber, oxygen sensor, reliability, no more oil leaks. Wow!

All that and, lo and behold, we have two brothers, Kishore and Jayakumar, laying down each and every pinstripe with a brush! Can you believe that?! Something still done by hand! I love it!

John Lesquereaux

Oak Ridge, New Jersey

Will Enfield’s new EFI allow the bike to be sold in California? Our emissions requirements were too rigid for the carbureted version. There are probably more than a few riders here who would welcome the redesigned Bullet as a daily rider. Ron Jones

Torrance, California

From Kevin Mahoney of Classic Motorworks, U.S. importer of Royal Enfields: “ We 've met with several vendors and consultants to begin the process of getting a CARB certificate. Enfield’s management has decreed that we will be in California come hell or high water. We expect to start selling there for the 2010 model year. ”

What a treat! Two Royal Enfield articles! If you’re ever in Maryland, come on over; you can ride my ’08 Bullet Deluxe! Mac McGuire

Cresatown, Maryland

Concerning the 2009 Royal Enfield Bullet: I really like motorcycles that look like what they are, not like something out of a Buck Rogers serial.

Bob Edwards Simpsonville, South Carolina

I’ve owned my ’02 Military Enfield for a number of years and it has earned a real place in my heart. It is my smallerrand runner; a Ural is my largeerrand runner. The hardest thing to do is to get home on time, as I’m always stopped by people wanting to look at and talk about the bikes. Yeah, there are sportier bikes out there, but can you bring home a carton of milk strapped to the tailpiece of a Desmosedici? What a mess! Try an Enfield, it’s fun.

Hans Bertelsen Renton, Washington

Sound and Fury

So, Honda builds a chopper (Roundup, March) now that the custom-chopper fad is winding down, just like the TV shows that sprang from it, and the economy is in the dumps? I think the Fury is a nice bike, but after its time.

Rodney Schwiesow Hastings, Minnesota

The Teutuls have been bounced from Discovery to TLC. They don’t even show re-runs of the “Great Biker Build-Offs” any more. The fire in Billy

Lane’s britches-from his “first-ever” underseat exhaust-has long gone out, and now Honda comes out with a chopper? This is two years late and 500cc short. TJ Burdsall

Jackson, Tennessee

Really? Are we to believe this is the best the mighty

Honda can do? To me, the Fury reeks of an oversized Rebel 250. Did they pawn this off on their design interns?

I can appreciate some of the tasteful details to be found in the instrument cluster and controls, but as a whole it is less than compelling. At a time when Harley-Davidson is offering youthoriented models like the Cross Bones and Rocker, and Yamaha has freshened up its VMax? Matt Rask Jackalope Studios Portland, Oregon >

CHATTER...

What the Forums at cycleworld.com are saying about the 2010 Honda Fury I think it is totally awesome. It's not for everybody, but it is frickin' awesome. Almost enough to make me-dare I say-consider it! dJIvI One reason I have a bike is to take day-rides with my 60-year-old wife. Ain't happen'n on that! I think it looks good, very clean and unclut tered. The pipes (like most) don't look very good; other than that, I like it. Sleek. But is there really a market for a mass produced, anybody-can-buyone "custom?" Functionally superior, most likely. Cheaper and more reliable, certainly. Exciting? Exclusive? Notso sure...

Draggin' passion

Thank you for the drag-racing coverage in the March issue (Roundup, Race Watch). I follow NHRA Pro Stock like a religion and completely despise the current Harley/Buell domination of the sport. I’m anxious to see the new Suzukibased Schumacher “Zuk” billet bullets. I’m sure they will crush the “tractor” bikes, which will bring more drama to the USA vs. Japan wars. As you stated, such drama breeds suspense and suspense breeds spectators.

I loved the Stotz ProStreet Honda feature, too. The AMA ProStreet class is off the hook). Turbo/nitrous bikes with no wheelie bars leads to very interesting racing. “Mean Gene” Cook Clear Spring, Maryland

Nick Ienatsch’s Stotz ProStreet story was simply outstanding. As for the “Pro Stocker” article by Kevin Cameron, I’ve long suspected that the NHRA does, in fact, have an agenda for Us vs. Them drama. Kudos on your insight. Paul C. Dispensa

Warrenville, Illinois

Art on Wheels

I’m writing to request long-overdue recognition for an artist who always, always, brings a smile to my face and, more often than not, a laugh, as well. Give it up for Hector Cademartori! How about a hardbound compilation of all his work from Hotshots and Service? I’ve never seen such attention to detail in every illustration, demonstrating his love and knowledge of motorcycles, history and society.

C’mon, there’s TDC (Cameron), Leanings I and II (Egan). Where’s Cademartori’s Art of the Art of the Motorcycle? Guillermo Suarez

Mexico City, Mexico

The book’s a great idea, but meanwhile check out shop, cvcleworld. com, where readers can now purchase Hector ’s original artwork from Hotshots and Service.

Burns? Regular?

I just read his Moto Guzzi Griso 8V test in the March issue and I was wondering why you don’t give John Bums a regular column? He writes things that are genuinely funny to those of us who actually ride motorcycles. Robert Egge Alexandria, Virginia

Burns has not been regular since he turned 30, but for more of his writing check out the Ducati Monster test and Ninja 900 retrospective in this issue.