Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Burning desire

John Burns is our hero. My wife has been on me to buy a new Ducati Monster. I have resisted because there are 11 motorcycles in the garage now, insurance for them is high, I’m too old (65) for something this sporty, the roads are too straight here in Florida, it’s not good two-up, blah, blah, blah.

My wife reads John’s litany of his personal issues and Ducati’s charm in dealing with them (“Ducati Monster 1100S,” May). I read it and immediately think there’s room for one more in the garage. Heading to the Ducati dealer later this week.

Thanks for life's reality check. These new Ducatis are less trouble than the older ones, right? Larry Malinoski Ruskin, Florida

Another gem by John Burns. Describing spritzes of fuel that are “perfectly sealed...for your projection?” Pure genius. But seriously, man, Cloris Leachman? Who? As the saying goes, “Know thy (under 40) audience.” Pete Francis Seekonk, Massachusetts

Thank you, Mr. Burns, for your accu rate critique of the new Ducati Monster 1100S. While it certainly is the bestperforming air-cooled Monster to date and maybe the best overall Monster ever, it is not pretty. All that made the original Miguel Galluzzi design unique and enduring is gone. The beauty of its trademark trellis frame has been replaced by a hybrid tubular/cast assembly cobbled together using pipes seemingly from a plumbing-supply house. Add the weird headlight, plastic tank cover with holes, mufflers inspired by a Yoplait container and you get something that surely has Miguel roll ing his eyes in disgust.

It reminds me of how the stunning ly original Lamborghini Countach LP400 devolved into a hideous car icature of itself at the hands of oth er "designers" over the years. Like an E-Type, Dino, 916 or Sophia Loren, you don't mess with a beauti ful thing. This new bike should not be c~11ed a Monster out of resnect for the original. iqor A. Pelse Posted on www.cycleworld.com

John Burns must have had a bad day. He went overboard making comments on the bad styling of the Monster 1 100S. Calling it "Frankensteinian" as a put down is kind of ftinny because it is a Monster, right? I actually think it is the best-looking Monster Ducati has produced. Not in the white/black version you rode, but in the silvertank/red-frame version. There are some stunning photos in other publications that do it justice. I do agree with his comments on the bike's performance and light weight. I've ridden the bike, and it is a blast. The only problem is trying to keep the front wheel on the ground! Kurtis Clark Torrance, California

Just a note to say that I do not enjoy reading John Burns' writing. For the first time ever, I quit reading in mid article ("Happy Birthday, Mr. Ninja," May) and went on to the next article, John Ulrich's excellent review of the same bike ("Original Ninja"). Don Richard Reiterman Hemet, California

Okay, fine, but how do you come down on the Cloris Leachman question?

Banned in Bike Town

I'm still steamed up about the stupidity of those CPSC people ("Lead Astray' Up Front, May). They insist kids can't ride motorcycles or ATVs because there is lead in the batteries and cable connections. Well, what about handi capped kids? By the same reasoning-or lack thereof-they can no longer use their electric wheelchairs. And let's not forget school buses; they have lead batteries and cable connections, too. It is now illegal for kids to ride school buses. I guess parents will just have to drive them to school. Oh, wait! Cars have batteries, too. I guess the kids will have to walk to school. Walking will leave kids with less time to play video games, anyway. Oh, wait! There's lead in computers, too!

The Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act clearly has resulted in unintended consequences. Besides banning children under 12 from motorcycles and ATVs, it requires home-hobbyist woodworkers to pay a lead-free certification fee (about $400 per toy) or be subject to a severe fine.

Come on, there is lead content in dirt, too! Does that mean they will ban kids from using playgrounds? And what about the lead in cell phones? It is just as logical to ban these as it is motorcycles, ATVs and, yes, wooden toys made for Toys-for-Tots and other charities. Paul Meisel Mound, Minnesota

David Edwards' column illustrates how easily the "well-meaning" nanny state can negatively impact our individual freedoms, industries and nation. In this current economic and political climate, we had better keep our eyes open to all legislation coming out of Washington. It always amazes me how much some powerful people hate all forms of motorcycling! Who knows what else they have up their sleeves? Scott Wasson Boise, Idaho

First Edwards writes about the ban on ATVs and minibikes on account of infinitesimal amounts of lead. What a travesty! Then in Leanings, Egan mentions the leaded glass windows in his hometown library. Children probably go there and lick the windows! These windows must be taken out! Lead, eek! What a bunch of weenies we have become. Randall Morris Omaha, Nebraska

CHATTER...

What the Forums at cycleworld. corn are saying about the 2009 Ducati Monster 1100$ John Burns' latest input to CW is as good as it gets. The Monster 1100S is pretty good, too, functionally. I can't get used to the new look. -Mad4theCreSt Yeah, the styling is atrocious. I have a feel ing the new-gen Monster is going to have a short production cycle before a facelift. I don't know anyone who really thinks it looks better than the previous Monster. You'd think Ducati would still be smarting over the 999 styling debacle (I know IL looks better in person...) and would take a more measured approach with such an icon. -Buelligan I finally got a chance to read the article. Very entertaining. Burns actually perked my interest in the thing. I've never been much of a Ouc Ian, but I like this Frankenstein look. I may just have to go to the one-and only Ducati dealer in St. Louis and take a look-see. Oh, and tell Burns the best way to get rid of the crabgrass is to dig it out by the roots with the ex's best kitchen knife. -iat~atboy I love the look of the bike. And, DoubleFat, you crack me up. -Pa~time~t

For once, some good news and common sense from the CPSC. The Commission, responding to thousands of complaints and a boatload of negative press, has recommended taking no action against dealers selling minibikes and youth ATVs for the next year, giving Congress time to clarify the language in the lead content act.

Nova anew?

As soon as I opened my mailbox to see the May issue, the cover line, Secret Stuff: Harley to Build All-New V-4?! jumped out at me. I’ve been to Harley’s new museum twice and, in my mind, the most interesting item there is the Nova V-Four prototype. All I can say to Harley is, yes, please build it! If you build it, we will come.

Keep the liquid-cooled Twins for VRod aficionados, the air-cooled Twins for traditionalists, but build the new V-Four for those of us who want some serious power, especially for fully loaded touring bikes. Not only would this show that Harley is willing to think outside of the box, thereby silencing your naysayers, but it may finally give you a chance to hold your own when up against a certain six-cylinder metric luxurytourer.

Come on Harley, you call yourselves The Motor Company, now let's see the proof. Rob Garity Genesee, Wisconsin

After all these decades of hearing that the Apollo V-Four was left stillborn, here it is again as the neo H-D Nova. We all have heard about Harley buying MV Agusta, but appar ently while shopping I in Italy they also bought the Bologna beast. Good on `em, it was a design that deserved life. Buck Pilkenton SumDter. Oreaon

I was very inter ested in HarleyDavidson's new Nova project, but times being what they are, a totally new engine would be both expensive and risky. I have an alternate con cept. Put a V-Rod motor in the new 2009 Electra Glide chassis. They could call it the Hydro-Glide (liquid cooling, get it?) VRSCFLHTCU (you simnly must have the H-D alphabet soup). Bill Doty West Branch, Iowa

Harley building a high-performance motorcycle keeps getting dredged up like the 100-mpg carburetor now resid ing in government tombs. Stay tuned next week. Come on, I know it's the May issue but you would have to be an April's Fool to believe such fairytales. Oh, and don't give me this V-Rod business: 121 hp from a 1250cc, fuel injected, dual-overhead-cam engine isn't even worth a postcard home, much less a letter of worry to Bologna. I UI WUI I y LU L~UiU~iIa. Peter Spinale St. Paul, Minnesota

ikasawaK ajniN 009

In this age of downsizing, economiz ing, layoffs and fretting about our eco nomic future, it is with the contented heart of smart frugality that I reach into my mailbox for my monthly issue of CW, knowing that I am about to experience another episode of the continuing saga of man’s best invention to cure the doldrums and mental strains of life. One thing that will not be axed from my budget is my subscription to what is without a doubt the best entertainment value offered me these days. Oh, by the way, where can I buy an ikasawaK (May, page 74)? Scott Blakney Sutter Creek, California

Scott, you can buy an ikas awaK at any of the brand many spihsrelaed around the country. You should know, however, that the pictured machine, the ajniN 009, is no lon ger available.

Auto sport-tourer

I agree with the comment by Mark Hoyer in May’s S review of the Honda DN-01: Dammit, Honda!” They took a good, roadworthy, comfortable chassis and pretty much screwed it up. Goofy styling, worthless windshield, small gas tank, skimpy instrumentation and no storage. That’s too bad. I am a fan of automatic transmissions on bikes. Despite the inflated price, I would have bought a DN-01 if it weren’t lacking in features. Does Honda ever talk to riders like me? I guess not. What do I know, I only ride their bikes and pay for them. I am still waiting for a good one-up sporttourer with an automatic.

I am currently riding a Suzuki Burgman 650. It’s not my dream bike, but is directly comparable to the DN01 in terms of performance, and it’s much more practical. Joe Kuhn Tullahoma, Tennessee

From the photos of the DN-O1, it looked like it might be an adequate touring bike. But with only 324 pounds of load capacity, less my 220, there's only 104 pounds left for gear. I also expected better fuel mileage with only 680cc of displacement. My Gold Wing, all 800-plus pounds and 1832cc, gets better mileage. The DN-01 looks good while the Monster 1 100S looks ugly, according to you? But the Monster can handle 440 pounds of load, with better fuel mileage and a fun factor off the scale. I've used my Monster S2R for commuting and touring. What's the advantage of the DN-O1? Gary W. McCullough Andrews, Texas

OP/ED

READER ESSAY

rom time to time, it's hetpf ut to skip the breathteSs hyperbote of wordS in motor cycte comPartsofls and took at the facts. tthoUgh the CBR600RR C-PBS was cat egorized as having the "Best Brakes Ever!", it's interesting to note that the DN-01 actu atty outperforme(t the CBR600RR C-ABS in braking distance from 60 mph. tt took 141 feet to stow the 5~equipped CBR from 60 mph versus onty 134 feet for the DN-O1, despite its extra 200-Pound weight. Even under the skitted hands of Mr. Canet, the tighter non-ABS CBB coutd onty muster 140 feet. A quick review of other 60-0-mPh braking distances in the May issue shows that the DN-0l outperformed the Ducati Monster 11 OOS (148 feet from 60-0), whicti is also about 200 poundS ightl th~1fl the 0N01. AI

II btieII~~' DN-O1 may point the way to better perlOr mance in a crucia' category of motorcycle funCtiOfl~ s~oWiflg down before OU k~I yourself. Hig~1~perfOtm~~ cars regularly sloW to zero from 60 mph in 120 feet or even less, and the DN-01 suggests that motorcycle designers might want to start `ooking outside of time-Worn conventions if we ever want to be able to both out ,~r'~Qr~tP and out-brake the cagers.

Go, hoflaa, u. U' -1onda, stop"? Sean Hess E~ect1iC City, shiflgt0fl

I was surprised that Kevin Cameron made the following statement regarding CVT transmissions in his "Infinitely Variable Possibilities" sidebar at the end of the DN-O 1 test: "Why, then, do we continue to employ transmissions that can only approximate the ideal. . . ?", speaking of conventional gearboxes.

As he regularly writes extensive articles explaining various complex mechanical things (rather well, I might add), it surprised me that Kevin was perplexed that these CVTs aren’t used more often in bigger bikes or cars.

As one who had just finished test-riding the DN-01, Executive Editor Mark Hoyer had all the answers to Mr. Cameron’s questions right underneath him. The DN-01, a mid-sized bike with a CVT, is heavy, pricey and rather underpowered for its displacement. Amazingly, the CVTequipped DN-01 returned poor mpg, to boot. (Usually CVT vehicles get good mileage.)

For a given physical size limitation, CVT transmissions will always be heavier, more expensive and will never be able to transfer nearly the same peak torque as their geared cousins.

In spite of Kevin’s wishes, CVTs will not be found in Gold Wings any time soon-unless Honda’s long-term goal is to make the Wing as porky and slow as Milwaukee-born dressers. Look to Aprilia for intelligent efforts in the CVT-bike direction. Arpad Mikios Warren, Michigan