Hotshots
HOTSHOTS
Hail to the cheap (and used)
Helmets off to Peter Jones for his unflinching yet misty-eyed look back at the Honda CB200. My first motorcycle was the CB’s stablemate, a new 1974 Honda CL200. The word slow really doesn’t do it justice; glacial maybe. Still, for a kid stepping up from a 2.5-hp Briggs & Stratton minibike, the 200 seemed like a rocket.
As Jones points out, wheelies were not an option, but my CL did track sufficiently well in the corners to drag the footpegs. Top speed ended at about 75 mph, even with a tailwind. Seeing Peter’s CB did trigger some great memories of that summer of ’74 with my first real motorcycle. Would I buy another one? No. But in 1976,1 traded the 200 in on a new CJ360T, which could come within a little white lie of 100 per. Would I buy another one just like it? Already did. And that trip down memory lane Jones describes happens for me every time I ride it on a backroad.
Gary R. Ilminen, RN Lone Rock, Wisconsin
“Hard Bargains for Hard Times” (December, 2010) was a great article. But I just wish that it had been more extensive. There are a great many bikes in the 200-750cc range. In my younger years, a 500cc bike was considered a big bike. Now, it would seem that this is hardly enough to get you down to the convenience store and home again.
Curt Dawson
Guilford, Indiana
Kudos to Allan Girdler on the used Sportster suggestion. I have been saying the early, solid-mounted Evo four-speed XLs are the best deal in all-around motorcycling since they came out. Even more so now, for all the reasons Allan says.
It’s nice when a recognized scribe, moto-historian and Sporty expert gets a write-up published with which I agree so heartedly. “BSA Chop”
Posted on forums.cycleworld.com
I like the concept of a budget fixer that you can make into your own style. I think Burns has the right idea with his “Millennium Rl”—buy it cheap, fix it up and enjoy. On the other hand, I find that Roland Sands’ “Recycled Twin”
concept misses the point altogether.
Take a $4K bike and throw $6600 at it? While Sands is a talented guy, I don’t think the concept of “budget” is really in his vocabulary. Kinda got the Richie Rich syndrome, in my opinion.
“Mondo Endo” Posted on forums.cycleworld.com
There is no doubt that Burns ’Rl is a thing of incredible beauty (as are the dirty ol ’Frye boots he wore in the photo shoot and refuses to give up). As for Sands ’Sportster, the point isn ’t so much outright bottom-of-the-barrel cheapness but the extent to which an extremely cool motorcycle can be built for reasonable “custom ” money.
Hail to the rest
In nearly 20 years of subscribing to your magazine, I believe the December, 2010, issue is the best ever. Interesting bikes, new, used and salvaged. Great pieces by Egan and Hoyer, the latter doing a great job in his newish role at the helm of this publication. Paul Dean provided the most revealing explanation of rotary engines’ strengths and weaknesses that could possibly be squeezed into a single page. But the absolute kicker was Kevin Cameron’s TDC column: “Thrust” was literal mechanical poetry, neatly and clearly tying together a dozen or so of the most fascinating characteristics and trade-offs we take for granted each time we twist open the throttles of the machines that bring so much joy to our individual worlds. Thanks for the early Christmas present. Robb Kerry
South Jordan, Utah
Not so high about the low
First, Mr. Hoyer (who I’m enjoying being on board as EIC) tells us about this nice little Ryca café bike (arguable) for $8000 or as a kit for $3000 (plus a donor bike costing as much as $4000?), which gets you a stripped-down mongrel that’s part bobber and part track replica but all, um, not much. Sorry. I appreciate the editor pumping a little company with an off-the-beaten-trailtype product, but not at the expense of sanity. Then I have Gary Inman telling me that the Hyde Harrier, the finest revisionist piece of Brit Iron I have seen since the Egli-Vincent, is a deal breaker at $29,000 complete. Finally, Mr. Burns throws it all into the fire with the tale of the $1500 Rl. If he follows streetfighter guidelines, by the time he spends $4000, his Rl should be able to rule the streets against all but Rossi sneaking his MotoGP bike off the track. This is funny math, guys, that wouldn’t even pass at Bear-Stearns. Peter Spinale
St. Paul, Minnesota
What a bargain...
Thanks for the great article on bargain bikes in the December issue, but you missed an obvious choice: Honda’s 1991-2003 Nighthawk 750. You can buy one for the cost of a couple of Ducati tune-ups, and it’ll do almost anything, almost forever. I’ve ridden mine more than 80K miles, and it’s delivered a 100-plus-mph top speed, fun handling, and 40-50 mpg economy—at the cost of rebuilding the starter and petcock, and replacing one valve-cover gasket. Probably appropriate that it shares the name of the USAF stealth fighter. It’s a stealth bargain. Jay Schleifer
Wellington, Florida
Ténéré? No wé
So the greatly anticipated Yamaha Ténéré is here. Only one problem: It just seems like an overpriced V-Strom 1000. The Suzuki is still the overlooked class leader. Low price, nearly maintenancefree, good fuel mileage, almost indestructible, powerful, comfortable and fun—just not flashy. I’ll Strom on with a smile on my face knowing I can stay in nicer hotels with all I’ve saved by not being cool... Dayn Mansfield
Templeton, California
Nice to hear from you again, Dayn.
We ’re going to have to give you a column soon, or at least your own corner in Hotshots. The V-Strom is indeed a great bike. Not available as a 2011, but new 2009s (noABS or traction control) are still in the pipeline for the bargain price of $9799.
The Yamaha Ténéré may be a great motorcycle to ride, but at some point you have to get off the bike and actu-
ally look at it. No thanks, I’ll keep my Multistrada. Roger Stark Redmond, Washington
Roger, have you considered the V-Strom?
Norton hybrid!!
I have seen a bunch of articles recently in various publications about electric motorcycles. BIG YAWN! Then, I was really pleased to see the article about the Norton Wankel electric. Now, that’s what I’m talking about! Bring it! Please! It burns anything and does away with the long-distance problem. I haven’t been excited about anything this much since the RADD/James Parker front end. Hopefully, this time the big manufacturers don’t get hold of it, screw it up and bury it so we never see it again. Andy McLain
Carol Stream, Illinois
Helpin’ Keller
I had to respond to the letter from Mr. Bill Keller (December, 2010). I fully understand why Mr. Keller usually doesn’t “write” magazines (as opposed to writing to them), as he would most likely be complaining non-stop. Mr. Keller appears to be suffering from an acute affliction known as “I’m a Genius and Everyone Else Is a Moron” Syndrome. I’ve known numerous individuals with this particular ailment over the years, and my response has usually been the same: Get over yourself. Most of the motorcycling community knows the history of the bobber began with guys unbolting, cutting or hacking the “unnecessary” bits off their rides to make them lighter, faster and cooler. With the addition of the retro styling cues, I think Peter Jones’ Gixxer definitely fits the bobber definition. As for the Kestrel, many regard it as one of the cleanest bobbers ever built and a phenomenal exercise in the concept of engineering as styling. The greatest thing about customizing motorcycles is that the process is wholly reliant upon the personality and creative interpretation of the owner or builder. Those of us who’ve been down that road can easily appreciate the effort of mind and passion of spirit realized in aluminum and steel, even if it’s not our personal cup of tea. As for Mr. Keller, my only inquiry would be to the number of magazine coverbikes in his stable. Shawn Bartz
Clarkston, Mississippi
The beat goes on
Having received my first-ever subscription copy of Cycle World, I read with great enjoyment Peter Egan’s column, “Beatnik Bikes.” My grandfather, father and I were born in San Francisco. Last year, at age 65,1 purchased my first motorcycle. Take a guess. Not knowing it was a beatnik bike, I bought a 1976 Honda CB400F. A pristine, beautiful red Super Sport. I am the third owner and I love it! The following is no joke: I was parked in front of our local book store and a fella comes up and says, “Cool,
I used to have one of those.” I have no doubt the bike would get the same comment parked in front of City Lights. A beatnik bike? You bet. Steven Jehly Oreas Island, Washington
Truck (of the north) World
After 38 years of living and skiing in North America, I have never owned a 4x4. Your problem, Peter, has a cheap, easy, fast solution: chains. I may have a set you can keep. What size are your tires? Or, you can get a 4x4 kit and put it on the van. The choice is yours.
Robert C.B. Schmaltz Hood River, Oregon
Peter Egan, three (sic) words: fourwheel-drive van. Mike Conley
Great White North
Let Peter Egan know he should keep his van and put some Bridgestone Blizzaks on it for the winter. Mike Tursky
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
I moved to Tallahassee 32 years ago and it has been an okay place... I think the mild winters would do you good, Peter.
George Penick Tallahassee, Florida
Scooter hate
Cycle World devoted an entire page in the December issue to ing a Kymco scooter contraption. Is your magazine about motorcycles, or is it going to start ing riding mowers and weed whackers? Kevin Barron
Boston, Massachusetts
Hover doesn’t have a lawn, so you ’re safe... Œ
