Intake
Intake
SUPER-MIDS BUMPER STICKERS GET OFF MY LAWN
KICKSTART THE CONVERSATION
The results of the Super Middleweights test (“Upper Middledass Clout,” April) prove that the tried-and-true Japanese inline four-cylinder offerings are still great bikes. This isn’t taking anything away from Ducati or MV Agusta or any other brand. But the Big Four machines are ultra-reliable, tend to handle better, are less expensive, and are great all-around bikes. I can’t wait to see the Big Four turn loose with new models and offerings in the, hopefully, near future.
LYLE HERN CROSSETT, AR
WELCOME, FREDDIE
In the April issue, Freddie Spencer gives an inspiring and gracious thumbnail sketch of some of his accomplishments and how they parallel those of young 2013 MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez. They are memories that could only be shared by someone who had truly “been there, done that.” With the same class and talent, Freddie now steers his words onto the pages of Cycle World.
RONRAMLOW SOUTH PASADENA, CA
TOOL TIME
Thanks for striking a blow for common sense motorcycle tools with every bike (“The Forgotten Tool Kit,” Up Front,
April)! Many of the bikes I’ve had over the years have been old Hondas, and most came with a good tool kit.
The best tool kit I’ve seen was the one that came with a friend’s Ural. It’s huge and fully equipped. For the sake of Ural owners, one can only hope it’s not so comprehensive due to hard experience...
CARY ILMINEN, RN LONE ROCK, Wl
BUMPER STICKER WORTHY
Is that a Kevin Cameron original in the “Telling Stories: Minimize your Scrap Rate” column? “No matter how many opinions you line up, you can’t vote nonsense into truth.” Whatever the case, it’s my new axiom. Thanks, Kevin.
KLAUSE DER REITER VIA CYCLEWORLD.COM
I’ve been vowing for years that I would write in about Kevin Cameron. “Telling Stories” finally got me off the dime. My father was a research metallurgist who also taught technical writing. He told me that if you can’t explain something to someone, you don’t understand it yourself. And that explaining clearly how something works is the hardest writing of all. Or, as KC put it, “There is nothing that so exposes the weak points in your understanding of something as trying to explain that something to others.”
He’s the best writer you’ve got, and he’s doing the hardest job on the magazine.
RICH LOW LANCASTER, PA
GET OFF GUZZI’S LAWN
As a Guzzi Griso owner, I guess I should be flattered that Ducati (Diavel) and BMW (R nineT) are ripping off the Griso's styling. But I’m not. I’m annoyed. They have intruded on the exclusivity, late, and not as well. Guzzi doesn’t sell many units every year. BMW and Ducati should find their own niches.
JIM WILKIE VIA CYCLEWORLD.COM
GET OFF SACHA’S LAWN
So did [Bimota Mantra designer] Sacha Lakic (“Analog Life,” April) sue Pierre Terblanche over his Multistrada design?
JACK BELLINHOFF GEORGETOWN, TX
LIGHTER TOURING
The new VFR800F (“The Interceptor Returns!” April) intrigues me, but I wonder if it has the power and torque for the open road. The majority of today’s sport-touring bikes are too big and heavy to be of interest to me. I don’t want to wrestle one around in the parking lot or garage. The new VFR could be an interesting exception.
KENT SHELDON VIA CYCLEWORLD.COM
NEW ENGINEERING?
You say I have a beer belly. I prefer to call it “mass centralization.”
BOB SUMMERS VIA CYCLEWORLD.COM
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