Intake

Intake

ELECTRIC MOTOR COMPANY -> BY THE NUMBERS -> TEN BEST, REST, FUTURE -> OFF-TARGET VFR

HÊEHSTHHT THE EOfíVEHSHTÈOn

I never, ever would have imagined I’d say this, but, Harley, if you build this bike (“Harley LiveWire,” September),

I’ll buy it! Make mine the version with 80-plus-mile range, please.

The only way I’d ask you to improve it is to lose the gear whine. Seriously, anyone with any engineering sensibility knows you don’t purposely make a gear train noisy. Silence is golden and one of the main reasons to go electric.

When can I put down my deposit?

CHRIS TROMLEY PENN VALLEY, PA

LIVEWIRE, CONTINUED

Harley’s new LiveWire research project proves what many of us have known for years: The Motor Company’s engineers are not thick-necked, knuckle-dragging Luddites but as capable and talented as any in the world. But if you’re already selling everything you make, why tamper with success?

So how about this: What if instead of an electric powerplant, Harley took Kevin Cameron’s suggestion of a turbocharged twin and hung it from the LiveWire architecture? Just for openers, it would make Rice Krispies out of the FZ-07 and 09 Yammies!

RICHARD CREED

BELTON, TX

Many readers wrote in to suggest simply dropping in a Street 750 engine, which is not a bad “what if” either.

FAVORITE MONTH BY THE NUMBERS

Must say I enjoyed the entire September issue:

49: minutes of reading pleasure.

5: number of times I found myself agreeing with Mr. Hoyer (new record!), e.g., Kawasaki: Bring the W800 to the States. You have customers waiting!

3: number of times I found myself less agreeable (but still entertained) with Hoyer’s picks. Yamaha SR400... Really?! Fm 56 this year, and I fully understand the nostalgia and romance of kickstartonly motorcycling!

1: vote for Best Picture in the issue: Robert Pandya (page 46) on his Indian Chief “Elnora” (“Cannon Ball’s Trail”). Bust a move, baby!

DAVE JOHNSON

OAKDALE, CA

TEN BEST, REST, AND OF THE FUTURE

I felt so inspired and vindicated by your article “Ten Best Bikes of the Future.” When I first read the specs of the Yamaha FZ-07,1 fell into a stupor just thinking of the off-road possibilities. The torque and power could make it a KTM 500 EXC killer with your 2i-/i8-inch wheel recommendations. I had been beating my head against the wall to find

a lightweight complement to my GS.

Unfortunately, bikes like the Yamaha XT660 and many other candidates are not sold in the States.

JERRY BLOCH

CYCLEWORLD.COM

You read my mind. As soon as I saw the FZ-07,1 thought with this engine Yamaha could make a fantastic middleweight Ténéré dual-sport. Please keep the weight under 400 pounds, give it a 6-gallon fuel tank, good suspension, and a 21/18 wheel combo. A bargain price would be a bonus.

I have been looking for something to replace my underpowered KLR650, and this would do nicely.

STEVE PECK

ABBOTSFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Regarding Mr. Hoyer’s offering of the BMW R nineT as the Best Retro Standard (Up Front, September), I don’t think imitation feels like the sincerest form of flattery when a mega world corporation blatantly copies the genuine article from a perennially struggling but always entertaining Italian company. I own two Moto Guzzi Grisos. Priceless.

JIMMELAND SCOTTSDALE, AZ

VFR MISS

Honda, let’s make this simple: Give us your VFR800 platform, drop in a i,ooocc, 120-hp non-VTEC V-4 engine, put it on a slight diet, and throw in a real set of upside-down forks. Build this and the faithful VFR buyers will come with open wallets. Sorry to say, but your latest effort missed the mark.

JOE CORDER

CYCLEWORLD.COM

Comments? Suggestions? Criticisms? yr Write us at intake@cycleworld.com.