Intake

Intake

EAST TROY VS. BOLOGNA -> SINGLE DISCS, REALLY? -> PADS ON ROTORS -> RIDER ENEMIES

KICKSTART THE CONVERSATION

I never thought I’d be able to say that a Buell was more beautiful than a Ducati (“Big Booms,” July). But now I can. Because it is. DOUG SMITH DAMARISCOTTA, ME

Mr. Smith, beauty is clearly subjective, and we suspect a few Ducatisti might differ with your assessment. Nevertheless, it’s impressive to see a small factory in Wisconsin building a V-twin-powered production superbike that competes so well on the world stage, both dynamically and in overall appearance.

I cannot believe the EBR 1190RX didn’t win your comparison with the Ducati 1199 Panigale. Seriously, 0.15 second is the blink of an eye, and that’s why you give the win to the Due? Come on, the EBR had a bad brake rotor. If you are going to pick a winner based purely on the track, just leave the street comparo out. Riders like Canet may buy the Due, but he’s in a small percentage of buyers.

PAUL WALTERS BALLSTON SPA, NY

You guys are infatuated with Erik Buell. Even I could put a bike together out of different parts and copy more established brands like Ducati. But I don’t have investors. There are many other small, entrepreneurial American companies (Brammo, Motus, even MotoCzysz) that are doing their work and contribute much more to the sport but don’t get the same accolades.

MARCO A. RUIZ PARKLAND, EL

Marco, not even the EBR exhaust is a copy of theDucati’s...And, hey, call us when you get your bike together.

DISCO TECH

A motorcycle must do three things: go, handle, and stop. How one propels himself, and at what rate, is subjective. Handling is much the same; do you want to be able to scrape your knees or lean just enough to touch your crashbars? Again, it’s subjective. In stopping, however, everyone wants to be able to haul it down as quickly as possible! Why, then, do motorcycle manufacturers continue to design bikes with just one front disc brake? Cost, you say? A $17,000 Harley with just one disc? It just seems ridiculous for any modern bike to not have dual discs up front. If Yamaha can put two on the bargain-priced FZ-09, what is everyone else’s excuse?

JEFF GILBERT BURLINGTON, VT

BRAKE LIGHT INITIATIVE

Did a circuit full of blind hills and curves (that I normally honor with nothing more than a rolled-back throttle) yesterday, just touching the brakes before each one, and was mightily surprised at how much time, relatively speaking, is needed to set up each

squeeze. That’s time I wouldn’t get back if there were to be something over the hill or around the curve that I had to avoid and hadn’t already put the pads on the rotors. Great article (“The Brake Light Initiative,” July)!

DICK WORTH CHURCHTON, MD

ADV POETRY?

Two amazing steeds (BMW R1200GS Adventure, KTM 1190 Adventure R) with noteworthy qualities.

Excellent comparo (“Fully Loaded,” July), noting each bike’s virtues.

Each bike’s predecessor has resided in my garage.

Much love for both. Now food for thought. You stated the bag on the KTM can be popped off by a log. If I snag a log, I want the bag to pop off! I’ve had it happen on my ’07 KTM Adv 990. I simply popped it back on. No medical attention required! As for the clogged locks, graphite, tape over them. My choice is adrenaline, KTM.

LELANSPOBIRS RENO, NV

KNOW THY ENEMY

Editor-in-Chief Mark Hoyer nailed it with his “Know Thy Enemy” editorial in the July issue. As a veteran of Southern California’s freeway system, I’d also like to add commercial trucks carrying ladders, ’80s Oldsmobiles and Buicks, plus my personal favorite, the cigaretteand-cell-phone juggler.

Ride aware.

JOHN GLASS HESPERIA, CA

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