Letters
LETTERS
Hondas we want
I thought I was through with motorcycling. When, after riding for 25 years, I sold my last bike in 1994, I thought I would never own a motorcycle again. Then I saw Cycle World's February cover and the accompanying “High Flyin’ Hondas” article. The CL644 Scrambler is just what I’ve been waiting for! Its picture has been cut out and is sitting on my desk. I will trade it for the real thing if Honda will let me. Robert D. Irwin Lynden, Washington
I was immediately drawn to February’s article on “High-Flyin’ Hondas.” My focus was on the X-4 and Zodia. Beautiful! But then I read Honda Marketing VP Ray Blank’s comments on the bikes’ poor chances of coming to the U.S. Is this guy a post-Christmas Scrooge? I think Honda’s got some hits here. Chip Ehlers Huntersville, North Carolina
Just placed an ad to sell my 1995 Harley FLSTN. Why? To make room for the Honda X-4. Steve Melton La Verne, California
Tell VP Blank it took me all of 10 seconds to start drooling over the pictures of the X-4. Don’t change a thing style-wise, drop in the full-horsepower CBR1000F engine, and get me the first one off the boat. Jay Imhoff Keyport, New Jersey
The hot-rod Honda X-4 looks like a sales winner to me-low-slung chassis, big-block four-banger, American “look,” and the proven history of Honda reliability and engineering. C’mon, Mr. Blank, take a chance. Sam Ezelle Crestwood, Kentucky
I just read Cycle World's report on the “High Flyin’ Hondas” from the Tokyo Motor Show and WHOA!!! The Zodia 1500? Exquisite. But that X-4 prototype? Orgasmic! A drag-style, balls-to-the-wall cruiser, the perfect hot-rod statement. Hey, Honda, if lOOOcc isn’t “snorty” enough, make it a 1300 and kick hell out of Yamaha’s V-Max. I like it! Greg Thompson Kittanning, Pennsylvania
Great, just great. Cycle World puts that wonderful Super Mono 644 on the cover and then says the U.S. of A. probably won’t get it. Well, I’ve already contacted a source in the Orient and if the 644 goes into production, I will get one, maybe two. I’d even trade my perfect, loaded 1992 900SS Ducati for one. Hey, Honda, are you listening? J.C! Lynch Millbrae, California
The Super Mono is easily the most viable bike in the whole “High Flyin’ Hondas” story: a very sexy, moderately priced sport Thumper that ties into the growing interest in Singles racing. Ray Blank says that selling low-volume bikes doesn’t make sense, “unless you’re doing it for image, racing or for some other reason.” Look, Honda, if you guys can make a $60,000 NR750 “image” bike that gets smoked by a $27,000 RC45 “race” bike, and both get whipped from hell to breakfast by your very own 600F3, why not bring in the Super Mono for the “other” reason? Tim Acosta Riverton, Wyoming
Cycle World readers have flooded American Honda ’s headquarters with phone calls in favor of February’s coverbikes, particularly the X-4 and the CL644 Scrambler. Too early to tell what effect this will have on future marketing plans, but it couldn’t hurt.
Carbon-copy cruiser?
Please, please convince Honda to build the Zodia 1500. It is the most original and interesting cruiser design I have seen in a long time. Dan Nitschke San Jose, California
Doesn’t Honda’s Zodia 1500 bear a striking resemblance to the Apache concept bike? I don’t have a picture close at hand for further inspection, but my gut reaction is that they are almost identical in concept and completion. Janet Peddycoat Reston, Virginia
You ’re not the only one to see the similarities between the Zodia and Next World Design ’s Apache concept cruiser, Janet. For more, see the story in this month ’s Roundup.
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Yamahas we want
I actually sat down and cried when I read that Yamaha’s new TRX850 sport Twin will not be sold in the U.S.-414 pounds wet, 850cc of parallel-Twin double-thump, all hung in a triangulated tube-ladder spaceframe. I’d been on an incredible high ever since I first scoped-out the beast.
Then there’s Yamaha’s SZR660 Super Single you recently reported on. If this is built in Italy as a joint venture with Belgarda and is supposedly so economical to manufacture, then why can we not at least be offered this machine?
I’m convinced a good number of Cycle World readers agree with me on this issue. Now, if we can just get the manufacturers to take notice. Bill Conkright Hendersonville, North Carolina
Yamaha doesn’t think it can sell the TRX850 here for $8500 when it’s already selling $14,000 cruisers? Ridiculous! Oh, well, I guess I’ll just keep riding my FZR400-at least Yamaha had the sense to bring that one over. Klaus Killian La Mesa, California
The fact that bikes like the SZR660 Yamaha aren’t available in the USA makes me mad as hell. Don Lee Jacksonville, Texas
My favorite Yamahas of recent years? FJ1200, GTS1000, TDM850. The ones I’m excited about now? TRX850, XJR1200, YZF600 Thunder Cat, SZR660. I’m no marketing whiz, but I do know this: Consumer loyalty can’t be generated if you don’t provide the goods. Wake up, Yamaha. Bill Rupy Loveland, Colorado
Nixon’s the one
DOWN: To Cycle World, for printing a picture in February’s Ups & Downs showing Jay Springsteen wheelying a Yamaha TZ750 flat-tracker. That’s okay, but the rider in the background on bike number 9 has no helmet and is wearing shorts. Phil Grundy Beaumont, Texas
The rider in question is two-time Grand National Champion Gary Nixon, who would probably inform you-allow us to paraphrase-that he can ride any bleeping way he chooses.
