Hotshots

HOTSHOTS

Fiberglass dust memories

Peter Egan’s “Windjammer Days” in May really took me back. In 1970 and ’71,1 was in the Army at Fort Mac Arthur in San Pedro, California. I had a 1969 BMW R60 that my wife and I used to explore California and camp in odd and wonderful places. After getting caught in a nasty sandstorm near Death Valley, I decided to get a fairing. A BMW-riding friend recommended a Wixom Bros, and suggested I go to the factory to see what they had for sale. My memory isn’t great, but I seem to recall the factory was in Long Beach. When I showed up, I found that the fairings were out of the reach of Army wages, but the sales guy took pity on me and walked me to the back lot. We climbed into the attic of a warehouse and found a fairing that was covered in dust, had a chip out of the bottom and had no pinstriping but was otherwise brand-new. He sold it to me for about 10 percent of the cost of a perfect specimen!

With that fairing, my wife and I spent many a night camping as we traveled around the United States. As Peter said, the sight of one of those old fairings brings back wonderful memories of tents and campfires. Forty years later, the bikes and wind protection are better but the use of them is no more fun than it was in the old days. Jerry Conner Winnetka, Illinois

Peter Egan's colunm about Vetter fairings really brought back fond memories. Two Gold Wings came to mind: our first yel low `Wing that we bought in 1976 and put a Vetter fairing and a Hang Two seat on, and a practically new black 1978 `Wing with Vetter upper and lower fair ings and saddlebags we just bought!

When I climbed on for a test ride (I occupy the pillion), I was thrilled by how comfy the seat was. I hadn't noticed that it was a Hang Two. When my hus band told me, I had an "aha" moment.

Our "new" black `Wing only has 30K miles, but we're planning on taking the odometer for quite a spin in the near future. As a matter of fact, fair weather and sun are predicted soon, so off we'll go-Oregon coast first, I think. Patti Cearley Woodland, Washington

I bought my Windjammer III in 1977, installed it on my `76 Honda GL1000 and have been testing it ever since. So far, it's led the way to Canada, Colorado, Florida, Oregon and many more destina tions. The paint seems indestructible, there~s plenty of storage, and all of it was made in the USA at a reasonable price. After 35 years, the Windjammer still provides smooth sailing. Mark Parrish Canoga Park, California

A historical note: Fiberglass Windjammers are like sand-cast Honda CB750 Fours—rare and collectible early production units. Vetter quickly switched to ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) for its impact resistance and toughness; its use also lowered production-process complexity and cost. Rob Pflug Spartanburg, South Carolina

May issue an absolute stunner!

A lot more content than previous issues, and that great story on tuners by K.C. A healthy Cycle World makes me more optimistic about the future in general. Certainly a lot more than the dismal news and talking heads on the boob tube. I feel good! juu Luu~. Daniel "Buelliaan" Kanlan Co~ur us.Geo~ga

Naval contemplation

Your Hotshots section for April brought back great memories of our "gang" of somewhat respectable junior U.S. Navy officers who, during the mid-Seventies, all served at an obscure base in the high California desert: Naval Air Station China Lake. Besides serious desert riding on two-stroke bikes with fat fuel tanks and all, most of this crew also had road machines. Our favorite run was from Ridgecrest, up Highway 178 to the peak of Walker Pass. From there, the race was on, destination: the Onyx Store, a small pit-stop on the way to Lake Isabella, Kemville, whatever. Our phalanx of machinery included a fast Norton, a very fast lOOOcc Kawasaki (mostly in a straight line), two Ducatis (a 900 GT and a 750) and two Moto Guzzis (a new 850 Le Mans and my ’73 V7 Sport). Rider skill dominated the game, as each of the machines had its strengths and weaknesses. The Norton, Ducatis and Guzzis were in their element, while the Kaw would blow by everyone on the few long straightaways. Generally, the winner had a vowel at the end of his bike’s brand, but we loved every machine in the mix and still talk about those days today—and nearly all of us still ride. Captain Daniel Franken, USN (Ret.) Virginia Beach, Virginia

XS11: gone but not forgotten

Thank you for publishing my letter in the May issue regarding my wellpreserved 1980 Yamaha XS1100. The very day that issue hit the stands, I began receiving phone calls from all over the U.S. One Bobby Mohammed of Dunwoody, Georgia, tracked me down, brought cash and returned hours later with a trailer, happy as could be. He had owned a similar bike 30 years ago and was aching to get mine. Successive callers were disappointed upon learning that the bike was already gone. I had not intended to sell this beauty, but I am too old to ride it or even service it, so I’m glad I found a good home for it. Thanks a bunch for letting aficionados know that there was one such bike in mint shape in my garage in Georgia. It may be no Honda CBX with fancy six-cylinder engine and spectacular performance, but the widespread interest in my steed reaffirms my faith in the nearly indestructible, classic-looking XS11. Joseph Paris, MD Marietta, Georgia

We knew there was a good reason

In response to Mr. Smith's comments (Hotshots, May) re: who needs hyper bikes? I do! In 2010, I retired from the Army after 25 years, with 70-percent dis ability-due mostly to having my spine broken in three places. I walk, but with a great amount of pain and moderate diffi culty. In 2007, I assumed my riding days were over, so my 2000 Kawasaki ZX 12R sat for two years. I thought I might be able to tolerate a more sedate type of bike, and after fixing a friend's X5650, decided to ride it back to his house. The 15-minute ride was so painful that I had to be helped off the tiny standard. I then tried a Dyna Glide, a Sportster and a Gold Wing, but anything that had me in

At this point (2009), I figured my riding days were over for real, so I called a dealer about selling my ZX-12. I decided to take one last five-minute ride to the dealer~ and then my wife would drive me home. My back is damaged enough that constant pain often wakes me from a sound sleep, but as I was heading toward the dealer, I suddenly realized I hurt a lot less. I pulled over and told my wife to go home; an upright or reclined position hammered my back so badly that I could not man age more than 15 minutes.

I’m going for a ride. Three hours later, I arrived home feeling better than I had at any time since the last break in my spine. The forward cant and long reach over the tank of my ZX-12R gets enough weight off my back to provide more improvement than two years of physical therapy! Another friend’s extreme-tuck Yamaha R1 proved to be even better therapy.

So, Mr. Smith, to answer your question of who really needs these hyperbikes—I do. I am a big guy, so 600s and 750s don’t fit me. Big liter-bikes like my ZX-12 are the only reason I am still riding. Mark Lathan

Cheyenne, Wyoming

B-King be king

I suggest the reason that John Burns doesn’t like the appearance of the Suzuki B-King (“Days of Future Past,” May) is because he’s had to stare at those big, triangular exhaust pipes as they pass his (probably phony) carbonfiber-piped little crotch rocket. I happen to own a B-King, and I love it. Everyone I meet on the street thinks so, too, because I get thumbs-up and compliments everywhere I go. Rather than waiting for these bikes to become Craigslist bargains, I suggest people scoop them up and enjoy passing crotch rockets not only on the highway but also as the rocket riders pull off to stretch their backs and wriggle their wrists. I am 74, and I ride mine for 150-200 mile stretches without stopping. John Hand Helena, Alabama

Nobby omission

In reference to Kevin Cameron’s Mayissue “Tuners” story: The tuner of tuners, best of the best, was Nobby Clark! Tuner for: Gary Flocking, Jim Redman,

Mike Hailwood, Luigi Taveri, Ralph Bryans, Kel Carruthers, Rodney Gould, Kent Andersson, Barry Sheene, Jarno Saarinen, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Marco Lucchinelli, Phil Read, Bill Ivy. Nobby deserves a feature in your magazine of book length.

Doc Batsleer AMA, AHRMA, USCRA, FIM Daytona Beach, Florida

Horns of a dilemma

Excellent spread this go-round, fellas! Lots to like! I especially enjoyed the “First Rides 2012” feature. I’m glad you clarified the meaning of “72” in the blurb of the new Sportster model.

I bought a new ’78 H-D XLCH, and I remember that at the time, the only paint jobs that looked that silly came from the Whittier Boulevard crowd. I think you might have improved the article just a bit if you had found some steer horns for Thomas Kinzer’s helmet.

Denny Joe Simpson Gilbert, Arizona

Due hunting

In Bruno dePrato’s interesting Juneissue report on the possible sale of Ducati (“Ducati For Sale”), he comments on the Texas Pacific Group ownership as showing little respect or informed stewardship during its timeline. I tried to follow that period through available sources but would very much like to hear, in some detail, how TPG failed in those ways. It is not hard to see how American control could lack

tact and informed direction, but all I read was how they modernized outdated facili ties, et al. Pierre Terblanche `s designs were controversial, but if he hadn't come up with the Multistrada, I probably would not be riding a Ducati today. Ducati clearly likes to keep this stuff under wraps, but Mr. dePrato seems like someone who could articulate how the American owners failed this wonderful company. David Root Cape Cod, Massachusetts

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