Ago And The Desmo
Thank you, thank you and thank you again for the wonderful article ("Agostini & The Desmosedici," February 2008)! It perfectly characterized the primal and inexplicable love so many motorcyclists have for Italian machinery-and Italian riders, too. And to have Il Maestro himself as the focus-that was the filling in an especially rich cannoli. In his era, even on equal machinery, there wasn't a single rider Giacomo Agostini didn't at one time or another soundly defeat. Too bad there wasn't film footage to accompany the story, or at least a soundtrack of two of racing's most distinctive-sounding motorcycles. To Motorcyclist (and Motociclismo) I say, "Grazie mille, due amici!"
Norman Gaines
Hartsdale, NY
If It's Too Fast, You're Too Old?
In response to Thomas Plesac's letter in your February issue ("Old Before His Time"), 41 is not the age to hang up your bike boots-that's where it just starts to get fun! I'm 44 and just bought a Suzuki TL1000S. With 28 years of experience, it's awfully hard for the young squids to keep up!
Matt
Via e-mail
I own two Suzuki Hayabusas. The '02 turbo dynos at 350 bhp, and the "slightly warmed over" '07 makes 205 bhp. I turned 60 this year. Forget about age, ride smart and be happy!
Phil Rifkin
Long Island, NY
I just read the 41-year-old Plesac's letter and decided I should drop dead. I am 61 and ride an '06 Triumph Speed Triple. On second thought, I'll quit when they bury me.
Gary Arnold
Lynnwood, WA
I am 63 years old and spend my weekends drag racing a Kawasaki ZX-14. It's lowered, stretched and runs 5.8 sec. @ 124 mph on the local 1/8-mile track. I had a reaction time of .008 second-there goes the myth that you lose your reflexes with age!
Ric Leary
Fredericksburg, VA
Wheelie, Now...
Your February Street Savvy article, "Right-Wing Warning," provides some great information and useful tips, but the image totally detracts from the message. How can you rage against the cluelessness of drivers while at the same time showing some idiot riding a wheelie in traffic?
Don Tetreault
Clifton Park, NY
Most of the time you guys seem to promote good sense and safety when riding, but on page 95 of the February issue Mitch Boehm seems to have gone off the deep end. To promote passing on the right is just plain stupid. And to add insult to injury, you accompany this bad advice and encouragement to break the traffic laws with a photo of a wheelie on a public street!
David Heverin
Bel Air, MD
There is no such thing as a "fast lane"-the speed limit is exactly the same in all lanes. Boehm calls us ignorant and selfish for driving the speed limit. I don't consider myself either. I have no problem if people want to go faster than the speed limit, but it's beyond me why they (or Boehm) would expect anyone else to get out of their way. That's selfish.
Rich Quigley
Phoenix, AZ
Boehm replies: The height of selfishness, Quigley, is not adhering to the long-standing and time-honored rule of keeping right except to pass! BTW, the offending photo came from KTM in Europe, a land where only knuckle-draggers are caught dawdling in the left lane-and where wheelying away from a traffic light is hardly reason to riot.
Mitch's Street Savvy column could have appeared in any of the cager magazines. Left-lane bandits are a problem on highways all over the U.S. Just assume the cager is clueless, unpredictable and out to nail you. Then follow Mitch's passing advice. I would add a few things, though: 1) Cops like to pull over bikes passing on the right, so keep an eye out. In some places it's a ticketable offense; and 2) Don't maneuver right while only a foot off the cage's bumper. Hang back.
Dan Luongo
Roswell, GA