In 1998 my dad bought his first motorcycle. It was a 1978 Honda Gold Wing GL1000. It was a big bike for dad, and quite a step for a beginning rider. Since it was autumn going into winter, the bike sat until spring. Then I bought my first motorcycle and whenever we could we would ride together. Eventually he downsized and a few bikes later wound up with a Honda Rebel. Dad loved that bike! That would be the last motorcycle he would own.

Not long after he started riding I received a postcard in the mail from Rider informing me that as a Christmas present from my father I would receive 12 issues. It was quite a magazine. Chock full of very informative articles, Favorite Rides we talked about doing and good safety advice. Every month we discussed at length all that we’d read. Every fall from that time on I eagerly awaited my little white postcard letting me know dad had once again renewed our subscription. It wasn’t that I couldn’t afford it, it was just that it came from my dad! This magazine has been a part of my life for so long, I almost can’t remember when I wasn’t reading it. The day after we buried my dad I went to the mailbox to get the mail, and as I pulled it out, there was my October issue. As I walked into my home I choked up a little because I realized I would only receive two more issues from dad. 

Thank you, Rider, for just one more connection with my dad. He loved your magazine, and I know he’s out there on the cruiser of his choice, riding those hills, curves and twisties he loved so much with his current issue of Rider in his saddlebags! Ride in Peace dad!

Kenny Riggins, Memphis, Tennessee

Great article from Frederick Tressler on riding the Ohio River Valley (“Big Water,” October 2019). I met Fred a few years back when he did a story on the Porter County Airport group’s Tiddler ride (“Running (Slowly) With The Pack,” November 2014). He’s right about Bloomington and the roads in the area. I’ve ridden a lot of places and Southern Indiana is special. Very rolling and laid-back. One thing I’d like to add is the Overlook Restaurant on State Road 62 in Leavenworth. Fantastic view of a big bend on the Ohio River, food is great and reasonably priced. You can sit out on a grassy knoll or stay in the dining area for a wide view. We watched a tug work a barge around the bend. I’ll be going back soon. More proof that “there’s more than corn in Indiana!” Oh wait, across the river there’s a big field with a crop of…corn!

Paul Watkins, Hebron, Indiana

Congratulations to Wendy Crockett, the first woman—and first mom—to win the Iron Butt Rally (Kickstarts, October 2019). As Rider mentioned, not only did she win, but she did it by riding just under 13,000 miles in 11 days (the requirement is just 11,000 miles in 11 days). That was incredible, you go girl! Nearly 20% of motorcycle riders are women, compared to less than 10% less than a decade ago. We could soon see 25% of motorcycle owners being female as the Boomers and mature riders retire out and are replaced by younger riders. Congratulations to all women—let’s make this world a better place!  

Ray Salinas, Arvada, Colorado

Thanks for the article on group riding (“Sticking Together,” October 2019). As a rider of 45 years I appreciate safety. I am often the “Road Captain” (lead position) because I enjoying going to Google Maps and choosing a route. I believe that being on the left side of the lane affords me the best opportunity to keep the other riders safe. It’s interesting that in the two photos in the article (pages 38 and 44) the lead rider is in the right side of the lane. Is this intentional?

Before we leave on a trip I always tell my fellow riders (we’ve ridden about 150,00 miles together), “I don’t mind being first, if you don’t mind being lost.”

“Doc” Joe Sadowski, Chicago, Illinois

Good eyes, “Doc.” However, both photos happen to show riders in the middle of a larger group (the Sisters Centennial Ride and the Kyle Petty Charity Ride). Apologies if they were misleading. –JS 

The October issue’s Retrospective article features the Matchless G12. In that article the crankshaft is described as “modular” iron. Sorry to nit pick but my background in metallurgy causes me to want to correct that point. The correct term is “nodular cast iron.” Most likely Clem was the victim of spell check. Cast iron has an abundance of carbon in the form of graphite. In common gray cast iron the graphite is contained in the form of flakes. In nodular cast iron the graphite is in the form of graphite nodules. Nodular cast iron has better mechanical properties and improved fatigue strength, and would be better able to withstand the flexing he mentions (although I would’ve thought any flex in a crankshaft is undesirable). 

Ralph Noble, via email

After receiving the October issue I saw the CB500X on the cover and quickly turned to the article, thinking that Honda had built a bike for smaller riders like myself. I turned immediately to the specs page, only to discover the seat height is 32.7 inches. I didn’t even bother reading the article. Hey Honda, who do you think is looking at 500cc bikes? Not Shaquille O’Neal. Wake up!

Robert Copeland, Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee

I love to sit around and kick tires when not rolling. I also love pie, just like Clement Salvadori. Thus when he mentions a new-to-me pie place in Arizona (where I’m riding next month), I have to see where it is (Road Tales, October 2019). Imagine my disappointment when I couldn’t find Pie Town, Arizona. However, I did find Pie Town, New Mexico. I can understand the error, as certain parts of Arizona look an awful lot like certain parts of New Mexico.

Roger Mead, Kerrville, Texas

You can read more about Pie Town, New Mexico, in our touring feature in this issue. –EIC

My neighbor, Jerry Davis, a long time subscriber, will be turning 73 in December. I am Jerry’s neighbor and young (age 52) friend. Two and a half years ago we traveled to Utah together and rode the national parks. We called it “Adventia Before Dementia.” A couple of months ago Jerry told me he was thinking of going on one last long ride with no destination in mind and no advance reservations. A real trip. A real adventure. No cares about time or an urgency to get anywhere. Due to my teaching career, with school just getting started, I couldn’t go with him on his epic adventure this time. Well, he and Chuck, his 73-year-old friend, departed on Sunday, September 15, around 6:30 a.m. They are still gone. Jerry might return home by Wednesday, September 25. He will have ridden around 3,600 miles. Each night he texts me a brief snippet or report on how many miles they traveled and their current location. I hope my brothers and I have many more adventures and longer ones before my time comes. Thank you for your articles and a great magazine. Jerry gives me his copies. 

Update, September 25, 10:55 p.m.—They made it home safe and sound.

John E. Walker, via email

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Awesome to see you post an article on responding to accidents (Riding Around, September 2019). I’m on my fourth recertification as a Wilderness First Responder from NOLS, and can’t speak highly enough of the training and the confidence I got in dealing with situations that would have put me into brainlock previously. In addition, I’ve taken a Field Trauma class from John Holschen at Insights Training in Seattle. I want to echo the sentiment of the author but throw up a hand at one potentially serious issue with the article. 

At accident scenes I often have to prevent bystanders from simply yanking helmets off downed riders. There’s a very specific technique for removing a helmet (even if it has the easy-off cheekpads), and it’s something every rider should learn. When the author says, “Many believe you should never remove a motorcyclist’s helmet…,” I have to take issue with what follows. There is a very specific technique to safely remove a helmet without risking a compromised c-spine. If you don’t know that technique, I’d leave the helmet on unless there’s no pulse or respiration (a hand on the chest will let you know about breathing). My wife and I also label our helmets (name, blood type, allergies, ICE contact info, etc.). We carry a small baggie in our riding gear all the time with gloves, an Israeli bandage and a CPR mask, as well as a bigger NOLS-type kit on the bike or in a Camelbak.

Sorry to poke, but it seemed like an important point in an otherwise excellent article!

Marc Danziger, Los Angeles, California

Hi Marc, we appreciate your experience and perspective on a very important topic, thank you for sharing. As our Letter of the Month winner, we’d like to send you a TK from our friends at Michelin. Congratulations!

As a motorcyclist for more than 50 years and a retired law enforcement officer, I really appreciate your article on accident management. I have attended more motorcycle accidents than I can count, both on and off the job, from scrapes and bruises to severed limbs. One point that I didn’t notice in your article was the item that normally follows the ABCs (Airway, Breathing and Circulation): to make the patient as comfortable as possible. I have been at two accident scenes as a rider where the wait time for law enforcement and medical was an hour or more. One of the human traits I have noticed during those wait times is that people want to help the person in pain. Maybe if we did this, maybe if we adjusted that, maybe if we moved the person over here. Untrained, well-meaning people want to help, but many times the things they suggest doing run the risk of more serious injury. The bottom line is once you’ve done your ABCs and made the injured person reasonably comfortable, don’t mess with him/her. Monitor them, talk to them, but don’t mess with them unless their condition changes.

Dan Farrell, via email

“Before Help Arrives” was a very well-researched review of accident scene protocol. However, there is a very large elephant in the room, and that is one of financial liability concerns. Even if the impacted patient has good medical coverage, transportation out of remote areas by helicopter may not be covered and can cost over $20,000. In addition to satellite communication capability, a rider who strays off the beaten path should check their insurance, and if air transportation is not covered, should seriously consider investing in additional rescue insurance.

Tim Kenney, Ojai, California

As I read “Harley’s Shocker” (September 2019), I recalled hearing the tales of riding the BSA and Triumph motorcycles of the ‘50s: “Ride ‘em one hour, work on ‘em for two hours.” Looks as if Harley is bringing the tradition back with the LiveWire. Ride it one hour, charge it two to twelve hours. The best part? I get to pay almost $30,000 for the privilege of looking at my bike 80% of the time, while it charges.

Keith Ingram, Clovis, New Mexico

I am sure there will be naysayers, but I think Harley is doing exactly what it should with the LiveWire. Visually, it’s got cues from the Sportster and XR750—definitely some Harley DNA. Yet it’s also fresh, modern and muscular. It’s better than a pure cruiser or supersport; not just another bike in the crowd, it has to stand apart.

If Harley can get into the EV party early, with a refined product, it’s definitely an advantage. As noted in Boehm’s article, Harley’s existing demographic is withering away. I can’t say that the LiveWire will save Harley, but it’s the kind of bold step they need to take. I hope it does well.

Ron Russell, Tucson, Arizona

I like the LiveWire! Riding an electric motorcycle would be a blast. Totally quiet, eerily smooth, as you said, and it looks great. Eight years in development tends to make me unconcerned about the build quality and reliability of a first-year model. I salute Harley-Davidson for building the LiveWire. However, these are not going to sell. Harley knew it when they built it. But somebody has to step up and begin the process that will ultimately make the electric motorcycle practical one day. Harley deserves a big round of applause, but it may want to consider a less expensive model of the LiveWire next. Thirty grand is big money for such a limited-use machine in my humble opinion. A less expensive model would certainly sell better. 

I enjoyed your review; in fact, you make me want to take a test ride. Problem is I have three Harley dealers in my city, but as of two weeks ago I was told that none of them had a LiveWire in stock!

Larry C. Chambers, Nashville, Tennessee

Just received the September issue and read Mark Tuttle’s column about the CB750’s impact on the motorcycle industry (One-Track Mind). I started riding at age nine on one of those “lawnmower mini-bikes” and made my way all the way up to my current ride, a Harley Ultra Classic. But my first big street bike was a Honda CB750 Four. It ignited my passion for riding. I rode that bike all over the West Coast, and not just California. My first date with my wife was on that Honda. It was a beautiful bike, and I loved it. But, alas, I’m sorry to say I let it slip away. Recently I’ve been trying to track down a unit of same year and color. I found one in Iowa. As fate would have it, we have family there we would be visiting. Told my wife I could ride it home, and she replied, “Isn’t it too small?” Well the deal fell through, but not before I reminded her that that was the same model we rode all over California and Oregon way back when. Thanks for the memories!

Russ Burmaster, Huntington Beach, California

I have to take issue with EIC Tuttle’s “The First Superbike” column. Sure, the Honda CB750 was a landmark motorcycle and an unprecedented success that changed the motorcycle landscape forever. But it was not the firstsuperbike. That distinction would have to go to the Triumph Trident (ok, and BSA Rocket III), which predated the Honda by several months. Tuttle drops an oblique reference to the British Triple, dancing around the fact that the Brits demolished the poor-handling, heavier Hondas on race tracks everywhere (except Daytona) and yes, they ran on an older valve gear and initially lacked a front disc brake like the new Honda. But the Triumph was a real superbike, and it came out before the CB750.

Rick Averill, via email

I appreciated Eric Trow’s article on staying hydrated during a ride (Stayin’ Safe, September 2019). One thing he did not mention was how to properly rehydrate if a person does become dehydrated. If a person drinks too much water too quickly, they can flush and dilute their electrolytes, sometimes to the point of crashing their system, passing out and even dying. If a motorcyclist gets very dehydrated, it is important to steadily—not quickly—rehydrate with an electrolyte drink. Try to pick one that is low in sugar and does not have caffeine, as caffeine can make the problem worse. 

Jeff Snook, Charlottesville, Virginia

Malinda Peck’s Cabot Trail story (Favorite Ride, September 2019) broke free memories I forgot that I forgot! Years ago my lovely wife and I visited the same spots. Albeit in not quite the same way: we lumbered around Cape Breton in a 32-foot motorhome while towing a Honda CRV (dingy). We had made the tough (for both of us) decision to bring the car rather than trailering the bike from our home in Virginia. As soon as we arrived and saw the motorcycle-worthy roads, we knew our dingy choice was wrong.

As we read the article, Malinda’s Kawasaki Vulcan 500 also recalled another forgotten memory. We had an old Honda CB350, simple and reliable as an anvil, and about as fast. We rode it together for years before moving to bigger and supposedly better machines. Malinda’s Vulcan reminded us that we could have brought a smaller bike with us on a bumper carrier, thus allowing the car to come along as well! So, off we go on another adventure figuring out which new small machine to acquire. Thank you, Malinda, for a great adventure story and starting a new one for us.

Paul and Nikki Fuller, via email

I just saw a KTM 790 Adventure today up close (drove two hours to see one). You guys are spot-on with awarding it Motorcycle of the Year. It is just incredible to see and I’m sure to ride as well. Approachable seat height, narrow waist, light weight, good ground clearance, comfortable riding position, low center of gravity, innovative design, loads of power…the list is long! The European manufacturers have really taken a huge lead in the last few years and this bike in particular strikes a balance (for me). Even the headlight thingy makes sense. The other manufacturers will be catching up for years. Well done KTM, I’ll be riding one soon! 

Harold Klassen, Marcus, Iowa

Perhaps I have experienced the Rip Van Winkle syndrome, or perhaps I’ve been on another planet. Or maybe Riderhas entered the realm of time travel, or you want to test to see if people are really reading the articles. Maybe I should ask Ms. Jenny Smith (Gearlab, September 2019). I’d like to see that product review of the Cardo Packtalk she referenced from June “2106.” I just want to know what happened to all of those missing issues….

Joe Gass, Rohnert Park, California

Ms. Smith did mention a recent ride in a Delorean, but alas, she wouldn’t spill the beans on which bike wins our 2106 Motorcycle of the Year.

Regarding the recent letter from a reader complaining about tall bikes, please allow me to give you some perspective from the other side of the issue. When I saw the tallness of the new Indian Flat Tracker I perked up right away. At 6’4″, I’m a wee tad taller than Greg Drevenstedt, and the Flat Tracker didn’t look ridiculously small under him in the pictures so it should fit me acceptably as well. This brings me to the point that there aren’t enough bikes for us obnoxiously tall people! One of the ergonomic issues I have is that with a 34″ inseam, it’s tough to keep my knees far enough below my hips to keep my lumbar in a good, comfortable position. Most bikes are just too short for my comfort. This is the main reason why I ride a BMW R1200GS: I have NO ambition to conquer the unpaved world, but I need some legroom! Don’t get me wrong, I love my GS, but the idea of something that fits my big frame without being limited to the ‘adventure’ style is appealing. I’d love to have a more basic fun bike for local and short-distance riding, and something like the Flat Tracker might just fit the bill. I say bring on more tall but fun, non-adventure bikes!

Ben “The Veg” Lower, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Source: RiderMagazine.com

I just wanted to write and thank you and your staff, and especially Jenny Smith, for giving me a new interest in life. Why? While visiting my cousin in Michigan, her husband showed me an issue of Rider magazine and I was so impressed I immediately subscribed as soon as I arrived back home. I read every issue from cover to cover. I have ridden motorcycles most of my life, but as I was aging I thought it was time to start backing down a bit—until I read Jenny’s review of the Triumph Speedmaster and the Rider motto: “Ride to Eat, Eat to Ride” (August 2018). I had been looking forward to each issue, reading the touring stories and feeling inspired. After reading her story I said, “Why not me?” So, at age 71, I purchased a new 2018 Speedmaster, added a Corbin seat and bags and after about a year of planning (which is now!) I’ll be taking a 4,600-mile trip. First to the Bonneville Salt Flats to help a friend of mine run speed trials on a 1955 Indian, then on to Denver, via Rocky Mountain National Park. I’ll head south to Pueblo, then over to Highway 12 in Utah to ride through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. Then it’s on to Las Vegas to meet my wonderful and understanding wife. Will I make it all the way? Who knows, but as they say, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.

So yes, thanks to all of you at Rider for providing me with renewed excitement in my life and the fact we can all enjoy riding even after 70. Who knows, maybe I’ll even find some great taco stands along the way.

Dave Allenbaugh, Santa Cruz, California

I have a friend at work that gives me his old Rider issues, which I really appreciate, so I read Mark Tuttle’s One-Track Mind “Function vs. Form” editorial in the February 2019 issue a little later than the next guy. What a great question he asks: “Have the motorcycle industry and consumers stopped caring about what looks good and are now focused solely on what works?” I understand completely why he asks that question, and the short answer is “no.” I can’t speak for the industry, but I can say that as a motorcycle consumer what matters to me are looks, performance and reliability, in equal portions, and in a different order depending how I feel on a given day. I have been riding motorcycles for almost 40 years and have seen many great improvements, but have become completely turned off by the design trends over the last few years, and the overly complicated functionality and user interface of the electronics. The blacked-out look on many new motorcycles is passionless, and I pray for the industry that this is a dying trend, lest the industry itself dies. It must be getting too expensive to make a nice looking motorcycle, so looks (and it seems cc’s) are being thrown out as a consideration. I couldn’t bring myself to pay money for some of the passionless bikes that are being built. My four kids are all just about out of college, and I finally have money to go after whatever I feel I need or want, but for now I will be sticking with my old 1983 CB1000 Custom and 1986 V65 Magna. Even a new FJR to replace my 2012 is on hold. Black rims, black plastic bodies, matte paint finishes. Performance, reliability, looks—if all three aren’t there my money stays home. If you want to reference an industry that shot itself in the foot, Google an image of a late 1970s Pioneer SX-1980 stereo receiver, and compare that to modern day stereo receivers. Which one gets your heart revving…the same goes for motorcycles, cars, women, etc. Our eyes drive many of our life decisions, but they seem to be getting ignored. Though I am a lone wolf rider, I can’t be the only one who feels this way. I think I need to listen to Rush’s “Red Barchetta” one more time.

Mark Nickels, via email

Eric, I read your article in the August issue. I could not agree more: we all need to learn more about the safe and proper way to ride. I have been riding for 40-plus years and got my first motorcycle in 1978 when I was 19, a 1976 Honda CL360. Paid the guy $550 for the bike, he showed me how to let out the clutch and shift the bike and I was on my way. My only lesson for a long time. That was my main mode of transportation for many years; I had a beat-up Pinto for when it snowed. I rode that bike to death. A couple motorcycles, about 12 years and one crash later, I saw our state offered the Motorcycle Safety Foundation class. I knew I needed some training, plus I could get a discount on my insurance. So I took the class and realized I didn’t know the proper and safe way to ride a motorcycle. The next few years I read books and tried to find riding schools (these were the pre-Internet days).

Over the next 25-plus years I have taken many riding and safety classes, Corner Spin, Total Control, California Superbike School at Laguna Seca (too cool for words), Ride Like a Pro and many others. I have learned something in every class to make me a better and safer rider. These classes have also let me learn what my limits are on a motorcycle. I am no expert motorcyclist but I am willing to learn whatever I can. During this time my riding friends and I have gone many trips over the years on the back roads and twisties, and I have left them in the dust without even pushing it to the limit. I found the correct and safe way to handle motorcycles and it makes so much more enjoyable knowing I can handle the motorcycle in any situation. Next month I am signed up for another class. I own a touring motorcycle, a sport bike and adventure bike. I like the different experiences each one gives me. Over my 40-plus years I have only owned seven motorcycles and still have four of them. The scariest thing I see are guys my age who have not ridden since they had to sell their bike when they got married and had kids.

Step back into motorcycling after 30 years, the kids are out of college and the house is paid off. They have money now and go buy the biggest most expensive motorcycle without updated training.

Just go take the safety class in your state or at the motorcycle dealer, most of them have the classes. I know Harley shops offer it so don’t be cheap – you just spent tens of thousands of dollars for a motorcycle, a bunch of gear and shiny do-dads for the bike. Take a class maybe you will save your life or another rider’s. I will take classes until I can’t get the bike off the kickstand.

Robert Clayton, via email

Really enjoyed the August issue, specifically the “Palms to Pines” and “Desert Secrets” articles, mainly because the two rides cover parts of a favorite ride of mine. 
Living in Las Vegas, I find Nipton meets all my riding needs: a roughly 130-mile round-trip, solitude (except when lottery sales are peaking) and my love of train-watching. I like to go in the morning, grab some fast food in Searchlight, Nevada, and sit under the tree at the Nipton General Store and watch trains go by while I have breakfast. On a side note, I brought a buddy along to Nipton once and he asked the store clerk when the trains came through. She replied, “Whenever the hell they want to!” I’ve actually seen an engineer stop a full freight train at the Nipton crossing, go into the store for a soda and then set off again for Las Vegas.
But back to the ride…write this down: West of Nipton, turn south on Ivanpah Road then right on Morning Star Mine Road. That will take you to Kelso, a ghost town whose restored train depot is now a National Historic Site. Turn left onto Kelbaker Road and take it to Route 66, the National Trails Highway. Turn right and continue to Amboy, where you turn left onto Amboy Road. That will take you to Twentynine Palms, where you can pick up State Route 62 south into Joshua Tree National Park and to Interstate 10…which then takes you to the Palm Desert area where the “Palms to Pines” article picks up.

An important note: it’s about 160 miles from Searchlight to Twentynine Palms, with no gas in between, so planning is important. Another note is that, especially in the summer, staying hydrated is essential. I had a buddy from out of town who didn’t hydrate, got dizzy and crashed, breaking his collarbone, so a word to the wise….
Anyway, thanks for the great articles!

Tim Crump, Las Vegas, Nevada

The “Palms to Pines” story by Tim Kessel, detailing California Route 74, was well written and beautifully photographed. He covered everything possible: a smooth ride on a great route, a good book, two great movies and even tossed in a Christmas ribbon candy metaphor. On my next upstate New York ride, I will pretend my old DT1 is a BMW GS rolling through the “sharp curves and steep grades” on State Route 74 between Coachella and Dana Point. Thanks to Mr. Kessel for sharing his California trip and to the Rider magazine staff for another great month’s work.

Rick Rommel, via email

Please let Florin and your readers know that all Indians that use a fob also have a code to start the bike in case the fob doesn’t work (Response, July 2019). It’s a good tip for anyone renting a bike to ask for the code. Indians use the turn signal switch, as does Harley.

Todd Little, Kingsport, Tennessee

Riding west on California Route 74 is one of my all-time favorite Southern California rides. I have led many a rider up from the inferno of Palm Springs and into the blissful temperatures above the valley floor. I loved the mythological references and the author’s choice to include the entirety of Route 74. While I’ve done the entire route as described, including departing and returning to Phoenix in the same day, I try and avoid the endless traffic lights in Hemet and Perris in exchange for back roads into Temecula and Lake Elsinore. Despite my preferences, this is a must-do route for all riders, especially those who call Southern California home. Well done, now you’ve got me thinking about another Desert to Ocean crossing. I just completed our semi-annual “Donuts for Dinner” ride to visit The Donut Man in Glendora…but that’s another story. Keep up the excellent work.

Marc McDaniel, Buckeye, Arizona

First, let me say that of the different motorcycle magazines I subscribe to, I enjoy Rider the most. Keep up the great work. Second, shortly after I bought a 1993 Kawasaki Voyager XII in 2015, I joined the American Voyagers Association and found on their website a Rider article evaluating the then-new 1986(?) Voyager. I was impressed with the writing and decided to check out this magazine. One of my better decisions, thank you.

Now, the reason for writing. In late June I was in Summersville, West Virginia, attending the annual AVA rally. Afterwards, I headed east to Virginia Beach. At this point I need to say that I hail from central Illinois, which is basically as flat as a pancake and all the roads are laid out in square-mile grids. So I was having the time of my life riding the anything but flat and straight roads in the area. Unfortunately, I found myself staring at a patch of loose gravel two-thirds of the way through a tight downhill switchback. This was a new experience for me and I did the typical amateur move of wiping out. The bike was sliding on its left side and I was thinking, “There goes a lot of chrome,” when it suddenly decided that side was done, now time to do the right side. I was very thankful for my helmet, riding jacket and boots, as they did their job quite nicely. I ended up with only a broken collarbone and cosmetic damage to the bike. I was doing about 30 mph.

So here’s my question: what happens to cause a bike to flip from one side to the other? Obviously, something catches and causes it to trip. But what? There were no defects in the road surface and I stayed in the lane (no curb). The bike was perpendicular to the direction of travel the last I can remember. And it was nearly so when it came to rest. I believe I must have hit the windshield during the flip-over as my lower ribcage was sore for a few days and the windshield was broken at the bottom, but it had no signs of impact. It looks to me like when the bike is lying on its side, the center of gravity is above the guards and the wheels have very little weight on them to make them want to grab the pavement.

I figured collectively you all have a lot of experience and might have the real explanation. If so, it might make an interesting article.

Jim Miller, Decatur, Illinois

I recently re-read the article about the mystery writer Archer Mayor by Scott Williams in the July 2017 issue of Rider. As well as being an avid motorcycle rider, I am an avid reader, but had somehow missed Archer Mayor and his Joe Gunther series. I have now read 13 of Mr. Mayor’s 27 novels, and intend to read them all! I would not have known about this terrific author were it not for the article in Rider. Human-interest stories about such outstanding people in our riding community are what set Rider magazine apart from other motorcycle magazines. 

William Moore, Montgomery, Alabama

EIC Tuttle you nailed it (“Perfectly Flawed,” One-Track Mind, August 2019)! I have been in a tug of war trying to decide on a new Venture or Eluder. Five years ago, I found a low-mileage Black Cherry (favorite color) Yamaha Stratoliner in California at a good price. Hooked up my trailer, picked it up and headed back to Texas with my prize. It was everything I wanted—I thought. After riding it a while it seemed to need a 6th gear, and oh yeah maybe a bigger gas tank. I thought if Yamaha had done that it would be perfect. Low and behold, it introduces the Venture and Eluder. So what am I waiting for? Test rides told me they’re both great: great ride, bigger tank, 6th gear and many more gadgets to boot. But why didn’t I pull the trigger? After reading your editorial I understood. Your article made me think about my flawed bike. I ride 90 percent of the time on twisty back roads and rarely need more than 5 speeds. After about two to three hours I generally pull into a gas station for a break and top off my tank. As for all the other features, I don’t use them now and I am in my 40th year of enjoying the ride. Helmets and gear have changed and I take advantage of those improvements but like you, I love riding the Strat and seeing it sparkle after I clean it. I think I will keep it! Thanks for a great magazine.

Bill Hall, via email

Your July-19 issue article “Binging on Colorado’s Best” brought back memories of one of my rides and how some people have no problem helping motorcyclists in need. I lived near Denver for many years and had to spend about two weeks per month in Houston. I rode when I could. One year, I was trying to get one last ride in before winter. I left a day early due to an approaching early snowstorm. I failed to leave early enough in the day, however, and only made it over Raton Pass to Raton before stopping for the night.

When I got up the next morning, there was light snow on the seat of my BMW GS. I decided to skip breakfast and hit the road. Several miles east on US 87, it began snowing (vertically at first, then horizontally). The road soon began accumulating a bit of snow, then some ice. I stopped in Capulin when I saw a NM state trooper at a gas station and asked how road conditions further east were. He said they were the same as I had been riding in. When he mentioned there was a motel 5 miles east in Des Moines, NM, that became my destination. I rode slowly and looked for dry patches of pavement. When I hit some black ice, I was down in a fraction of a second, sliding down the highway with my bike following. The sound of my helmet hitting the pavement sounded like a shotgun blast. I’d not likely be writing this if not for the helmet.

I was unable to lift the bike due to pain in my back. The first 2 cars passing by only waved at me. Finally, the 3rd stopped and the driver (#1) helped me pick up the bike. He even offered to turn around and follow me to Des Moines, maybe 3 miles 

away. I thanked him, but declined his kind offer. After that, I stayed on the edge of the road in the gravel. When I got to Des Moines, I was afraid to drive across the road to the motel on the left side. I parked on the right and walked across.  Unfortunately, the 1 motel in this tiny town had only 5 rooms; and it was opening day of deer season. With NM having lots of federal land open to hunting, and TX having very little, the rooms had been booked by Texans likely for years. I walked back to the gas station to hang out while waiting to check occasionally for motel cancellations. After a while, the lady gas station attendant noticed I seemed to be in a bit of pain, said she was an EMT, and suggested I take my shirt off and let her check me out (#2). I did and she found noting obvious so we decided a pulled muscle was likely. After several trips to/from the motel with no luck, the local bar opened. I spent some time there asking if anyone knew of any local B&B’s (no). Back at the gas station, my new friend asked if the motel manager had found me. She had not, so I went there again. She had no cancellations, but said she (#3) decided she would let me sleep in the bed in a hallway that was reserved for when her mother visited. I most graciously accepted, and insisted in paying, although she was offering it at no charge.

Before learning I had a bed for the night, if not a room, I had located an abandoned house where I planned to spend the night It had no roof, but at least it had walls. I was contemplating if a campfire would be possible and likely would have made one.

The next morning, with the road still frozen, I walked about a mile to the restaurant east of town. Chatting with the waitress, she said she had run off the road in the snow the day before and totaled her car. When she learned I was the crazy guy on the motorcycle, she holler back to the kitchen, “Yes, it’s him!”. She’d totaled her car, but I was “news” (silly biker, I guess).

On the other side of the equation……..I finally left about 11 am when it was safe. As it was still in the mid-30’s and I was cold, I took the opportunity to follow a truck and a car, both with radar detectors, maybe 10-15 over the limit hoping to get to warmer temps sooner. The cop, however, only pulled me over. When I asked why, he said he normally takes the easiest one. At least he let me sit in his car while he wrote out the ticket. He earned a (-1) in my count, however, when he mentioned he didn’t get to ride his Gold Wing much this past summer.
This one ride won gold stars for 3 non-riders, without which my recollection of it would be much different. The only demerit, in my mind, anyway, came from another motorcyclist. He was doing his job, though, I’ll have to admit.

Kelly Clark, Kerrville, Texas

I am a long time reader of Rider. I really enjoy the travel articles, especially those by Clement and Jenny. I also enjoy retrospective. The article on the Tohatsu 50 really hit home as my first bike was a Tohatsu trail model. Here is a travel tip for those, like myself, who tend to pack too much. Pack old clothes that are near end of life. At the end of the day throw those old clothes in the trash. The gains are more room in the bags for souvenirs and you clean out your closets to boot.

Locke Nutall, Emmett, Idaho

This latest issue (August 2019) holds some real jewels Dilithium Crystals. Your Ogio/Fly 9800 bag review caused three genuine LOL’s, and “Jeh-ney” and the Ducati piece go together like peas and Carolina Reaper hot peppers. However, a couple of things just called out to my inner sci-fi nerd and tapped into both my Star Wars and Trekkie repertoire. The mention by J. Smith of the genre the new Diavel aims at defining, the “Disruptor,” harkens back to the Klingon hand-held arms, not phasers, which they called disruptors. Contributor Tim K., with his excellent piece on the Palms to Pines route, makes me think every ride he does is the “Kessel Run” and I ponder why it was not defined by the time in parsecs?

Regards Live long and prosper, Obi-Wan Ben Getz-obi

I just received my August 2019 issue of Rider and the article about California Route 74 immediately grabbed my attention because Tim Kessel was writing about my neighborhood. I live less than five miles from Route 74 in Menifee, which happens to also be where Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath lives. Although I have ridden on all the segments Mr. Kessel wrote about, I have never ridden the entire route end-to-end since I live pretty much in the middle.

Since I am so familiar with the road, I thought I might add some interesting details:

1. The hairpin curves on the portion that climbs out of Palm Desert are indeed smooth and beautiful. Collectively, they comprise the “Seven Level Hill.” Surprisingly, I saw the Seven Level Hill before I ever thought of moving to California. In 1963, I rode my first bike, a 55cc Yamaha MJ-2, to the cinema in Sunny Isles, Florida, to see “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” which became a comedy classic. The movie opens with a chase scene where Jimmy Durante’s character crashes and, before he literally “kicks the bucket,” reveals the location of a hidden fortune. That scene was filmed on Seven Level Hill.

2. In my opinion the tightest curves on the road are just west of Mountain Center. That portion can be extremely challenging in the late afternoon when the sun is in your eyes when traveling down the hill.   

3. The Ortega Highway is popular with all types of motorcyclists on the weekends, but during the workweek it is popular with impatient commuters traveling between Riverside County and their high-paying jobs in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. The road was named for Lieutenant Juan Francisco Ortega, who accompanied Junipero Serra on the Spanish expedition into what is now California in 1769.

4. The only time I rode the entire length of Route 243 between Idyllwild and Banning, I saw a deer in the middle of the road, so beware.

5. The author rode an adventure bike. There happen to be many dirt roads in the vicinity of Route 74, in both the Cleveland and San Bernardino National Forests.

Bob Kaufman, Menifee, California

Recently, as I was about to conclude a less-than-exciting trip to Devils Tower National Monument in the Black Hills of Wyoming, I parked next to a bike just like mine (a 2015 Suzuki V-Strom). I like to do this whenever possible, as it usually sparks a good conversation. Today, the group that I parked in the middle of had already geared up by the time I came out of the rest stop and were backing their bikes out. I figured I’d just missed out, when the V-Strom rider popped open his helmet visor and asked, “Where you headed?” Now, I’ve noticed that when I ride solo cross-country, I usually have to initiate the conversation. Usually group riders don’t say much to those outside their group (at least, that’s been my experience). But that day, the V-Strom rider was very nice and we started talking about where we were headed and where we’d been…and of course, the weather. They were headed into the Black Hills and I was headed to Yellowstone. Our paths crossed that day, going in opposite directions. All of a sudden the rider said, “Let me give you one of my cards.” Now I’m an avid reader of Rider magazine, so when I looked down at the name on the card and saw Clement Salvadori, I looked up with my mouth wide open and exclaimed, “This is YOU?!” Needless to say, he was very gracious to pull his bike back up when I asked him to pose for a pic with me. Thanks Clem, you made Devils Tower a most memorable ride.

Larry McGinnis, Searcy, Arkansas

I have a suggestion that addresses a pet peeve of mine: motorcycle seats. I’ve been riding motorcycles for around 45 years and have rarely been completely comfortable for an entire ride. Why can’t someone build an adjustable seat like a car has? It would be great to have the ability to slide the seat forward or backward a few inches as needed. 

Tom Foor, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Not one, but two of the articles in the August issue of Rider really caught my attention. First, I came across the “Ride with Ray” article (Kickstarts) that described the new 12-part video series about safety skills on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation website. I immediately went to my computer and watched four of the videos that I really needed a little bit of a refresher on. Then I read Eric Trow’s Riding Well column “The Ultimate Driver.” Wow, did that drive the point home about safety! His comparison between golf and riding was spot on—you really have to invest the time to develop your skills. It doesn’t matter if you have the best equipment or the best bike that money can buy, if you don’t have the skills you’re just wasting your money…or maybe risking your life!  

Dan Droste, Paola, Kansas

I just had to write concerning Mark Tuttle’s “The Joy of New (to You)” editorial (One-Track Mind, July 2019). I too get excited to see my friends pick up great deals on new and used bikes. Sometimes I even participate and help find those great deals. It  brings me a lot of joy to help someone find that perfect bike, whether it’s a beginner or a veteran rider. Recently I had my own “new to me” find. I love vintage bikes, especially from the early ‘70s which, to me, seemed like the glory days of motorcycling in America. I always dream of the “barn find” where I discover that old bike tucked away just waiting for me to find it and bring it to life again.

Well, that very thing happened! Just five houses down from mine a neighbor had a 1973 Yamaha RT3 in a small building leaning against the wall. The bike belonged to her late husband, who bought it brand new in 1973. The last time it was licensed was in 1983 and she had the clean title. I thought I was dreaming. I made her a very fair offer, which she gratefully accepted. I rolled the bike into my garage and onto my stand. I literally sat and admired it for about two hours, just looking it over and making notes on what it would need. Several friends even stopped by to admire my “barn find” and they are just as excited as I am to see the old girl run again. It will be my winter project, but next year I hope to be cruising the back roads and maybe even a vintage dual sport rally on the RT3. I definitely want to take it to Vintage Days at Barber to show it off. Old bikes are a blast and it’s nice to keep a piece of motorcycling history alive.

Sam Phillips, via email

A suggestion for riding in hot weather is an actively-cooled vest like Veskimo or others. I had wired the Veskimo device into both my wife’s bike and my own. The cooling reservoir was in a duffle bag on the back seat. A bag of ice split between us did the trick for 1 to 1.5 hours. We crossed Ohio with official temps of 102 F. On the pavement it was higher. Got us through the day almost comfortably. If you freeze water in containers like the plastic bottles you can drink it easily once thawed. We refilled the ice at the same time as topping off the fuel and taking a break in the hot weather. I do not think I have seen reviews of these types of active cooling vests. It appears that most moto journalists live in dryer climates than eastern part of the country. I am also wondering why no major apparel manufacturer has tackled the problem. There certainly is a market in much of the U.S.

Jean-Jacques Maurer, via email

Source: RiderMagazine.com

You mention in Road Tales (“Ten Million Motorcycle Enthusiasts? Wow!,” July 2019) how complicated the motorcycle scene has become. After getting out and riding, I on the other hand am more focused on how healthy our pastime is. Granted, it’s summertime here on the East Coast so more riders are out and about. I recently attended the Americade Rally in Lake George, New York, and was astounded at the turnout, which numbered in the thousands. The manufacturers were out in force with their newest models, each not wanting to be outdone by the competition. Vendors were everywhere. Not to mention the clubs and organizations. 

Meanwhile, while attending two open houses at my local dealership I got firsthand experience with the trend towards smaller, lower-displacement bikes as a swarm of Honda Groms lined up for the ride through the countryside. I bore witness to the “Grom Nation.” These kids were just as enthusiastic as I was at their age. Perhaps, as I did, they will outgrow their bikes and trade up, maybe forming their own clubs and doing charitable events. What’s important here is these guys and girls get it. The torch is lit and being carried on!

George Murray, via email

Clem Salvadori’s interesting article about the millions of motorcycles in America makes me think there must be thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of old motorcycles rusting away, collecting dust in garages and barns, never to be ridden again. Their owners don’t know what to do with them. Nobody will buy them, junkyards won’t take them and, for nostalgic reasons, the owners don’t want to destroy them. At the same time, poor people all over the world would be overjoyed at owning one. With a little effort these bikes could become transportation for people with none. It would be great if some philanthropic organization would arrange to collect these bikes and distribute them where they would be used and appreciated.

Don Gately, Valencia, California

Reading Mark Tuttle’s column on “The Joy of New (to You)” (One-Track Mind, July 2019) struck a familiar note. This year I am enjoying the company of my old, carbureted Triumph America every chance I get. But I have plans for her this winter. She will go in storage, where she will be in the good company of two of her older cousins, both old Hinckley Triumphs. Plans are to give the America a brake upgrade, some electrical modifications, a good servicing and whatever else comes to mind. In the meantime I will bring out something to replace the America from my stash. It will be my “new bike” for next summer. Parts are on the shelf to put my 2000 Triumph Legend Deluxe back into service. A new starter motor, an improved headlamp, some bar-end mirrors and a different handlebar are in the plans. An old Triumph Sprint 900 is awaiting its turn in the sun as well. A new throttle cable and clean carburetors are on the punch list for that one. I just keep rotating them around. When you haven’t ridden it in a while, each time it’s like having a new toy, especially if you gave the bike some upgrades in its down time.

Jim De Shon, Hesperia, California

Loved Jenny Smith’s new-to-her ride in One-Track Mind, a Nighthawk 700S that back in the day I nicknamed “Harley Eater.” At one time, I had all three colors: black/red, red, white and blue, and the 1984 black/blue one I bought new and that now has 36k on the odometer. With some richer carb jets, a timing bump and sticky Pirelli rubber it will scare the “yell” out of you in corners. It is a thing of beauty, with metal containers for brake and clutch fluids, not the plastic ones like those found on bikes costing ten times as much. Every wire is tucked in tight and it is usually problem-free, unless I get too ambitious. I’ve been down four times and every time, the bike ended up on top of me. The last one hurt…300 bucks in good riding gear because I lost control wheeling it up the driveway! Hey, I’ll be 83 this time around and can still run and gun with four grandsons – who still expect me to do so when they say, “Come on Papa, let’s go!” Yep, we do.

Burdette “Pete” Payne, Tulsa, Oklahoma

I must applaud the two riders who crossed sixty passes in nine days in Colorado. These two gentlemen did something most riders would only dream of doing. And the hardest part of the journey is dealing with climate conditions that can drastically change from warm and sunny to cold and rainy with no warning. Being prepared for changing weather conditions can make the journey a much easier and more enjoyable ride. I totally agree with Mr. Entrop, that the ultimate motorcycling experience is riding the winding roads of Colorado that merge with some magnificent vistas. Every motorcyclist should experience riding some of Colorado’s tapestry of mountain roads while enjoying our beautiful, majestic mountain views. 

Ray Salinas, Arvada, Colorado

Over the years I’ve reduced my monthly motorcycle magazines down to one: Rider.  And after reading the July issue cover to cover, it is not difficult to justify it! The first thing that caught my eye was the great piece on the Colorado pass adventure. As a native of Colorado and a resident for the first fifty years of my life, I’ve ridden most if not all of those passes, and a bunch more as well, most of which are gravel or dirt. It was with interest that I noted that the authors either got the map wrong or missed a pass or two. Black Mesa Summit is shown on the map as being on U.S. 50 instead of just across the river on State Route 92. Another pass they apparently missed was Cottonwood between Buena Vista and Gunnison. It may have shown on their list as gravel but was paved all the way a few years ago. Great article anyway, those two issues aside.

Then it was on to Clement’s review of the Aerostich Darien Jacket. I own two of them, the newest being almost fifteen years old and my winter jacket of choice for Texas. I bought it in Hi Viz Yellow after being “run over” while wearing my old blue Darien. It survived pretty well but was getting long in the tooth anyway. They are great jackets; I was introduced to them when I learned we could write off the cost of riding gear as MSF instructors! Speaking of motorcycle instruction, two other articles in this issue caught my eye as well. The first was the very well done explanation of the various levels of protection available in body armor (“Level Up!”). As instructors, we were always touting the importance of good riding gear and what made it good, better and best.  The other instruction related article was on countersteering by Eric Trow (Stayin’ Safe). Over the years the cornering mantra went from “Slow, Look, Lean, Roll” to “Slow, Look, Press, Roll” to emphasize how countersteering causes the lean.

There were more good things in the July issue as well but I need to get back to reading it!

Russ Locke, Lakehills, Texas

The July 2019 Riderwas like all your issues: sheer reading pleasure from cover to cover. It took me most of this lazy Sunday morning to get through it and I realized that Rideris the only magazine I read in its entirety. The story “Binging on Colorado’s Best” by Robert Boyd Entrop was exhausting but fun and Larry Pynn’s “Duffey Lake Loop” was an excellent choice for a Canadian ADV ride. I saved both articles for my RBL (Retirement Bucket List) that I will start filling next April Fools’ Day.

Speaking of acronyms, I suggest that the UJM in Clem’s Retrospectiveon the XN85 Turbo instead denote Universal Japanese Motor, since the inline four-cylinder, air-cooled (now liquid-cooled), four-stroke engine design was wedged into many different styles of motorcycles, from standards to sport bikes to cruisers. And I might be a little bit biased but I must end with a friendly admonition to Clem for not mentioning the mighty 1983-1985 Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo, arguably the fastest production motorcycle at the time (10.71-second quarter mile) and widely considered to be the best factory turbo produced by the Japanese manufacturers. Little-known fact is that the GPZ750 Turbo, while manufactured in Japan, was assembled in Kawasaki’s Lincoln, Nebraska, plant for the US/Canadian market to bypass the silly 700cc import tax. A turbocharged tariff-buster in the days of a national 55 mph speed limit and 85-mph speedometers! And Kawasaki is the only manufacturer that offers a blown (supercharged this time) production motorcycle today.

And while I’m on my soapbox, allow me to complain about the size of modern motorcycles. The seat height difference between motorcycles in the 80s and the current crop are pretty dramatic indeed, as the Indian FTR 1200 S featured on your cover is a whopping 2 ½ inches taller than the XN85 Turbo. Did the average American motorcyclist grow that much taller in the last 36 years? Again, kudos to you and your crack staff for a really great magazine written for real riders.

Paul Golde, Mission Viejo/Landers, California

I enjoyed Robert Boyd Entrop’s article on binging on Colorado’s passes. I have done 57 of the 60 he covered, but it took me nearly 40 years while living there. I’ve done a few dirt ones on my 1976 Gold Wing “adventure” bike, so I’ll add Cottonwood, Boreas and Rollins. Rollins Pass (also known as Corona) was an old narrow gauge railroad pass that is 11,676′ at its highest. The pass was closed by a rock slide in Needle’s Eye tunnel in 1979, so you can no longer bag that one.

Larry Cole, Redmond, Oregon

Greetings! Wonderful article on the passes of Colorado. As an avid bagger of passes myself, I direct your attention to The PassBagger himself, Randy Bishop. He runs the PassBagger.org website, which is arguably the largest collection of information on rideable passes, gaps and summits in Colorado. He’d have probably told you there are definitely more than 59 paved passes, and showed you how to find them.

Scott Westfall, Falcon, Colorado

That was a great Letter of the Month in the July 2019 issue. Makes me wary of buying a bike with those new key fobs. I have several bikes with the old style keys and no friends to swap bikes with so I am safe for now. I noticed the writer’s hometown of Vernal, Utah, which reminded me of my own calamity in that town. Years ago my brother, some friends and I were riding into a motel parking lot when my brother, on a Honda 1100 Shadow, hit a high spot at the lot entrance. After leaving the motel we noticed a long line of fresh oil leading back to the street. It turns out the Honda had a cracked case at the oil filter flange. A local welding job was insufficient so we loaded his bike into a 24-foot panel truck, the only rental truck available in town, and that is how he got home.

Greg Barbre, Idleyld Park, Oregon

I must applaud the two riders who crossed sixty passes in nine days in Colorado. These two gentlemen did something most riders would only dream of doing – 3,500 miles and 60 passes on motorcycle in 9 days, that’s incredible. And, the hardest part of the journey is crossing some mountain passes where the climate conditions can drastically change from warm, sunny days to cold, rainy ones. Being prepared for changing weather conditions can make the journey a much easier and more enjoyable ride.

I’m from Colorado and have traveled some of these passes. I totally agree with Mr. Entrop, that the ultimate motorcycling experience is riding the winding roads of Colorado that merge with some magnificent vistas. Every motorcyclist should experience riding some of Colorado’s tapestry of mountain roads while enjoying our beautiful, majestic mountain views. But, you must be prepared for changing weather conditions and “gear-up” for one of your most memorable bike rides.

Colorado is having a much rainier season this year and that is turning our landscapes much greener with more robust colors covering our mountainous countryside. Our wild flowers are blooming everywhere and the true beauty of Colorado is showing itself this year. Motorcycle riders who have not traveled our winding mountain roads should take the time to visit our beautiful and colorful state. 

Ray Salinas, Arvada, Colorado

I learned how to ride on my brother Mike’s first bike, a 1969 Yamaha 250 Street Scrambler. It started me on my love affair with riding and “new to me” bikes! My first was Mike’s third bike, a 1971 BSA 650 Lightning. It was a great first bike, and in 1975 I’m quite certain the “cool” factor was over the top! 1975 thru 1979 was college and work during the summers that left little time for riding. In 1981 I was single, living the bachelor life, and the road was calling. I bought a brand new 1981 650 Yamaha Maxim. For the next seven years, that bike was my main mode of transportation, although living in Michigan it’s a little tough in the winter. I got married in 1983 and our first of three children arrived in 1988. For the next 24 years, motorcycling was not a big part of my life. From time to time, I would resurrect the Yamaha and ride, but after a while I outgrew it. My brother continued to ride and I really missed it. A good friend of ours passed away suddenly, and Mike bought his 2004 Road King, a “new to me” bike that he still rides today! We got the kids through college and in 2012 I bought a brand new Triumph Thunderbird. I was riding again! I loved that bike, but in 2016 I was looking at the new Indian lineup and fell in love with the Springfield. I got the OK from “The Boss” to purchase it, but had to figure out how to get rid of the Triumph. My oldest brother Steve, who by now was a retired teacher also wanted to get back into riding. What a great opportunity for the both of us. I made him a great deal and he is still riding his “new to me” Thunderbird and the brothers are all riding together again! As for my 1981 Maxim, I brought it back to original, put historic plates on it, and every time I get on it, it still feels “new to me”!

Dan Hoeksema, Richland, Michigan

I enjoyed Robert Boyd Entrop’s article on binging on Colorado’s passes. I have done 57 of the 60 he covered, but it took me nearly 40 years while living there. I’ve done a few dirt ones on my 1976 Gold Wing “adventure” bike, so I’ll add Cottonwood, Boreas, and Rollins. Rollins Pass (also known as Corona) was an old narrow gauge railroad pass that is 11,676 feet at its highest. The pass was closed by a rockslide in Needle’s Eye tunnel in 1979, so you can no longer bag that one.

Larry Cole, Redmond, Oregon

Source: RiderMagazine.com

The “Thousand Miles of Arizona Highways” was a nice article. However, the author bypassed the very finest road in Arizona and one of the finest in the entire nation. I speak, of course, of U.S. Highway 191, also called “Devil’s Highway,” from Duncan to Alpine. The author rode through Duncan right past the south end of this famous roadbut did not ride it! Any rider looking for the best riding road in Arizona should head to the Devil’s Highway. The last time I rode this highway my wife was my passenger and kept her eyes closed a lot of the way because of the curves and drop-offs. Her concern was unnecessary as we made it to Alpine just fine on a beautiful day and an unforgettable ride.

Jeff Dean, via email

I’m from upstate New York, Siberacuse (more affectionately known as Syracuse) specifically, and your magazine does its best to get us through the winter until we can actually ride again. The June issue had an article written by Dan Bisbee about Route 100 in Vermont, a truly great ride (Favorite Ride). Every year on my trek to Americade I frequently take time to ride at least some portion of Route 100. Unfortunately Dan made his trip a one-way ride to Canada, and I wondered how he got home. In my opinion he missed another awesome New England road: the “Kanc.” The Kancamagus Highway crosses Hew Hampshire right through the White Mountains, and the vistas are unbelievable on a clear day. I’ve done the ride many times and can never seem to get enough. 

George Gridley, Fayetteville, New York

Check out the Favorite Ride from the August 2017 issue, where Mr. Bisbee traverses the “Kanc.” You can also find it on ridermagazine.com under “Favorite Rides.” –EIC

Just read Clement’s “Health and Happiness” article (Road Tales, June 2019) and found myself laughing out loud. Great read there Clem, but I think with the motorcycle exercise regimen you outlined in your article, you would have a better chance at growing five inches than reducing your girth by 2 1/2 inches. Love this mag. Keep up the good work.

Tim Radniecki, Erskine, Minnesota

Boy, did you guys just take me on a trip down memory lane (Tips, Tricks & Answers, June 2019)! I bought my first motorcycle, a ’94 Yamaha Seca II in that same stunning yellow pictured on your pages, in April of 1995. I quickly put 38,000 miles on it before buying a new Yamaha YZF600R in November 1998, which I still own, and on which I have now amassed over 100,000 miles. I also learned how to take motorcycle road trips on the Seca II, up and down the East Coast from the Catskills to lower Virginia. I loved my Seca. It was comfortable and quick enough. It had some vibrations and the head gasket seeped oil, which I fixed, but otherwise it was a really good bike. I sold it in early 2000 and replaced it with a ‘95 GPZ1100, which became my long-distance ride. At this point I have four motorcycles: my aforementioned YZF600R, the GPZ1100, an ‘06 FJR1300 and an ‘01 W650. But my first motorcycle love will always be my little Seca II, which was a reliable and fun companion to tool around on for my formative motorcycle years. Thanks for the reminder of a wonderful and very underrated little bike that did it all, and did it all well!

Ralph L. Angelo, Jr., via email

I enjoyed Clement Salvadori’s Retrospective(June 2019) about the Runpet. In 1964, I was at Pop Kenyon’s then-small shop in Mountain View, California, looking at a unique Japanese bike called a Lilac. It was a tiny BMW copy. It was a 2-stroke and the little opposed twin was probably less than 250cc. I was there to complain to Pop that the front wheel of my 305 SuperHawk didn’t line up with the handlebars. Pop wheeled it over to the fence, put the front wheel between two poles and yanked it straight. There, it’s fixed.

Terry Zaccone, Saratoga, California

Having been a subscriber to Rider for about 20 years, I have read a great number of articles submitted by motorcyclists and have found many to be entertaining and interesting. Some don’t quite meet this threshold, but the story written by Kathleen Kemsley in the June 2019 issue (“A Thousand Miles of Arizona Highways”) clearly falls into the category of entertaining and interesting. I really appreciated her descriptions and pictures of the ride, the landscape and the communities. My wife and I have ridden over a large portion of the western United States, including a part of Arizona. Kathleen’s description of her ride inspired me to make this ride a part of our itinerary at some point, and to even make it a week-long venture to cover more of the state. Ms. Kemsley’s identification of historical points of interest also fascinate me. We have read about many of the events and sites she identifies in her story and her photography really helps to bring them to life. The day I read this article I was looking at six inches of new snow on the ground where we live. The 80- and 90-degree temperatures she described around Surprise, Arizona, were extremely appealing.

Wally Baird, Granby, Colorado

Greetings! I’ve been a Ridermagazine reader for years, either by subscription or off the shelf when the subscription ran out and that renewal notice passed me by. I thoroughly enjoyed the “Thousand Miles of Arizona Highways” write up and two things in particular stood out. First, how did you ever get all that gear secured down on the Honda Shadow? And second, what’s that I spy on the tank bag? An honest-to-goodness REAL map! Now, I’m all about the latest in GPS navigation devices, but give me a paper map or atlas (I’m a real fan of the Michelin offering) for my trip planning and routings. Nothing beats sitting around the kitchen table with my trusty atlas for trip planning or dreaming. And on the road, well, technology fails sometimes you know…. So, thanks again for another great issue and proof that sometimes even low tech still has its place in a modern world.

Larry Rotters, Sweetwater, Tennessee

I was really looking forward to reading about the 2020 Suzuki Katana (“Return of an Icon,” June 2019)! My only thought is this letter won’t be the first or last one about the really small fuel capacity. Someone has already beat me to the punch on this one, I am sure. Dang, Suzuki, you guys could have really made an impact with this bike, kind of like the Kawasaki Z900RS or the Honda CB1100 with their retro looks recalling the best days of motorcycle styling. My retro 2001 ZRX1200 holds five gallons and, as such, has a decent range. Nothing draws curious looks on a brand-new bike like a plastic fuel can strapped to the back.

Howard Bonser, Palmer Lake, Colorado

Hello EIC Tuttle, Steve Larsen here. You may recall publishing several of my stories in Riderover the years, although not recently. You always treated these stories with such care and made them look so good. Thank you so much for that. Your June editorial (One-Track Mind) with its 1991 letter to your son Alex really hit home, causing my eyes to brim with tears. Like you, I wrote a series of letters to my very young daughter to be opened when she was in her mid-teens, wanting to capture and convey to her the feelings I had at that time. It was a rewarding experience for both of us and I remember her anticipation at turning 16 so she could open that letter sealed up so long ago. Frankly, I was pretty curious too, as I’d forgotten what I’d said. When she was eight years old my son (her brother) passed away just shy of his second birthday. If he hadn’t, there is no doubt our family would have had to address the degree to which we’d want to encourage him to ride. But like you and your wife, I suspect supporting your kids was far more important that restricting them. My daughter, while sporting a motorcycle endorsement and logging several days at Gary LaPlante’s off-road riding ranch, never really took to motorcycling. 

Scott “Bones” Williams’ letter (Response) also resonated with me. Your editorial fingerprints are so present on every issue. The magazine you’ve created and guidelines you developed and enforced make it a delight to read every month. Now that I’ve recovered from some health challenges, perhaps I can again submit something worthy of the high standards at Rider. 

Steve Larsen, Phoenix, Arizona

Another glowing review of Honda’s NC (“Class-Bending Commuter,” April 2019) with no mention of the one thing that put off many of the lifelong riders who I’ve talked to: its yawnable power. The NC700X made 51 horsepower. Now they added 50 more cc and got it to…51 horsepower. 750cc and 51hp sounds more like some old Euro bike or maybe something by Royal Enfield. It’s a new low in Honda’s performance numbers, and takes the bike out of the running as a class leader. I’ve ridden one. It is boring. For my money, and the money of many guys I know, the Wee Strom spanks the NC with better handling and braking, and, the coup de gras, 15 more horsepower (even though its motor is 100cc smaller).

Lucien Lewis, San Rafael, California

Pleasantly surprised? No. I was overjoyed to see the new Harley-Davidson FLHT Electra Glide Standard in the June issue (Kickstarts). H-D has spent way too much time selling glitzy “pre-customized” motorcycles. They’ve finally realized there’s a market for a clean, plain starting point from which a customer can build out the bike of his/her dreams. I rode a ‘96 FLHT, after moving up the line from Sportster to FXR to bagger over time. I didn’t need an “Ultra” to have the ultimate riding fun. It was economical to run, agile enough to keep up with the sportier Harleys in the group, and toured like there was no tomorrow. I’d recommend the FLHT to anyone wanting a basic, comfortable ride with no limit to the customizing possibilities. (And, be glad the floorboards fold up…they will scrape!)

Scott Barber, Bend, Oregon

Clement, you mentioning leaving your petcock on reserve (Road Tales, May 2019) brought back a painful memory. I did the same and was riding home from work on the expressway when my VTX1300 started burping. I reached down to flip to reserve, found it was already there. The first thing to come to mind was to shake the bike and spill those precious few ounces in the right lobe over to the left lobe. That was good for a quarter-mile. Did it again. And again. I was five miles from home and shook that bike repeatedly and managed to get off the freeway and coast up to the gas station at the entrance to my subdivision. The next morning my abs were so sore I could barely stand up, and they stayed sore for two weeks! Those cruisers are tough to walk, let alone for five miles. Hopefully a lesson learned.

Ken Klosterhaus, Washington Township, Michigan

Hello Ridermagazine staff! Love your magazine, I read it cover to cover every issue. I’ve been meaning to write for a long time regarding a pet peeve of mine regarding sizing of motorcycle apparel. I’m 63 and let’s say overly well fed (wink wink). At 6 feet tall and 322 pounds, I have a bear (no pun intended) of a time trying to find anything that fits or is even made for bodies like mine. I suspect it may partly be because gear seems to be based off slim cut European designs, but there may be other factors afoot, such as manufacturers only being willing to target the so-called “sweet spot” of the general population, in order to save manufacturing costs. I don’t know for sure, but I do know I feel discriminated against. We weight-challenged folk deserve protective clothing that fits too! Helmets also seem to be incorrectly sized. I religiously measure my head according to size charts, which say I need a large or extra large, but what in fact fits is a XXXL. Come on manufacturers, can’t you build products for us oversized Americans!

Steven Heureux, via email

I just read “Main Street, Vermont” (Favorite Ride, June 2019). I have ridden Route 100 many times, as my parents had a vacation house in Waitsfield that they eventually retired to. As I was reading I was reminiscing riding on the same roads with my father and friends. I’m planning a trip up there this summer. Thanks for the article, it brought back some precious memories of riding with my dad. 

Chuck Garby, Medford, New York

Rider magazine publishes many motorcycle tours – which inspired me to write about my first long-distance ride on motorcycle some 40 years ago. Me and a good friend rode our 850 Yamahas from Gary, Indiana to Houston, Texas spending most nights camping under the stars – that’s about as primitive as I’ve ever gotten on two wheels. We planned our trip with a personalized AMA Tour Guide report with marked routes indicating starting destinations and intermediate stops that included all the road maps and detailed information we needed to know about cities and towns on our route. It was a great tool to use back in 1979. Does Rider magazine provide any similar reports or know of any websites that can provide a detailed report for motorcycle riders like me that travel long-distances?

Ray Salinas, via email

Source: RiderMagazine.com

After Clement Salvadori mentioned key fobs in his “Stupid Things” (Road Tales) story in the May issue, I recalled my own experience with motorcycle key fobs a couple of years ago.

I’d just hopped off I-70 at Salina, Utah after having put 130 miles’ worth of gas through my ’85 V65 Sabre, which is usually good for 180 miles or so, then it starts getting thirsty. Just after exiting, I noticed an Indian parked on the shoulder of the opposite ramp, and a figure walking along not far away, helmet in hand, which is never a good sign. Not one to leave a fellow biker stranded, I motored up next to him and asked, “Out of gas?” He looked at me blankly for a moment and then started gesturing wildly while talking a mile a minute in a language that I was almost sure was English, but I couldn’t understand a word he was saying. “Whoa,” I exclaimed, pulling my helmet off. “Slow down partner. Say that again, reeeal slow.” After a few much slower words, I realized that he actually was speaking English, but real English, as in “from across the Atlantic Ocean English,” and slowly I learned the language as I got the drift of his dilemma. 

He and his buddy were on rented Indians out of Las Vegas, on the last couple days of a ten-day trip. They’d pulled off to the side of the Interstate to talk for a moment, then decided to trade bikes for awhile. Fellow #1 hops on his buddy’s Indian and scoots off down the highway. After awhile he realized his buddy wasn’t following him, so he took the first exit he came to, Salina, turned off the bike and sat there waiting for his buddy, who never showed up. Growing concerned, he decided to ride back to find his buddy, only to discover that he can’t get the Indian to start. It’s totally dead. Suddenly it dawns on him: they had switched bikes, but had not switched those stinking newfangled key fobs. Bike will run till you turn it off, then without the correct fob it’s basically a boat anchor. So there his buddy was, sitting by the side of the road thirty miles back with a bike that won’t start and he’s sitting here, on an off ramp with a bike that won’t start. They are some umpteen-thousand miles from home, with cell phones that won’t work because there’s no coverage and no one to call even if they did. To say he was a little panicked would be accurate.

“Not a problem,” I told him. “Give me your buddy’s fob and I’ll run it up to him.” Without a moment’s hesitation and with blind trust, he hands me the fob thingy and off I go, in search of his stranded buddy. Sure enough, after twenty minutes or so, there’s his buddy, standing next to his dead Indian on the westbound side, but there’s a concrete barrier between the lanes so I could only wave at him as I rode by, with him waving madly back, probably thinking I was yet another American leaving him standing there stranded. No telling how many cars had passed him by. I’m not sure how far I had to go, probably only five miles or so, before I found one of those emergency vehicle crossings where I could make a U-turn. This was actually turning into an emergency as I’d now gone about 170 miles on a tank that I usually fill long before the 180-mile mark, and I’m 35 miles from the nearest gas back in Salina. I’ll never forget the look of relief on that fellow’s face as I handed the fob to him. He’d realized almost an hour ago what had happened, and an hour stranded by the side of the road in a foreign country feels like an eternity.

Anyway, we rode back to where Fellow #1 was parked and they had quite the reunion. They tried to pay me for my help, which I declined, but when we went to lunch at a local burger place/gas station, they refused to let me buy my own burger, which I finally agreed to. Turned out they actually owned a bike shop in England and had been planning this trip to the colonies for ten years. They’d had an adventure and a tale to tell! And I learned a valuable lesson that day: that Sabre will go 205 miles on a tank of gas if it has to. 

Florin Owens, Vernal, Utah

Congratulations to the men who made the epic journey along the Pan-American Highway and through the Darien Gap (“Where the Road Ends,” May 2019)! The great story by Scott Yorko and images by Alex Manne and Jake Hamby do justice to this test of courage, strength, will and wits by Wayne Mitchell, Simon Edwards, Mike Eastham and Rich Doering. Thanks to them for their service and for bringing this legendary trip to life! I found this feature particularly compelling because I just finished reading the late Ed Culberson’s book, “Obsessions Die Hard: Motorcycling the Pan-American Highway’s Jungle Gap.” The book’s images are black and white and only cover his 1985 attempt; all his film and journals from his successful 1986 effort were lost somewhere in the Atacama Desert in Argentina during the final leg of that trip. The color images in your story bring new life and dimension to Culberson’s achievement. Somewhere, Ed Culberson is smiling and giving this entire crew thumbs-up!

Gary Ilminen, Lone Rock, Wisconsin

I’ve suppose I’ve read every issue of Rider since I first discovered it on a newsstand many years ago, and have concluded that it is the crème de la crème of the rags specializing in the world of motorcycling. But now you’ve gone and done it. The May 2019 issue is, in my judgment, the best one you’ve ever published. To have augmented your usual excellent content with “You Can’t Get There From Here,” and then Ken Lee’s excellent ramble about riding out in the Gold Country, just pushed this issue to the very top of the heap. Although the Darien Gap story covered a lot of pages, I wasn’t ready for it to end. I hope these gentlemen will bring out a book or video documentary about their incredible journey. Ken Lee’s superb article, with photography by Katie, about some of the most enjoyable riding in California, covered both the riding and historical aspects of the area. My only quarrel with Ken is that his work is not published more often. He is an excellent wordsmith. So congratulations, Mark (and Clem, Greg, Jenny and all the staff) for this excellent issue. You’ve set a pretty high mark and I look forward to more like it in the future.

Jim Lattimore, Franklin, Tennessee

I was 15 years old in the summer of 1962, when I paid a whisker over $300 for my brand-new 50cc Honda Super Cub. What a summer that was! Wind in my hair, an occasional bug stinging my face and more joy than I imagined possible–all at 35 mph. No big twin with more roar and faster speed has matched it yet. Now, it is resurrection morning (“Time Machine,” May 2019) and I’m not sure if I died and went to heaven or if Honda really brought the Super Cub back to life. Either way, I’m loving it.

David J. Mills, via email

Every month I get my issue of Riderand read it from back to front. It could be because I’m left-handed but the more likely reason is getting to Retrospectiveto see what old gem is featured. The May feature really put a smile on my face: there was the same Kawi KZ400 I had years ago. Same bike, same paint scheme. Here come the memories. As the article states, it was a great little commuter. I bought mine from a friend in the mid-‘80s and kept it for more than 10 years. My only regret: I should have hung on to it! Thank you, Mr. Salvadori, for a great write up on a cool old bike.

Randy Norton, Palm Bay, Florida

Question: on page 71 of the May 2019, the article about using your clutch to back down a slippery slope is great but the picture shows the rider standing beside the bike? I don’t think I could control my Vision doing it that way!

Mitch Peevy, Buford, Georgia

Hi Mitch, we could have shown a photo of the technique with a rider seated on the bike, but we were trying to demonstrate that it can be done when that isn’t possible or practical for some reason–like when your legs aren’t long enough to firmly plant your feet on the ground while seated on the bike, or you’re unloading the bike from a truck. You can do it seated, of course, if you’re blessed with long enough legs and/or the ramp(s) is wide enough. –EIC

Regarding the April 2019 road test of the manual shift Honda NC750X, the text states that the redline has been increased to 7,500 rpm. The photo of the dash clearly shows a redline of around 6,400-6,500 rpm. All of Honda’s literature for this model refer to the increased redline in connection with the DCT model. Please clarify. Has the redline been increased on the manual model? If so, why does the tach indicate otherwise? If not, why would it be increased on the DCT model and not the manual since the engines are apparently otherwise identical?

Mike Phillips, Harstburg, Missouri

Hi Mike, Honda tells us that the redline on the display remained the same (6,400) from the NC700X to the NC750X, but that the actual rev cut (rev limit) on both the manual and DCT models did increase from 6,600 rpm to 7,500 rpm. Hope that helps! –EIC

On page 61 of your Vermont story (Favorite Ride, June 2019) you wrote that president Harding died of a gunshot wound, but that is incorrect. President Harding died of an apparent heart attack.

Julius Camelio, New Rochelle, New York

You are correct, Julius, thank you. Many believe that Harding’s death involved foul play, but he definitely was not shot. –EIC

My brother-in-law and I just returned home from a trip to Texas for the MotoGP race at the Circuit of the Americas track just outside of Austin. We both pulled small trailers containing our camping gear, George on his 1999 Honda Valkyrie and me on my 2017 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited. We settled into the tent camping area, right in the middle of what was apparently BMW R 1200 GS Central. We’d barely begun setting up camp when Brolin from Alberta, Canada, rolled in to introduce himself, along with offering a cold beverage. We then met Bobby from Illinois, Keith from Oklahoma, Don from Texas, Patti from California, Jeanine from Florida, Aaron from Georgia, Garrett from Ohio (transplanted from Ireland), Vic and Cy from Utah and a long list of others. Other bikes trickled in: KTM, Triumph, Suzuki, Honda, BSA, etc. One gent, originally from London but now firmly settled in Greeley, Colorado, after a lifetime of traveling, told of his four sons, each of whom was born in a different country and each married to wives from still different countries! Lots of campers dropped by to comment on George’s Valkyrie or to ask me about my Mini-Mate camper trailer.

The races themselves saw a sea of fans filled with a variety of nationalities and languages. While there were only a few children in our camping area, the race crowd contained lots of little ones running around, each with their freshly bought souvenirs, caps and t-shirts touting their favorite riders, even if they didn’t quite know yet who their favorite was. A young Italian couple sat next to me as their 18-month-old son ran around testing out his new legs, all the while sporting his oversized #46 Valentino Rossi cap. Spectators cheered the riders as the race began, groaned when leader and reigning series champion Marc Marquez crashed out, cheered when perennial champion Rossi took the lead, groaned again when Rossi was passed by eventual winner Álex Rins, then applauded all of the riders as the race concluded. There were no fights, no violent arguments over which rider was better or which manufacturer was superior…just a lot of motorcycle fans enjoying the spectacle of watching some of the best riders in the world race on one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit.

George and I packed and left early the next morning, saying our goodbyes as our neighbors all headed off to the four winds. We made a beeline to our homes in southern Mississippi, agreeing that this had been one of our better trips and that we should make plans to do it again next year.

I’ve been a Harley guy for most of my life and will likely remain so for the rest of my riding days. However, I’ve had my eyes opened to other areas of motorcycling as I read Ridermagazine and other publications. Meeting such a varied cross-section of riders from around the world was a great experience and I plan to do it again, as well as look into what other events are out there, just waiting on me to buy a ticket and show up.

Thanks to the Riderstaff for all you do. It’s a great publication…keep up the good work!

Bo Sills, Newhebron, Mississippi

I have been a subscriber of your wonderful magazine for years. As long as you don’t morph into a coffee table queen like your competitors I will continue to do so. 

After a long, cruel winter here in Iowa, riding season is upon us. This winter I turned 62 and was overdue for my mid-life crisis. I currently ride a ’14 Triumph Explorer. (Pretty much the bike I’ve dreamed of ever since, out of the blue, my father bought me a Rupp mini bike 50 years ago.) I just added an R NineT Pure to my stable. The bike makes me feel like a kid again. It really is a time machine. 

Jim Conner, via email

Now that spring has arrived in the Midwest, I’ll be out riding my new-to-me, leftover 2016 Honda Gold Wing. When I bought this couch on two wheels this week at the Honda dealer, I thought about all the bikes I have had over the last 54 years. It all started with a little Honda 150 that I was able to purchase with my first job out of high school. Then came a 305 Super Hawk, back when that was the second-biggest bike Honda made (1966 this was).

There have been other bikes, but they all left fond memories of life on two wheels, and the freedom you feel no matter what size bike you are on. This month’s article on the Honda Super Cub, I’m sure will bring back memories for all who at one time rode them. It’s articles like that one that puts Rider magazine in front of the other mags.

Russ Horn, via email

Just finished reading “Stupid Things That I Have Done.” The paragraph about tire pressure hit home. At 73 years young I attempted to check my tires. I ride a Harley bagger. After much difficulty I got the valve stem caps off. Very little space on the rear wheel. That was the easy part. Trying to get a reading on my pressure gauge was not good. I let out more air trying to get the reading. Having attended the school of hard knocks, I took the bike to the dealer and behold, a young man with a special tool had me rolling in five minutes. By the way the front was OK, the rear was eight pounds low. Must have let more out than I thought.

George Hapkiewicz, via email

While going to San Jose State University in 1979, I got ditched by the lousy public transportation system during a nasty rainstorm and, for the only time in my life, I hitchhiked to get home. I vowed to solve the problem, and since the SJSU course catalog had an ad for the local Kawasaki dealer that featured the KZ400, a couple days later I found my way to the dealer and became a motorcyclist. A few months later I became a Ridersubscriber.

A few years later I had moved up to a bigger bike and the KZ400 wasn’t seeing much use. It had still been lovingly maintained, back in the days when air-cooled engines meant getting out the toothbrush for cleaning. I decided to pass it on to my younger brother for Christmas one year. He kept it until he got a bigger bike, and it came back to my house, a little worse for the wear. Then a friend was interested in learning to ride, so I passed it on to him. He kept it until he got a bigger bike, and it came back to my house, a lot worse for the wear. (See a pattern?)

At that point, I decided I would keep it as a restoration project. It’s been off the road for 20-some years, while I’ve been collecting parts when I’ve had extra cash. I always thought it would be a retirement project, something to work on when I finish my 1888 house. But now you’ve done it. It took 40 years, but you’ve officially deemed the KZ400 a classic bike. I guess I better get to working on that restoration now, even though retirement is a few years away still.

Matt Knowles, Ferndale, California

Just got done reading Clement’s article on stupidity and at the end it made me think he may have stumbled upon the answer to the age-old question about immovable object and irresistible force.

Chris Shockley, Tacoma, Washington

I’m a new subscriber to this magazine, and was particularly surprised to see that you included a story about three riders and their trip from Alaska to the tip of Argentina, including an attempt to cross the Darien Gap. I helped sponsor a rider who rode from Michigan to Brazil, interestingly enough on a KLR650 as well. He elected to bypass the Gap, which no doubt your riders can attest is probably the smart thing to do. I stopped asking why people do such things a long time ago. What one considers smart is much different than another. One of the more interesting articles was the one on the KZ400, which began on page 90 and finished on page 89; that is an approach I haven’t seen before. So it happens that my tail bag zipper failed today, so I took a hard look at the Fly bag but elected to go with the Nelson-Rigg sport model. Looking forward to the next issue.

Ron Boals, Kewadin, Michigan

As a longtime Ridermagazine reader and a longer-time resident of Minnesota, I really enjoyed the Favorite Ridearticle in your May 2019 issue. I was a 55-year-old 3M employee in St. Paul, Minnesota, when I attended a pre-retirement meeting. The speaker said (among many other things), “People don’t grow old by living their years–they grow old by deserting their dreams.” I had always wanted a motorcycle but for one reason or another never got one. I left the meeting and went to St. Paul Honda and bought a 400cc Honda Hawk.

During the next 38 years I rode more than 200,000 miles on nine different motorcycles–ending up with two Gold Wings. At age 93 I sold the last Gold Wing–I really miss the ride–but I thought it was time. TheFavorite Ridearticle in your recent issue is about northern Minnesota–my country. I have good friends in Ely, and while visiting them I rode through all the spots your article mentioned–many times–and it brought back many good memories.  

I’m now 97 years old–still active–and still miss riding. By the way, I was a pilot in the South Pacific and Japan during WWII.  

Robert L. Wieman, St. Paul, Minnesota

Having ridden almost all of the trip Doering and the team took (missed Central America to Colombia by moto, but covered it by sail), I can attest that this is an amazing trip in such a short time. Frankly the Dalton and Carretera Austral portions can be horrendous due to the road and traffic, a different story to the Darien, but just as dangerous. Not to detract from the story, but when the team looked out across the waters from mile zero in Lapataia, it wasn’t the Drake Passage they looked across, but the Beagle Channel. To see the Drake Passage you either ride out to one of the old Estancias about 60 miles east of Ushuaia or sail around Cape Horn and look over your right shoulder, as we did. The KLR is definitely the bike of choice on the Dalton and in Tierra del Fuego. I can’t count the number of GSs I’ve stopped to help pick up on both roads. Thanks for a great reminder of these two amazing parts of the world. If I had a choice today, I’d go back to Tierra del Fuego, despite the winds.

Michael A. Whitby, via email

Spot on Eric, once again, with “The Dangerous Side of Safety!” If I’m driving a car that will apply the brakes for me if necessary, why do I need to pay attention to the road ahead? Of course this whole question gets into the politics of “we elites will take care of you little people,” so I won’t bother you with my political persuasion.
I have an example, though, that goes way back: remember the ERC exercise “Rear Wheel Skid?” When BMW first came out with ABS I would often have riders in my class who said they did not need to do the exercise because they had ABS. I wouldn’t make them do the exercise, of course, but I would always suggest that they try it. Almost without exception they would thank me afterward. Because, as I’m sure you recall, the early versions of ABS would chatter and squeal, which could be disconcerting enough to make riders want to let off on the brake. They had never heard the sound before and were now more prepared to use their brakes properly.
I have heard that when ABS came out in cars there were many crashes that could have been avoided by just keeping brake pressure and not pumping them like we were taught to do with non-ABS. And although I actually like ABS because it has saved by bacon a few times, I think there are too many unintended consequences in the quest to keep us safe.
Thanks again for a great column. You and Clement always vie for top honors (as far as I’m concerned) with your monthly missives.

Tom Overman, via email

“The Dangerous Side of Safety,” by Eric Trow, sure rang home for me in many ways.  He brought up how it effects the NFL and the motorcyclist. As a flight instructor for twenty-plus years, in smaller, single-engine aircraft, it is amazing how easily a pilot can get confused between confidenceand proficiency.How many times have I noticed pilots believe that they can be up to the task, with false confidence,just because there are a lot of screens and information instead of old-fashioned round gauges in front of them. Aircraft, unlike a ball game or even a motorcycle, where you can pull over and think it over, can put you in a bind in seconds. After fifty years on two wheels, some twenty different models later, I love to keep it simple. A BMW Airhead and a GS1100 is as technically advanced as I’d like to be, but I still love to read about the latest technology in Riderevery month.  

Matt Swart, via email

Wow! Thank you so much for the article, “Where the Road Ends,” and additional info on who has made the Darian Gap in Mark Tuttle’s editorial. What a great story. I want more, a documentary please! I’ve ridden solo from Pennsylvania to Prudhoe Bay and back, in the summer, and I’ve  ridden from Vena del Mar, Chile, down the Carretera Austral and through Patagonia to Ushuaia and looped back along the Atlantic through Argentina, so I have some idea of the difficulty…and beauty. As for the Darian Gap, I talked with Helge Pedersen not long after he did it, and he said he’d never do it again. I’ve read of two others doing it, but I didn’t  know about the others mentioned in your editorial. Thanks for the extra info and guide to more great reading. Ridermagazine is the best. Wow, just wow.

Robert Echard, State College, Pennsylvania

Reading Clement’s Retrospective on the Kawasaki KZ400 brought back a lot of memories, both fond and not quite so. The bike pictured in the article looks to be an exact duplicate of the one I purchased in the mid-70s. Put a lot of miles on that bike as a daily driver living in St. Louis. As the article stated I do remember the power to be rather so-so. Due to my using it as an everyday bike I installed a couple of extras, a crash bar and also a clear fairing. The fairing was nice for riding in the rain, but also had its drawbacks. An area that I rode thru every day was a stretch of Highway 40/61 called the Gumbo Flats (or Chesterfield Valley, now that the uppity-ups moved in), which ran parallel to the Mississippi River. Running east/west, it was a completely flat stretch approximately 2-3 miles in length. There were some days I had to battle a rather brisk headwind, and the fairing worked like a reverse parachute. Since the bike was somewhat underpowered even at full throttle, I had to fight to keep it going 60 mph. Other than that I loved that old bike. Reliable and never left me stranded. Now that I think back about it, I believe I sold it to purchase a set of wedding rings. In retrospect, I think I made a good trade–still have the wife after 38 years. Although, in looking at the pictures in this article maybe the bike would have given me less problems.

Paul Kundl, Charlotte, North Carolina

As a young man my dad purchased a little Honda and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The handlebars would fold over and I could drag it under the fence so I could leave the farm and go explore the country. As I grew older I hade various bikes, but my first street bike was a 1978 Honda 750 Super Sport. It was so quick it didn’t take me long to find the side of a Galaxy 500. They don’t move when you hit ‘em. On into the 2000s I got a Kawasaki Vulcan, which together we hit a Ford Tempo, which also don’t move much when you hit them–my bad this time. 

So the wife says no more bikes! And she won. Well, a few months later this strange vehicle comes to my house pulling a cargo trailer, inside was the Harley she bought me. She said she was tired of me going out on the porch to listen to bikes come by. So for 2017 I’m on the “geezer glide,” loving every minute I have on it and all the conversations with strangers about riding. What a lifestyle.

Jeff Boatright, via email

Rider’s 45th Anniversary issue took me back almost as far, with Clement Salvadori’s Retrospective on the Kawasaki KZ400. “Nice little bike,” he wrote. “Great for commuting, but entirely capable of a cross-country trip.” That’s exactly what I did in 1980 with my 1975 KZ400–a bike I’d purchased for $200 with easily-fixable damage after being driven into a porch. I left San Diego early one morning and headed east, and 8,800 miles later returned with the motor still purring. That little bike took me cross-country, up and down the East Coast from Georgia to New England, and home again, all with kick-start simplicity and reliability. I visited friends scattered across the U.S., camped under the stars, and felt the satisfaction of self-reliance–if stuff happens in your very small traveling world, you have to deal with it. I put over 20,000 miles on that KZ400, and then sold it for twice what I’d paid for it! Reading the article put me in a “retrospective” mood for sure – thanks!

Andy Rowe, via email

Eric Trow’s latest column, “The Dangerous Side of Safety”, reminded me of two things:

First , I have heard that when anti-lock brakes first became available on cars, insurance companies were initially charging owners of those cars higher (not lower) insurance premiums–why? Because the insurance companies noted that those cars were getting involved in accidents at a higher (not lower) rate than cars without ABS. This was, of course, because their drivers were driving faster than they should, thinking that ABS would protect them.

Second, a wise engineer once explained to me that contrary to popular opinion, a car with ABS will NOT be able to stop faster than a car without ABS. The advantage of ABS is that in poor road conditions, when traction is decreased, a car with ABS will allow you to steer while braking, but a car without ABS loses that ability.  

So, to second Mr. Trow (and all other such instructors): when road conditions deteriorate, slow down. Allow greater following distances. And avoid vehicles driving too fast for conditions. The laws of physics still apply, regardless of how many safety features your vehicle has.

Steve Hudock, via email

Clement really hit the nail on the head with “Stupid Things I’ve Done, and Some I Still Do,” in the May issue. Man! I’ve been there…. Like taking off with my tank bag lid flapping open, valuable papers inside nearly disappearing forever. The multiple marriage thing I avoided, as I got it right the first time (strictly by accident), 56 years ago. I did put 11 liters of diesel fuel into my nearly empty GS tank in Beaver, B.C., Canada, once. It seems that in places in Canada, the pump handles for gas and diesel can be any color. As opposed to the lower 48, where we feel secure in assuming diesel pumps will always have a green handle. I think the one I pumped from was gold. Anyway, we drained all we could out of the tank and donated it to the station. After fueling up on three tanks of premium, the bike quit smoking and has gone another 80k miles since with no mechanical difficulties. 

Chuck Thompson, Clarkston, Washington

Source: RiderMagazine.com

The Honda NC750X seems like a good buy, but I don’t want the silly DCT. I’ve been riding motorcycles since 1976. I know how and like to shift. But also, I won’t buy a new bike without ABS! An NC750X with ABS and a standard transmission would be a great bike to add to my stable. If I wanted DCT I’d buy a scooter.

Steve R., via email

First off I was honored to be chosen as the February Letter of the Month person. Secondly, A. C. Reeves’ correction to my letter (Response, April 2019) is absolutely correct. I appreciate that he read my letter and appreciate his accuracy. I quoted the number of provinces as 11 in the interest of efficiency to get to the main point of my letter. A.C., I would love to ship my VTX to Hawaii for a ride with you. I did check into it and haven’t written it off yet. I’d even considered riding all the major islands once the bike is there. So, in correction, I have ridden my Honda VTX 1300 to all the U.S. states except Hawaii and to all of the Canadian provinces and territories except the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the territory of Nunavut. Actually a person can ride to Labrador via the Trans-Labrador Highway, but at my age of 70 and without buying a different motorcycle, I probably won’t ride that one. I’ll take the ferry. And I understand Nunavut is very difficult to get to except by air or maybe in a few places by logging road. I plan to attack my Newfoundland and Labrador adventure again in the summer of 2020. I’ll probably ride my Yamaha Venture S. The VTX is a bit long in the tooth (137,000 miles). But you never know.

Jerry Stevens, Flower Mound, Texas

My first motorcycle ride was on a 1968 Honda CB 125, borrowed from a coworker in 1969. I was working after school at a gas station within walking distance of home. Anytime my co-worker would ride that gorgeous blue and white Honda to work, he’d let me take it for a ride. I rode it whenever I could until I graduated from high school in 1971, then enlisting in the Air Force. I bought my first motorcycle in 1972, a brand new Honda CB 350 twin, followed a year later by a new 1973 Honda CB 350F four-cylinder. What followed to the present day was a string of Hondas, Kawasakis, Triumphs, Nortons and, finally, Harleys. And not one of them equipped with a windshield, fairing or radio. One thing they all had in common, though, was they were all appealing to both the eye and the ear. All were individually recognizable. Personally, I’ve always been a minimalist regarding my motorcycles. Today, I cringe when I hear a motorcycle at a stoplight blaring music from its speakers. My opinion until the late 1980s was that anyone paying more than $2,500 for a new motorcycle should be examined for sanity. I have raised that amount today to about $8,000 for a new bike, but I digress.

Fast forward to the present. Over decades of riding, I’ve witnessed motorcycles evolve from basic, unrefined mechanical works of art to today’s refined technological marvels. I’ve quietly tolerated the changes, some good, until now. Today I read an article in Rider for a new motorcycle built by Harley-Davidson that ridiculously infringes on the pure core of the motorcycle. Initially, upon reading the ad I thought it was a joke. This ad belongs in “Mad Magazine,” I thought! My first question to the powers-that-be at H-D is: OMG. Why? I’m talking about its new electric model motorcycle, embarrassingly named LiveWire. Seriously? Really? Have H-D’s sales numbers plummeted to the point that such desperate measures as creating a carnival novelty like an electric-powered motorcycle will actually save its sales numbers? Is H-D’s stock really pegged at 180 degrees?

As an old guy with a Millennial-perceived antiquated vision towards the future of motorcycle building, I say this not only to Harley but to all modern motorcycle manufacturers: STOP THIS MADNESS. PLEASE! JUST STOP IT!!! There are some things that are just plain wrong. It’s too late for Harley, the damage to the image is possibly already done, regardless of how positively it spins the LiveWire. I would not have purchased my current motorcycle, a 2006 Dyna Wide Glide, 13 years ago if it were a Dyna WideWire. How embarrassing. Twenty years from now I don’t see a used LiveWire being advertised as a Classic. As for the other manufacturers, please, don’t look to the future propulsion of motorcycles as being battery-powered; there is no future there. It’s another horrible tree-hugging idea. It’s not even a fair idea. It’s an idea that H-D management should have given its due, then shelved it somewhere in a disguised back room under lock and key never to be discovered. A battery is for starting a motorcycle engine, not powering it. It’s time for motorcycle manufacturers to get back to the majority segment of the market that appreciates motorcycle sight and sound, the way a motorcycle is meant to be seen and heard. A motorcycle with plenty of honest aesthetics, lots of real chrome, real iron under the seat and familiar individual exhaust notes that follow them down the road. Enough of the carbon fiber, black chrome, amateur-looking plastics and alloy girder frames. Enough millennial consumer dart throwing. Get back to pure motorcycle building basics. It works. It’s OK, really.

Donald Herod, via email

I’ve read in a couple cycle mags about how the new alcohol fuels will adversely affect motorcycles. Motorcycles, more than cars, get put away for long periods of time and alcohol fuels tends to gel over long periods of time. These modern fuels don’t gel overnight, do they? When stored for the winter, manufacturers should have a means to drain fuel without making it rocket science. It would be a simple matter to design this drain feature. We used to have valves for switching to reserve gas that could also serve as a drain valves. If we look for solutions instead of finger pointing, modern fuels can be dealt with. Also, we will need larger tanks to deal with the lower fuel mileage modern fuels are known to give us. I know we can overcome problems such as alcohol fuel if we just think about it. I’ve seen more complicated problems and solutions in my lifetime.

Marcel Thomas, Hobart, Indiana

I have been receiving Ridermagazine for many years and really enjoy it. I first started riding motorcycles 64 years ago. I was 17 years old in 1955 and purchased a 1949 Harley-Davidson 74. That summer I did quite a bit of riding. I and four other guys took a trip to Colorado and then up to South Dakota through the Black Hills. It just happened to be the first part of August and the Sturgis motorcycle rally was going on. That was quite an experience. We knew nothing about Sturgis at that time. The next year, 1956, I sold the motorcycle so I could purchase a new car, but I never forgot the fun I had riding. Then, in September of 1975, I purchased a new 1976 Harley-Davidson. The dealer had just gotten new models in. The next summer, my wife and I started long-distance touring. The next 30 years we took almost all of our vacations traveling on motorcycles. We had one accident in 1981 and my wife did get hurt pretty bad. She had one serious knee injury. She continued to ride until 2005 and stopped because her knee bothers her. I continued riding and, in 2001, I retired and now do much more riding. I have owned 16 motorcycles and I am now riding a Cam-Am Spyder. My last three motorcycles were 2008, 2012 and 2015 Gold Wings. I have owned a number of Harleys, several BMWs and four Yamaha Ventures. Last year I rode my Spyder to the Sturgis rally. I have only missed Sturgis four years out of the last 42. Last year I put 22,000 miles on the Spyder; in the last few years I have been averaging about 30,000 a year, and I live in Iowa, so we only have about a seven-to-eight-month riding season. 

Jerry Mathison, Woodbine, Iowa

Recently I have been planning a motorcycle trip westward. Starting at St. Ignace, Michigan, I will pick up U.S. Route 2 and ride all the way to Seattle. A few little side trips along the way will include some of the Canadian provinces and a couple of national parks. Traveling by motorcycle is so much different than driving an automobile. One seems to become part of the natural surroundings instead of just viewing it through a glass window. The mountains and valleys are higher and deeper, the edge of the road is closer, the hills are steeper, the curves sharper and the sky clearer.

The journey through life is much like this motorcycle trip. Metaphorically speaking, we will all drive through it in our own way at our own pace, each with a different route and preferred vehicle, carrying our “baggage” with us. Every mile will bring with it different conditions and changing scenery. Just like we do when we plan a motorcycle trip, we seem to expect, or at least hope, that in life’s journey everything will go just right for us on our trip. We’re sure the weather will cooperate perfectly, the machines will have no mechanical issues, the road surface will be smooth and traffic will be light. Of course, that is not usually the case.

As in life, there are no guarantees. We will surely encounter trials, tough choices, unexpected disappointments, detours, tragedy and sorrow as we travel the road of life. That, in part, is why I am planning this trip. Three days before Christmas 2015, I awoke to find my wife of 22-plus years had unexpectedly died in her sleep. As spring arrived, I was reluctant to start riding again as my partner would no longer be there. After the first few very short rides, however, I began to find some solace in the journey. Since then I have logged many thousands of miles, taken hundreds of pictures, seen untold new places, met numerous fresh faces and carried years of memories with me. Finding comfort, reminiscing and knowing that my wife would encourage me to discover this great big world make the riding experience even that much more enjoyable.

I believe I appreciate life a little more these days and maybe I realize that each day we are given is a chance to begin another journey on the road we call living. It might have already been said by someone else, but for me I will attempt to live like today will be my last, tomorrow will be my greatest and yesterday will have no regrets. We motorcyclists often say that “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” Perhaps that is because when you reach your destination, the journey is over.

When you are on your next journey, if you see me on the road, give me a friendly wave and I will wave back.

Rex Goyer, Sycamore, Ohio

Just received the April issue and a couple of questions come to mind. First, on page 14, in an otherwise excellent article about the increase in women’s ownership of motorcycles, you state that, “Nearly one in five motorcycle owners is now female….” This got me to wondering what this woman was before she became a female. Additionally, on page 65, you misquote the lyrics of the John Denver song “Country Roads,” which is a virtual anthem here in West Virginia, inserting the word “Pennsylvania” where “West Virginia” belongs. What Left Coast rock have you been living under to avoid knowing this? Did you intentionally want to insult your readers here in the Mountain State by confusing us with our neighbors to the east? Take me home, Mountain Momma, take me home!

Robert Cissel, somewhere in West Virginia

Longtime subscriber, first time writer. To Mark: after reading your April issue editorial, I became somewhat uneasy because I felt like your time at the helm might be drawing to a close, as I’m sure there are many roads you need to ride. The only thing I have to say is please make sure the magazine doesn’t change! It’s the only moto mag I currently subscribe to because all the others have changed their format and are of no interest to me. I look forward to your magazine every month and I read every article. Thank you and keep up the good work!

Mark Lipsius, Iowa City, Iowa

I have been enjoying your magazine on and off for decades, thank you. The articles have inspired me to continue riding, which I started on a Honda 50 in 1965 and now at 68 years old I’m still going at it. I’ve owned many bikes over the years, all serving different purposes, from a 1973 BMW /5 “toaster” to owning three bikes now: an ‘81 BMW GS, a 1997 Honda VFR and, what I’m writing about now, a 1975 Honda XL350. I keep telling myself that I need to pare down but it hasn’t happened as yet! Anyway, I noticed with great interest the August 2018 Retrospectivearticle about the Yamaha Enduro 500. Question, did the Honda XL 350 have the same compression release feature?  I am having a nearly impossible time getting the 350 kicked over as it only has a kick starter. I mostly jumpstart it on inclines, though sometimes I’m on flat terrain so that doesn’t work. Thanks for any input and keep up the great magazine!

Charlie, Baughman, Arlington, Virginia

As a Rider magazine reader and long time biker, your April Retrospective article really hit home. I have ridden on two wheels for almost all of my 71 years on this earth. Mind you it has only been the last 55 with a motor between my legs. In that time I have owned a variety of motorized machines. I told my then girlfriend and now my wife of 50 years, that I would always have a motorcycle, period. She said she understood, but I am not so sure she knew what was in store. My first adventure was a Travis bike motor mounted to the front of my Schwinn. I went through at least four tires in one summer. After moving up to a real motorcycle and going through a number of “fix up specials,” I fell in love with a Honda. In my case, Honda number one was a 1964 Benly or, as some referred to it, a baby Dream. My next was a 1969 CB350. This is where your article brought back some great memories. That 350 was a huge step up from my 150cc Benly and the previous owner had put 12-inch apes on it, so finally I was cool. All of the ribbing I took with the Benly was behind me. I rode that 350 proudly for nearly a decade and then, as the last sentence of your article suggests, I bought a 1978 CB750. Mine was a K model in shiny black. And believe it or not, when I bought my 750, it was considered a “big” bike. And in many ways it was…tall, heavy and four cylinders stuck between your legs. I rode the K for nearly 20 years until I did the unthinkable. A shiny red Yamaha V-Star 1300 sits in my garage now. Forgive me.

Bill Peery, Arlington Heights, Illinois

I love your article April 2019 page 40 on the “Class-Bending Commuter.” I am 78 years old and have four motorcycles, and my newest one is a Honda NC750X DCT that I got last September. I love this bike; the two best things about it are the automatic transmission and the front brake, which is the best one that I have ever had. I now have 3,700 miles on it. But it’s not perfect. The suspension is too firm, but with the Air Hawk seat cushion it feels better. I do not think that the 270-degree firing order is a good idea, I think 180 degrees is much smother and better. You have to lift the back seat to put gas in the small 3.7-gallon gas tank, not a good idea when touring with things tied over it. Small, round foot pegs. Very little engine braking. No oil sight window, an old style dip stick only, and this is 2019. No highway pegs or crash bar available, either Honda or aftermarket. Your article states, “With the DCT you get HSTC and ABS, which applies front brake when the rear is applied.” I am not sure that this is a good idea. I have always known when you are leaning and turning on dirt, sand, rocks or mud you do not want to put any pressure on the front brake, because you will go down. But I love this motorcycle.

Rodger Terry, Bethel Island, California

As I read Clement Salvadori’s article, “Adventure? What’s That,” in the April 2019 issue, I could not help but think of an adventure I had several years ago. Three riding buddies and I were following my pre-printed directions that I obtained off a popular website, allowing us to travel a “different” route to our destination. We were all on street-oriented motorcycles, including two that were quite pricey with chrome aplenty. We only traveled about 100 yards before we realized this new route did not meet our normal expectations. The road turned to dirt, then became littered with fist-sized rocks on the surface, lined with abandoned houses with broken windows and no sign of civilization. We thought of turning back, but decided we would press forward despite me swearing I heard banjo music. After taking more than an hour to travel several miles on this single-lane, muddy road, we ended up on the main road about 300 yards from where we started. To this day, I still laugh at our mud-splattered street bike “adventure.” Despite our failed journey, it was quite entertaining and memorable.

Spencer Lewis, via email

To the Editor:

My buddy John first handed me an issue of Riderin the early 1990s. I’m a writer by profession and a rider by passion, and right away I liked the magazine’s editorial style. Clearly, the people who put the publication together were riders themselves. Over the years I’ve subscribed to several moto mags, but Riderhas always been the one that speaks to me.

Nearly two decades ago, I had an epiphany: “I’m a writer and a rider, I should write for Rider.” So I looked up the guidelines for contributors and made my story pitch to the editor, one Mark Tuttle, Jr. His reply included this key sentence: “We would be interested in examining the article in question on speculation.” I submitted my story, it was accepted (!!) and in the years since my work has appeared in Riderdozens of times. (It’s hard to convey how cool that is.)

Ridercontinues to be my favorite magazine, in large measure because Mark Tuttle’s stamp is on every issue. Recently, I met Mark for the first time and it was like meeting an old friend. He’s a motorcycle guy, just like the rest of us. Mark, on behalf of riders and readers everywhere, thanks for putting out the best motorcycle magazine out there, month after month, for 30 years.

Scott ‘Bones’ Williams, Wilbraham, Massachusetts

I always read Ridermagazine cover to cover, and look forward to the Retrospectivearticle. The April issue featured the Honda 350 lineup from the late 1960s on. My first bike was a 1970 CL 350, bought used in 1972. It was used as a commuter vehicle for years, as well as a “dating” vehicle for a few months. Even had a serious accident (involving 15 cars, 2 semis and one motorcyclist) once. About a year after buying it, I got married and the wife and I used it for nearly everything, as 1973 brought about the first Arab oil embargo and higher gas prices. We look back on it fondly now, and I wish I still had it. My wife would ask the grocery store clerks to make sure everything fit in two sacks so she could hold it all while leaning against the sissy bar on the way home. Good memories.

Loren Stephenson, Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Mark Tuttle’s “Winter Riding Motivation” (One-Track Mind, March 2019) was a fantastic overview of winter gear. One line, though, gave me a good laugh: “With the right setup you can be comfortable in temperatures down into the 30s.” “Winter” definitely doesn’t mean the same thing across this continent. Temperatures in the 30s is a nice spring day in some locales. A quality base layer is a must. Electric gear won’t get you in the saddle, it’ll just keep you there longer. Temps in the teens with no wind and a sunny sky make for a fantastic winter ride! Throw on a snowmobile suit when it really gets cold. Call me crazy (or just call me an Illinoisan) but with the right setup you can be comfortable regardless of temperature.

Rob Kirbach, Glen Carbon, Illinois

I started riding motorcycles in 2006, when I was 54 years old. Now I’m 67, and I always say to myself, “Why did I start so late?” I’m on my third bike; I’ve owned two Sportsters and now, since I’m older, I bought a Honda CTX700. The bike is perfect for me: it’s comfortable and takes the bumps easy. I know I’m in complete control. The reason I’m writing is to tell you that your magazine is by far the best read. As a lover of our American history, I thoroughly enjoy your articles. They get me planning all of the wonderful places I can visit this summer. My plans are in full swing! 

Henry Siuda, via email

This is directed to Jenny Smith, who wrote the review in the April issue on the Honda NC750X. I just want to clarify something. She said the bike would be a good tourer at the end of her article. Does that mean it would be a good bike to take across the country on long tours? Or is that for short tours? I hope it is capable of longer tours, as I’ve been considering this bike for some time. I’m talking 400-mile days at times. Thank you so much and love your magazine. Best one out there and good luck to all the staff.

Carl Hoobler, Granbury, Texas

As a 25-year-plus reader of your magazine, I’m on the wrong side of 60, and my commuting days were in the ‘80s and ‘90s on various UJMs (Universal Japanese Motorcycles). Your review of the NC750X makes me feel old–and a little ill. My admiration for Asian engineering and production knows no bounds, but their frequent foray into cartoonish, pointy plastic design violates my American sense of the motorcycle archetype. Now an automatic transmission? I appreciate the emotional need for younger engineers to reinvent the wheel, but come on–stop hiding the engine and gas tank! Then maybe you’ll stop losing customers to Triumph and Harley. PS: The handlebars look a little wide for lane splitting.

Don Holmes, Nashville, Tennessee

Don’t know what kind of bike you were riding when you left the petcock on “Prime,” but on my two Suzukis from the 1980s, when I left the petcock on Prime (sometimes for days), they ran and started without apparent problems. However, the Prime setting taps fuel from the reserve tank, so if you run out of gas, you really are out of gas. I found this out the hard way. Al Einstein had a great expression to cover this situation: “Two things are infinite: the universe, and human stupidity. And I’m not sure about the universe….” And this was before our current president took office!

Randy D., via email

Here are the bikes I’ve owned, in order (all purchased new except the last one): ’97 BMW R 850 R, ’00 Honda Valkyrie Interstate, ’07 Suzuki Burgman 650 Exec, ’12 Victory Cross Country Tour, ’08 Suzuki Burgman 650 Exec. My feet have been progressively moving forward (well, the last three are about the same). I can only afford, in terms of space and money, one bike at a time, and as much as I love twisties, I often do long highway slogs to get to them (or visit relatives, or ride to MotoGP races, etc.). My aging knees–I’m 71 years old, I started riding late–just can’t take being bent back for long periods. And I’m not a fan of highway pegs for assorted reasons. So that leaves cruiser, or cruiser-ish, bikes. The Big Burger is especially good in this respect, because with no controls for them to work your feet are always “free to move about the cabin.” And so my longest days have been aboard it. Oh, along with a couple of “non-sportbike” track days.

Bill Pollack, Niskayuna, New York

Was glad to see Rider picked up Ari Henning as a garage-problem guru and, hopefully, full-time writer and tester of new bikes. I tried duplicating his and Brian Catterson’s skills on the curves many miles ago, but no success. We shared some funny emails, including one project I think we were working on at the same time, thousands of miles apart. That was our electric ‘cycle, powered by a rider wearing a suit completely covered with solar cells, but alas, rainstorms proved to be a “shocking” failure. Great times reading “Motorcyclist,” even though I didn’t always agree with “Catman.” That dude, if cut, would bleed Ducati red. Always turned to the problem column first, then letters and finally what new crotch rocket Ari was airing out at the time. Glad you’re back, Ari. Always wondered how you and Zack Courts made out on the dual editor thing.  

Ari, if you see Catterson, tell him he is lodged in my memory banks forever. You guys rocked in those crazy, lazy days when bikes looked like bikes and not Star Wars, or those toys that, if twisted correctly, make seventeen different things. Yep, still have my beautiful Honda 700SC Nighthawk, 36k on the clock, new Pirellis on the wheels and looking to try it one more summer–at 83 years young. Will probably be a bit rusty, because I put it up on blocks and drained it to take care of my dear wife of 62 years before she left me in December.

Ah, the good old years, her on her brand-new Benelli Cobra 125 café racer that had been juiced up just enough and me astride my new Honda CB160. At 21 and 25, life was very, very good. Since she knew I had spent 15 months laid up from a left turn by a drunk in a Dodge, she’d said, “You buy a motorcycle and I am gone.” Hell, I bought two, the Honda and, as we walked out of the place, the owner said I could take the Benelli and pay him whenever for 200 bills. I remember her first comment after nailing how to manage the Benelli, “It is like my old bicycle, but I don’t have to pedal.” Again, glad to see your name in print, Ari, and I guess if you stay I’ll re-up Rider again.

Pete Payne, via email

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Yesterday morning, I was sipping coffee and reading the latest issue of Rider magazine: EIC Tuttle’s tips on cold weather riding (One-Track Mind, March 2019). Later that afternoon, I rolled out the Ducati and suited up for a ride on an unusually nice day here in New Jersey. Fifty degrees, no worries. But as I rode I thought of one more item we East Coasters might need: insurance. It’s not uncommon for many of us to purchase insurance for only a half year, April to September for example, to somewhat coincide with the riding season. But on a nice day between October and March there’s a temptation to take advantage of the weather and get out for a quick ride, even though any mishaps will not be covered. It’s easier and not much more expensive for me to pay for 12 months of coverage so that any nice “off-season” days are not wasted. By the way, it’s nice to get an issue of Rider every month.

Peter Krynicki, via email

Great editorial on safe winter riding. I can ride vicariously through your great stories but always need some seat therapy of my own. My goal is to ride my BMW R 1200 GS every month I own it. My R 1150 RT is also ridden year-round. With proper care and equipment I always find at least one day each month to exercise the bikes. The fact that I live in Minnesota hasn’t kept me on the couch, even when it’s nine degrees. Thanks for a great magazine.

Philip F. Schweitzer, via email

I was surprised to see a picture of the Cassoday Country Store in the March issue (“Bluestem Pastures”). Took me a while to verify, but that was the location of the one photo I took in 2012 when I was passing through Kansas. It was a cross-country trek on my 2007 Bonneville. The crosswinds in Kansas had me riding at an angle all day. I pushed through 765 miles to reach Colorado, vowing that I would not sleep until I was out of the state. Despite how many times I cursed Kansas in my helmet that day, Frederick Tressler’s description of the small towns and country roads made me want to go back. It is great writing like this that reminds us that if we slow down and take time to explore, we can find amazing beauty in what seems to be completely inhospitable country. Thank you, Rider, for always delivering!

Peter Collins, Narberth, Pennsylvania

I have been waiting for Ari Henning to make reappearance in a motorcycle magazine, and I am so glad that it is yours. You have the best magazine for the motorcyclist. I have been riding and racing my entire life and still have four bikes. I am retired from the motorcycle industry and only enjoy reading articles that truly target what motorcycles and their riders are about. Ari is one of the best and has a great history of quality work for such a young man. I am looking forward to more from him and all of you at Rider. Thanks for a great magazine for motorcycle people.

Buz Conlin, Monson, Massachussetts

I just wanted to say that your magazine is number one, and bringing on Ari Henning is an excellent move; he has enthusiasm and a lot of knowledge about motorcycles. Also, I want to encourage you to keep up the good work, you stand alone now as an informative magazine with quality content.

Dave Banks, via email

Even though I’m not in the market for a new bike, I really enjoy the new model previews and road tests. One thing I’d love to see your magazine do is a comparison test between the new café racer bikes like the Triumph Street Cup, Royal Enfield Continental GT and Kawasaki W800 Cafe. To me, it seems they are vying for the same market share and it would be fun to see how similar and different they are.

Steve O’Gwin, Inola, Oklahoma

Your magazine is a deeply valued contributor to my enjoyable riding and reading life. To wit, Clement Salvadori’s article in the February issue of Rider, “Time and Distance, People and Places.” Mr. Salvadori’s columns always evoke great memories and inspire new adventures. One such recollection takes me back to 1971. I had taken delivery of a new BMW R75/5 in West Berlin, Germany. After living there for several months my wife and I took off on an 8-week tour of Western Europe. Another couple, also in their mid-twenties, accompanied us on their brand-spanking-new black R75/5. In Munich, Germany, the youth hostel manager refused to allow us to park our bikes in the secure courtyard. Grumbling loudly, we settled into our rooms after parking the bikes out on the street.

Next morning my buddy and I discover that someone had stolen his entire front wheel during the night. Naturally, we entertained some fairly profane thoughts about that hostel manager. Nevertheless, I get on the phone—it’s a Friday—and call virtually every BMW dealer in Munich. Nobody has a front wheel assembly. Nobody! Despite Munich being the headquarters of BMW Motorrad, we’re coming up with zero. So I call the factory. By now it’s Friday afternoon. Somehow I get a man on the other end of the line who sounds sympathetic. I explain our predicament. He says, “Come out to the factory tomorrow morning at 11:00. I’ll see what we can do.”

We are punctual, and so is he. In his hand he’s carrying a front wheel assembly, gleaming in the bright mid-day sun. “Everyone told us there aren’t any of these in all of Munich,” I say in Deutsch. “They are right,” says the BMW employee. “Then where did you find this one?,” I query. “I am the head engineer here. And I am a rider. So I just put one together, spoke by spoke. Here you are.” Our jaws drop, more so when he tells us that all we have to pay is what the parts cost, wholesale. About half or less of what it would have cost in a dealership. Talk about “Freude Beim Fahren” (Joy of Riding); that day, BMW more than lived up to its slogan. Suddenly on a sunny Saturday morning in Munich, the old story of The Good Samaritan took on a whole new meaning. Thanks for your column, Clement; once again your writing hits home.

Duane Sarazin, Hastings, Minnesota

I can relate to Clement Salvadori’s article, “The Rhythm and the Road” (Road Tales, March 2019). I had a very similar experience on my Honda ST1100. One of my favorite roads is near Golden, Colorado, known as Golden Gate Canyon Road. It is a fairly technical and complicated road with three switchbacks and it climbs or descends about 1,200 feet of elevation. I would ride this road over and over again, getting more and more confident each time and increasing my speed through each switchback. Then one day, as I was descending one switchback, I saw a big yellow object in the opposing lane. It was a school bus! I had to lean more…and more…to avoid hitting the bus. I thought: never again, I need to slow down. My riding experience made me acutely aware that life is too short! The only difference between Clement and me is that I do have a bit of dancing rhythm. I grew up during the disco era and met my wife at one of our favorite clubs. We still enjoy getting on the dance floor and I believe one reason she married me was because I ride a motorcycle. As you mentioned, Mr. Salvadori, “The art of motorcycling is a learned art.” I do have more rhythm on the dance floor but I am always learning better rhythms on my motorcycles. Thank you for your insight.

Ray Salinas, Arvada, Colorado

Clem hit a homer with me in the April issue of Rider: adventure! I think adventure, like beauty, is in the eye (or seat of the pants) of the beholder (rider). I have far too many Great Adventures on motorcycles to cover in one short letter, but several stand out: my first solo trip to Alaska on a Yamaha FJ1100, riding my first Colorado 500 at the invite of Sherm Cooper and meeting Dan Gurney and Rick Mears, riding through my 49th state, Rhode Island, and finally last year, nine days on a rented bike in Ireland! Each of these adventures stand out in my mind in a different way, but each was, in its own way, a Great Adventure. And now I’m planning yet another adventure: riding back to Alaska on my FJR1300. And doing it with a good friend will be an adventure of a different kind, since we have a limited amount of time and will have little time to stop and smell the bears! I don’t know how many more Great Adventures I have left but I don’t intend to quit looking for them now!

Russ Locke, Lakehills, Texas

Dear Jenny, I enjoyed reading about your Three Flags adventure (“There and Back Again,” February 2019). Regarding your earplugs chafing in your ear canal, try using the Mack’s brand. They are made of pliable silicone and they mold to your ear. Intended for swimming, but perfect for us riders! You can find them in the pharmacy section at drugstores or Walmart. Ride safe.

Scott Magruder, Acworth, Georgia

In the February 2019 issue of Rider, you invited readers to email their takes on why they would choose to have a cruiser over a performance/sport bike (One-Track Mind). Thanks for the offer. I’ve been riding motorized two-wheeled vehicles for around 70 years and have tried a variety of styles. I had a BSA Road Rocket, used for street and drag. It was pretty fast and comfortable. Since then, I have leaned toward performance standards. I have plenty of opinions on style vs. function, but if you will, turn to page 12 of the February 2019 edition of Rider, and you will be able to read Clement Salvadori’s well-stated view on the style of bike that makes one cool, or smart, or whatever the “right” ride makes you feel. One size does not fit all.

Bob Wilson, Port Angeles, Washington

Awesome! Ari Henning is now with Rider. He was the best thing about Motorcyclist, which is currently a glossy joke (I no longer subscribe). Please keep him and keep Rider one of the few viable moto mags.

David Hillyer, Moss Landing, California

I just wanted to say that your magazine is number one. There are/were a few other magazines that had excellent content but a year or so ago threw it all away and went to every other month delivery with old, pretty much useless content with no coverage of today’s motorcycles. I just wanted to say bringing on Ari Henning was an excellent move; he has enthusiasm and a lot of knowledge on motorcycles. Also, I want to encourage you to keep up the good work, you stand alone now as an informative magazine, you have actual content.

Dave Banks, via email

I was happy to see Ari Henning as one of your contributors in your March issue. I have followed his how-to articles over the last four years in Motorcyclist since I got back into riding. Hope to see more! Also, thanks for still being a monthly magazine. I look forward to it every month! The others I subscribed to are now bimonthly or quarterly and I tend to forget about them.

Stephen McUmber, via email

Greetings. I am a long-time subscriber, and there’s something that I’ve needed to say for a while now regarding Jenny Smith. Let me begin by saying I’m kind of old, and a product of my generation. When Ms. Smith was introduced to us readers, I remember thinking, “Oh, good. I like it when motorcyclists take into account the feminine perspective.” I am now somewhat ashamed to admit that what I expected was reviews on gear and apparel for women and pillion reports.

Boy, was I wrong! There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she is the real deal. To Jenny I have to say, “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. You are truly one of us.” I look forward to your reviews and articles and hold your opinions in as high regard as I do any of the fine staff at Rider, my favorite magazine. It makes my heart soar to know that women like you exist. To whoever made the decision to hire her I say, “Well done! And thank you.”

Steve, via email

Source: RiderMagazine.com

From an adventure bike convert: beauty is much more than skin deep.

In my mid-teens, it was a dirt bike that gave me the freedom to explore the countryside, forests and mountains. Moving on to my late teens, I added a 650 Triumph to my garage. Fast-forward to my late twenties, and I began what would become a 20-year period of riding Harleys. Beautiful to look at when clean and comfortable when ridden on smooth roads, these bikes gave me many miles of pleasure, but something was missing. By happenstance one day, I stumbled upon a BMW dealership hosting demo rides.  There in front of me was this bike with a beak, square, industrial-looking bags, a humped faux gas tank, plastic fenders and not a bit of chrome in sight. I wasn’t sure what to make of the design, but my first impression of the bike was not favorable. The BMW representative suggested I take it for a ride (of course, that was the point of the demo set up). So I did. I told him I would be back in 10 minutes. He responded, take all day if you want. Three hours later I returned. I had my freedom back. Stable at 80 mph or two mph. Three hundred fewer pounds of bulk. No sparks from floorboards when cornering hard or scraping of exhaust pipes. No suspension bottoming out and follow-up jolt to the spine on bumpy road surfaces or from potholes. Neutral seating with plenty of legroom. And when the pavement ends, keep on going—mud, gravel, who cares—it is a new road to explore. Wash it with the hose, dry it with a ride around the block.

Is this adventure bike a visual beauty? Well, over several years of ownership, its profile has grown on me, but I wouldn’t say that it has reached beautiful. It is the case, though, that when I look at it, it generates the same sense of freedom I felt with those bikes from my teen years, and for me that definitely translates to beautiful.

Tim Richards, Rochester, Michigan

In regard to your question about form vs. function: “Have the motorcycle industry and consumers stopped caring about what looks good and are now focused solely on what works?” (One-Track Mind, February 2019). I’m in the camp that believes motorcycles are works of art, not just a means of conveyance. I currently own a 2007 Triumph Bonneville T100, which I think is one of the most beautiful bikes ever built and, with the tweaks I’ve made over the years, is a great all-around motorcycle. I do appreciate modern technology that improves safety and performance, but unless a bike also has a sense of style and beauty, count me out.

Wayne Carpenter, Belton, Texas

Not too long ago, the state of the industry was dead to me. For decades, I told all my riding buddies that there wasn’t a motorcycle out there you could give me, much less pry from my bank account! But the changes gracing the more recent pages of Rider really caught this old geezer’s eye! I’m seeing bars and footpegs in the right places, shaped properly, enabling riding comfort and, most importantly, efficient and safe handling of the machine. I actually see several models I might buy in the near future! I love this “new” direction of the industry. Whether it’s the result of sales or the manufacturers coming to their senses, I don’t care. Just keep it coming!

Stan Chiras, via email

I agree with you about the ‘80s and ‘90s, when I couldn’t find anything functional enough for me. I actually bought a cruiser (Honda Magna), which tended to wallow its way around corners, especially two-up. At some point my significant other became an important factor when buying a new bike. Nowadays I actually evaluate a bike by my partner’s comfort level; if she isn’t happy, there’s no way I will be either. We landed on a Honda ST1100 that I’ve had for 20 years, and then the VFR1200XD came into the picture. V-4 power and smoothness, shaft drive, adventure functionality and of course 3rd gen DCT…perfect. It might be an “oddball,” but it’s highly functional for both Melody and I.

O. George Gridley, Fayetteville, New York

As an owner of a 2004 Honda VTX1800 I really appreciated “Function vs. Form.” It wasn’t long ago that I wouldn’t have been caught dead on some of the bikes that you mentioned. Then, about eight or nine years ago, I got to looking at this “adventure riding” thing that was getting so popular. One bike that I considered the ugliest of them all was the Kawasaki KLR650. Yet the more I looked, the more the whole concept appealed to me, and being budget-minded, wouldn’t you know it, I bought a KLR! Let me tell you, that bike has been one of the most fun, most durable bikes I’ve ever owned. My friend and I pack our KLRs, travel mostly off-pavement camping off our bikes and have more fun than I ever imagined. Now, when I look at motorcycles, I see practicality and functionality. Thanks a bunch for a great article and perspective.

Bob Becker, Arvada, Colorado

To me a clean, air-cooled V-twin has that cool “bad boy” look, so yes, I choose form over function. Why? People who appreciate that big, heavy cruiser style always walk past with a smile. And the sound of a big cruiser or bagger is second to none. I love going to local bike shows and seeing all the different custom jobs, and I think a custom ADV bike just isn’t the same. I don’t care much for the way the new bikes are turning out form-wise, but I guess I’m a bit old-fashioned.

Logan Ryan, Van Buren, Arkansas

In response to Editor Tuttle’s “Function vs. Form” editorial, my preference for an adventure-style bike over the traditional cruiser came about from getting older. I am 59 now and have arthritis in one of my hips, which forced me to stop riding my Yamaha V-Star 1100. The weight of the bike and my legs being forced outward by its width made riding uncomfortable and not enjoyable. I was riding less and less, which further eroded the comfort level when I did get out there. Then late last summer I traded in the big cruiser for a smaller Honda CB500X. The lighter weight and slimmer width of the Honda has brought back the fun of riding. Now I look for excuses to ride and over the last six months have ridden more than I did in the last two years. So for me the choice is easy: function allows me to ride and that is true beauty.

Danny Sims, Boston, Virginia

I think one of the things that may be driving recent bike design is the aging of riders. Recently I traded for a 2014 Honda NC700X DCT ABS. It is light, which makes it very easy for me to handle and wrangle around the garage. I no longer have to shift, which is good because I’m developing arthritis in my left hand and I have Type 2 Diabetes so my left foot is numb, making shifting difficult. It gets great mileage, and I have no problem riding it on dirt roads. I added a National Cycle VStream Touring windscreen and highway pegs, so it’s comfortable enough to take on a trip if I so wish. I like the “frunk” too. In fact, I like the whole style of the bike: brawny in the front and narrow at the rear, like a bison. So I got lucky: I got comfort andstyle.

Chuck Miller, Loveland, Colorado

It has struck me over the past year as I read your many adventure bike reviews that function apparently rules. I agree that “motorcycles are first and foremost about appealing to one’s emotions,” as Tuttle penned. To me form rules in the emotions realm, but I also think function and form don’t have to be mutually exclusive. The first thing that attracted me to my 2007 FJR1300 was its drop-dead gorgeous looks. Yet functionally, it’s the best touring motorcycle I have ever ridden.

Tom Clement, Hazen, North Dakota

As usual your editorial hits a nail or two right on the Philips head! To your question of whether or not function is now outselling the form, I would say yes, to a certain extent. There is some truth to the saying, “What was old is new again,” but as you point out, today’s new riders are coming at the motorcycling exercise from a few different angles due to environmental, large-scale economic and even social and political aspects. Yet there still one very salient part of the motorcycle purchasing decision, which was was driven home to me back in 1984, when I was the parts manager at a multi-brand dealership and was starting to cross over into bike sales. If a person does not get a tug on their “heart strings” and can’t see themselves on that machine—looking good and feeling happy—there is nothing that can get them to buy it. Conversely, if it moves their soul, no amount of written reviews on its performance and ridicule of others about its looks or performance will stop them from riding away on that machine.

Ben Getz, Moses Lake, Washington

My ideal new bike is a machine that looks awesome, can keep up with sportbikes in the canyons and is all-day comfortable. Street-biased ADVs have been my compromise for more than a decade now (2007 V-Strom, then a 2015 KTM 1190 Adventure), even though I’ve never been fond of the look. I grew up when almost all bikes were standards. Comfortable, upright seating (usually for two), decent twisty road performance and touring capability came with the package. Then bikes began to specialize: sportbikes, naked sportbikes and cruisers. In the mid-to-late ‘90s we started to read reviews of the oilhead BMW GS machines, claiming they could stay on the tails of well-ridden sportbikes on real-world twisty roads, and even outrun them if road conditions deteriorated. These bikes had comfortable, upright seating for two, and enough wind protection for even longer days in the saddle. A bit odd-looking, but they possessed the performance/comfort combination of the best standards/nakeds with added capabilities for touring and dirt road riding. No surprise that ADV bikes ended up being so popular. Function off the charts, rugged form in mostly metal.

I’ve always pined for classic good looks though, and while early “retro” bikes looked great they were a few steps behind nakeds and ADVs in performance and technology. Only now are there some machines coming out that combine clean, classic looks with the latest in tech and performance, like Indian’s FTR1200 and Triumph’s 1200 Scramblers. My short list now contains retros, nakeds and ADVs. I’m still performance/comfort first, but I’ll sacrifice a small amount of either for a great looking bike!

Larry Wall, Conifer, Colorado

Mark Tuttle hit the nail on the head with his editorial on Form vs. Function. I have been riding for almost 60 years and have owned almost all the brands of bikes. At my age I try to keep an open mind about things. However I am from the age of form over function. I think ABS is a great feature but the rest of the gadgets are not desirable to me. I would rather do wide sweeping curves so I can enjoy the sights rather than drag my knees in S curves. I do read about the new bikes and I bet they have more power and function than I could safely handle. I know beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but except for the some of Triumph retro models the rest of the bikes in the 2019 lineup look like bugs or robots with beaks. Yes I know I am from the age when a rain suit was a garbage bag with holes for you arms and head. By the way what the heck is a slipper clutch?

Paul Mancine, Alpena, Michigan

Greetings. I am a long-time subscriber, and there’s something that I’ve needed to say for a while now regarding Jenny Smith.

Let me begin by saying I’m kind of old, and a product of my generation. When Ms. Smith was introduced to us readers, I remember thinking, “Oh, good. I like it when motorcyclists take into account the feminine perspective.” I am now somewhat ashamed to admit that what I expected was reviews on gear and apparel for women and pillion reports.

Boy was I wrong! There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she is the real deal.

To Jenny I have to say, “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. You are truly one of us.” I look forward to your reviews and articles and hold your opinions in as high regard as I do any of the fine staff at Rider, my favorite magazine. It makes my heart soar to know that women like you exist. To whoever made the decision to hire her I say, “Well done! And thank you.”

Steve & Alice, via email

What’s this? Heated grip install article from Ari Henning?! Which magazine is this? Yep, its Rider, and my life just got a little better. Absolutely fabulous to have you here, Ari. Bring on a feature article ASAP please. If the Ridereditors work in a couple features from Jack Lewis, I’ll take up smoking again ‘cause I’ll be ready to die a happy man. Also thanks to Jenny for starting to break out of “how the bike

feels to the body” and into “how the ride feels to the heart” in the Triumph Street bikes article.

Dave G., Bailey, Colorado

I just wanted to share my excitement! After having an accident working at my friend’s house, I didn’t think I’d ever get to ride again. I amputated three of my middle fingers on my right hand. I was so distraught I sold my beloved Concours 14 a week after the accident. I tried sitting on my wife’s CTX700 a few times…. Each time I would get off without any inkling that my hand would be good enough to run a brake lever ever again. After three months I finally turned a corner and thoughts started creeping back into my head. Maybe the thoughts were irrational, but I was just so happy to be in the position that the use of my right hand was not only coming back, but coming back fast after months of pain and agony. I would say I started shopping for a new bike but, honestly, there were only a few bikes I deemed an upgrade over what I had. Of those only one fit what I was really looking for and spoke to me when I sat on it: a brand-new KTM Super Adventure 1290 R! I was so excited to be getting another bike but unfortunately my hand wasn’t the only thing throwing my life into a tailspin during this time. My dad (and best friend) was slowly dying from brain cancer. By the time I got the bike home he was already in hospice and unable to communicate. In fact he passed away shortly after I got it. I never got to tell him about my new toy, or to share my excitement. But I know that first ride he will be there with me in spirit. So to all my fellow riders, have a great spring and enjoy the ride!

Andrew Kramer, Saint Michael, Minnesota

I enjoyed reading your review of the Triumph Street Twin and Scrambler. Jenny Smith helpfully included her height, weight and inseam in the article. Having a test riders stats are very helpful when considering the suitability of a potential motorcycle. If these stats were consistently posted in your format, as you post the

helmet, jacket, pants and boots, it would put an accurate ergonomic context to your reviews. Keep up the good work.

Chuck Gardner, via email

Regarding “Bigger Isn’t Better,” I agree with Chris Shockey that smaller bikes deserve a higher place in the motorcycle pantheon. I turned 65 this past year and love my 2005 BMW R 1200 RT, but dang, it is getting too heavy to move around the garage. Also, we have a gravel driveway. Twice, my foot has slipped, and down we went. My 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS and I have no such problems. Yes, Chris, I ride the same bike. A five-day trip through beautiful British Columbia on my Versys proved fabulous. With hand guards and a touring windscreen the elements were

Well-managed. I never wanted for more horsepower; brief blasts to 90-plus mph felt stable and provided miles of smiles. Passing on inclines, enjoying the twisties and the Trans-Continental Highway stints were all handled with aplomb. Plus, I feel safer, I’m enjoying riding as much or more than ever, and smaller bikes don’t have nose bleed MSRPs. A final thought: in the day, a 650cc bike was BIG!

Stan Howard, Goodyear, Arizona

First off, kudos to you all for Rider. You are one of my top two. (Hint: the other one accepts no advertising.) Obviously, you have noticed the recent format change of a couple other popular m/c magazines. Just thought I’d pass along the opinion of one old reader: I like/prefer the current Rider format. Perhaps it’s because I’m just an old geezer set in my ways?! Dunno. Just know that’s what I like. Thought I’d mention it to you if you might be interested in what one reader thought of the different approaches to a magazine. Keep the good work going. Thanks.

Larry Zimmer, Brighton, Michigan

Your retrospective article on the Yamaha 250cc two-stroke twins, which were sold in the U.S in the 1960s brought back some fond memories. I purchased a new 1964 Yamaha YDS-Z 250cc two-stroke twin while in college in Providence, Rhode Island, the only one of its kind around then. All my riding friends had British four-stroke bikes from Triumph, Norton and BSA of about 600cc, but the Yamaha two-stroke could out-pace the larger bikes up and down the college hills in Providence. It had a distinctive bumblebee sound that you could hear a block away. It wasn’t loud, just distinctive.

One problem was that it did not yet have Yamaha’s auto lube oil injection system so you had to pour and mix two-stroke oil yourself into the fuel tank. I once forgot to pour in enough oil during gas fill up and on a long trip the engine seized on me. I did get the bike repaired, but I traded it in for a Honda 305 four-stroke Hawk. The Honda was super reliable, but for pure fun the Yamaha two-stroke still had all of them beat.

Ronald D. Russo, Naples, Florida

Eleven years ago I met my future husband; he captured my heart and swept me away on his Yamaha Raider. Ten years ago we got married. Nine years ago he taught me to ride a dirt bike (he and his daughter were having so much fun that I wanted to join in!). Eight years ago I bought my first dirt bike. Seven years ago I got my motorcycle endorsement (so I could finally be street legal on my 125cc scooter). Six years ago, we started collecting vintage motorcycles, both dirt and street. Throughout the years, my husband has been receiving Rider, yet he didn’t subscribe to it, so we are not sure who has been paying for it. When I would beat him to the mailbox and find your magazine had arrived, I would flaunt it in front of him, teasing him that “my” magazine had come in the mail and I would let him read it when I was finished. Last year, my husband passed away. While I’ve always preferred riding two-up, this summer I plan to buy a street bike of my own. Your magazine still arrives each month, and I read it from cover to cover. Now, more than ever, I pay attention to the motorcycle comparisons and test rides as well as the rider safety articles. Your magazine has been a constant, a familiar, a semblance of normalcy, when so much else has changed. Thanks for the read, keep up the good work.

Laura Hochnadel, Thornton, Colorado

Eric Trow’s “Flash Flood” (Riding Well, February 2019) was knee-deep in analogies, which is very much his writing strength. It is not unusual to have network commentators (i.e. Andy Rooney, RIP) or even comedians (Brian Regan comes to mind) take everyday situations or tasks and rephrase them in a manner that resonates with the audience, evoking either pondering or laughter. Trow accomplishes this in the realm of motorcycling with seemingly effortless grace, and his advice, packaged as metaphors that make us smile, is more likely to stick to the cerebrum of the modern rider than stuffy academics or the war stories of aged instructors such as myself. Kudos to not only his passion for safety, but to his writing style as well!

Kevin Greenwald, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

I enjoyed reading the Favorite Ride by Stephen Cantrill (“Gila County Loop,” February 2019). I certainly agree that this is one beautiful ride. However, I must object to his giving short shrift to State Route 88. The Apache Trail, as it is also known, is actually paved from its start near Apache Junction to seven miles past Tortilla Flats. That’s where the fun really begins. The road surface is rocky and a little loose; it includes some short stretches of washboard but no sand. While Stephen was right that a dual sport/adventure bike would be best, my FJR on Roadsmart 3s made it without a slip or a slide. If you like a challenge this could be your road.

David Cornstuble, Sun City, Arizona

Jerry Stevens’ letter on his adventures later in life, viewing travel from the seat of his motorcycle, rang a note with me (Response, February 2019). I have been at it for 50 years and have ridden in several states more than once. When I started traveling on my new 2003 Yamaha Venture (still my current ride), I realized it might be nice to see how many states I could ride with the same bike, so I started planning routes to take me through as many as possible. One six-week, 10,600-mile trip took us from our Indiana home to Haines, Alaska, then to Bellingham, Washington, via the Inside Passage Ferry. We then traveled back east, being sure to ride through states I had not yet covered on this bike. The following year, we crossed the border at Detroit, and took a four-week trip east, covering the eastern Canadian provinces, including five days in Newfoundland. I’ve ridden this bike in D.C., 49 states, the ten provinces of Canada and Yukon Territory. That leaves two territories in Canada not ridden, due to their locations and lack of roads.

I think Jerry must have counted a territory as a province, since Canada has only ten provinces and three territories. Only a minor error, and still a lot of great riding! We did learn that Newfoundland is a beautiful island, called “The Rock”, but only has about a week of “summer.” Plan carefully if you want to ride there! Maybe one of these days he and I can meet in San Diego and ship our bikes to ride the 50^th state!

A.C. Reeves, Columbus, Indiana

I very much enjoyed reading Mr. Stevens’ letter to the editor in the February issue and applaud him on the amount of riding and the number of states and provinces he has visited over the last 10 years. However, if Mr. Stevens was referring to Canadian provinces, it should be noted that Canada has 10 provinces, not eleven.

Norbert Greczmiel, Langley, British Columbia

I read with great interest Mr. Salvadori’s evaluation on the ContiGO! Tires (Gearlab, January 2019). I, too, have a Bonnie (2017 T100) that wore out the front Pirelli tire after just 4,000 miles. As the article states these are tubeless tires. I was always told never to use tubes with a tubeless tire. What gives, is it OK?

Tom Huhn, Lakeville, Pennsylvania

Hi Tom, when the tire is of an appropriate size for the spoked wheel and is not a radial, in most cases it’s OK to fit a tube in tubeless tire. In general it is said to reduce the tire’s speed and load rating by one level, e.g. from H to S, but on a light, low-top-speed bike like the Bonnie the load rating is more relevant. Bias-ply tires tend to generate a lot of heat, and there was a brief period as more and more became tubeless that it was not appropriate to run one with tubes. But as carcass, tread and liner designs have improved that limitation has mostly gone away. Still important to check with the manufacturer first. Conti says it’s OK with the ContiGO! in the sizes that fit the Bonnie. –EIC

I can’t agree with your thought that function takes priority over style. As an owner of numerous sport touring and café racer models over the past 30-plus years, I must say that the increasing dominance of “adventure” style bikes causes me no small degree of dismay. In two words, I find them ugly and graceless. Since when were motorcycles only supposed to be about utilitarian function? My garage currently houses a BMW R 1200 RT, a Ducati 848 and a new BMW R Nine T Racer. The RT provides all the practicality I need, while the 848 and Racer make my heart beat faster just looking at them. Call me crazy, but if “adventure” bikes were the only choice, I’d hang up my helmet.

Greg Mitchell, Columbia, Missouri

To me a clean, air-cooled V-twin has that cool “bad boy” look, so yes, I choose form over function. Why? People who appreciate that big, heavy cruiser style always walk past with a smile. And the sound of a big cruiser or bagger is second to none. I love going to local bike shows and seeing all the different custom jobs, and I think a custom ADV bike just isn’t the same. I don’t care much for the way the new bikes are turning out form-wise, but I guess I’m a bit old-fashioned.

Logan Ryan, Van Buren, Arkansas

Source: RiderMagazine.com