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Letters
Letter of the Month
A Movie Night With The Stars
I just opened my latest issue of American Motorcyclist and saw the article on Peter Starr’s “Take It to The Limit” (“Still Taking It To The Limit,” August).
I first came across the movie on VHS at a local rental shop, and was blown away with this movie. I had seen both of the “On Any Sunday” films, but this was just in a different class.
Arlo Guthrie’s song, (“The Motorcycle Song”) was a family anthem. All of us rode at some time or another. I’m 73 now and still ride a Ducati Monster S4. One of my favorite scenes in the movie was Debbie Evans doing a headstand on her trials bike at Indian Dunes.
In 2006, a friend told me about an event put on by the Orange County Dualies Motorcycle Club at the Newport Big 6 in Newport Beach, Calif. They were holding a charity event featuring “Take It to The Limit” on the big screen.
Attending were Peter Starr, Russ Collins, Roger DeCoster, Debbie Evans and others involved in the movie. I immediately bought tickets. What a night! I was able to get Debbie Evans’ autograph, [take] photos of all the bikes there and watch the movie. Debbie had her trials bike from the movie. Kenny Roberts’ TZ750 was on display, plus several other very interesting motorcycles.
Memories of ‘The Natural’
Thank you for John L. Stein’s story on Marty Smith (“The Natural,” July). I was saddened to learn of the passing of Marty and his wife. I was a motorbike riding kid who grew up in the 1970s, and Marty Smith was my favorite racer. Even to this day, when I read articles about motocross, I reminisce about going to the races in Waggaman, La., and watching Smith, Roger DeCoster and the other great racers of the day. Somewhere in my house is an old 8 mm film of those races and of Marty doing almost sideways cross-ups during warmup. Thanks for the memories.
More Lessons Learned
What a great article written by John L. Stein [Lessons Learned, 50 Years On, September]. It took me back in time, because I also learned a lot of lessons in the same way during my 50 years of riding. Great article for beginners to experts. Current bikes I ride: 2018 KTM 150 SX, 2018 KTM 250 EXC-F, 2006 Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster Custom. I would like to also have a bike that will do 160 mph, but my wife says she would divorce me. I hear you, honey.
Lesson learned.
Delightful Lessons
I must tell you how much happiness John L. Stein’s article (“Lessons Learned, 50 Years On”) in your September issue brought me. Like John, I started riding in the late 1960s, albeit on a bit bigger bike, a Honda 160 “scrambler,” I bought by working after school.
My parents weren’t crazy about it, but were willing to let me stretch my wings. I, too, soon took up riding on trails with friends, one with a Honda 90 identical to the one in the article. I also had to learn all the great lessons that John learned the same way he did.
Those lessons have served me well. I have been riding all my life and on many bikes. I have more than 400,000 accident-free miles, and I credit them to those lessons. My life on motorcycles has been absolutely wonderful, with many great adventures.
Many thanks to John for bringing back what I suspect are common lessons for many of us who started riding as teenagers.
Charged Up About Electrics
This letter is in response to the Letter of the Month, “Not Energized,” in September.
The writer makes valid points about why current electric bikes may not suit his needs on the trails. I can also hear the bygone cowboys of the Midwest saying, “Those newfangled gas-powered bicycles will never replace my trusty horse. Where will I refuel one of those things out on the range?”
We have no idea how technology will evolve. What we do know is that the problems we face today only exist because we don’t have the answer with today’s knowledge. The way battery technology is evolving, I would bet electric motorcycle range will far surpass the range of gasoline-powered motorcycles with oversized tanks within the next 10 years. No doubt the Dakar Rally will have electric bikes in competition by that time, as well.
Riders of the future will wonder why their parents ever rode those oily, smelly bikes of the past.
