Youthful Reminder

For many years, we’ve been able to accurately predict the weather. And, for those of us with smartphones, we can have this ability with us while we travel on our bikes. So, it’s been years since I’ve gotten really soaked while riding my VFR.

The other day I wasn’t paying attention and went to do some work in another town. On the way home I ran into a downpour. What was strange was that, as the water got through my summer jacket to my skin, I started laughing inside my full-face helmet. I was flashing back to a younger me, way back in college 50 years ago, when we had little idea what was coming and often got surprised.

The joy was infectious and seemed to take decades off of my life.

Gary Lowe | Portsmouth, N.H.

Automated Distraction

All the issues of American Motorcyclist are interesting and informative, but August’s was top notch.

Also, the October issue’s “More Than Racing,” was an eye opener. I never thought some members of the AMA would consider the organization as “for racing only.” No bashing here. Good job of enlightening us all.

Under the AMA’s position on autonomous vehicles, I feel there is more than just recognizing motorcycles. If autonomous vehicles don’t properly see and respond to motorcycles, how will they treat pedestrians, animals, or road hazards such as, mufflers, trailer tire debris, trees and the like? Many drivers can’t stay focused with regular vehicles. Automated ones will only increase distracted driving.

Sandy Rhodes | Vermont, USA

Financial Incentive

I was quite surprised to read that a bill was introduced to the Ohio legislature to impose an extra fine for distracted driving. To my amazement, I find it hard to fathom that it would only be a secondary offense and only applicable if pulled over for another moving violation.

While riding, my biggest concern is distracted drivers. It is hard to find someone who is not actually on a phone.

If for no other reason, it seems to me if it were an offense for which one could be pulled over and cited, the cities, suburbs and villages would see a tremendous increase in revenue. While it seems that safety is not their concern, we all know they have no problem taking our money.

Vic Baroni Jr. | Cleveland, Ohio

Looking For A Bottle

I loved reading Sean’s “Small Town Kentucky Motorcycling” article in the October issue of American Motorcyclist. Then I saw his reference to the Suzuki oil bottle and was immediately relieved that my memory had not left me—I really did have one of those on my 1964 K10. So I have been looking for one for years but have never found one. Anyone have one for sale?

Everyone please safely enjoy our sport.

Bruce Wright | Conneaut, Ohio

If anyone has a vintage Suzuki oil bottle they would be willing to part with, send us a note at [email protected], and we’ll connect you with Bruce. Thanks!

Relative Reliability

I had to grin when I read “Montana or Bust” by Steve Swanson in the October issue. The author mentioned that he wasn’t so trusting of a 14-year-old motorcycle with 55,000 miles.

The reason that I’m grinning is that I was thinking about one of my last motorcycles that I owned before I quit riding at 87 years of age: a 1997 Honda Valkyrie, bought new.

The original Honda Valkyrie hasn’t been made been made since 2003 and many of them, still owned and running, have over 100,000 miles and some over 200,000 miles. I personally know of one original owner of a 2000 Valkyrie who has over 600,000 miles on it—yes, that’s 600,000 miles! Unfortunately, he had to spoil his record and have one of the cylinder heads replaced at 500,000 miles. It was the first time that the motor needed a new part. To my knowledge, his Valkyrie left him stranded on the road about three times during all of those 600,000 miles.

As an old motorhead rider who started riding on a 1946 Matchless in 1947, and a Charter Life Member of the AMA, I most certainly can appreciate good reliability in a motorcycle.

Those who doubt my word about a Valkyrie with 600,000 miles on it and still running, can look it up on Google under VRCC (Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club).

Wayne A. Doenges | New Haven, Ind.

Word Choice

I beg to differ with the view in “More Than Racing” (October issue) that “operating any motor vehicle on our nation’s roadways … is indeed a privilege … bestowed upon us by a motor vehicle licensing agency.”

This is a notion promoted by elected and unelected officials alike in support of the concept that government ought to direct the lives and actions of citizens, rather than carrying out policies as directed by those citizens.

Who owns those roadways? You and I do! We pay for their construction and maintenance. We pay to ensure basic levels of competence for vehicle operators. We pay for development of uniform traffic regulations. In no sense whatsoever is access to what we own a “privilege.”

The belief that hired administrators are entitled to deny use of roadways to anyone who has met agreed-on standards of competence and vehicle condition is nonsense.

Dick Worth | Churchton, Md.

Mr. Worth, as was mentioned in the column, the word “privilege’ was intentionally used to illustrate the power that government agencies do have over road users.

Absolutely, motorcyclists have every right to use public roadways. However, the risk to that right is real. The government could and does overreach and enact restrictions under the guise of public safety by changing the very “agreed-on standards” that you mention.

To ensure those standards continue to include motorcycles, we must recognize and verbalize the extent of the threat so that we can address it appropriately.

Correction

The photograph on page 18 of the September dirt/competition issue of American Motorcyclist is Chris Abell. The rider was misidentified in the caption.