MCN STAR LETTER
Write something that spikes our interest, and you could get selected for the Star Letter slot. Every week one lucky scribbler will be rewarded with one of our retro MCN T-shirts
They’re not built to last
Richard Newland is so right, it seems to me, when he comments on “how fast some new bikes deteriorate” in his longterm test item on the Honda Africa Twin AS (MCN, November 25) which was prompted by flaking paint and rusting frame and this on a £20k bike. I too am dealing with similar poor quality parts on my 2019 Suzuki DL650 which, due to health problems, has only done 1400 dry miles and the rest of the time it rests in a heated garage. It seems to be a common problem on a variety of brands but even worse, it seems to have become acceptable. I would ask why? We should all be shouting our heads off about such problems. Are these bikes to be considered ‘not fit for purpose’? As long as we put up with these sub- standard products the manufacturers will continue to con us and laugh all the way to the bank. Barrie Lynn, Aberystwyth
Bring on the new KLX!
Kawasaki released details of their new models last week, including a KLX300. I contacted Kawasaki to check availability in the UK and it’s not being introduced here, or Europe apparently. Disappointing result as the choice is now the Honda CRF300L (don’t want one) or not a lot else for a reasonable cost. It seems that this area of the market is woefully ignored. Many people don’t want big and heavy multicylinder machines and my only option seems to be importing one from the USA (not feasible) unless you know different. I can only hope Kawasaki change their mind, although at least my KLX250’s value is holding up well. Rusty, email
Loving every minute
Interesting reading the letter from Ronnie Kerr “it’s never too late and you’re never too old” (MCN Letters, December 2). After recovering from a cancer operation, I decided to return to biking at the age of 64 after a 43-year-break. Attended a one day course, only telling the instructor that I had not ridden for a few years, at the end of the day he could not believe that it had been that length of time. First bike was a Honda CBF600, which was quickly followed by a CBF1000 and over the next five years, the collection included a CBR600RR, Fireblade and a Triumph 675SE. A visit to the NEC in 2011 was the beginning of an MV journey and in 2012 I purchased an F3 675 and after every two years obtained a different model: F3 800, 800RC (signed by Giacomo Agostini), two Dragster RR and now at the age of 79 about to move on to the Superveloce. I still average 4000 to 5000 miles each year and have loved every minute of my riding. Bruce Taylor, email
Riding the ghost track
Phil West’s feature on visiting the old Reims-Gueux circuit brought back memories of when, on the way back from the Mugello MotoGP in 2009, I stopped there for a quick look round with my mates Andy and Steve on our sportsbikes (my GSX-R1000 and their R1s). The D27 straight was very quiet so we thought we’d remove the luggage and take turns to try out the bikes on the straight past the pits from the roundabout with the D26 on the south side. We then replaced the luggage and thought we would make a quiet exit via the village of Gueux via the same roundabout. Imagine our surprise when the first building just past the end of the straight and roundabout was a Gendarmerie. Chris Scapens, Bristol
Should I have knee op?
I have been looking all over for the answer to how safe it is to ride my motorbikes after my knee replacement surgery. The answer should/could make help my up mind about having it. Does anybody have any experience of similar? Alan D McCord, email
Where’s Johnny?
I want to register my anger at Jonathan Rea not being included in the list of nominees for this fiasco of a Sports Personality of the Year show. It’s so biased, even Foggy was snubbed when he was ‘invited’ to the show a few years back. Adrian Powell, email
Take every ride you can
You just have to make the most of every ride right now. I had a beautiful socially distanced trip from Peterborough to Wells-next-the-Sea on my Harley and then a ride on the classic Dakar bike, to one of the Dambusters test lakes which is close to Uppingham. Dermot Pelan, email