Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1138054
CN III VOICES W H A T Y O U A R E S A Y I N G P6 Letters to the editor can be sent to voices@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Letters should not exceed 150 words and are subject to editing. Anonymous letters won't be considered for publication and each letter should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number… Editor Vale Carlin Dunn What a tragedy losing Carlin Dunne at Pikes Peak. Nearly at the end of the run for the fastest time of the day. What went wrong we may never know for sure, but we know it casts a shadow that will be a long time lifting. Congrats to Rennie [Scay- sbrook, Cycle News Road Test Editor], and congrats to Lucy [Glockner] an incredible woman that broke the 10-minute barrier. It is so sad to do so well and at the same time be overshadowed by such a tragic loss. When some- thing like this happens it saddens the entire motorcycle community. Godspeed, Carlin. Al Banta Politics, Religion and Electric Motorcycles I agree with some of Scot Hard- en's points in his guest editorial, such as enjoying an electric mo- torcycle for the experience (yes, there are pros and cons, as Mr. Harden mentioned). But there are other points that get overlooked besides the visceral, romantic or emotional ones we all talk about. 1. Batteries are a lot more than one generation away from real viability, so I don't know where he arrives at that conclusion, it's simply not correct. Take one look at the battery it takes to power Harley-Davidson's current attempt at an electric vehicle. It is huge and heavy, leaving out that it is ugly! 2. "Thermal efficiency" has nothing to do with it, batteries will NEVER have the "Energy Density" necessary to make them a genuine alternative to "Tradi- tional" fuels. No battery will EVER have the power to launch a com- mercial airliner into the air, and complete a cross-country flight carrying freight or passengers. 3. People, including Mr. Harden, tend to (knowingly) ignore, forget or dismiss the fact that as nice as electricity is, it has to come from somewhere. It is not something we simply plug into without concern for where it comes from. That is why major technical publications, in reviewing pure electric or "hybrid" vehicles, calculate the energy/cost in actual miles per gallon or mpg/e in "well- to-wheel" calculations. In other words, the actual cost and effi- ciency of generating the electricity (coal-fired generation, natural gas generation, nuclear generation, wind-powered generation or solar generation) to power the vehicles, whether two- or four-wheeled. It is like a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle—interesting, until you calculate the energy required to produce/generate the hydrogen, and the cost in both materials and energy to build and produce the "fuel cells." Most of these vehicles/manufacturers avail themselves of massive govern- mental subsidies to be even near feasible, much less practical! 4. People buy vehicles like motorcycles for a combination of reasons: Excitement, SOUND, looks, freedom, all of the above, and to some extent, visceral emo- tions. When Formula 1 regulations specified V-6 Turbo/hybrid Pow- erplants (MGU's) the overall sound became a muted "Blaaaaaah," and it resulted in a small crisis that has not been resolved to this day, and fewer paying spectators. People go to motor races for the entire experience, including the sound! We currently have an all- electric open-wheel racing series called Formula E. It is not bad racing, as far as it goes, but the reality is that it draws zero crowds! Few, if any paying spectators, and the only sponsors are those who are involved on the electrical tech- nology industry. As I said, interest- ing, but not financially viable. Mr. Harden's article was "fair comment" as far as it goes, and well thought out. But as my origi- nal letter to you stated, the bone that I, and I am sure many people, wanted to pick is, and was, that this publication is supposed to be devoted to actual, effective motorcycle racing and sport, not someone's political position on a subject that few, if any of us are interested in. (And obviously don't agree with!) By all means Mr. Scott... Write an article and send it to one of the major, politically correct, not to mention left-lean- ing, news outlets .... but please leave it out of Cycle News! Richard T. Haight "It is so sad to do so well and at the same time be overshadowed by such a tragic loss."