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
"After not having ridden in a while and a load bearing down
on the mind, your advice seems to be the correct Rx."
Kawasaki KLX230
Having ridden my 2014 KLX250
all over the great state of Cali-
fornia, the only thing it needs is
to lose weight as I'm envious of
those sub-300-pound bikes. It is
extremely capable, most depend-
able and easily affordable. The
suspension is downright sur-
prising it's so good. Outside of
a sprocket change, it needs noth-
ing out of the box.
Comparing the KLX250 to
the KLX230 is a mistake; [the
KLX250] shares much more with
the KLX300R.
Anthony LaGrasta
Though I applaud Kawasaki for
bringing fresh machines to the
trail bike market, I can't think a
[near] 300-pound motorcycle is
good for anyone, especially be-
ginners. With all the intelligence
in their engineering departments,
one would think they could find a
better way—without significantly
increasing costs.
It's sad that two-strokes are
no longer fashionable, as low
weight and low center of gravity
could be had in an entry-level
motorcycle. Regardless,
there are engine configura-
tions available, such as the
forward-cylinder style of the
KLX110 for instance, that are
proven reliable and could be
adopted on larger displace-
ment applications.
Speaking of, no one
makes the ultimate beginner
bike: 7/8-size, lightweight,
fully automatic transmission
with something mimicking engine
deceleration braking. That would
sell like hotcakes, and nearly
every mom stuck at the camp-
site would be out riding with the
family.
M. Dayn Mansfield
Motorcycling and
Mental Health
Agree 100% on Rennie's Lowside
editorial this week (November
26).
Happy Thanksgiving to you
and the Cycle News family. I'm
going riding now.
Paul Golde
Very nice article. All true. After
not having ridden in a while and a
load bearing down on the mind,
your advice seems to be the cor-
rect Rx.
George Peckham
Nice article, Rennie. My "ther-
apy" session would be to go to
Austria and do week-long trail
ride in the Austrian countryside
on a brand new 300 TPI KTM.
That would do me good, I'm most
certain. Thanks for your perspec-
tive.
Daniel Hall
I hadn't ridden my Kawasaki
Zephyr in a couple of weeks and
I was getting cranky. So one
night last week, I filled the tank,
checked the tire pressure, and
hit the road. I live in southern
Nevada and the nights are getting
cold. I took Lake Shore Drive
around Lake Mead, a smoothly
paved road that winds its way
through the desert. The moon
was bright, the lake was like
glass, and I didn't see another
vehicle. The bike was running
strong (don't they always seem to
when it's cold?) and I ended up
in Logandale. I took I-15 on the
way back, stopped for a bite to
eat and a beer in Las Vegas and
wished I could just ride all night.
The only mental effect that I can
compare riding to is the "runner's
high." When I was a much young-
er man, after running a few miles
my mind would wander, recalling
memories and my thoughts just
drifting. Before I knew it, I had
run five more miles without even
being aware of it. I had the same
experience as I rode home, my
thoughts only interrupted by the
heat I felt as I passed under the
highway overpasses radiating the
warmth they had absorbed from
the Nevada daytime sun.
Riding is good for your head.
That's why motorcyclists seem
to be happy and content. I know
I am.
Matt Di Teresa
