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/456427
CN III VOICES L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R "There is nothing less convincing than a champion without a win." Two-Strokes I'm with Steve Caro (Voices, issue 4). I've long been aware of the forced demise of the two- strokes and Honda's role in it. Back in the day, I raced moto- cross, hare scrambles, endu- ros, drag races and traveled the highways—all on two-strokes. Over 50 years of riding on many different brands, I have never bought a Honda. Never will. Michael Scott wrote an in- formed and excellent article. Robert Echard State College, Pennsylvania While I agree with everything Steve [Caro] wrote, and own a KTM 200 myself, I feel there are two more points to consider as to why two-strokes have been replaced by four-strokes in spectator intensive forms of dirt racing like motocross. First, there are many indoor arenacross and Supercross races, and having been to the flat track indoor races in the era of the dirtier '70s two-strokes, the exhaust was so dense in the air as to make seeing difficult, to say nothing of breathing the noxious fumes. Even today with 60:1 mixture ratios, the wide- spread use of two-stoke exhaust fumes and smoke would seem to be a problem for promotors seeking to maximize the spec- tating experience for the fans, televising the event to generate all the advertising revenue and also a potential legal issue from a health standpoint as well. Second is fan appeal from a sound standpoint. The AMA correctly determined in flat track that the fans preferred the sound of the four stroke motors over the sound of the two strokes. Regardless of performance, the four strokes sound more muscular than their buzzing and shrieking two stroke counterparts. And they are less annoying to track neighbors, too. For dedicated dirt riders or racers, these may not be such a big issues, but to the mainstream fans that the sport depends on at the professional levels, they can be the difference between buying a ticket or not. Roger Falasco Solon, Ohio Michael Scott's article is dead- on. As a two-stroke fanatic, I agree that all motorcyclists are made the poorer—in fact, robbed—by the high-handed decisions of industry CEOs and their "marketing gurus." "Green" two-strokes are not only possible, but, in fact, in production. The argument that four-strokes pollute less is purely a load of crap. Vic Plichota Temple, Texas Promoting Bowers I guess since it's the Monster Energy Supercross Series, Fox Sports feels the need to spend tremendous amounts of airtime talking up the dirtiest rider on the circuit—Mr. Tyler Bowers. Funny thing is the more they do features on him, the more you realize he is a clown and not nearly as talented he and Fox Sports would try to have you believe! [Bowers] needs to head back to Arenacross be- fore he hurts someone good. Brad Muter Raleigh, NC No Lawyers If anyone needs a new week- end job it's you [Chad Reed]! You, by your own admission, broke the rules. Mr. Gallagher is there to enforce those rules. Show some good grace and back down. Bringing lawyers into the mix is good for the lawyers and no one else. Paul Ward Durban, South Africa Keep the lawyers out of it! Talk about opening up a can of worms. Howard Halterman Via the Internet Quieting Critics Ryan Dungey was fast tonight. He needed the win to quiet crit- ics, especially if he is a cham- pionship contender at the end of the season. There is nothing less convincing than a cham- pion without a win. David Rutledge Via the Internet 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 P16