I find it interesting to learn what compels a reader to submit a letter to the editor. We get the predictable assortment of Egan and Cameron fan mail, of course, but a personal favorite is the polarized feedback generated by the edgy wit of a John Burns piece. How anyone could seriously get angry at a guy that pokes fun at himself as cleverly as JB does escapes me.
Best, however, is when a reader’s letter stirs my own faded motorcycling memories. Although I didn’t author the feature story referenced by this particular reader, having purchased a showroom-fresh Suzuki GSX-R750 back in 1986, I can relate to Fast Capt 0686, who submitted his letter via www.cycleworld.com. The only street miles my blue/white 750 saw was an initial break-in before I set off chasing Suzuki GSX-R Cup glory in the inaugural season of the now-legendary roadrace series. Fast Capt’s recap of mods got me thinking of what my own bike’s race prep had consisted of. The strict production-based rules of the early Cup series allowed very few mods. I equipped my bike with a Fox Twin Clicker shock, K&N air filter, home-brew carb jetting, Ferodo brake pads and spent beaucoup bucks on Michelin Hi Sport bias-ply race rubber. If memory serves there may have also been a fork spring swap along the way, although I certainly recall a fair share of crash repair during my successful season-long qualifying bid for the Cup Final at Road Atlanta. Scrapes, bruises and busted bank account, such privateer memories are priceless.
The first Gixxer: Even a fuzzy photo can keep old memories sharp.
Oh, almost forgot…here’s the Capt’s letter of recollection referral: “Was looking through the June issue and came across the article, ‘A GSX-R Timeline: Checkered Past.’ I was lucky enough to be the owner of the ’86 GSX-R750, and 20 years later an ’06 Gixxer 750. The ’86 was indeed the first race-replica for the street; when the blinkers and mirrors came off, it was race-ready. If the bike went down or there was a mechanical problem—and back then, there was no eBay or www.gixxer.com—getting replacement parts from the dealer for such an exotic roadracer was very costly and the wait was months, not days, in south Texas.
“We parted ways and I did not ride for 20 years. Then into my life stepped the 2006 GSX-R750. Stunning! First time I whacked the throttle, I realized what 20 years of development had produced; the first trip down a twisty road produced a smile that was visible thru my iridium faceshield. As I type this, the bike is 30 months old and shows 39,850 miles on the odo. We ride. It also made the pilgrimage to Indy for MotoGP last year. Priceless.
“Had to dig up an old pic to share. Upgrades to the ’86: drilled stock exhaust, (only Yosh offered a pipe, for a pretty penny, and that was it) carbs jetted, race grips. There was not much aftermarket available at first. Upgrades to the ’06: Hot Bodies megaphone, KR fuel management, K&N filter, NGK sparkplugs, Vortex frame and axle sliders, KR bar-end sliders, Hot Bodies flush blinkers, Harris grips, Harris tank protector/gas cap protector, Home Depot fender eliminator (small L brackets), ceramic brake pads fore and aft, EK #525 “Old Yeller” chain, Driven sprockets. It gets pampered and it pampers back. Thanks for takin’ me back.”
Right back at ya, Capt.
