American Iron Magazine December 2017

LETTERS
stigma of danger that has so long been
a part of the public’s perception of mo
torcycling. Let us use our motorcycling
addiction as a badge of distinction that
imparts an image of safety whether we
are riding or driving.
Anyway, many thanks for the op
portunity to share my two cents
worth. And thank you, too, for another
great issue of American Iron. Man,
I don’t how you do it, but every issue
is just incredible.
Jack Burcham
Essex, MT
Here is a picture of my 2000 Ultra
Classic. Just love riding her through
the hills of the Carolinas. Like most
bikes, it is never completed. I always
have plans for the next thing. My wife
has named it the Mistress, as she says I
spend more time with the bike than her.
Kenneth Sapp
Via Internet
Hey, Buzz. Your column (#356) on
the shortage of new riders coming into
motorcycling really struck a chord
with me. I talk to a lot of younger folks
on the virtues of riding, and most say
they don’t enter the sport because
expressed huge concern over the
dangers of the sport, usually naming
other distracted drivers on the road
as their biggest cause for worry. Well,
yeah, I share those concerns, but I use
them to tighten up my game whether
I’m on my bike or in my truck. I’m 68
and got my license when I turned 14,
wagging lectures I’ve received over the
years from folks with good intentions
and concern for my safety. But lately
attentive riding habits helped avoid
accidents while driving. I don’t just
shut off those good riding habits when
can name several instances when those
I’m sure I’m not the only rider with
those experiences, and your magazine,
as well as other industry venues, may
very well be just the format for people
to share their thoughts and experi
ences. If we can somehow balance the
message to use caution when we are
riding with the fact that riding motor
cycles by extension makes better driv
ers of us all, we just might be able to
make some inroads with softening the
Here’s a shot of my 2015 Road Glide Special at Brush Creek during our ride
through War Eagle Mill area in northwestern Arkansas in June 2016. A side trip
on a mud/gravel road was a little dicey, but the scenery was worth it!
Joel Winick
Decatur, IL
I built this Softail in 1995 and have taken it apart and rebuilt it six times. This
time around it got raked, my buddy built the new tank, and it received a new 98"
S&S Shovelhead. The last motor came out of my 1982 FXR. The frame was built
by Jim Campbell Racing. My license plate on the Softail is “NOEVO,” but the
bike has gone through plenty of changes.
Victor Pearson
Via Internet
22 / American Iron / Issue #358 AIMag.com