Back in the heyday of print magazines, I devoured at least four each month, including Rider. Upon fetching the magazine from the mailbox I would immediately get comfortable and open to the last page, where would be found the "Retrospective" column, penned by Clement Salvadori. I enjoyed the informal, opinionated, entertaining accounts of an eclectic selection of classic motorbikes.
Clem was a modern renaissance man who lived with purpose and conviction, ivy league educated and serving as a Viet Nam-era Army Green Beret. His friend and long-time editor, Mark Tuttle, offered his personal remembrance:
"Sad news, especially after hearing of his wife Sue passing a few months ago. If there was ever a full life well lived, it was Clem's. I had the honor of being his editor at Rider for many years (which he tolerated but didn't always relish), and in 50 years of publication he was by far the magazine's most popular contributor. When Clem didn't have a pair of handlebars or a keyboard at hand, he was generally reading a travel book of some sort (or taking a nap), having touched feet and tires in more than 70 countries on six continents. He called himself the "Literary Motorcyclist" on his business card, and I always looked forward to reading his Road Tales columns and countless travel stories written for Rider and many other publications. I will miss his boisterous laugh, his story telling and even his infamous sneezing attacks, which could be heard in the next county. Mostly I will miss just riding with the guy, which always felt more important somehow. Godspeed Clem! I hope you made arrangements for the cats."
Clem was a modern renaissance man who lived with purpose and conviction, ivy league educated and serving as a Viet Nam-era Army Green Beret. His friend and long-time editor, Mark Tuttle, offered his personal remembrance:
"Sad news, especially after hearing of his wife Sue passing a few months ago. If there was ever a full life well lived, it was Clem's. I had the honor of being his editor at Rider for many years (which he tolerated but didn't always relish), and in 50 years of publication he was by far the magazine's most popular contributor. When Clem didn't have a pair of handlebars or a keyboard at hand, he was generally reading a travel book of some sort (or taking a nap), having touched feet and tires in more than 70 countries on six continents. He called himself the "Literary Motorcyclist" on his business card, and I always looked forward to reading his Road Tales columns and countless travel stories written for Rider and many other publications. I will miss his boisterous laugh, his story telling and even his infamous sneezing attacks, which could be heard in the next county. Mostly I will miss just riding with the guy, which always felt more important somehow. Godspeed Clem! I hope you made arrangements for the cats."
Clem also produced "Honda VF and VFR Interceptor," a glossy coffee table-style technical and historical treatise on the Interceptor through the 5th-generation, and touching upon the 6th, which had just been released at the time of publication.
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