From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!mes Newsgroups: net.cycle Title: Re: Midsize reviews? and Provocation - (nf) Article-I.D.: harpo.1399 Posted: Tue Mar 1 09:17:33 1983 Received: Wed Mar 2 04:47:29 1983 #R:rocheste:-85100:harpo:7000010:000:3255 harpo!mes Mar 1 08:24:00 1983 I have a very simple philosophy regarding motorcycle performance: I want/need just enough to get me out of the way if I have to. Actually, I think every machine over 440 cc will probably suffice, even at my 250 lb weight! (I'm talking acceleration only here.) Unfortunately, I guess, I fail to see the attractiveness in propelling ones self from a standing start to a quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. In fact, even if it were 20 seconds, I am pretty sure that I'd be hanging on for dear life anyway, and not really have the time or courage to notice just how fast I was going! And, since I'm flaming away here, whyizzit that 95% of motorcycle pictures in the magazines portray the machine losing its {left|right} peg, while the rider looks like he will be a candidate for orthopedic knee surgery, or at least third degree burn treatment?! Every photo shows the machine planted over into the pavement! In fact, I broke out in hysterics when I saw in one of the mags, in a review of the Aspencade, yep, you guessed it, a bright shiny new silver am/fm/cb radio, air suspension, and power windows Aspencade lying right down on it's side hell bent for destruction. I'm sorry folks: I don't ride this way, my friends don't ride this way, all of the people I meet on the road don't ride this way, in fact, the only person that does ride this way that I've ever known did have that knee operation for the obvious reason. Don't get me wrong - decent road performance all around is nice - there is a certain feeling that accompanies zipping along a winding country road on a motorcycle that is only approached, in my experience, by flying, and even that isn't the same thing. However, my pegs have never been scratched, and I would hope that they never will, for if you are down that fast and low you are probably going too fast for the area, and the risk of an unforseen obstruction is so great that the risk is just not worth whatever it is about doing that that turns so many people on...(long winded sentence, but ya get the idea.) So, I have to agree that most of the 11 second tire eating road melting monster machines are severe technological overkill. I, for one, do not care what my machine will do in the quarter mile, nor ever expect to find out personally, and I suspect most riders are in this same catagory. And for those that actually enjoy retinal seperation, let that be accomplished on a sanctioned race course under controlled conditions, to maximize the probability of survival of both the rider and the general public. And, hey you motorcycle magazine guys, would you wake up to the fact that most of your audience that would be in a position to purchase a $3000-$8000 motorcycle is not going to be the type of people interested in moving from one end of the parking lot to the other in 11 seconds. Lets hear some more details about other attributes the machine under review offers! Well, I expect to be flamed to death for this, but, like primal scream therapy, I feel much better now. Let me know if you think I am dead right or wrong - I'd be interested in knowing if the attitudes prevailing locally are just that. On my Kaw 750 twin for many, many more miles, Michael Sajor, BTL/WH, harpo!mes