Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihuxn.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihuxn!gadfly From: gadfly@ihuxn.UUCP (Gadfly) Newsgroups: net.cycle Subject: Re: first bike? Message-ID: <1221@ihuxn.UUCP> Date: Mon, 28-Oct-85 10:22:28 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxn.1221 Posted: Mon Oct 28 10:22:28 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 30-Oct-85 04:15:15 EST References: <2922@sun.uucp> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 40 -- > I'm looking to buy my first cycle. Anyone want to suggest a good first bike > for someone who's never been on one before? I'm planning mainly to do short > (~10 mile) commuting and local errand type stuff. How do you recommend > learning to handle the beast? What other things should I know about? (1) Get something small (<400cc). This will be easier to handle, especially around town, than a large cruiser. Also, if you're not going very far, a large bike may not warm up sufficiently for best running. Most states now have classes of MC license, depending on the size of the bike you take your test on. You might want to learn on something larger than you buy if you want to avoid restrictions on the size of bike you are allowed to drive. (2) Get a used bike. It's cheaper than new, and already broken-in. And it will have a few dings and dents, so when you have that inevitable first fall (your baptism into riding), you won't feel so bad about it. And you won't be so paranoid about it happening before hand. But have any used bike checked out by a good mechanic. My recommendation--the bike I ride (mostly around town, but on occasional 150 mi. trips) is the 200cc Honda twinstar. Maintenance is very easy, with valves you can get to without pulling the gas tank off, and a single set of points (the only other 2-cyl bike I'm aware of that has only 1 set of points on the crankshaft, so that the plugs also fire on the exhaust stroke, is the BMW). It's very smooth running, quiet, and has the most comfortable seat of any small bike I've been on. But get a 1981 or earlier--with a kick-starter. The electric starter is fine for occasional stalls, but it's attached to a pathetically weak 6-volt system. My 1980 starts on the 1st kick at -15F. -- *** *** JE MAINTIENDRAI ***** ***** ****** ****** 28 Oct 85 [7 Brumaire An CXCIV] ken perlow ***** ***** (312)979-7753 ** ** ** ** ..ihnp4!iwsl8!ken *** ***