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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   *** ***