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From: david@tekig5.UUCP (David Hayes)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: buying a bike
Message-ID: <293@tekig5.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Oct-85 14:34:19 EST
Article-I.D.: tekig5.293
Posted: Wed Oct 30 14:34:19 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 04:38:19 EST
References: <1086@decwrl.UUCP>
Reply-To: david@tekig5Hayes.UUCP (David Hayes)
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 45




First bike, hmmmm,

My recommendation for a first bike would be at least a 400-450cc
machine of no more than about 5 years old.  The only gripe I 
have for small bikes is along with the engine being small,
so is the bike.  No doubt one of the first things you will want
to do is take a friend along, and the 200 or 250 or 305 will
not give you enough power to get out of peoples way.  Another 
thing is that I doubt you will want to scoot around all day
at 9000 rpm to get any power, or at least until your fillings
fall out.
Being from this great land of excess, my first bike was and is a
850 Suzuki, full dress.  Granted it is not super trivial to
do figure 8's in the garage, but the comfort is super.  Plus,
you don't ever need to rev over 5000 rpm, so you don't get this
feeling of over taxing your new toy.  If you do want to pull to
the 9 grand redline, you will find it absolutely amazing why
you would need 11 sec 1/4 miles.  I think my bike might crack
13 flat on a good day, fairing and all.
The best advice would be to test ride as many bikes as you can
borrow, steal, or act like you're really going to buy.
My choices would include:

the venerable 550cc Kawasaki UJM, probably find a new 83 around
for 1500-2000$

500-650 Honda Silverwing, zero maint. water cooled shafty

650cc Honda, the old SOHC, still produced up until a coupla years ago.

550-650 Suzuki in line fours, the newer 650's has triple disks,
	air forks, shaft drive, lots of goodies.

There was one Yamahammer I liked and that was the 650cc shafty
Euro style bike (not the Maxim cruiser) very clean, 8 inch ROUND
headlight, inline four, not many left around but I think there
are still a few new ones for darn good prices.


Well enough of this,

dave