Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!decvax!cca!ima!ism780!darryl
From: darryl@ism780.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Good Handling Bike Recommendations W - (nf)
Message-ID: <184@ism780.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 20-May-84 00:26:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: ism780.184
Posted: Sun May 20 00:26:27 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 21-May-84 05:36:44 EDT
Lines: 57

#R:sun:-108800:ism780:15800010:000:2919
ism780!darryl    May 18 15:05:00 1984


 ######  #         ##    #    #  ######             ####   #    #   #
 #       #        #  #   ##  ##  #                 #    #  ##   #   #
 #####   #       #    #  # ## #  #####             #    #  # #  #   #
 #       #       ######  #    #  #                 #    #  #  # #   #
 #       #       #    #  #    #  #                 #    #  #   ##
 #       ######  #    #  #    #  ######             ####   #    #   #

The age of the four has come and gone three times this century!  Are
you sure it's going to hang around this time?  Raw horsepower
has NOTHING to do with the tractability of a motorcycle.  Anyone who
buys a motorcycle for the 1/4 mile times either only rides a few
weekends a year, or gets tired of the damn thing because its so
much effort in traffic.  That stiff clutch is fine for the dragstrip,
but how long can you hold it in in rush hour traffic?

In many aspects handling is at odds with speed, and the compromise that
you make shows how you plan (or don't plan!) to ride.  I have yet to
understand why 120 horsepower is ANY better than 70--both will move you
out of harm's way at about the same rate.  (Some 70 hp bikes will
do it faster than some 120 hp bikes, because more of their hp is
available where you are likley to be cruising).

Before you get any bike, ride it and see if it fits your style of
riding!  If you spend ALL of your time racing in the canyons, *maybe*
you DO want to buy that rocket.  But if you spend even *half* your time
going between the canyons, consider things like riding position, the
seat, handlebar shape, effort to turn, brake, and clutch, and even
where the mirrors are!  Do you want a fairing?  Think about what you
will want to, or HAVE to, change on the bike once you own it.
Consider screen editors--how many changes do you have to make to emacs
to make it do what you want?  Does vi fit your editing style?  Maybe
(s)ed IS the right editor for some jobs.

>>Ken, the age of the big thumper has come and gone, and if there is
>>any intrinsic worth in the design, nobody is spending enough
>>development money to find out.

Lots of development money has been spent already on the big singles.
They were the proving grounds for a great many ideas incorporated
into multi's.  They are cheap to care for, they DO have gobs of low
end torque, and tend to be lighter than twins or fours.  This
makes them very good candidates for in-town commuting, even if they
are unfashionable this year.  Motorcyclists are supposed to be an
independent crowd, but it seems that even the independent types are
closet conformists.

    Darryl (I shift on the right!) Richman   ...!cca!ima!ism780!darryl

P.S.:  Of course I own a single, and I have a great time on it.
It's a 1967 Montgomery Wards Riverside 350.  Fast enough for the
freeways, but not much on acceleration.  Sure it leaves a tingle
when I get off, but then I know when to use it...  And it only
cost me $100.