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From: ehrhart@sri-spam.ARPA (Tim Ehrhart)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Which motorcycle to purchase?
Message-ID: <6828@sri-spam.ARPA>
Date: Sun, 7-Sep-86 01:41:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-spam.6828
Posted: Sun Sep  7 01:41:49 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 8-Sep-86 01:14:07 EDT
References: <2339@voder.UUCP>
Reply-To: ehrhart@sri-spam.UUCP (Tim Ehrhart)
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park
Lines: 60
Keywords: 120 miles a day, 40 to 50 weeks a year.

In article <2339@voder.UUCP> kev@voder.UUCP (Kevin Hoskins) writes:
>
>     As you saw in the 'Keywords' heading above I'll be doing about 
>120 miles a day round trip from my home to work. 
>     Is this still a good idea? I mean am I still operating in something
>that resembles rational cognitive processes? Can a modern motorcycle engine 
>(or the whole motorcycle for that matter) hold up to that kind of 
>high mileage and last for three years or longer? 
>

I don't think that's crazy, I ride 56 miles per day, 50 weeks per year and
have been doing so for 2 1/2 years now. The first two years were spent on
a Honda FT500 (a thumper too boot!) and the bike held up fine. I now have
a Nighthawk 700s and am enjoying the ride even more now.

>     Another item that concerns me very much is that to make this 
>purchase I probably will have to sell one of our cars. That leaves us 
>with one car and the (newly purchased) motorcycle. Well that's okay 
>between April and September when it's not raining. But when it IS 
>raining I might have to take the car, which leaves the rest of my
>family without transportation. That may not be to good. And if I don't
>drive the car, should I even be trying to ride in the rain?  
>

I personally don't find it a problem, one just needs a damn good rainsuit.
I've got a Hein Gericke with built in mittens and boot covers. I arrive dry
even after 45 minutes in any kind of rain. Also the wife makes me ride in
the rain, she says it's my choice to have a bike instead of a second car :)

>     Most of the dealers seem to be in agreement with the suggestion that
>I purchase a large displacement machine (1 litre or >). The large engine 
>will not have to work as hard as .75 litre and therefore should last 
>much longer. These seems reasonable.

I think that's a bit of salemanship (i.e. more profit on larger bikes,
more commission for them ???). I think .7 liter to < 1.0 is fine. Also
bigger bike == bigger insurance premiums.

>     After all the above verbage my question is simple: (and assuming
>that you answered yes to my question about "...rational cognitive...")
>what motorcycle would you recommend that I consider purchasing that will
>give me very good reliability and VERY long mileage?
>

I won't recommend a bike, but some features I find invaluable for a heavy
commute bike: SHAFT DRIVE, WATER COOLING. Chains go must too fast and at
your rate would need to be oiled at least twice a week. Rain and associated
road grime play hell with chains. Water cooling keeps the engine operating
at a much more regulated tempature, this is important in those hot summer
traffic jams, and cold rainy winter days.

>
>P.S. I have placed the 1985 Honda V65 Sabre on my possibility list. There
>are still some new non-current models available.

Good idea, look for non-current models. I've seen V65's for $3K in the
SF bay area! Not a bad price.

Go for it....
Tim Ehrhart