[net.cycle] Need tips on buying a bike

paulb@micomvax.UUCP (10/21/86)

Hi!
	I would like to get some information about buying a bike.  I've been
a cycle enthusiast on a limited budget for too long.  But as of the spring I
will no longer be a student, and will hopefully have a job capable of supplying
me with the funds for a nice bike (ken you say yea-uh?).  My latest bike is a
Honda CB650 custom, on which I have done a lot of touring.  So now, with
~55,000 klicks (ie. 34,000 miles) of not exactly easy riding, the poor old
thing is a bit on the burned out side.  Some of the things I decidedly did not
like about it was the frequency with which I had to adjust the valves, adjust
and oil the chain, and replace the *(&%^%()!*! chain.

	So, what I think I want is:

	- Something very comfortable (I like taking trips when I get the
	  chance), but not too bulky for city driving.

	- Something with a shaft drive and definitely liquid cooled.

	- Something with lots of horsepower (its going to have to pull a
	  trailer once in a while).

	- Something that does not weigh so much that my legs are shaking
	  every time a wind is blowing at a stop light (I only weigh 140,
	  height 5' 7").

	- Something that looks nice (I like the looks of the Magna and
	  V-Max.  I'm not really into skippy bikes like FJ's, Ninja's, etc.)

	- Something that does not require a lot of work, and when it does, is
	  accessible.

	I've had my eyes on the Magna, but have been told that the 4-cylinder
V is difficult to get at for even routine stuff like changing plugs.  As well,
it is supposedly not a good handler.  However, I have hacked around on a V65
a bit, and like the responsiveness to the throttle.  I've seen most of the
beamer cruisers, and am not impressed by the looks at all.  Harley's aren't
what they used to be, and I really don't want to fork out $10,000+ for a stock
machine.  I don't know a lot about the V-Max.  Any opinions?

	Tanks a lot (at least 20 litres, eh?) (-;),
		Paul Bonneau.

roman@sigma.UUCP (10/23/86)

Have you looked at the BMW K75 models?  Last I heard they were actually
priced fairly reasonably, at least when you consider their expected lifetime.