ray@bpa.UUCP (01/20/84)
I've been touring on motorcycles for about 12 years and have ridden for 17 and would generally agree with G. K. Wade that for free- way use, don't be afraid to get too big a motorcycle. If your use will be more in the commuter category, do yourself a favor and don't by anything less than a 350cc . I say this for the simple reason that you may want to carry a passenger, and anything much smaller won't have the guts for the hills unless you like to downshift, and like the high rpm of the small machines. Who wants to have to ask their passenger to get of the bike to push? A 450-750cc machines (especially the 4's) would be appropriate for long commutes at the low end to 2 passenger tours fairly loaded at the high end. In my opinion anything over 750cc is a luxury (I run a GL 1100), the major benefits being greater passing power, highway and straight line stability--for interstate travel and more load capacity (say you want to run a sidecar, carry one or more passengers, pull a trailer, and take your TV). If you plan to by a motorcycle from a dealer, many offer riding school. If you buy something too small, your only going to waste money stepping up to a larger one (a friend of mine has done this 4 times in 5 years). Some people are physically just too small for the big machines although alterations can be made to allow for this (I like to be able to touch both feet to the ground while setting still). In closing, buy what you can afford, don't worry about the weight because you practice riding out of traffic as long as neccessary until you feel confident that you can ride in traffic safely without endangering others or yourself. It's the nut on the seat and inconsiderate others that can make a motorcycle dangerous, big only means it demands more respect. Good Riding, Ray Benash