From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!rocheste!stuart
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Title: Midsize reviews? and Provocation
Article-I.D.: rocheste.851
Posted: Mon Feb 28 11:38:32 1983
Received: Tue Mar  1 07:16:27 1983

From: Stuart.Friedberg
I am going to be in the market for a new midsize bike 
this summer. I would like to hear from anyone who knows
anything about the bikes listed below. Either you've got
one, ridden one, have a friend who ... , etc. 

First hand info is not necessary, but I am interested in 
specific good/bad points, not styling comments. Maintenance,
handling, control layout, mirror visibility, reliability,
presence or absence of "numb butt", and so forth mean a lot
to me.

If you have a full review of these or any other bikes, please
post it to the net. I am sure that there are many who would 
like to read it. If you just have a couple of comments that
aren't likely to be of public interest, mail me.

By the way, I would like to propose a topic of general discussion.
There are a lot of bikes with truly awesome 1/4 mile times and
high terminal speeds. (PROVOCATION FOLLOWS) I think that a lot
of such rockets are either overkill or unrideable. Give me a bike
with a maximum speed of 90mph BUT which can accelerate from 55 to
75 in a matter of 2 seconds. 1) Can such a powerplant/transmission
be built reasonably? 2) What do I (you) REALLY need in a street bike
that such a machine wouldn't give?  ((Come on, even on the back roads
how often do you cruise at 80+, much less 120??))

				Thanks in advance,
				Stu Friedberg
			{seismo, allegra}!rochester!stuart

Honda FT500 Ascot		(I have heard of the '82 starter gear problems)
Honda VT500 Ascot
Yamaha '81 - '83 550 Seca	(Any unsold '81's out there??)
Yamaha '83 550 Vision		(I'm told they did a lot to the '83)
Suzuki '83 GS550E/ES