From: carlp@frigg.isc-br.com (Carl Paukstis,LL2-2B,5439,)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Recommendation for a Comfortable Commuter?
Date: 9 Apr 92 21:41:36 GMT
Organization: ISC-Bunker Ramo, An Olivetti Company

In article <1992Apr7.180943.2459@HQ.Ileaf.COM> grw@HQ.Ileaf.COM (Gary Wasserman) writes:
>In article <848@galileo.rtn.ca.boeing.com> meb4593@galileo.rtn.ca.boeing.com (Michael Bain) writes:
>>	[Michael's story about his upcoming 90+mile commute deleted]

>> So, I'm (Desperately) Seeking NetAdvice.

>> Requirements:  
>>	[all the stuff you'd expect deleted]

>> Options?  

>> So, I'm tending towards a Harley bagger, Japanese land yacht, maybe
>> even a big BMW R bike.  Even *these* behemoths would be better than a
>> (blech) cage.  Harleys hold their value well, seem to be easy to work
>> on; are rebuild parts relatively cheap?  Used Japanese land yachts can
>> be purchased reasonably; are they easy to rebuild?

>The Harley might be OK but you'd be in the shop pretty often so you
>have to decide if you like hanging around with the Harley crowd while
>you are waiting to get your bike back.

Gary, you disappoint me.  Oil changes every 2500, minor adjustments
every 5000, tune-ups every 10000 - like pretty much any bike.  Except
the valves don't need any adjusting at all.  Today's Harleys don't 
break, don't leak, and hold value better than BMWs.
>
>Since you are considering a HD or JLY you are contemplating parting
>with big bucks (like around $14K for a new copy of either out the
>door).  So, since money is no object... 

MSRP for an FLHS is $10.8K.  No radio, and has a (large) windshield
instead of a fairing, but seems like a good fit for the commute.  For
a little more (12.2K), get the Classic (not Ultra) with a decent 
radio and a fairing.  Or buy the FLHS and add the other parts as you 
go along.  The FLHTCU Electra Glide Ultra Classic is $14,509 MSRP,
plus shipping, prep, tax & tags.

R100RT is $8990.  K1100 I haven't seen officially announced yet.
K1 is 13,690 and K100RS is 12,990 (saddlebags extra).  The Gold Wing
SE is 14,199, and the Aspencadse a good buy at $9199.  Get the March
1992 issue of Motorcyclist from your public library, they have all
this stuff plus a brief feature description for most every
street-legal bike sold in the USA.

>I'd recommend the BMW.  Either an R100RT or the new K1100.  Either
>bike will give you good protection from the elements, neither will
>make your neighbors regret living next to you, and both have engines
>and other components designed to provide many years and several
>hundred K miles (no pun intended) of service with just regular
>maint.

I can't argue with that.  Some of my best friends have BMWs and I
don't hold it against them.  They're reliable, efficient, dependable,
long-lasting, even comfortable.  They just lack the soul, the spirit,
the tradition of the Harleys.  (The BMWs, too).

>The R100GS/PD has a 9 gallon tank which might be handy with such
>a long commute.  The K has an effective range of about 220 miles.
>An R100RT about the same.  The GS/PD probably 80% more.

My FXRS-CON goes 160mi before reserve usually.  With slightly worse
mileage, but a bigger tank, I'd expect close to 200 out of a stock
FLH-series bagger.

>PS - If you are planning to put 100K miles on the bike then resale
>value would only be an issue with the BMW. :-)
>-- 
>Gary Wasserman      "A completely irrational attraction to BMW bikes"
                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Well, I suppose this is right; it goes with the preceding. :-)

--
Carl Paukstis, Software Generalist |   INSIST on your constitutional rights!
 ISC-Bunker Ramo / Spokane, WA     |   DoD #0432 "I'm the NRA" (and the NAR)
 Phone: +1 509 927-5439            | Be polite! I own a Harley 80 and a Colt .45
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