From: bleve@hoggle2.uucp (Bennett Lee Leve)
Subject: Re: choices
Organization: Starved Photo-Linux Hackers Association
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 07:09:53 GMT

In article <1jt2neINN1vu@sumax.seattleu.edu> willey@sumax.seattleu.edu (  steve willey) writes:


 >>   what i'm looking for:
 >>     - mid-sized four (?) 550-750 (i'm not a big person)
 >>     - reliable for commuting and sport-touring
 >>
 >>   bikes that have caught my eye:
 >>     - '84 Nighthawk S 700 - $1700 (for sale at a dealer)
 >>     - '84(i think) V30 Magna - $2000 (also at a dealer)
 >>     - '83 Nighthawk 650 - $900 (for sale by owner)
 >>
 >>   all of the bikes are in compirable condition, low rust, milage 10K + or - 2K.
 >>
 >>   questions: (proportional to cost)
 >>     - is the magna that much nicer (consider + or smoothness and - maintenance)?
They each have good their good points.  The Magna is water cooled.  It is
not written in stone but water cooled engines usually last longer.  But
you can not really sport tour on it.  Also, the Honda V-4 engines are not
the easiest to work on.  One last note about the V30 Magna is that it seems
to me that for the price you have listed for the Magna you could get the
V45 Magna, which is much nicer.  

 >>     - is the sportier riding position of the Nighthawk S any less comfortable on
 >>   long rides?

I have the Nighthawk S bars on my Sabre and they are pretty comfortable 
for sport touring.  Probably the best thing you could do to the Nighthawk
is buy an aftermarket seat, (like a corbin canyon dual).  The nice thing
about the Nighthawk S is the hydraulic adjusting valves.  Yes, you do not
have to adjust them, (very nice).  

 >>     - are there other nice bikes that fall into the same category as
 >>   these bikes that i should be looking out for?

Yes, there are many.  The prices you list here seem pretty high to me.
For those prices you could do very good.  If I were you I would look
at the V45 Sabre and the 700 Sabre.  Both of these bikes are reliable
and sound like what you are looking for.  Try to find one with the
Hondaline fairing.  You should be able to find one in good condition
for about $1,000 to $2,000.  I could go on and on tell you about a
hundred or so bikes, but I think if you see one that you are interested
in, just let us know.  The Honda V-4's are hard to work on, but very
reliable.  I am on my second Sabre.  I sold the first one with
72,000 miles on it, and it still pured like a kitten.  To give you
an idea about prices.  I bought my second Sabre for $1,200 and it 
was in excellent condition.  

 >>     - is there life after the DoD?

Hmmmm? Not sure about that one.

 >>   any input would be appreciated,
 >>   steve
   -- 
 >>   ** stephen willey        206.324.5090            *   '92 cadex CFM-2     **
 >>   ** willey@seattleu.edu   DoD# 0769               *   '81 GS450           **
 >>   **   "math class is tough"  - non-pc barbi    new improved, shorter .sig **


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|Bennett Leve    84 V-65 Sabre            |   mov        ah, 04Ch     |
|Orlando, FL                              |   mov        al, 0        |
|hoggle!hoggle2!bleve@peora.sdc.ccur.com  |   int        021h         |
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Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles,ba.motorcycles