HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com (Dances With Bikers)
Subject: Re: Thoughts on VMAX
Reply-To: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 15:23:17 GMT

randy@ninja.megatek.uucp (Randy Davis) writes:
>In article <5918@transfer.stratus.com> cdodson@beast.cac.stratus.com writes:

>|Skip the ZX unless your SO has REALLY short legs. There's just no legroom on
>|the passenger pegs. 

>  Huh??  Excuse me?  Granted, the ZX-11 doesn't have that much legroom, but,
>last I checked, it *looked* to be the same as the FJ.

Well, there are a number of imponderable/unanswerable questions debated
here from time to time, but I think we have the technology to answer
this one. Anyone got a ruler handy?  :-)

>but I recall the FJ pegs being the same height from the ground,

One of the things that various magazines have damned the FJ for is "low"
pegs. When I was shopping for a new bike, the FJ had noticably more leg
room than the ZX-11, CBR1000 and Katana 1100 (and vastly more leg room
than the GSXR1100 and FZR1000, but you'd expect them to be cramped).

I suppose that there's room in here for a comment that any writer that
thinks the FJ has low pegs obviously spends too much time on the
racetrack, instead of the real world. And thinks that packing for a week
on the road means carrying a rainsuit and the company's credit card.

> The FJ driver
>legroom *is* slightly more than the ZX, but, if you can get used to the
>FJ legroom, you can also get used to the ZX legroom...

But with my long legs, leg room was a major consideration when I was
bike shopping. As it was, I bought the FJ, and then raised the seat an
inch to get more leg room.

>  The V-Max definitely has more passenger (AND driver) legroom than either FJ
>or ZX...

True, but then if comfort is _the_ issue, get a Lead Wing. :-)

>|What you really want to look at is the FJ. It works for me . . .(and my SO)

>  Yeah, but then you give up *power*...  :-) :-) :-)  (This line is a *joke*,
>for those of you that need a hint).

Yea, but you didn't _really_ expect me to pass up this bait did you? :-)

Time for my favorite quote from the July '89 issue of Cycle magazine:

"Pay attention here: With the exception of the '88 V-Max Cycle tested -
and then only in third gear, mind you - the FJ's roll-on numbers are
better than those of any production motorcycle we have ever measured."

But then that was last month's flame war, wasn't it? :-)
-- 
Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland        580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108
blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com  uunet!javelin.sim.es.com!blgardne  BIX: blaine_g
Dumper of Dirtbikes #46       My other motorcycle is a Quadracer.      FJ1200
From: lotto@laura.harvard.edu (Jerry Lotto)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: NY Rte 17 sucks
Date: 2 Sep 92 13:21:59 GMT
	<1992Sep2.015508.18766@socrates.umd.edu>
Organization: Chemistry Dept., Harvard University
In-reply-to: ice@socrates.umd.edu's message of 2 Sep 92 01:55:08 GMT

>>>>> On 2 Sep 92 01:55:08 GMT, ice@socrates.umd.edu (Fredrik Nyman) said:
Fred> If you want to avoid interstates, you could take I20, which runs
Fred> parallell with I90 thru MA.  I don't know if it's any good tho, and I
Fred> would suspect it isn't.

Suspect no more, 20 is a HOOT!  Rolling hills, straight as an arrow
until you get to the Finger Lakes, great scenery, antique shops and a
Bike Shop in the middle of the Leatherstocking region.  I avoid
interstates like the plague.  Explore with abandon or you'll miss one
of the best reasons for riding a motorcycle!





--
Jerry Lotto <lotto@lhasa.harvard.edu>      "Have you hugged the curves today?"
Chemistry Dept., Harvard Univ.              MSFCI, HOGSSC, BCSO, AMA, DoD #18
From: dsc3jfs@nmrdc1.nmrdc.nnmc.navy.mil (Jim Small)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: The man without a number
Date: 3 Sep 92 10:31:12 GMT
Organization: Naval Medical Research & Development Command

In article <1992Sep2.235227.28556@news.nd.edu> Richard.A.Swift.1@nd.edu (Richard A. Swift) writes:
>In article <796@zx11.UUCP> Steve Bade, steve@zx11.cactus.org writes:
>>P.S.   For Swift's edification  I ride a K75SABS....
>
>That is interesting... at one time I was considering a K75SABS (always
>liked 'em, can't afford 'em).
>
>Man, I haven't felt this edified in long time... 
>
>Later,
>
>Rich Swift,  DoD # 3030
                    ^^^^  NOT!




    *PLONK*


-- 
I love the 3b2
The 3b2 is my friend.
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: dab@vuse.vanderbilt.edu (The Nashville Flash)
Subject: Re: Chainlube for my BM?
Originator: dab@space3
Organization: Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, Nashville, TN, USA
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 16:43:00 GMT

>In article <1992Sep3.225415.1@acfcluster.nyu.edu> mullignj@acfcluster.nyu.edu writes:
>>BMW has NEVER made a chain driven motorcycle.
>>Even the old, old, OLD Beemers you find in Europe (the ones with only
>>ONE cylinder) are shaft-driven.
>
In article <1992Sep04.143217.11498@i88.isc.com> jeq@i88.isc.com (Jonathan E. Quist) writes:
>Did the cylinder stick out the right side, or the left?
>-- 

Depends if you are talking about the African or European version.  The 
European is on the right and the African on the left.  Most of the British 
Empire would rather have the African version because that was the side of 
the road on which they drove.
============================================================================
  "They MUST be kings.  They're not all covered in shit." - M.P.(H.G.)
    The Nashville Flash	  -   dab@vuse.vanderbilt.edu   -   DoD # 412 

Oh yeah:  :-)
From: peram@cs.tamu.edu (Suresh B Peram)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Yamaha Seca II
Date: 4 Sep 92 19:52:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: tamsun.1992Sep4.195233.21965
Distribution: usa
Organization: Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University

Hi,

   Have a ridden a Seca II?  Do you think it is
   too light for long-distance riding ?

   Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Suresh
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com (Dances With Bikers)
Subject: Re: FAQ needed
Reply-To: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 18:46:26 GMT

peram@cs.tamu.edu (Suresh B Peram) writes:

>   Can somebody send me the FAQ, especially
>   the section dealing with DoD.

This IS a joke, isn't it?
-- 
Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland  blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com  BIX:blaine_g
580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108           Favorite road signs:
Dumper of Dirtbikes #46             FJ1200   Winding Road Next 77 Miles
My other motorcycle is a Quadracer           Caution: Passing Areas Not Marked
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: chapman@cs.cornell.edu (Richard Chapman)
Subject: >>Painting My GoldWing
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 23:38:53 GMT

>In article <!qknmyn.dhawk@netcom.com>, dhawk@netcom.com (David Hawkins) writes:
>|> 
>|> I did a little reading and don't feel up to giving them the full
>|> treatment by renting a paint gun.  So I was looking for a reason why I
>|> can't just use spray paint?  How bad could it look?  I could always
>|> sand it if I didn't like it and turn it over to a professional.
>|> 
>|> Thoughts?  Opinions?
>|> 

>        I just recently put together '78 KZ650 from many various and
>sundry parts, not the least varied are the parts that are painted.  I
>decided that taking the parts to a professional was just too much, so
>I got a can of the highest quality spray paint that I could find and
>did the job myself.  It looks really crappy!!  Fortunately, I painted
>all the parts to the same color as the tank, so not all parts look
>bad.  From a distance, the bike looks OK, but when you get closer than
>15 - 20' it's not pretty.  'Course, when I'm whizzin' by at MACH 2 no
>one can see much of anything, least of all the paint-job.

>        If you just want to paint it temporary-like, spray is not bad,
>but for anything permanent, scrape together the bucks and get it done
>right.  That's what I'm gonna' do. (When I get the bucks)

I've got to take issue here, even though I can already hear the
flamethrowers cranking up. I've done jobs with a hand-held spray can
of acrylic enamel that look as good and last as long as anything I've
paid a professional to do (on objects as varied as a Fender Mustang
guitar and a '69 Chevy Townsman station wagon). The secret is to use a
shitload of elbow grease, many many coats (10 of primer, 20 of paint
on the guitar). Be sure to let every coat completely dry. Sand between
coats for the first few, starting with maybe 150 or 200 grade and
working up to as fine as you can stand before switching to steel wool.
The use stee steel wool between coats on the middle coats.  I use 3
roughnesses of steel wool, until I am really just polishing. You then
go even finer than this with an abrasive polish if you want it to be
really as smooth as glass.  If you get a run or a blob or some area
that looks like an orange peel, just abrade it down, with the finest
abrasive you can bear to use (the finer the abrasive the longer it
takes) and do the next coat.  I found that as the number of coats
mounted, the depth/height of the imperfections went down. Also, use a
primer color that is lighter than your paint color.  IF you take long
enough, the paint will look every bit as good as factory, or even better, 
and your arm muscles will ache for a week. 

Richard Chapman, DoD #245


Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: wolf@mt.att.com (Thomas Wolf)
Subject: Re: ST1100 impressions
Reply-To: wolf@mt.att.com
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 11:46:47 GMT

Thanks everyone for replying to my queries regarding the ST.  One last question
I forgot to ask in my last post: what colors is the bike available in?  The
dude at the bike shop tried to tell me that the new models were only available
in red - which, in my opinion, is the worst of the three colors I've seen on
the road (others being black and silver.)  I know that originally the ST was
only available in black ('91 model?)  If the red ones are '92 (or are those
the '93s already?) what year is the silver-colored one?

Thnx,
Tom

---
+----------------------------------------+ ..I've been told my signature lacked
| Thomas Wolf   | (908) 957-3955         | originality...Of course it does!
| Bell Labs, NJ | wolf@merlin.mt.att.com | I'm a conservationist - and 
| MT 4D-213     | wolf@jolt.att.com      | originality, in my case,  is a
+----------------------------------------+ an extremely limited resource...

Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com (Dances With Bikers)
Subject: Re: Rainsuit
Reply-To: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 13:20:19 GMT

prange@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Henry Prange) writes:

>The remnants of Andrew demonstrated that my rainsuit is terminally
>afflicted with leaks today. Does anyone have recommendations for a
>rainsuit that will actually keep one dry?

>Are there any, Goretex or otherwise, that really breathe enough to make
>a difference?

>Lastly, how about a suit that can be put on conveniently and quickly?

It's not a rainsuit, it's not guaranteed 100% waterproof, it is Goretex,
it has kept me dry in 6-8 hours of riding in the rain, it goes on or off
in half a minute.

I love my Aerostich,
The Aerostich is my friend.
-- 
Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland        580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108
blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com  uunet!javelin.sim.es.com!blgardne  BIX: blaine_g
Dumper of Dirtbikes #46       My other motorcycle is a Quadracer.      FJ1200
From: randy@ninja.megatek.uucp (Randy Davis)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: randy's deification!?
Date: 3 Sep 92 18:45:38 GMT
Reply-To: megatek!randy@uunet.uu.net
Organization: Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California

In article <1992Sep2.131241.9214@javelin.sim.es.com> blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com writes:
|bob@halfdome.sf.ca.us (bob pasker) writes:
|>In article <791@zx11.UUCP>, steve@zx11.cactus.org (Steve Bade) writes:
|>> ask Randy Davis (one of the "DoD Gods") what I ride, and why the machine
|>when did randy get deified?  did i miss the apotheosis party?
|A bunch of us were, where were you? But it's strictly a (dis)honorable
|title since it was bestowed by a brown-nosing newbie with a write-only
|brain.

  Blaine's just jealous because I was named before he was on Rich's
"deification list".

Randy Davis                             UUCP: randy@megatek.com
("A notch above STUPID fast") ZX-11 Pilot     megatek!randy@uunet.uu.net
DoD #0013                                     ucsd!megatek!randy
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com (Dances With Bikers)
Subject: Re: VFR750 Tank bags, bike covers, alarms...
Keywords: VFR, tank bag, cover, OSI, alarm
Reply-To: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 02:23:10 GMT

sheinfel@ssd.comm.mot.com (Aviad Sheinfeld) writes:

>I'm thinking of purchasing a tank bag for my VFR750.  Any good/bad experiences?

Specific to your bike, no, but I've got an Eclipse tank bag that's
survived about 10 years of use and is still in great shape. Highly
recommended.

>Lastly, anyone have comments about alarms?  Something with a VERY good pager, 
>perhaps?  I've been bitten by thieves before - no more...

I have't got one (yet) myself, but the Sept. 1991 issue of Cycle
magazine and the July 1992 issue of Motorcyclist magazine both had
articles on alarms & such. Typical for Motorcyclist, they don't have the
guts to rate products against each other, and just talk in generalities.
(can't offend potential advertizers ya know). But the Cycle article
ranks 6 alarms & points out good & bad features. 

Cycle's ranking:

1) Ungo MC2000
2) Datatool Mark V
3) Datatool Junior
4) King Cobra
5) Nady MA-200
6) Nady MA-100
-- 
Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland  blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com  BIX:blaine_g
580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108           Favorite road signs:
Dumper of Dirtbikes #46             FJ1200   Winding Road Next 77 Miles
My other motorcycle is a Quadracer           Caution: Passing Areas Not Marked
From: mvij@ocf.berkeley.edu (Pendragon)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Wheelies?  Ouch!
Date: 26 Aug 1992 08:00:47 GMT
Organization: U. C. Berkeley Open Computing Facility
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: monsoon.berkeley.edu

In article <1992Aug24.132330.16289@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> cdw2t@dayhoff.med.Virginia.EDU (Clifford David Weston) writes:
>In article <1992Aug23.064009.22428@novell.com> mvij@novell.com (Manish Vij) writes:
>
>>popped into first gear at 7000 rpm.  Soon
>>I was contemplating my gas tank while the front wheel was five feet
>>off the ground.
>
>stupidity, thy name is newbie.


Yep . . but what a ride!  I doubt it's one I'll do again.  Maybe 2 feet off
next time.

Net.advice: Don't try r.m at home.

--
I love JB Weld.
JB Weld is my friend.
-- 
                                          /-\o /-()  -- -  --   -
   Manish Vij    ::    '89 EX500          \_/ \\/ )  -- -    --
   mvij@ocf.berkeley.edu                       |/_\  -- -  --   - 
                                                \_/.  .  . . ........
From: gharriso@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Graeme Harrison)
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 15:54:12 GMT
Subject: Re: ba.motorcycles, anyone?
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles

/ hpcc01:rec.motorcycles / jet@win30.nas.nasa.gov (J. Eric Townsend) / 11:31 am  Aug 24, 1992 /

Having been duly chastised by hesh for misuse of the mailing lists
:-), I'd like to suggest ba.motorcycles.  Why?

-- ba distribution doesn't work that well
-- people don't like digging through rec.moto's 120+/day articles to
read local stuff
-- the mailing lists aren't followed by all the ba rec.moto folks..

Comments?

             J. Eric Townsend --  jet@nas.nasa.gov -- 415.604.4311
----------
I hereby cast my *yes* vote for ba.motorcycles which would pertain
to Bay Area motorcyclists only while the generic subjects would be
posted to wreck.moto as always. Bay Area motorcycle dealers, shops,
service depts, part sources, cycle salvage yards, rides (maybe get
a bi-annual ba.motorcycles rally going), suggestions on which CA
roads to take, safe lodging, crash pads, hangouts, et cetera....

Graeme Harrison
DoD#0649
'If it feels good, then just do it!'
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: dev2@inform.co.nz (Michael Seales)
Subject: Re: Wheelies?  Ouch!
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 04:15:22 GMT
Organization: InForm Group Ltd.

In article <19848@plains.NoDak.edu>, fleckens@plains.NoDak.edu (Clint Fleckenstein) writes:
> I just watched a friend of mine do almost the same thing.  I do
> block-long wheelies at every possible opportunity on my EX 500
> (ie SQUID) and he wanted to do the same thing on his 250 Ninja.
> 
> Unfortunately he revved REALLY hard and dumped the clutch.  It
> literally took off without him.  We bent the handlebar back 
> into place and ordered a new tail light.  Left a great black
> mark though.

Yeah - in his undies. What about on the road ?

#####################################################
# Michael Seales     # Email: dev2@inform.co.nz     #
# Inform Group Ltd.  # Phone: 64-4-4720996          #
# Level 8 DB Tower   #   Fax: 64-4-4732407          #
# 111 The Terrace    ################################
# Wellington         # Disclaimers and quotes are a #
# New Zealand        # waste of time and energy     #
#####################################################
From: davide@dcs.qmw.ac.uk (Dave Edmondson)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Superbike WCS Videos
Date: 1 Sep 92 12:48:03 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept, QMW, University of London

In <1992Sep1.092407.13205@Informatik.TU-Muenchen.DE> 
hackenbe@Informatik.TU-Muenchen.DE (Rudi Hackenberg) writes:

>So, in short, I would like to get a video about the
>1991 and/or 1992 Superbike World Series.
>PAL or NTSC doesn't matter, but it should be VHS.
>I would appreciate information about who is selling
>them, stores, publishers and so on. It doesn't matter
>whether in U.S. or Europe.
>Private copies will not be rejected...   ;)
>Please post your reply or contact me by email:

You should try:

Duke Marketing Ltd
PO Box 46
Douglas
Isle of Man
Tel: +44 624 23634

They have an amazing catalogue of stuff.  I don't know if they'll have this 
years Superbike yet.

Dave
--
David Edmondson                 davide@dcs.qmw.ac.uk
Queen Mary & Westfield College  DoD#0777 Guzzi Le Mans 1000
"Eccles never keeps his boots in his pocket."
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: jeynes@adobe.com (Ross Jeynes)
Subject: Cruiser for sale
Reply-To: jeynes@adobe.com
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Distribution: ba
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 03:37:06 GMT

Motorcycle for Sale

	1983 Yamaha Venture 1200
	1200 cc
	AM/FM Stereo and CB
	Cruiser-style (looks like a Honda Gold Wing)
	Full Fairing
	Great for long rides (comfy)
	New Registration
	Manual
	Fiberglass Lockable Saddle Bags
	Excellent looking bike!
	
	$ 2000

-Ross      jeynes@adobe.com       W:(415) 962-4917      H:(415) 964-6679
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: aki <aki@atlas.worldbank.org>
Subject: Re: Harley women (tm)
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A6C92076D5022631@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org>
X-Xxdate: Tue, 1 Sep 92 18:28:22 GMT
Organization: World Bank
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d8
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 17:34:30 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.154822.5274@morgan.ucs.mun.ca> Craig Hamm,
hamm@weejordy.physics.mun.ca writes:
>|> 	You know, razzing us about our bikes is fine. We understand and
>|> can often sympathize with human inclinations to imply superior durable


Golly gee willikers batman...I always wanted to own a harley but
I couldn't afford the oil...

                                                     
      -aki                                            A tank of gas, a
pair of
      DoD#0628                                  gloves, a helmet on my
      ------------------------        head and a motor between
       Disclamer: Comments are my     my legs..folks, it don't git
       own..my employer doesn't           no bettern' this....
       understand them...
From: bob@halfdome.sf.ca.us (bob pasker)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: Thoughts on VMAX
Date: 2 Sep 92 10:32:35 PDT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Disorganized Organization

In article <1992Sep2.162831.12363@morrow.stanford.edu>, AR.JTC@forsythe.stanford.edu (Jay Cena) writes:
> geometry.  The ZX is faster than the Vmax I'll give all you guys
> that.  MY DICK IS STILL BIGGER THEN ALL YOU Zx Pilots ANYWAY!  :-)

thanks, jay, for sharing.  

-- 
-- bob pasker
-- bob@halfdome.sf.ca.us 
--
From: Richard.A.Swift.1@nd.edu (Richard A. Swift)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: I have my DOD number!!!
Date: 2 Sep 92 19:55:08 GMT
Organization: University of Notre Dame, Aero. & Mech. Eng.
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A6CA872DD101401C@rswift.aero.nd.edu>
X-Xxdate: Wed, 2 Sep 92 20:58:53 GMT
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d9

In article <1992Sep2.184830.2619@research.nj.nec.com> Chris BeHanna,
behanna@phoenix.syl.nj.nec.com writes:
>	That number is already taken.  Try again.

I'm way ahead of you Chris..... and since spelling corrections seem to be
a necessary part of flaming, I believe the proper spelling is 
banana ( oh, wait a minute, that's his name.... and... oh shit!, he's got
a low number...at the very least a high-ranking demi-god....)


Rich Swift, DoD #3030 (tentative until the requisite KOTL confirmation)

I love the ZX-10
The ZX-10 is my friend
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: hesh@cup.hp.com (Chris Steinbroner)
Subject: Re: Road tip #1 (Cleaning your seat)
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 18:51:38 GMT
Reply-To: Chris Steinbroner <hesh@cup.hp.com>
Organization: HP-UX Kernel Lab, Cupertino, CA
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1.3 PL5

MARC A. TISSEUR (marct@vax2.concordia.ca) wrote:
: _Cleaning your seat_
:         When washing your bike, just stick to plain soap and water
: for your seat and stay away from Armor All.

corrolary to cleaning tip:
	
	don't wash your bike, ever; after about a year, it achieves
	a steady state -- it doesn't get any worse, and occasionally
	looks "good" after a particulary deep river crossing.  the
	problem with this is that it's subject to hit-and-run cleanings
	by good-meaning friends -- you may find your license plate washed,
	making the rest of the bike look especially dirty in comparison.


-- hesh
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
From: klinger@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Jorg Klinger)
Subject: Re: Ok, I have almost decided
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 21:17:09 GMT



>>As for comfort, your body gets used to anything. When you get older you
>>look more and more for comfort. If you follow this route you can find
>>yourself out of bikes and into Buicks.
>>
> 
>  So you're saying that if I had someone continuously hit me in the 
>  small of my back with a lead pipe, I'd get used to it?

I guess that depends on how hard they are hitting you. If it was light
enough I think you would begin to ignore it. Why does everyone make what
you call hard core sportbikes out to be torture racks. Millions of
people ride 10 speeds by choice and don't complain. They've got no seat,
no suspension, and an even more radical position. My bike is absolutely
cushy by comparison. The mags say that they vibrate. Shure, but compared
to what? I cut my teeth on a Triumph, compared to it most bikes are
smooth as glass. All bikes are a compromise and you pick the one that
suits you. I'm just not willing to give up the extra bit of handling
that I enjoy on every ride for the extra bit of comfort that I would
enjoy only on the longer ones. Oh, and I purposely picked up a first
generation GSXR1100 (495lbs wet) so the FJ does seem porky to me.

  As for the FJ vs. VF500F comparison, I had one and rode the other
plenty. Based on that and an article from a bike mag in 86 or so
comparing small bikes vs. big bikes through sections of some track
somewhere (very vague yes) I would have to say that your preference
for the FJ in the twisties is very personal and likely wouldn't apply to
most riders.
                           Jorg