Motorcycle version of Scirocco...

[sciroccos at earthlink.net (Jim Ruffi)]

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but you should avoid bike with a
small diameter front wheel/tire.  Japanese bike manufacturers had this
bright idea in the mid 80's that they should downsize the front wheels (to
16") to improve steering response.  The problem is, they lacked stability.

The gyroscopic effect of a larger front wheel helps stabilize the steering.
(don't know if there's a more accurate engineering term to describe) Take
that away, and you have a dangerous situation.  My 87 Yamaha 700 Fazer had a
16" front.  Lost it going up a bumpy hill at about 70.  I bounced for a long
way before I stopped.  It was due to a "tank slapper," which is when the
front wheel starts to oscillate and the bars and ripped from your hands.

My 88 Honda 1000 Hurricane had a 17" wheel...the brochure had the 17"
sticker pasted over the 16" in the specs section.  They quickly and quietly
did away with smaller wheels.  I believe the Interceptors had a 16"
wheel...or course, the overall diameter is what really counts.

On Honda vs. Yamaha: Yamaha stuff is just jewel-like.  Beautiful machining,
casting and molding.  Honda is solid and durable, just not as refined.  Wish
I could buy another Yamaha, but no money for bikes right now.  Actually, I
hope to get a BMW when the time comes :-)

Jim


>>
>> Now, here is my completley uneducated idea of what I should get.  I'm
>thinking of "H-brand" Interceptors - either the VF500F ('84-'86, I
>think) or
>VFR700* ('86 to '87).  These bikes seem to fit the bill, with the right
>mechanicals, pricing, aesthetics, and performance.  I have ridden the 500
>and it just seems to fit me a lot better than bikes (like a newer
>GSXR) that
>are bulkier (i.e. I'm 5'8" 140lbs.).  They probably won't lose any
>significant value in the next few years either, which will help since I'm
>new at all of this.  My main concern is that these may be so old that the
>parts are hard to come by or at a premium.  Again, the scirocco model, with
>this great network of ours and the thousands built, fits the picture neatly
>because it has an old-school nature without being obscure. I know the newer
>bikes are way beyond these in performance, but these probably have
>more than
>enough for my tastes.
>