Nathan wrote
>&> Message: 38
>&> Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 18:00:39 +0100
>&>
>&> Brian, anything below 1000cc is considered small in the US these days. The
>&> smallest Harley has an 880cc engine (and is quite anaemic). A 650cc is at
>&> best medium, but certainly at the smaller end of medium.
>&>
>&> When I was a teenager in the 1970s, the biggest widely available bikes (in
>&> Denmark) were the Honda 750 and Kawasaki 900. Then Honda came along with
>&> the 1000cc Gold Wing and things have never been the same since.
>&>
>&> Cheers,
>&> Nathan
>&>
>&> On 3 Jan 2014, at 11:38, Brian Swale <bj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>&> wrote:
>&>
>&> Ken wrote
>&>
>&> We have our eyes on the BMW GS series. The small engined models, like the
>&> 650 and 700 are about the right size and weight for her and the prices are
>&> decent. Even a brand new 650 is within budget.
>&>
>&> When I was into bikes, anything 500 and up was "not" considered small. 500
>&> and up is big enough to get you into a whole lot of trouble !!
I'm well aware of the USA penchant for bigger and bigger. I've personally never
liked Harleys.
Too big, heavy, clumsy, loud ( in at least two senses of the word), and thirsty.
And the price - from $25,000 to close to $50,000 per each in NZ as far as I
know.
But there's no gainsaying that they are popular with some; on many holiday
weekends Clyde
is invaded with swarms of them with their black-jacketed owners.
When I see one I'm reminded of a joke that circulated in the late '60's or so
about a USA car
modifier who had a big grunty V8, and who was mortified to be left eating dust
by a BLMC
Mini-Cooper Sport ...
The bikes I lusted after in the 60's were Norton Commanders (spelling) 500 or
650 twins.
Fast, light, and nimble.
And Triumph twins. BSA, AJS, Matchless, Enfield were all good bikes then.
Ariel with their 1000cc Square 4 and Sunbeam with their inline shaft-drive 4
tried to emulate
the Harleys, I think, and failed for various reasons.
Now there is still Kawasaki if you want fast, and the Triumph Tigers and
?Triple? look nice
The Black Shadow and Black Night 1000 / 1500 cc V-twins were something else and
very
fast, but rare, and who could afford them?
Laverda, MV Augusta, and Motoguzzi were also machines I admired
I'll never ride again; it's too risky, and I doubt I could see road hazards
well enough now.
4 wheels better than 2 for me, and also I don't have to put on a lot of
expensive specialist
clothing.
Brian Swale
For all eternity, there is this small period of time we call 'life'.
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