"JD" <
[email protected]> wrote:
>Look for a late model Honda Magna. Honda stopped producing them this
>year for some unknown reason. It has a little style, comfort and the
>punch of the 748cc Honda V4 that is basically the same engine as the
>venerable VF750 Interceptor. I have 32,000 miles on mine and it still
>runs like a champ.
Ahhh, the "Magna" name is misapplied to the 750cc variety. I had an
'83 model, which had an 1100cc V-4 fire-breathing monster of a motor.
The thing was absolutely insane. It was the only bike I've ever owned
that scared me regularly. Stock, they were capable of running well
under 11 second quarter miles, and that's on a cruiser-style chassis
with questionable brakes (which is what makes it scary). Mine had
been rebuilt and worked over a bit, so was a bit faster.
I bought and sold mine for about the budget of the OP, and it would
make a reasonably good solo cruising bike for short to medium length
jaunts. It's not really the bike for carving up the canyon roads, but
will get you down the interstate in (rapid) order. The one thing
you'll want to do is to replace the truly awful handlebars though -
they put your wrists into a painfully contorted position. Strangely,
I was able to sell my old ones on Ebay for more than a new pair of
touring bars cost. Go figger.
>I'd also have to agree that less than a 750 would probably be a waste
>if you are going out on the open road a lot. With the higher posted
>highway speeds nowdays, keeping up with traffic on smaller bikes = too
>much handlebar buzz.
Yep. I knew I needed something more road-worthy than my old Magna, so
sold it and got a '91 BMW K100RS. It's a sport touring bike (meaning
it handles well in the twisties, but can take two across the continent
if necessary). Hard bags, good handling, quiet (moreso than a typical
car), smooth, reliable, efficient (50mph). It's not quite as quick as
the Magna, but can still get the adrenaline flowing, and can go
250-300 miles on a tank (unless I'm riding with my Harley buddies, who
have to stop about twice as often).
Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame
