Should you buy a Subaru?

[Bruce Hoult]

What year is it? One of my old college professors is selling an '83 for
~$1,200 I think it is. I have been thinking about whether or not I have what
it takes to ride one.

My current one is a 1995 R1100RT (1100cc boxer twin). I once owned a
1984 R80RT (800cc boxer twin).

The newer one has:
- fuel injection instead of carbs
- more than twice the power
- more than 50% better fuel consumption
- brakes that actually work
- ABS
- low profile radial tyres with huge amounts of grip vs crossplies
- a rigid chassis
- unique front suspension design that soaks up the bumps but doesn't
dive under braking
- an alternator that can keep the battery charged even with mostly
short trips .. I think it's something like 800W vs 50W.

That said, the old one handles *really* bad roads better, and is much
easier to repair if you find yourself broken down in a 3rd world country.

-- Bruce

 

[Henry Paul]

Wow. I might go look at that '83 here now. The '95 sounds pretty good too.
Now if I just knew how to ride.

 

[BlueSTi]

My wife originally bought the Outback for herself and
ski trips. The manual clutch was damaging her knee
so she gave it to me and bought the Accord. After about
3 years with the Accord (and zero problems) she was
sick of it and wanted something a little more fun
and different so we got her a 2004 WRX with an automatic.
She's in love with the car and I think it's great.

She likes the looks the boys give her until they
realize she's 50+ years old

<snip>
My wife drives our STi and she is 42. She took it down to have the
tires rotated and the guy at the tire store about wet himself.
The WRX STi is anything but vanilla. And it is way more car than
anyone should be driving on the road.
I too owned a '90 Honda Civic. I bought it brand new. It was a great
car and I only had a couple issues with it. My wife even drove it on
a mail route for several years. Talk about abuse! But, the Civic was
boring. You might as well just buy a GEO Metro.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[BlueSTi]

As a one-time motorcycle commuter, it's my lifelong
duty to curse the name Volvo whenever possible. Nothing
strikes terror and disgust quicker in a biker's heart
and mind than that badge and diagonal slash in the
rear view mirror.

If you doubt me, just google volvo and motorcycle.

My STi sits in the driveway most everyday. My wife and I commute to
work on our Honda ST's. Since the ST's get about 48 mpg and the STi
gets about 26 mpg on a good day. The choice is simple. Plus, it's
just a heck of a lot more fun to ride a motorcycle!
We only bought the Subaru because it was snowing so much last year
that we could not ride the bikes.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[BlueSTi]

Actually, I sit on *top* of my Beemer, thankyou. And, like my Subaru,
it has God's Own engine layout.

-- Bruce

My buddy just traded his '03 RT for a '04 ST1300. He really liked the
RT but he said he just couldn't get over the quirkiness of the RT's
motor. His wife bought a ST1300 and they used to trade off between
the two bikes from time to time. He said he like the smoothness and
power of the ST1300 better. So, now they are both riding ST1300's. I
know BMW has a pretty devout following. And I haven't heard anything
bad about the BMW bikes other than they are expensive to maintain and
are a bike quirky.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[Jim Stewart]

<snip>
My wife drives our STi and she is 42. She took it down to have the
tires rotated and the guy at the tire store about wet himself.
The WRX STi is anything but vanilla. And it is way more car than
anyone should be driving on the road.

I know.

When we were picking out the WRX, I had a hard time
paying attention because I was distracted by the
STi.

 

[Jim Stewart]

My STi sits in the driveway most everyday. My wife and I commute to
work on our Honda ST's. Since the ST's get about 48 mpg and the STi
gets about 26 mpg on a good day. The choice is simple. Plus, it's
just a heck of a lot more fun to ride a motorcycle!
We only bought the Subaru because it was snowing so much last year
that we could not ride the bikes.

I just finished rebuilding and retitling a '64
Honda S90, mostly to relive my teen years a little.
At 145 mpg, I'll be riding it to work when the
weather's good.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Anyone know the difference bewteen a BMW and a porcupine?

Yup... same as a Porsche and a porcupine

Rick C
(Heard it way too many times as a Porsche owner, "back then")

 

[Rick Courtright]

I just finished rebuilding and retitling a '64
Honda S90, mostly to relive my teen years a little.

Jim,

Are these the latest "cult" restoration item? I haven't seen so many
Trail 90s and variants since I was in high school (mid-60s)! Even saw a
cute little blue and white one with the wings and all the other day that
looked like it was straight off a Beach Boys album cover...

Rick

 

[Jim Stewart]

Jim Stewart wrote:




Jim,

Are these the latest "cult" restoration item? I haven't seen so many
Trail 90s and variants since I was in high school (mid-60s)! Even saw a
cute little blue and white one with the wings and all the other day that
looked like it was straight off a Beach Boys album cover...

I suspect so. I wasn't aware of it until I started.
You might find this interesting...

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Honda-S90/

They certainly attract attention. My neighbor,
an older retired lady, saw me working on it and
said "Hey, that's a Honda 90. I nearly killed myself
on one of those in high school!"

The first time I took it out on the street, a
stranger wanted to talk about it.

 

[Felix]

I had a used CB160 '66 vintage around 1971. Loved it, but my mom offered
me a car if I'd just get rid of that stupid thing. No problem, Ma. It
would actually get up to 60 MPH on level ground!

I just picked up a 05 Impreza RS wagon today. It's going to be treated
(read: driven) like a Civic, however. I have a 68 mile round-trip hike
every day through the northern Sierras. I'm not a performance guy. I
just need to get to and from the office somewhat economically all year
round. The RS is perfect for me in that respect. I also have a Toy
Sequoia 4X4, but it was too expensive for permanent daily commutes.

What was the original post about?

--Felix

 

[Hallraker]

I had a used CB160 '66 vintage around 1971. Loved it, but my mom offered
me a car if I'd just get rid of that stupid thing. No problem, Ma. It
would actually get up to 60 MPH on level ground!

I just picked up a 05 Impreza RS wagon today. It's going to be treated
(read: driven) like a Civic, however. I have a 68 mile round-trip hike
every day through the northern Sierras. I'm not a performance guy. I
just need to get to and from the office somewhat economically all year
round. The RS is perfect for me in that respect. I also have a Toy
Sequoia 4X4, but it was too expensive for permanent daily commutes.

What was the original post about?

Good question. I've been following this thread too. Threads tend to get
sidetracked in this NG, but there aren't many resident trolls or flamers
here, so nobody really cares.

Hey, we're all Subaru drivers remember? That makes us decent and kind human
beings. <g>

At any rate, I've always wanted one of those older bikes to complement the
presence of the Subarus in the driveway.

-Matt

 

[Henry Paul]

You know since the gas prices have gone up this year, over a dozen guys
where I work have gotten bikes to drive to work on during the nice months of
the year.

The 4xr4s will come back this winter.

 

[Jim Stewart]

You know since the gas prices have gone up this year, over a dozen guys
where I work have gotten bikes to drive to work on during the nice months of
the year.

Yeah, and do you know how many of them have secretly wanted
one for years? Sometimes you need to give the warden
a good reason

 

[Henry Paul]

That's true. One of the guys I talked to made his case about money saved in
fuel and insurance and now he is driving one too.

Now I just need to see if I have what it takes to ride one.

 

[Jim Stewart]

That's true. One of the guys I talked to made his case about money saved in
fuel and insurance and now he is driving one too.

Now I just need to see if I have what it takes to ride one.

I can tell you how to get what it takes.

First check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation website:
http://www.msf-usa.org/

They can teach you how to ride and sign off on your
DMV road and written tests in a couple weekends.

If you do the MSF course, you usually get an insurance
discount, you don't have to deal with the sometimes
unreasonable DMV riding test, and you'll meet a bunch
of likeminded people interested in riding. I had
a lot of fun and enjoyed the experience. They also
furnish the motorcycles so you don't even have to
have a bike to take the class.

What I needed to take the class, and your milage
may vary, was a helmet, leather or denim jacket
and pants and leather gloves and boots. The
clothing does not have to be made specifically for
motorcycle riding.

If you have a useable jacket and gloves, you'll
only have to buy a helmet for the class. The helmet
will set you back at least $200. Resist the
temptation of buying a used one or buying online.
Go to a store so you'll get a good fit.

If you've always wanted to ride, give it a shot.
Taking the class will give you a good idea of
whether you want to buy a bike or not.

 

[Henry Paul]

Hey thanks for the information. I will have to look into it further now.

 

[Hallraker]

I can tell you how to get what it takes.

First check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation website:
http://www.msf-usa.org/

They can teach you how to ride and sign off on your
DMV road and written tests in a couple weekends.

If you do the MSF course, you usually get an insurance
discount, you don't have to deal with the sometimes
unreasonable DMV riding test, and you'll meet a bunch
of likeminded people interested in riding. I had
a lot of fun and enjoyed the experience. They also
furnish the motorcycles so you don't even have to
have a bike to take the class.

What I needed to take the class, and your milage
may vary, was a helmet, leather or denim jacket
and pants and leather gloves and boots. The
clothing does not have to be made specifically for
motorcycle riding.

If you have a useable jacket and gloves, you'll
only have to buy a helmet for the class. The helmet
will set you back at least $200. Resist the
temptation of buying a used one or buying online.
Go to a store so you'll get a good fit.

If you've always wanted to ride, give it a shot.
Taking the class will give you a good idea of
whether you want to buy a bike or not.

Nice info. I've been lurking in the rec.motorcycles NG and that place is
sorta like a war zone, a far cry from the Subie NG I'm used to. I've
been reluctant to make any posts there, let alone a "newbie questions" one.

I've been interested in getting a bike for a long time, I've just never
actually gotten around to it. However, the fuel prices and my long commutes
are starting to have an effect. Most of my driving takes place on lonely
country roads, safe from psycho soccer moms and their cell phones, so I'm
not as afraid of riding as I would be with a city commute.

I've been aware of the motorcycle safety courses for a while now, and
believe me I wouldn't even ride home from a showroom without first taking
one.

And, knowing what I know about my bicycle helmet... I don't think I'd want
a used helmet. Period.

One thing I really need is more info on motorcycles in general. Know any
good links to sites that aren't trying to sell me something?

-Matt

 

[Florian Feuser /FFF/]

One thing I really need is more info on motorcycles in general.
Know any
good links to sites that aren't trying to sell me something?

Nope, sorry... but I AM expecting this thread to turn into EJ22 engine
conversions for use in motorcyles...


Florian

 

[Mike Lloyd]

Try a newsgroup, like alt.motorcycles.rec or check out some of the magazine
sites (motorcyclist.com, sportrider.com, et al).