[VaSteve]

I want a motorcycle. I want one I can ride to work (~45 miles each way) in the carpool lane. The only motorcycle seat time I have is the MSF class last November and my brother's scooter for a couple of unlicensed weeks last summer. I think I will have to build my way up to riding to work. (I can at least ride to the comuter lot, about halfway, and ride with somone from there since there is less traffic).

I don't want a sport bike. It's not my thing. I like a couple of different bikes: an early 70's BMW /5. It's simple and looks good. Supposedly built like a tank. But, I don't want something I need to maintain and fool with all the time especially if I'm commuting on it. I also like HD Sportsters. The 883's are cheap enough that I could have a fairly new one. There's plenty of dealers around and it's new so I could get parts. I really like both those bikes. They have some soul to me. The practical side of me thinks it should be something more suited to longer trips, like one of the newer BMW bikes (used of course). I don't know anything about them, but they are a lot more expensive and don't have as much soul. The generic Japanese bikes hold little appeal to me.

Then there's logistics. I wear a suit to work, so I want to research how suit wearing guys like myself ride and make it work.

Are there any good, non-brand specific forums where I could reserch stuff like logistics, which might help me choose a bike? I like the PP BBS feel, not too big, not too small. Anyone have a place they can recommend. Or just post in this thread.