I drive a '96 Honda Nighthawk 750 and I like it a lot. These are known as sort of a middle bike; pretty good in a lot of ways, but not extremely good at anything; not real high-performance like a sport bike, and not a big touring bike either.

But in one category, it does do an extremely good job, and that's what I use it for most of the time; it's an outstanding commuter bike. It does an excellent job getting me around town, especially back and forth to work.

Why my 750 is a terrific commuter bike:

It is small enough to fit well between lanes, but large and strong enough to accelerate quickly and cruise at freeway speeds comfortably. I do drive between lanes quite often when traffic is stopped or very slow (which is legal in California), and it is a real pleasure to be able to move even in heavy congestion. I do it (carefully) because I can and I may.
With the windshield (a National Cycle Plexifairing 3), I'm comfortably protected from the wind. With a decent jacket or rainsuit, I can ride it all year around and in any San Diego weather. On rainy days, I'm better of riding it than driving a car and sitting even longer in even slower traffic.
The riding position is fairly upright and comfortable, not crouched down like on a sport bike.
The seat is higher off the ground than many motorcyles (Harley's especially), giving me a better view of traffic (and scenery). I can see over most cars.
It gets good gas mileage, about 40 MPG around town, (45+ highway), even now with 36,000+ miles on it.
Being less costly than many bikes, I don't have to worry much about it in parking lots and don't mind it getting wet. It takes care of me, not vice versa.
It costs a small fraction to park at UCSD compared to a car ($16/month instead of $70).
Like other motorcycles, it is much easier to find parking spaces. In row parking, there frequently are gaps large enough to fit in. There are sections of free motorcycle parking downtown.
It even has a compartment under the locked seat, which is handy for valuables at the beach.
And, of course, like other motorcycles, it is just lots more fun to drive; being outside rather than inside a box, with wonderful views and better connections to the environment.

I wish it had a shaft drive, instead of a chain, like my previous 650 had. And I wish it was quieter; with the windshield especially, a lot of noise is reflected into my face from the engine. But, overall, I'm really happy with it.

I've taken it on a few long trips too, and it does a fine job in that role too. But it is optimal for driving around town, and that's terrific because that is what I do with it about 95% of the time.

I'll need to replace it in a while, as it is starting to get a bit worn, but I'm in no hurry. And I'll probably get something similar.

I've owned a series of motorcycles (all Honda CBs (street bikes)), starting when I was 16 or 17 (i.e., 31 or 32 years ago): a 175, then a 450, 350 (bought with insurance money after my 450 was stolen and dumped in a lake), a 650 and now this 750. I've probably ridden well over 120,000 miles, on them and I'm not dead yet! Apparently, I'm doing something right, I do drive quite cautiously.

Motorcycle riding is dangerous, but as far as I'm concerned if I'm not riding I may as well be dead already. If you are afraid to live, then what's the point?

	Here's how it looks at home most of the time. The bag on the back contains a rainsuit and rubber boots in case it rains. On the back of the bag is a Darwin fish Evolve symbol and it has a personalized licence holder with YOU CAN TWIST PERCEPTIONS - REALITY WON'T BUDGE (Rush lyrics ).
	More important, is the view from the bike, which is sometimes terrific. Here's a view along a mountain highway in Kern county CA from a few-day trip I took in September 2002. There's some fire damage, but even so the area is beautiful; and some of it was undamaged. There were so few people around that I was able to just stop in the road and take a picture of what it looks like as I ride. Beautiful. Of course, it is even more spectacular riding because it is continually flowing by. The sign says 6,000 feet. The pass a little ahead is 9,200.
	This is how I packed the bike for a highway/camping trip. Food and water, tent, sleeping bag, flash light, etc, a towel (a beach towel which became a "forest towel"), some clothes, and a map in a plastic bag on the tank. I had stopped for lunch here. My new mummy bag (over the tank) worked very well in the cool nights.
	This is a view going down into the desert (highway 395). The picture doesn't do it justice. It was spectacular. After riding forested mountain areas for a long time, it opens up and provides wide-open views of the distant desert.

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