Ditto on the VFR800 - would be a better bike for the long haul but still have the chops for the twistys. Better bike, less bucks. Any 4th gen - '94 - '97, 5th gen - '98 - '01, or 6th gen - '02 to '09, would be a fine ride for what you want. Of course I'm a bit biased ..(mines a '98, much modded.) http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/mcy/1574029156.html MD