So let me say up front, Big Sid's picks generally reflect the biases of a group of guys who are all basically real world riders. Sure we go bug-eyed at the latest UJSB (Universal Japanese Sport Bike), a bike like Yamaha's R1, for instance, that has so clearly raised the performance bar: lighter, faster, slimmer profile, enhanced aerodynamics--simply better all the way around. And thatŐs not just little Sid talking, that's the bottom-line opinion from the best cutting edge critics, guys like Sport Bike editor Kent Kunitsugu, who has declared that the R1 "makes you feel like you're perched over the front wheel; and its seamless carburetion only enhances the righteous motor," as well as the boys over at the rival mag who concur: "when it comes to laying waste to a wriggling ribbon of road the RI is still Cycle World's weapon of choice." So if you got a shade over 10K burning a hole in your pocket, and you have decided that what you want is the bike with the GO FAST button, stop reading--you're already late for your appointment with your friendly Yamaha dealer, so beat it!

Well now, as for the rest of you, move a little closer and prepare to partake of the wisdom that comes from decades of riding across America on public roads. First off, real world riders are not idiots who simply resist innovation for no reason. Far from it, in fact we are delighted when the advances so often made by the Japanese in their quest to beat the hell out of each other migrates to platforms other than the pure sport bike. Currently this trickle-down effect has resulted in a handful of bikes that boast the latest refinements while retaining many of the proven qualities that have made motorcycling in the real world fun. The bikes we speak of fare well on roads that grow increasingly crowded and pot-holed every day.

More importantly, experience, wisdom, caution, and common sense do not arrive with the R1Ős title of ownership. We are talking now to the guys and gals out there looking to buy their first bike and break into the greatest recreational activity going. We are happy that you are here and we want you to enjoy riding. We here at Big Sid's have ridden Vincents for over fifty years and still find those bikes enjoyable and safe at any sane speed, so when making our selection of the best from the current models we factor in build quality and where possible sweet simplicity and ease of maintenance, as well as reasonable weight and a low center of gravity. We also take note of the value of a comfortable riding position ("good ergos") suitable for the beaten ol' rider you hope to become! Do not forget that lack of a center stand makes servicing and storage difficult and that a simple tip-over damages flimsy plastic cladding. And when you are looking at a bike with the wrap around fairing, its best to remember the old adage that there are two kinds of bikes, ones that have tipped over and ones that will eventually, bad luck being what it is. Oh yeah, and you might as well remember that little hitch called insurance: Remember if the model has got an X, XX, R, RR, S, SS, or X-R at the end of it that little code most likely means "racebike" to the computer on the other end of the line and the premium it will spit back will likely be a figure that will make you want to sit and hold your head for a while. Ain't life a bitch. So with the preliminaries out of the way, here is our pick of the current lot:

2) 750cc Ducati Monster Dark. If the SV is the best entry-level bike, the Monster Dark is the coolest. For around 8K, you get a grunty, kick-ass power plant, and unlike its big brother, the 900cc Monster, the absent fuel injection makes the Monster Dark easier to tune, especially if you decide to breathe a little upon the internals. Although the most inexpensive of the Dukes, the Monster Dark uses the 888 frame, which not too long ago (1993) was the absolute pinnacle of this storied Italian marquee. The point: quality all the way through.

3) Honda 800VFR. The older 750s may be the best used bike to get and the current 800 is truly superlative. Honda pretty much owns the territory when it comes to making motorcycles aimed at doing damn near everything, and all the time without even the hint of a struggle. So keep that in mind when I say that right now the 800 is the Platonic Motorcycle from Honda. The only complaints come from aficionados like our friend Peter Egan who bemoans the lack of factory touring accessories (hard luggage, heated grips, etc.). 9.5K

4) Harley Fat Boy with the twin cam 99 motor. Stepping bravely into the millennium, Harley at last offers what their big twins have always lacked--near vibrationless running. Dual counter balancers, one for and one aft, chain driven, knock out the vibration and make them far more pleasurable machines over the long haul. Personally, we are waiting for the twin cam balanced design to be added to the Sportster line before we cave and go for a new Hog. Next year, perhaps??

5) Current model Triumph triples. The four cylinder Triumphs are great bikes, but they just seem to loose out to the triples. As BMW learned earlier when they offered their in-line three and four K series, the three's lighter engine just seems to hit the performance nirvana button in the real world, even though a four offers superior performance at the very top end. Perhaps it's that. Or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Triumph happens to have a tradition of triples that goes back decades, while having no past associations with a four. Maybe that has something to do with the reason so many fours sit on dealer's floors. So how about scraping the four and making a vee-twin that evokes the British past strewn with names like Brough and Vincent? Also, Cycle World recently named the Sprint ST the best Sport -Touring bike and we would go along with their selection. A sweet deal at 11K (with hard luggage).

6) Moto Guzzi V11 Sport. A satisfying ride, from a factory with a storied past and a bright future (11.5K). The stripped model, under the name, Jackel, is also worth taking a peak at, especially if you can jump in on the current special for a shade under 8K. In fact, any of the economy models are lighter, cheaper, and handle better. Go figure.

7) BMW Sport Boxster R1100S. Exuding legendary quality and purpose, this bike is the pinnacle of their twin cylinder variants. Looks sure to handle with vast distances with complete reliability and mastery of the road (15.6K).

8) Aprilia Vee-Twins. The Mille was a world beater the first year right out of the box. Recently Aprilia has unveiled a higher performance version under the moniker RSV Mille SP (30K). Lighter (thanks in part to more carbon fiber) and featuring a messaged engine courtesy of Cosworths, the RSV will be a replica of Peter Goddard's World Super Bike machine. The word out of Italy is 150 units sometime after Y2K. Also announced was a cheaper less glamorized version aimed at riders now lusting after the 900 Monster Dark and the BMW R1100S, as well as the aforementioned 1000cc twins offered by Suzuki and Honda. If Americans can really ride off only leaving a wad of 12K behind, Aprilia dealer may indeed be happy campers.

9) Polaris Victory. The new V92SC (Sport Cruiser). Although I wish the Hanlon team luck with their start-up Super-X, the picture does not look rosy for the immediate future. If you want to be a super-hero, why not call the Hanlons and give them 10 million so they can keep their dream alive of offering a new American made motorcycle to rival Harley. In the meantime, the Victory is the Harley alternative to go for. An offering from the financially sound Polaris Company, the Victory Sport looks to be the real deal, and Polaris should offer owners a reliable dealer network to provide service. Currently the V92C lists for 13K.

10) Suzuki Bandit range. Perhaps its nice to end where we began, with the best open bikes on the market. Especially attractive is the 600cc Kantana based model (6K). Can you say perfect hop-up bike?

Oh yeah, and you R1 buyers, if you didn't leave yet, you might want to wait for the latest write ups on Honda's new RR and RC51. I think both may be slightly better . . . but that's always the way it is when you try to own the top sport bike. It's like computers, every time you turn around a new one is out that goes a nano better.