The truth about big capacity bikes.

[BorderHooner]

Having been around on bike forums for a couple of years and having spoken to dozens and dozens of bikers at cafe meets etc etc I'd just thought I'd offer my view on the 'truth about big capacity bikes'

The reason for this is I get a bit tired of listening to people whining and dribbling on at me for making my own choices and buying bigger bikes straight off the bat via DAS. Because that seems to be against bikers conventions (I thought biking didnt have any fucking rules, the whole point of it is freedom of expression)

I get sick of parrots on a band wagon spouting the same bullshit, thinking they are in a majority of those who are right. Right about what?

There is one suggestion that goes something along the lines that you shouldn't ride a big capacity bike until you have done years of coming through the ranks, so to speak, on scooters, 125's, 400 or 600's etc. If you do you will look foolish, because you arent hanging off the bike on every corner and you are not using ALL the power, because of your limited experience.

Then we have the other camp who suggest that you can learn the same mistakes on a small machine or a large machine. All that matters is you are having fun up on two wheels. If you are aware of the risks and if you approach it with a bit of mature sense then it can be a lot of fun.

The safety people rattle off names and lists of folk who have wrapped themselves on big bikes by not riding to the conditions or within their ability.

What are we saying?

You should only own a big cc bike if you can thrash the arse off it, repeating what is done on the track only on the road. What if some of us are not into copying things off the telly, what if some of us are individuals?

Is making good progress, riding to the conditions not good enough?

You can get into as much trouble on a 125 as you can on an 800.

Big capacity riders get the piss thrown on them for not hooning it enough and then get the shit thrown at them for taking what others percieve as risks. Explain that?

A 50cc scooter or a 125cc trails or a ER5 ridden to the absolute limits does not mean that you will automatically master a K7 GSXR750. The experience you have is a different world of experience. Nothing will prepare you for the raw rush of power if you keep it at 9K and WOT through the gears. You will be a novice again. Road sense and general motorcyle know how is the only thing that you will cross over with. You will not automatically be hanging off it. That comes with experience and skill, but it can take years to sharpen your senses to enable you to manage high adrenylin action without dying at the next bend - for some that will simply never come. It doesnt make anyone less of a biker if they ride a big bike without using all the power, without hanging off, if they want to amble making good progress within the limits of the roads laws, who the fuck is anyone to say how they should or shouldnt be riding.

In fact how many people who ride bikes are masters of all scenarios, who actually uses ALL the power in their bikes all the time? Few for the former, NONE for the latter as it's physically impossible.

As discussed elsewhere, the Transalp has enough horsepower for absolutley everything the road can throw at you. You don't need any more than 50hp on the road on a bike.

Some of us want more power, few use all of it really. It's all about riding what the hell you want, there aint any rules, no conventions and anyone suggesting so isnt a biker they're idiots and a biggot.

It isnt a race or a competition no matter which route you take to cylinder capacity, which types of bikes you prefer, what gear we wear, what roads you enjoy. It matters not.

A biker is a biker. A biker rides motorcycles. A motorbike is anything with an engine in my book no matter the capacity. A biker says 'fuck no' to rules and conventions. Anybody who says otherwise is a lost soul and shall never enter Motorcyle Heaven. lol.

Freedom is choice.

I choose to ride large capacity bikes. I'm free to make that choice. I dont get any less or any more enjoyment out of it than a 18 year old lad will get out of getting his knee down on a roundabout in front of his mates. It's all good, it's all smiles.

I make the most of everything, there's no hype - just believers in bullshit.

Bike safe and enjoy it as you only walk this path once and I intend to be grinning as the curtains finally come down.





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Benelli. Happy as a pig in cacky.

[_Will_]

Now feel sorry for those who have to go through 2 year restrictions.
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[mrtEE]

Not boasting again are we

[BorderHooner]

Vee, nowt wrong with that. Nowt can be done about the law. You can have tonnes of fun on a restricted bike.




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Benelli. Happy as a pig in cacky.

[_Will_]

Who said anything about me
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[BorderHooner]

lol, I didnt mean 'you' specifically Vee

when I was talking about having fun on restricted bikes, I just meant anyone who is currently riding one can still have a lot of fun on two wheels. We dont need power to have fun.

I dont know what it's like to be restricted by power, but much like everyone else i'm bound by my experience.
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Benelli. Happy as a pig in cacky.

[ram_doom]

So anyway, where was the truth about big capacity bikes? It was more a defense about people who cant ride fast and get ribbed about it no matter how big their bike is?
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TL1000s, KDX200

[steveh]

I agree that not alot of people use all the power, the right lines and amounts of breaking, i have 100 horses to play with, i doubt i use 50, but its nice to have the power if you should need it.

i often have a blast with 2 400's, me being the biggest capasity rider there, one rider is is an okay rider by my standards, i can keep up with him easy, but if he pushes it he can get away, and i wont try and keep up as its not in my "comfort zone"
I dont get rattled if i lag behind, as they know its not about whos the better rider, and whos got the biggest bike, its about keeping upright, and having a good ride no matter if its a blast round lanes, around town or stunting "off road"

aslong as you enjoy what you are doing, stick to that.

Steve.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[CortezTheKill...]

I totally agree with you Carlos. Who gives a feck what people think of what you're riding? Freedom of expression is the most valuable thing you can have, and if you have a smile on your face who cares what you ride.

I had an interesting chat with some Y7 kids as I left my school today, along the lines of:

Kid: Sir, your bike isn't very fast.

Me: Isn't it?

Kid: It's got one of them scooter engines in it.

Me: Has it really? Well, well. I thought it had a 650cc V-twin.

Kid: What top speed does it do?

Me: About 130.

Kid: My dad had a bike that does 170.

Me: How nice for your dad. You must be very proud.


That's the future of the country for you right there...obsessed with meaningless numbers and the pursuit for bigger, better, faster.
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SV650 - TRASHED
ZX636R C6F - SOLD
Current number of wheels: 0 (not including a bicycle).

[BorderHooner]

[MarJay]

I think I'm a better rider because I went 'through the ranks'.

I'd be scared as hell if I went out and bought a big bike. I was scared as hell when I first rode my 125.

Maybe you are a good rider. Maybe you can do a DAS and ride well enough to survive on the road. Maybe you are a good rider.

I don't want to ride well enough to survive, I want to continually improve my riding. I've never improved as much as when I've gotten off of a big bike and ridden a small one.

Don't diss small bikes. There is a lot to be said for thrashing a 125.

Bendy was a die hard DAS advocate until she rode Cassys CBR125, which, iirc she described as 'a hoot'.

Plus I want to ride the machine with some of the skill that it deserves. I might be able to pass my test and get on a 'busa, but there is no way I would be able to ride it anywhere near its abilities. To me, someone who passes their test and buys an R1 or Gixxer thou is doing it for the pose rather than the skill. I have met a number of people who have done DAS and scared themselves on a big sportsbike.

This thread screams "I'm insecure because people think I shouldn't own a 'Busa!"

Don't get me wrong, I think there are plenty of safe secure riders who have taken a DAS, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who graduated from 125's that aren't as skilled as said DAS people, but IMO nothing teaches you how to ride better than riding a peaky engined twitchy small bike with no midrange. Nothing teaches you about corner speed more than a bike with no power.

I love my RGV250. Its just a shame it needs a rebuild!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[mr.z]

A decent ammount of power imo is..

A bike that will carry you, another person and stuff at 80 all day (on the speedo its more like 70 on mine), for me thats enough power.. any more i'd not use meself, i have no interest in willy waveing, i'd only get something like a sportsbike if i ever planned on going on a trackday..

But i guess not eveyrone has a bike to just get about, i dont see a problem with haveing "too much power" but just strikes me as a bit of a waste of money :/
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[mark83]

[MarJay]

As a minor aside,

If Speed isn't important Carlos, how come you ride the fastest ever production motorcycle?

Why not a VFR800? Why not a BMW K1200 tourer jobby.

Both are fast enough and both are equally comfortable, if not moreso than the 'busa.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[BorderHooner]

[BorderHooner]

[mark83]

I agree with the principle that you shouldn't judge people for getting a big/small bike: its what THEY want, and what THEY feel comfortable with.

However, you can't tell me that a DAS newbie on a Hayabusa is an acceptable thing.

Speed aside, you don't realise how heavy the bike is until you lose you balance on a slow turn on a steep hill.

There is also the issue of the madmen who rush out and buy these hyperbikes after just passing their DAS because they want to go very fast and that's it. It's not just their life they're risking, but everyone else on the road.

That doesn't mean that a madman in a Vauxhall Nova can't do damage, but the temptation/risk of a 21 year old chav wanting to show off to his mates by caning it down a high street on a Saturday is greatly increased by the performance (and hence the temptation) you have between your legs.

Sorry about the rant, didnt mean for it to go on for so long!!
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Kawasaki ER6n -> Honda CBR600RR -> Honda VTR 1000 -> Moto Guzzi Norge 1200
Buy my Mercedes 350 Sport AMG Evo

[Pete.]

No-one NEEDS the power of a Hayabusa, or even a GSXR600 for that matter, it's a question of want, of individualism, of having a idea that it would be nice to own something and working to realise that ambition. Similarly, people who assume that because a rider never takes his bike near it's (or their) limits is a poor rider or should be a subject of derision are taking a very narrow-minded view of things.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[CortezTheKill...]

[Mockey]

I have been riding for 3 years, when I started I was 17, I have the following riding experience...

Kawasaki Eliminator 125 : 1 year (on L's)
Kawasaki EN500: 1 year
Triumph Thunderbird 900: riding now (owned since June)

I am still what you could call a fairly in-experienced biker, however, I feel I am a far better rider for working my way up gradually. I would personally not buy something like a Hyabussa straight after my test as I think riding a smaller capacity bike is a much better to develop your riding skills.

Some of you may share this view, but IMO passing your test doesn't mean you know everything!
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04/05- Kawsaki Eliminator 125, 05/06 - Kawasaki EN500, 06/present - Triumph Thunderbird 900

[colin1]

different bikes are good at different things

my yp250 has all the power i need on my commute, or long journeys on the motorway (20bhp)

my rs125 has more than enough power for twisty country lanes with no traffic (25bhp)

my tt600 has more power than i actually ever use, but it makes high speed overtakes a lot easier and safer and its fun for bursts of acceleration (100bhp)

i once tried a litre bike, and it was great having all the power at low revs, that i would have to rev the 600 for.

im fortunate to be able to have 3 bikes, but other ppl wd spend the same amount of money on one bike, or on a car.

if someone is sensible, i dont think its wrong for them to buy an r1 just after their DAS

In some ways its easier to ride than an r6

i sat on a busa at the nec and it was very comfortable

im the kind of person who could own a busa or r1 and never take it above 90mph

i think part of the satisfaction of riding, is becoming more skilful. You can push a small bike more without getting to silly speeds

a big bike means you can do the same things with less effort

there is more skill involved offroading, and then the speeds are even lower

i quite like the idea of getting an offroad bike
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[dave1rs]

ride what ever you want to i have no problem with that and wouldnt judge someone for leaping straight to a larger capacity bike.

if you have the licence then you have the ability.....but do you have the control?by that i mean self control to ride safe,not winding on the throttle and then finding you are going too fast and dont know what to do. you can get yourself in trouble on all bikes,but make a mistake on anything with a largish engine eg open throttle too much and you can quickly find yourself in one hell of a messy situation,which you may get away with on a smaller bike.

whatever people choose i hope they ride safe,and enjoy they're riding.

[virus]

[phk6]

[Keen]

I progressed in an almost textbook way: test at 17 (hence 2 year restriction), 125 2 stroke, 250cc, 500cc then now I'm on a Hornet 600. I'm 100% sure this gradual progression over the last 5/6 years has made me a better rider, but each to their own.

One thing I would say carlos- where next? personally I look forward to progressing onto bigger bikes in the future and the rush that comes from trying something faster. If you start wiht a busa, where do you go from there? Its kind of like peaking too early no?
Also, you say biking is about the experience, not just going fast, but you really have missed out on some great experiences that come with small bike ownership.
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"he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"- Dr. Johnson