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I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small bikes

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SpannerMonkey
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PostPosted: 23:16 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small bikes Reply with quote

I was riding around on the humble 250 today... going through various bends and such and I kept thinking "Oh, I used to be full throttle on the aerox through that" as I sweep through with ease, 1/8th throttle...
Then it hit me, almost an epiphany.
I'm bored with excess power.
Now the GN doesnt make much, only 21hp at peak... but opening it up properly on most roads around my town means I'm speeding in most places and having to hold back for legality sake
It overtakes any car around town and even on A roads I only sit at about 50ish, it's where I'm happy. Even on NSL roads.
Towns are for shredding about, and A roads are for cruising on to me... Motorways are full of monotomy

See, at this point, everyone is probably thinking "Fucking pussy, just get a bigger bike" Don't get me wrong. I DO want a bigger bike, but only for easy motorway mile munching and travelling any further than 50 miles out from home
But all I seem to do is wind up skint and can't leave town due to petrol restraints...

I just miss my "Blasting about with mates" days on my 50's and 125's

Now I await the inevitable "Cool story bro" post or other people lolling at me =P
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G
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PostPosted: 23:21 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Re: I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small b Reply with quote

spannermonkey91 wrote:
I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small bikes

Because you've never spent a decent amount of time getting used to a bigger bike?
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T0MMY
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PostPosted: 23:28 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

I understand the appeal of smaller bikes and normally have 400s but for christ's sake man, 21hp isn't excessive power in ANY situation is it? Laughing
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T0MMY
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PostPosted: 23:32 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

BLUEX5 wrote:
I like small bikes. There is something fun in being able to ride like a complete idiot with reduced risk to life and licence.


That's why I like 400s but that's a different kettle of fish to a GN250.
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SpannerMonkey
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PostPosted: 23:34 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

BLUEX5 wrote:
I like small bikes. There is something fun in being able to ride like a complete idiot with reduced risk to life and licence. However I couldn't have one as my only bike. The novelty of "having" to cane them all the time and turning anything more than a 40 mile trip into an endurance test soon wears off and I need my big roomy 4T.
Exactly, I know the reality of it is that I need a larger bike for motorway travel and for my bigger jaunts, but I just miss tear-arsing around... just like you said
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Ingah
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PostPosted: 23:35 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Re: I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small b Reply with quote

G wrote:
spannermonkey91 wrote:
I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small bikes

Because you've never spent a decent amount of time getting used to a bigger bike?


I'm going to go out on a limb here and support the OP, as someone who's spent over 2 years "getting used" to a bigger bike (CB500).

I'm looking for a new bike - and i'm not after a 600+, i'm after, another small bike. Maybe, an RXS100 (fed up of paying so much at the pumps!), or maybe an NSR125/Mito (we'll see what i end up with, but i'm currently looking at a Mito from somone on here). Because the 500 is quite boring to ride and just fails to bring much grin factor (and yes, i do ride it using the throttle properly - it's not that i'm sitting at 4K revs and expecting fun to follow). BUT at the same time, the power is more than enough. Possibly too much, i don't feel the need for all 57 of those horses, and i certainly don't feel the need for more horses! There's a fair amount of the time i'm pretty bored, being held up on the roads around here where you just can't pass legally, even if i had triple the horses - and i kinda wish the bike wasn't cruising along at such low revs... (yes i have tried knocking it down a gear or two Laughing )

I will say though, i don't want to get rid of the 500, for long distance work, and probably in part because i've invested weeks of my time and thousands of pounds, into making it run well/properly.

Maybe in time my mind will be changed by some different metal, but right now, i agree much with the OP, and BLUEX5.
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SpannerMonkey
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PostPosted: 23:38 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, Thanks Ingah... Nice to know I'm not getting hated on as bad as I thought... =) I was expecting the "*Gasp* You're not a biker! Have him castrated!" sorta response
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flumpy7
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PostPosted: 23:38 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can see where your coming from although i dont think you could describe 21hp as excessive. I've just dropped down from a fireblade to a hyosung gt250r for a variety of reasons and i am havin a whale of a time. I was genuinely surprised to find that i dont feel like im going a whole lot slower which of course, im not cause of the shitness of riding in England. The bit i do miss though is that feeling of holding on for dear life when pulling away in first gear Twisted Evil
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G
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PostPosted: 23:40 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Re: I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small b Reply with quote

First off, you've chosen a particularly 'boring' bigger bike, I'd say.
I suspect you might find something like a sports 400 or 250 2t which has similar power in a more enthusiastic package a different proposition .

I do prefer smaller bikes for fun myself, but not that small power wise - my favourite bike is probably a 144cc for the whole package, while engine wise has to be my 200 - however we're talking over 30hp in a light and very, very light for the 144, package.

Not saying the OP was 'wrong', just that he seemed to be basing his opinion from a lack of knowledge, rather than from understanding what he didn't like.

As for "can't pass legally" - I presume you mean double white lines or already going at the legal speed. You might be surprised at some of the overtaking opportunities having over 150hp in a vehicle weighing under 200kgs opens up to you Smile.
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SpannerMonkey
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PostPosted: 23:45 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

warped one wrote:
You tried knocking it down a gear or 2 before going into the corners? Might make the bike more enjoyable and fun for you.
if it's dry, then I corner quite low (Scraping the pegs) so it's not like I dont corner fast enough...
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SpannerMonkey
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PostPosted: 23:46 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Re: I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small b Reply with quote

G wrote:

Not saying the OP was 'wrong', just that he seemed to be basing his opinion from a lack of knowledge
I believe you mean experience? =/
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flumpy7
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PostPosted: 23:46 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Re: I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small b Reply with quote

G wrote:
First off, you've chosen a particularly 'boring' bigger bike, I'd say.


Yeah i spose im sitting on the fence on this. It is deffo fair to say that you cant base your opinions about 'bigger bikes' on a cb500. I had an er5 once and man.....i almost gave up biking it was so monotinous!
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Ingah
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PostPosted: 23:47 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Re: I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small b Reply with quote

G wrote:
First off, you've chosen a particularly 'boring' bigger bike, I'd say.
I suspect you might find something like a sports 400 or 250 2t which has similar power in a more enthusiastic package a different proposition .

I do prefer smaller bikes for fun myself, but not that small power wise - my favourite bike is probably a 144cc for the whole package, while engine wise has to be my 200 - however we're talking over 30hp in a light and very, very light for the 144, package.

Not saying the OP was 'wrong', just that he seemed to be basing his opinion from a lack of knowledge, rather than from understanding what he didn't like.


You're probably spot on with what i'd like (having wanted both a VFR400 and been a little tempted by the NSR250 et al before, if a little concerned that the 250cc of 2T power delivery might be a little much). BUT the vital extra piece of information is that i'm a student, and literally cannot afford to run such machines as this country makes it too expensive to do so (at the pumps and at the start of the year when asking for insurance). The parts situation isn't so good either, with the sheer % of import bikes in that range.

Picked the CB500 because it was 'sensible' and 'affordable', as well as powerful. It was probably the worst single machine in the country at the time for me (as my only on-the-road-machine, it was an unreliable old and knackered, cost a fortune in time, parts and inconvenience, as well as failing to "wow" me now it's all sweet).
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colin1
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PostPosted: 23:57 - 13 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

For fun and short distances, small bikes are good. For longer distances with less effort, bigger bikes are better.
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G
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PostPosted: 00:01 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

From experience, knowledge is gained Wink.

spannermonkey91 wrote:
if it's dry, then I corner quite low (Scraping the pegs) so it's not like I dont corner fast enough...

Sounds like problems with the bike/riding style to me Smile.
I've got the pegs (well, footboards) down on a bike following another rider that hadn't ridden for over 5 years and wasn't fast before then. It was a problem with the bike (and my riding style for the bike - I did get a bit more lean out of it with other techniques), not because I was going fast.
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SpannerMonkey
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PostPosted: 00:03 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

G wrote:
From experience, knowledge is gained Wink.

spannermonkey91 wrote:
if it's dry, then I corner quite low (Scraping the pegs) so it's not like I dont corner fast enough...

Sounds like problems with the bike/riding style to me Smile.
I've got the pegs (well, footboards) down on a bike following another rider that hadn't ridden for over 5 years and wasn't fast before then. It was a problem with the bike (and my riding style for the bike - I did get a bit more lean out of it with other techniques), not because I was going fast.

Well the GN is a pretty low bike, being a factory cutom and all.
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Kickstart
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PostPosted: 00:05 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

Another vote for small bikes, but tend to like them with a power delivery that encourages thrashing. Even a 2 stroke 250 is getting to the point where full performance cannot be used that often (100mph is nasty slap on the wrist, 130mph is bye bye license time).

That said the YSR doesn't have enough power to be fun on performance. Enough to get round but fun in other ways.

All the best

Keith
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L4Isoside
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PostPosted: 00:14 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Re: I finally figured out why I'm so fanatical about small b Reply with quote

G wrote:


As for "can't pass legally" - I presume you mean double white lines or already going at the legal speed. You might be surprised at some of the overtaking opportunities having over 150hp in a vehicle weighing under 200kgs opens up to you Smile.


I'd agree with this (even if im on a 600 "only" 115bhp)

Double whites also aren't the be all and end all, apply some common sense to overtaking and (IMO) some double white lines need only be single white lines etc.

Get an exciting bike then decide if you'd like it or not, at one point I thought there was no way I'd need more than 12bhp, then 33bhp, then 50-60bhp....now I'm at 115 and wouldn't say no to more Laughing.
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G
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PostPosted: 00:14 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

spannermonkey91 wrote:

Well the GN is a pretty low bike, being a factory cutom and all.

Not sure that's quite how I'd describe it - but yes, low. So you'll probably need to hang off a hell of a lot to get any slightly decent corner speed.
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Seb
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PostPosted: 00:15 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kickstart wrote:
That said the YSR doesn't have enough power to be fun on performance. Enough to get round but fun in other ways.


Not quite sure the OP meant that small Wink
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Kickstart
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PostPosted: 00:55 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey, I'll let you know it has 5.9hp

That's almost 6hp......

All the best

Keith
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lukamon
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PostPosted: 01:07 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

anyoneone want to buy my c90??






















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chris-red
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PostPosted: 02:14 - 14 Feb 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll stick with big bikes thanks, riding the RXS up and down made me reallise how much fun the other where. I would have much more fun keeping either of my big bikes under the limit compared to riding the RXS.
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