Would/Have You Downsized?

[BikerGirlonGi...]

"There's no replacement for displacement".

I suppose this is true. I had a few sports 600s, and love the acceleration. It has never been about top speed for me, just the insane acceleration. I love lane splitting too, overtaking cars. Most my riding is commuting, taking the opportunity to enjoy the bike whenever it presents itself.

Got knocked off my bike in a SMIDSY (no, I wasn't misbehaving) last Nov, which caused me long-term damage to my back. As a result I cannot ride on sports bike as it irritates my back injury to the point of wanting off the bike ASAP.

I still miss the two wheels. Have tried the CB1000R and it's awesome. But, I much prefer fairings and the 'sports' look. Insurance is too much for me to want to pay on sports 600/1000 (£100-150 per month!). Also, I don't want to use up my fortune with not losing my license for riding really fast.

So? Ahem...

I like the look of the Ninja 300, and it appears to have a more 'back-injury' friendly riding position, despite satisfying the sports look. Insurance is ridiculously cheap - £30 per month Less likely to lose my license as it can't go fast enough. Just wondering whether I won't be too disappointed with the power. I know it won't be like a 600, but being 30 odd bhp, I'm wondering whether I could enjoy it.

I'm due a test-ride tomorrow, so I'll find out soon enough; but for the meantime I am interested in your opinions and experience if you've ever had to downsize?

[stickybackbob]

Not downsized as such but do swap between a ZXR750 and an old Suzuki TS250. The power and speed of the 750 is great but the riding position is terrible for town work or indeed anything below 40mph for any length of time (am getting old...or so I'm told). On the other hand the 250 has just about enough go to win the traffic light GP and doesn't do much over 60 but it is superb in town for flicking about and filtering.

Now with the 250 being a two stroke, that brings it's own pleasures. Not so sure if I could live with such a small four stroke but plenty of people do.

Hope your test ride goes well but if not, why not try a different style of bike that has the power/size you want with the good riding position that you need but just different styling? After all, riding is not a fashion parade

[BikerGirlonGi...]

[pinkyfloyd]

I swapped a VTR1000F Firestorm for a new XJ6. Down on power by around 25bhp and a shedload of torques.

It has its up sides and down sides. On the up I am getting better fuel economy. Tank is the same size and I am doubling the range. Means I am saving £17 each time I fill up. Its a more stable vehicle around town being an inline 4 instead of the VTR V2 engine. Its easier to ride with its more sit up position.

Down sides is I do miss the grunt, noise and easy breaking the 100mph (on private roads) barrier. Its way harder on a naked bike.

But overall I am glad I made the change to the smaller bike. I can throw it around like a 125 and it suits my riding style better. Yes I miss the noise of the V2 engine. Yes I miss pinning it in first and watching the world travel backwards at speed but the pro's have outweighed it somewhat.
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[Seb]

My mint 04 sub 10k mile ZX9 got retired for pretty much everything by an £800 93 XJR400.

Whilst the ZX9 was the superior bike, the XJR was just more enjoyable.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[BikerGirlonGi...]

Thanks Seb and PinkyFloyd. I know I'll miss the acceleration if I like the 300. Will see.

Heard of KTM Duke 390. Any thoughts on that?

[Rogerborg]

If you're looking at the Ninja 300, try the new CBR500R. https://cycle-ergo.com/ reckons its even more upright, and it's actually cheaper (with ABS as standard) than a Ninja with ABS.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[BikerGirlonGi...]

Rogerborg - that's a seriously helpful website! Thanks

[Slacker24seve...]

So let me get this straight, your buying a new or newish 300 but you can't afford to insure it? When an older softer CBR600F or Chundercat would cost peanuts, still have a relatively comfortable riding position that could be further improved by the addition of bar risers and/or lower pegs and still be vastly more capable...

If you must buy new or newish, how about the new 600F? It's a tarted up Hormet in a posh frock so still slightly sporty but comfy too.
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[BikerGirlonGi...]

[numpty2]

You may also find the CBR500R is cheaper to insure than the Ninja 300, and it may also give better economy. Power and torque will be better.

I downsized from a Kawasaki 550 down to a CG125 20 years ago when my first child was born and we needed to save money, and since then I've only managed to get back as far as 250cc. There is no shame in downsizing, and it will normally save a fortune. In my book, 2 wheels is the only important thing, and I'll ride whatever suits my circumstances. And if like me you're no longer a spring chicken, you can still prattle on about riding fast when you were younger. Kids/bikes of today blah blah blah.

If you are after the sensation of speed, why not consider naked bikes? I've always preferred them myself, and I'm sure that the wind buffeting has served to prevent me getting into too many scrapes.

[Rogerborg]

Personally I'd call £360 a year pretty steep, but you are where you are.

It's a fair point though that if you go older and cheaper then insurance costs should also come down and you'll save all round.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[BikerGirlonGi...]

[SQL]

CBR600F and mod it.

[Slacker24seve...]

[BikerGirlonGi...]

the thing is, 600f and vfr 800 are lovely, but again I'll be paying a lot more on insurance - circa £100 per month.

So far, the cb1000r is the best 'power' bike at a mere cheap £60 month insurance for 9 months.

I guess I should be honest and admit that it's the looks of the ninja 300 that initially attracted me...

[G]

You seem to be choosing all the boring bikes.

Me, I'd down size and go for something with a bit of 'character', as such.

if you want upright, how about a XJR400; they are pretty, upright and not to bad to ride.

Honda CB-1 not as pretty, but always get good reviews.

Also, a Kawasaki 250 may cost less in insurance a year, but will depreciate a lot more than those savings year on year when compared to an older 600cc sports bike.

If you do care about the riding a bit and not just the looks (your choices suggest it's more the looks?), but want both, how about modifying a sports bike to be a more comfortable position?

[Robby]

I've had a fair range of bikes in various shapes and sizes.

If you're downsizing from a sports 600, don't go for a smaller sports bike, it will feel slow. Get something naked so it feels faster, and get something light so it's really easy to chuck around.

Or just get a UJM/muscle bike.

Your insurance sounds a bit a steep, are you 12?

[BikerGirlonGi...]

[Shaft]

If insurance is a main driver, buy something 15+ years old and discover the world of classic policies, where you can insure almost anything for tuppence.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

I would go along with what G suggests.

To me I prefer how the engine encourages me (hence liking 2 strokes), and I suspect I would find the 300cc twin just asthmatic.

Are you getting hit for higher insurance due to the SMIDSY incident? If so is this just temp while they sort out the claim, or have they settled it with you getting hit for some of the blame? Or are you getting loaded for another claim (theft?).

As mentioned above, depending on your age a classic bike and policy could save you a fortune. TZR250 (or RD350YPVS, or RG250, etc) has a reasonably restrained riding position, sporty engine and can easily be put on a classic policy.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[BikerGirlonGi...]

31 years old; heavily and incommensurately penalised for claiming on a theft in April 2012. Since then premium has rocketed skywards.

What's a muscle bike?

[Kickstart]

[G]

[Shaft]

What Keith said, or, in the context of old stuff, this is what my Z1100 looks like

https://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2484/4e38.jpg

Lumpy motor, fairly rubbish suspension and lardy, so you need some muscle to haul the thing about.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035