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Is a bigger bike easy to get used too?

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mikesaa309
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PostPosted: 16:42 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Is a bigger bike easy to get used too? Reply with quote

I'm planning on doing my test with in the next few months. Got second CBT Saturday as my current one runs out soon. The company Camrider who I did my CBT with are charging 579 quid for 4 lessons for "experienced" learner bikers and 700 and something for people who haven't ridden that long. Instead I've found a place about 9 miles from my town who charge something like 30 quid an hour but will also access my riding as it is to see how many lessons I need.

I'm just a little concerned about riding a bigger bike and kinda feel the same way as I did before I rode a 125. Leaning them over doesn't seem possible without them dropping. I've ridden my dad's CX500 and rode it like I was riding in the wet leaning myself rather than the bike incase I dropped it from leaning too far. Sounds stupid I know..

Just wondering how easy is it to get used to the weight of a bigger bike from a little 125. Slow maneuvers are another concern. It's a piece of piss on a 125 that weighs so little. I can lean it quite far at low speeds without it dropping. Are slow maneuvers easy to perform on a bigger bike?

I'll probably get used to it quite quickly but not having properly ridden one, I have doubts.
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nowhere.elysium
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PostPosted: 16:47 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Heavier bikes are easier to ride than 125s.

That is all.
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mikesaa309
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PostPosted: 16:51 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

nowhere.elysium wrote:
Heavier bikes are easier to ride than 125s.

That is all.


Even in terms of them being heavier, are they not more difficult to control at low speeds for doing U-turns etc? I could understand gears being easier in terms of less downshifting for acceleration and not having to rev it so hard to accelerate to 30 - 50 mph.
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krarkol
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PostPosted: 16:53 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Feels a bit big and lardy at first. I wondered how I'd ever cope on my first time and found it cumbersome with how wide the seat was, the weight, height etc compared to my 125

Over time it wasn't an issue and it's almost like the bike shrinks Laughing
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nowhere.elysium
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PostPosted: 16:53 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

mikesaa309 wrote:
are they not more difficult to control at low speeds for doing U-turns etc?
No. See previous post.
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Shinigami
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PostPosted: 16:54 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

tl;dr

riding anything over a 125 is easier.

bigger bikes are much more planted and easier to handle with extra weight and lower centre of gravity
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Mark_F
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PostPosted: 16:58 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

mikesaa309 wrote:

Even in terms of them being heavier, are they not more difficult to control at low speeds for doing U-turns etc? I could understand gears being easier in terms of less downshifting for acceleration and not having to rev it so hard to accelerate to 30 - 50 mph.


Bigger bikes feel much more stable even at slower speeds (probably helped by the weight, bigger tyres, and generally being better engineered). Far easier to ride than most 125's.
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sabian92
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PostPosted: 17:09 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Plus they'll be less bothered by wind. The main problem with a 125 is because they weigh so little the wind batters them about and generally makes for a bad experience.

I rode home the other week in that horrific wind on a dual carriageway and it was terrifying considering it was only the 4th time I'd ridden a motorbike. Shat myself, I did Laughing
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Howling TerrorOutOfOffice
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PostPosted: 17:21 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

^^^You should try a track day. Laughing
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sabian92
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PostPosted: 17:24 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

mikesaa309 wrote:


Take it their performance is less effected too. Riding a 125 into the wind is a complete nightmare especially when you have cars sitting right up your ass on a 60 limit road and I'm flat out doing 50 because the wind is slowing me down. On the plus side if the wind is behind me I can easily do 70. Not that fast but it's the magic number on a 4 stroke 125.

I also think that most car drivers have the impression that all bikes are fast. They sit up my ass as if they're expecting me to do at least 70 - 80. They soon drop back though when I hold 60 through sharp bends and they haven't got the balls to try and corner at that speed. Laughing


But I thought your CBF had amazing handling? Laughing


Last edited by sabian92 on 17:26 - 19 Feb 2014; edited 1 time in total
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Mark_F
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PostPosted: 17:25 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

mikesaa309 wrote:

Take it their performance is less effected too. Riding a 125 into the wind is a complete nightmare especially when you have cars sitting right up your ass on a 60 limit road and I'm flat out doing 50 because the wind is slowing me down.


They're probably just as bothered by a headwind as a 125, but losing 10% of your top speed isn't as bad when that top speed is 130 mph (or more) compared to 65mph. They already have the headroom to more than cope.
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barrkel
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PostPosted: 17:26 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big bikes are (generally) slower turning, and need more effort at the bars to get big changes in lean angle, due to both increased mass and wider wheels. But the steering head angle matters here too.

At speed, the heavier wheels and tyres have more gyroscopic stability - it's harder to change the angle of high speed rotating mass. So more stable at speed.

The suspension usually works far better at speed, since there is more sprung mass - the bit above the suspension. Lighter bikes are thrown around more by surface imperfections. But the stiffness of the suspension matters here too.

It all usually translates to them being easier to ride slowly in a straight line, and being more stable at speed.

But easier to ride? That depends on where and how you ride. If you're trying to go fast, or go slowly in a straight line, it's much easier on a big bike. If you're throwing the bike around at slow speeds (like dense traffic), then no, a big bike is much easier to drop should something speculative go wrong. But you learn not to do that.

Wider front tyre also means the bike will straighten up a lot more if you brake with the front while leaned over. At speed, in a corner, this can mean going off the road or into the oncoming lane. Straightening up under braking is caused by the slowing front wheel being pulled to the inside of the turn around the steering axis by the road. Steering into the inside of the turn causes the bike to rotate to the vertical due to the countersteering effect. Wider tyre means the road has more leverage over the steering axis.
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bikersupermot...
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PostPosted: 17:39 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

riding smaller bikes can be easier than riding larger bikes.

if you come to a stop at an awkward camber angle in the road, need to reverse or move you bike into a tight spot - its all made a whole lot easier the lighter and smaller the bike.

if you did drop it, you can pick up easily a 125 - try doing the same with a 1000cc sportbike.

it all depends by what you mean by easier?

easier to go faster, easier to manouvre etc etc?
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-Matt-
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PostPosted: 18:17 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

mikesaa309 wrote:
Even in terms of them being heavier, are they not more difficult to control at low speeds for doing U-turns etc? I could understand gears being easier in terms of less downshifting for acceleration and not having to rev it so hard to accelerate to 30 - 50 mph.
You will be fine, as above bigger are generally easier. As is having the extra power available if and when you need it - just have to remember its there and not ram the throttle back.

If you're finding the weight is an issue in a U-turn you're probably going to be leaning so far over you'd be on the verge of tipping on any bike, irrelevant of the weight. The weight is only an issue beyond a certain angle when you're not moving, which you pretty much never reach unless your foot slips out or something.

Picking them up if you do drop them is the only major PITA.
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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 18:50 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

in 12 months time u will wonder what all the fuss was about.

it is however horses 4 courses and riders 4 horses.

big bikes wit race rep. ridin position are a pita taken through town traffic, even sports tourer types can be hard on the arms and back.
small trail or uprights are hard work on motorways or some fast roads.

but are a lot better at green laning than a GSXR
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Last edited by Copycat73 on 19:06 - 19 Feb 2014; edited 2 times in total
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bikersupermot...
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PostPosted: 18:59 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

depends what your going to do with your bigger bike

Baron von Grumble shows when a bigger bike isnt easy at all here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqgEl53x7CM
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mikesaa309
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PostPosted: 19:02 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

bikersupermoto wrote:
depends what your going to do with your bigger bike

Baron von Grumble shows when a bigger bike isnt easy at all here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqgEl53x7CM


Would have been funny to see a mountain bike just casually go past or a 50 - 125cc dirt bike. Must have had fun cleaning that when he got home Thumbs Up
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 19:16 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

bikersupermoto wrote:
riding smaller bikes can be easier than riding larger bikes.

if you come to a stop at an awkward camber angle in the road, need to reverse or move you bike into a tight spot - its all made a whole lot easier the lighter and smaller the bike.

if you did drop it, you can pick up easily a 125 - try doing the same with a 1000cc sportbike.

it all depends by what you mean by easier?

Apparently a lot of it depends what you mean by "riding". Wink

Fair points, but I'd say on balance, bigger balances better.
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binoscott
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PostPosted: 19:25 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just try it.

You'll be a bit shakey to begin with, but once more comfortable on a bigger bike you notice a vast improvement in stability when moving, regardless of the speed.
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Clanger
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PostPosted: 19:29 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

In my experience riding a 125cc in the snow and ice was easier because my legs were like stabilisers, on the larger bikes however...

That and moving the smaller bike around, I could practically pick up the 125cc but cannot do the same for the 650cc.

But then I am a weed. Mr. Green Thumbs Up
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workboots
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PostPosted: 20:01 - 19 Feb 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big trail/ adventure bikes are fun offroad Surprised

https://youtu.be/Gzc8wMXL8xY?t=1m11s
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