Are bigger bikes REALLY easier to ride?

[Ragdoll]

Or do you think it's because you have passed your test and are a more confident/competent rider?
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1st bike - Honda Rebel; 2nd bike - CBR125; next bike - husband's 'blade hehehehe
Lancashire Bikers Facebook Group

[Groove]

Less gear changes and more stability.
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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[GearboxGeezer]

[Nath]

Definitely more stable. Moving about on the seat of my CG125 would make it wobble like no tomorrow.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[feef]

more stable in almost every way, but also more power means you can be lazy with gear changes and get away with it.. just wind it on and go.

also, being bigger makes you more loomable and are more easily spotted by car drivers.

a
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[colin1]

because of the extra stability, a lot of big bikes arent as agile

but some big bikes manage to be fairly agile yet be stable at the same time
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[mr.z]

Just to add..

Better frames
Suspension
Biger tyres (i.e. more tyre surface on the road)
Longer service intervals (depending, oilchanges at least, but cheaper)
Better brakes (which they ned to be on account of the extra mass!)
Comfyer

e.t.c.

But more expensive to run
Harder to fix
Not much fun trying to pick up!
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Davo]

I think bigger bikes are much easier and slightly more relaxing to ride.

My first big bike was a Hayabusa, and I couldn't fault it. If I wanted to be lazy whilst riding I could (just drop it in top gear) or I could make it go like a bat out of hell. It was certainly a lot less twitchy than my R6!

Although do remember, a big bike can get you into trouble a lot quicker! Just need to have a little respect for that throttle.

[stinkwheel]

Look at your CG. The forks are like pencils, the rims are very narrow with thin spokes. Suspension damping is minimal, swingarm is made of toilet roll tubes, brakes are drums, frame is pressed steel.

All adds up to a bike that is, frankly, pretty loose. Everything feels like it is bending and flexing as you ride it, everything else bounces and rattles. This sensation is caused by the fact that everything actually IS bending and flexing as you ride.

This is essential in order to make it light and cheap, the engine wouldn't be able to pull it otherwise. An Aprillia makes up for this by using space-age materials which are both strong and light. This makes them nice to ride but expensive.

Bigger bikes, even the cheap ones, can get away with being a wee bit heavier as they have the power to pull that weight about. As such they are stiffer and inspire more confidence.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Ragdoll]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have a CBR600 on the drive waiting for me and parked up next to my little Rebel it looks huge, though when I'm sitting on it it doesn't feel exceptional heavy or too high for me. Might give it a whirl at the weekend!
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1st bike - Honda Rebel; 2nd bike - CBR125; next bike - husband's 'blade hehehehe
Lancashire Bikers Facebook Group

[ISLAND GIRL]

Hiya Ragdoll. I find my hornet 600 is definately easier to ride than my CG125 was now I have got used to her, yea, sure to start with it was a bit daunting, the thought of a newer, bigger and faster bike would be to any new rider I would of thought. The main thing that I noticed with the hornet is the brakes are far far better, a lot more responsive, I feel safer on it I think its because it is bigger and more noticeable, my CG was like a bicycle although a very good reliable and cheap to run bike.
I see Kat600 today and I sat on her new bike a suzuki 600 sports bike and that felt heavier than my bike, she is one brave girl, it sounded lovely mind but I dont know how I could ride in that leant over forward position for a long period of time, Kat if you read this you are an inspiration to me
Ragdoll, give it a few weeks of riding your new bike that awaits and you will wonder what you ever worried about, I was the same and even now sometimes I get a bit jittery if you know what I mean
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Live on the Isle of Wight and ride a CBR600F

[Ragdoll]

Thanks Island Girl. That's good to hear. I remember you passing your test so it's nice to hear that you are enjoying your bike!
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1st bike - Honda Rebel; 2nd bike - CBR125; next bike - husband's 'blade hehehehe
Lancashire Bikers Facebook Group

[stinkwheel]

Just remember that the throttle is now no longer an on-off switch. Opening it too far and too quickly can lead to trouble, both legal and physical.

I felt I should say that, but you wont listen and I don't expect you to. Just lean forwards and try to make sure it is pointing in a straight line when you ignore the above for the first time.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[king kong]

I have found this to be a really interesting thread.
Fingers crossed I pick up my GSX750F on tuesday 11th and am a little nervous about moving off and travelling at slow speeds through town and the dreaded u-turn to park.
Currently have Varadeo at 134kg and jumping to 212kg on the GSX.
I have noticed also how the bigger do seem to be a lot more stable in the cross winds. I'll ley you know how I get on!

[ISLAND GIRL]

I remember when I went to collect my hornet, hadnt ridden a big bike before so got my husband to ride her out of garage as I didnt want to make a tit of myself but as it happens I got on somewhere nearer home and once I felt how the clutch bit etc it was ok, not at all as I had expected but its worth remembering what Stinkwheel says here, it is easy to fling open the throttle and end up on your arse so be careful
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Live on the Isle of Wight and ride a CBR600F

[Whosthedaddy]

Because of the extra weight and power, I believe that you tend to ride more defensive or conservative at the start.

Takes a while, but as soon as you start to feel the full potential of the bike, then the conservativeness goes out the window
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[hazza]

cant really comment on road bikes as im still on my cbt but on motorcross bikes the power delivery is smother (unless you cane it) so easyier to handle
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3 Honda NC50's(Sold)-->'72 Puch Maxi S (Sold, want it back!)--> '90 Yamaha RXS 100 (Stolen)--> '87 Honda Cub 90(Sold) --> '95 Kawasaki Eliminator (Sold) --> '98 Bandit 600 (Sold) -->'07 SV650S (Current)

[stooster]

just got an er5 and been on road a week. at first the bike felt huge. rode it for 3 days then got back on my cg125 for test run before sale...wow.....scary...fells like a toy. the steering is so loose its unreal. the brakes are far better on a bigger bike and the confidence you get is not from passing your test but from the bigger bike.

have to say though that u turns are more difficult but that may be just practise. who cares anyways. passed me test....i can push the bike if i needed. i dont think ive ever had to do a u turn in such a small road as you have to do on the test in the 2 yrs ive been riding...

if any 125 ers are 50/50 in stepping up to a bigger bike....DO IT.

the er5 now feels the same size as the cg125........suppose you get used to things

[Ragdoll]

[tsmith]

The extra power that bigger bikes offer makes it easy to just be lazy and chug along in top

In some ways I miss my old TDR125. Thrashing the nuts off it in every gear to get its best, every car more of a challenge to pass and usually having to use corners to slingshot around as thats the only place the cagers slowed down.

happy days...

[MarkyPancake]

I was nervous about getting on my 2004 R1 for the first time coming from a 2001 ZX-6R, in terms of weight they are virtually identical, but as soon as I rode it down the road it felt so much easier to ride and light to handle. I guess this is more to do with the development between the two ages of bike.

[Kitten]

Without doubt! My RVF feels like a luxury chauffer driven machine compared to my CBR!
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RVF400 (NC35) My baby

[Visitor Q]

Only thing i dislike is the feelign that you HAVE to wait until its upright before pinning it.

I dread to think what a litres like if the 6 is twitchy enough if you put the power down to early.

Dont get me wrong i accelerate out smoothly and gradually, but you have to be upright before gunning it.

Same as when in the central crap overtaking, you have to be more careful with it. Whereas on the Goose it was like, fuck it, pin it whereever and roll past slowly

Too easy to break traction and get a wobble, and when overtaking in the 'third lane' so to speak, thats not good, so you have to be far more judicious.

Not to mention as stinkwheel says, a quick flick of the wrist in any gear from 2nd upwards will have you in ban territory soon enough.
Hell my 0-60 is about 97% in first (i change up at 55).

But i went out for a ride on monday with el stupido on his 650 single. And the overtakes he was doing to make progress...

He'd do 3 or 4 russian roulette, badly timed overtakes slowly and labouriously (and hes not slow on that bike, its just shite). Then id wait for a brief interval with a good view of oncoming traffic (and without any preferably) and id catch up with him with just a quick drop of a gear and a fistful.

Completely safe. Fast as hell. But safe.

Now i remember back int day when i had a 350 single (33 brake), i used to do stupid overtakes like that. Because it was the only way to get round them.
Now im on the CBR, you can just bid your time and pick your moment.
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[MarkyPancake]

[Fizco]

When i did my direct access course i hated the 125 i started on. It felt too small, too light, and far too wobbly in the wind. As soon as i got on the 500 i felt more stable and confident.