Going to a bigger bike

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

I'm not sure whether I should have posted this in new bikers, with me not being a new biker and all, but....

When the time comes, the test's out of the way and I'm finally ready to get my own "real" bike, what are the main things I will notice.

One thing I notice about the 600's the CBR and Gixxer especially, is compared to my NSR they are *huge* . I'm not sure about the weight, the weight of the CBR seems managable, but I've yet to learn about the other bikes. What about the power?

After that, I'm wondering about fuel consumption, tank range, etc.

Anything that really jumped out at you?

Thanks .
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[Bendy]

They're not huge, it's just that the NSR is bloody tiny.

Weight is not a factor unless you're pushing it around the garage.

Fuel consumption, tanks range... pffft. You want practicality, buy a diesel.

[Scotsman37]

I would suggest going to one of those bike training places for 1 hour or so, as to get some experience of riding a larger bike before getting your own 600cc due to the throttle only requiring a less twist to get up to speed.

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

[NickD]

While the 600's are bigger they seem to 'fit' around your body better than smaller bikes do, and I found it much easier to ride from that point of view. It's likely that you'll only notice the extra weight at very low speed, because once you're moving it just disappears. When I first moved up, I found that there was little difference in fuel consumption, but this is likely to be because my GSX was a much more efficient, less knackered engine than my RD125. The power took a little while to get used to, mostly from to point of view that the 4 stroke 4 has linear power from the start, rather than the 2 strokes 'bugger all, wait for it, wait for it, woosh' delivery. The biggest difference I found was the engine braking, while the 125 had next to none, when you close the throttle at low speed on a big bike, it practically stops. This made for a few 'interesting' moments earlier on. Financially, the biggest difference was insurance obviously, but i'd always expected that, so I was prepared.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[NSR125-Kid-UK]

One thing I notice about the NSR is it seems fairly okay to move around on. Is it the same with say, a Gixxer 6?
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https://www.bikepics.com/members/nsrandy/96rs250/ My Bike!

"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

[dainesefreak]

Tyre prices and servicing can be more expensive too. Petrol consumption is probably not too different from a de-restricted two stroke, in fact probably better.

Braking and acceleration are better on the newer 600's and the extra weight makes them more stable contributing to an easier ride, IMO.

Don't forget road tax too, it's not expensive but it's a bit more than £15 for a year on a 125.

The weight thing is all down to confidence and it's rare that you'd really need to man handle it anyway.

Acceleration/speed - All depends on how far you twist the throttle. Obviously you'll notice the difference straight away but if you take it easy it's not going to be earth shattering.

Edit - Can't say about a GSXR as I've never owned one. The R6 and Blades are roomier than 125 due to the physical size. They may have a sportier riding position and put more weight on the wrists, but that's a different thing to being able to move around.

[stryker]

Having never rode a motor bike before, I recently had the pleasure of riding a 125 all day then having a practice on a cg500.

The larger bike was FAR more easy to ride than a 125!! cornering was smoother, more stable during breaking, plus the road had a damn site less influence on the bike.

I'd imagine if you've been riding a 125 for some time now your used hammering the throttle, IE opening up to pull away etc... yeah you know you have Just watch it on the larger bike! I'd been careful on the 125 all day and I was just careful on the 500cc so there were no nasty surprises.

[NickD]

I could't tell you about that particilar bike, but modern sports bikes are built to allow you to move around easily.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[izzi81]

When I first looked at getting a bigger bike (I had an NS125R) all 600s looked huge. I'd look at them parked up and think there was no way I could handle one of them!
I decided on a zx6r and went and sat on one in a bike showroom. It still felt huge, not quite so huge now that I'd sat my test on a 500cc, but still big and heavy. It didn't deter me and I went and got the model that I wanted. While it was difficult to work out the best way to move it around when I wasn't riding it, once I got going the difference was amazing, it was much easier to ride! The steering was better, the brakes were unbelievable, and the whole thing felt *so* much more stable.

After having the zx6r for a few months I had to take the NSR to be MOTed so I could sell it. Which meant riding it to the test centre. WHich I thought would be no bother but which actually turned out to be pretty scary! The NSR felt like nothing, like any breath of wind would cause it to wobble, steering wasn't as responsive, and the brakes were dire in comparison to the zx6r. Not to mention the effort required to get it up to any decent speed!

I was very glad to get back on the Ninja
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[Jammy-G]

All this talk about a twist of the trottle and you off the back is a little too much IMO. I've been riding a RXS100 (twist throttle and 30 secs later your going), and I had a go on my friends ZX6R full power round a carpark.

Yeah, so it's a hell of alot faster, but it only takes one little go accelerating slowly to judge how fast it can accelerate. If you know how to ride a bike then i see no problem at all.

The first thing I noticed about it was how smooth, comfortable and easy to ride it was. It weighs about 100x more than the RXS (probably not even exaggerating), but when its going you can't even feel the weight anyway. I found it loads easier to ride, more fun and alot more safe.
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RooRoo: just like the time i stuck my finger up my arse with no lube at all and she didnt talk to me for hours

[McJamweasel]

The bigger bikes are far more stable than the NSR - this makes them easier to ride. As Bendy says, the weight isn't an issue until it comes to pushing them around a garage/out of a parking bay. There is plenty of room to move around, and doing so doesn't upset them as much.

The throttle is very sensitive and they rev up very quickly. It only needs a bit of a turn to send the needle shooting towards the red, where as on the NSR its more like full throttle, then wait a week. Having said that, they are pussy cats low down in the rev range, they only really wake up over 7k, but then from 10 or so they go nuts till the redline. The acceleration is mindblowing at first, twist throttle, give it a gear or 2 and 'Shit, I'm doing 120mph!.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[izzi81]

[Jammy-G]

[ProXimaCore]

Clutch control is the main difference for me. On the NSR it was pretty much unnecessary.
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Honda NSR125R -> Suzuki GSXR400R GK76a -> Kawasaki ZX636 B1H -> Honda CBR400RR NC29 -> Nothing

[dainesefreak]

Jammy-G - Not wanting to be funny, but you're wrong.

You can't judge how fast a 600 will accelerate in a car park. You need to ride the bike through the rev range in different gears. My Blade is nice and gentle below 3000 rpm, it pulls strongly after that, 6000 rpm it really starts to fly, over 9000 rpm it goes ballistic. You aren't going to get over a few thousand revs in a higher gear in a car park.

Izzi - Beat me too it.

[Jammy-G]

[dainesefreak]

Who said you'd be off the back if you twisted the throttle?

In lower gears you'd more likely flip it with too much wrist or very quickly head for the nearest wall/car/lampost/etc.

[Jammy-G]

[tgabber]

Moving up from an RS125 to a 600 I noticed the weight for about the first week or two, particularly when pulling up at a junction and occasionally when lifting off the sidestand when I parked on an adverse camber.

Also very aware of the weight after dropping it and unable to pick it up by myself...
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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[stinkwheel]

[NSR125-Kid-UK]