random thought on bike recommendations...

Keen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :

I was just thinking. I joined this forum back in April '02 (time fly's eh?) and back then, there were the same 'just passed my test what bike should i get?' threads all the time. But then, everyone was told to buy 2 stroke 125s... or the more sensible told them to get 4t 125s.

Now, it seems people are told to get 400s, or to go for a 500 commuter.... what changed? the reasons for getting a smaller bike to start with still apply surely? still safer for a beginner, still cheaper (especially insurance)?

IMHO 125 ownership is one of bikings treats. An experience in itself. You can get to grips with riding on a friendly and forgiving machine and when you get comfortable really rag the shit out of it in a way that you just can't do on a bigger bike. I think you miss out on something, a biking rite of passage almost, if you jump straight in at the deep end.
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Method · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Nov 2004 Karma :

paulthewitt · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2004 Karma :

2-stroke 125cc bikes are briliant. they teach you a host of things like keeping cornerspeed, and momentum going (as there isnt the power to accelerate again as on a big bike)

plus, ragging them is really quite good fun.

Paul

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Around April 02 the forum was still hanging on to its nsr125.com roots.

In the three years that have passed, more people have joined and brought a wider range of opinions.

Zoffo · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Karma :

Why can't you rag the shit out of a bigger bike???
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EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

I'd agree with you. My I really enjoyed riding my first bike, a Kawasaki KH100, at 17.

I think a lot of the newer people joining are slightly older, meaning more already have had cars and driving licences etc before turning to bikes. I can see from their point of view why the prospect of moving from a 2 litre car to a 125cc bike, that struggles to maintain 65mph on the flat, might not be that attractive to them.

dansuresh · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Karma :

Zoffo · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Karma :

If your going for it you ride in the power band. In my case that's anywhere between 7000 and 11000 revs. And yes it means I'm nearly always in 1st, 2nd or 3rd if I decide to go banzai but I'm still using the bike to it's limits.
I've spend whole weekends riding right on the rev limiter.

Smaller bikes are lots of fun but what I remember about my time on tiddlers was that I wasn't as terrified of dropping them as I am my Bird. Not because I fear death any more than then but because it would cost a fookin fortune to put right.

I used to be able to wheelie my old superdream for ever. Took a few tumbles learning though so I wouldn't chance it with the Bird (although I've had a few unintentionally)
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paulthewitt · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2004 Karma :

BIKELESS STEVE · Scooby Slapper Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Karma :

Maybe the average height of riders has gone up in the last 2 years due to global warming, whereas before they were all 5'2 now all 6 footers and can't fit on 125's Laughing

I remember doing my CBT on a 125 horrible little cruiser thing, damn uncomfortable, horrible to ride, I'm sure there are better but I went round the bike show before I got my Bandit 6 and sat on about 10 125's - just too small, I looked like a gorilla on a minimoto.
Rolling Eyes

Keen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :

I said:

Zoffo · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Karma :

It amazes me to hear you young'uns say us oldies missed out.
I left school and jumped straight onto a 250 Superdream. No test needed just stick L plates on her. It was a 100+ motorbike and could leave anything else dead, including much bigger British bikes like the Boneville, which were king of the road at the time.
They were so cheap and easy to buy that almost every teenager in the country was tearing all over the place on them. As a result there were lots of fatalities. Pretty soon compulsory lessons came in then the 125 rule.
But the 70's were the best of biking years to be a teenager. Don't think I could hack all the hoops many of you have to jump through to get a licence and a decent bike.
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EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

A 250 Superdream doing 100+, you sure? I thought the 250 2-strokes weren't much faster than 100mph. I remember my Dad saying his RD250 did a ton too.

Mr C · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

a 250 superdream would indicate 100mph

but I think it would have been wasted by a KH250 and an X7

although they were all shite too Rolling Eyes

and shortly after that came the RD250LC which blew them all away and was responsible for the learner legal limit being moved down to 125cc
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Keen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Apr 2002 Karma :

killa · Won't Shut Up Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Karma :

Yeah I know what you saying Keen, TBH I miss the unreliable, shit build and immense speed of my Mito. She was a slag and I like that. LOL
125’s are great fun, pushing 90 on one is insane at times.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

I think it's also to do with the new people joining the forum asking what bike they should get.

Ie a lot more people now are asking what bike should I get after I pass my restricted access/DAS etc rather than 'after my CBT'.

Zoffo · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Depends very much on the superdream TBH. Although in standard form I think you would be very lucky to reach the ton. I have followed one two-up (CB250K with N series bottom end) and it was doing 85 fairly comfortably.

Some of the K-series wetdreams were actually pretty poky but they made some complete dogs too. The G5 being prime amongst these.

I still own a variety of small bikes and they are great fun. I often go out on them for a whang instead of one of the bigger ones for the very reasons stated here. ie. You can thrash them to within an inch of their lives and when it all goes wrong you can just pick them up and set them on a different line with no effort.

I suppose there is a degree of resentment too. There seem to be quite a few pretty loaded people who use this forum, if that be earned by themselves then good on them but I suspect that a lot of it comes from Daddys wallet. There is absolutley no way I could have afforded a brand new (or even vaguely new) sports bike when I was 17/18 years old. I built myself up through a succession of progressivley less and less shitty motorbikes, learning a great deal about riding and fixing them in the process.
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loply · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Karma :

I agree that missing out on "a small bike" is missing out on a rite of passage in some respects.

Although my bike (SZR660) isnt quite an NSR125, im glad I didnt jump straight onto a 600 or above.

Perhaps I would have enjoyed an NSR/RS125 for a few months but in reality the SZR was cheaper, more practical and more powerful (therefore more tempting) so I can see why a lot of people "skip" the 125.
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