Baby Bikes (<100cc)

[Hanne]

The motorcycling narrative goes something like this: start on a 250cc machine, get a full licence and graduate to a bigger bike as soon as possible, never to look back on bikes the size of a happy meal chocolate milk or small chai latte.

Read my KR blog (http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2011/10/babes-and-bikes.html)to find out why it doesn't need to be that way....

What are your thoughts??

[tracyprier]

Agreed. Big is not always best, not that big is bad as I love big bikes.

For anyone not familiar, ADVrider is a site all about people taking bikes all over the world and in amongst the huge Beemers and KTM's you get guys like this...

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=460631&highlight=nathanthepostman

over halfway round the world on a postie bike!

And in countries like Thailand anything over 125cc is REALLY expensive and hard to get hold of so a lot of ex-pats get around on the locally available scooters or Kawasaki d tracker 125cc.

Its kinda sad though that people who choose to downsize get kinda looked down on sometimes

[Bender]

I'm with you....

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=636085

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=704879

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=679573

[Hanne]

Awesome links guys, I might have to add a few more links to the blog post :sunny:

[HungusMaximist]

Nice post Hanne.

Big and small have their applications. Guess it's been purely down to practicality for me.

[Hanne]

Nice post Hanne.

Big and small have their applications. Guess it's been purely down to practicality for me.

Yeah, and practicality is a big reason for making the choice to go small

[frogamic]

I just test rode a Honda h100s (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=414209961) and I can totally see what you guys are saying, plenty zippy enough to navigate city streets.

[R1madness]

little bikes rule... you can ring the nuts off them and not lose your licence (too easily)

[baptist]

Good post, I sold a Scorpio a few months back (needed the cash) but I miss that thing sooooooo much!!!!!! cheap as to run around town.

[Big Dave]

Big is not always best,

Meh! :innocent:

[Nasty]

Really good read, although I do feel that being childfree is more accepted and normal now. than it was in the past - the references are pretty cool for that.

Have to admit that i loved my FXR150 although for someone my size it did make the ride into wellington daily interesting (28 kms) :)

[riffer]

IF all I had to do was a small commute through city streets a smaller bike would make a lot of sense.

My problem is that I put 100,000 kms on a bike in 4 years, and it has to carry my lardy arse and all my gear for work 80kms every day, as well as do time in the weekend.

At my current rate of progress I'll be on a Rocket 3 in three bikes time.

Sometimes I wish there was room in my life for a wee bike, but I just know that, given how I currently use them, I'd kill one in six months. :shutup:

Oh - and I have four children too.

[willytheekid]

I am currently using a little scorpio 225 for the next week or so (work mates bike that im looking after while he is in fiji)

Its a great wee bike! :yes:

Going from an old "Tractor" (1100 guzzi) back to a small bike has had me giggling like a school girl on many occasions, I think its the "reminiscence" factor.(I havn't ridden a small bike for decades!)
And the fuel savings are great! (yet the lack of power & control seems to dwindle the bonuses from this)

BUT!...in saying that, I have noticed (compared to a large bike) the lack of control, braking and general handling around town and more so on the open road is not even comparable to a bigger motorcycle...its...well...adequate...yet kind of lacking?.
And I have found it seems to feel more dangerous than a big bike.:shit:

I think the danger feel is due to the lack of respect from other road users and the simplicity of the bikes mechanical abilities....fun it may well be, but at the end of the day its lack of road presence and mechanical abilities keep you on your toes and even more aware of how little cars etc are aware of their surroundings.

I must raise a question.....Hanne....have you actually ridden/owned or lived with a large bore motorcycle?
.....Im not having a dig at ya! (nothing wrong with small bikes etc...two wheels is two wheels after all)
Im just wondering if you can really offer an "objectionable" opinion if you have never tasted and lived with the larger side of bike life and the many benefits they provide.

If I was to compare the two bike types, I would say the small bore is better for zipping around town in heavy traffic etc, while the Big bikes tend to excell in all aspects (except a Guzzi in traffic!....the clutch alone will have your left hand screaming and the heat from the engine will have your legs baking lol)
But as Riffer has already said, "If all I had to do was a small commute through city streets, a smaller bike would make a lot of sense":yes: (And save me some petrol money!)

So to me, it really comes down to personal taste and needs, but like all bikes, big or small, they should make you smile :D....if not, somethings not right!

Keep up the blogs & posts Hanne :love:, always a good read....this one really made me think.....and reminiscence.

ps: for the record, one of my best bike trips was taking a little nifty50 from palmy to taranaki and back again....just for the fun of it (and to see if I could)

[avgas]

IF all I had to do was a small commute through city streets a smaller bike would make a lot of sense.

My problem is that I put 100,000 kms on a bike in 4 years, and it has to carry my lardy arse and all my gear for work 80kms every day, as well as do time in the weekend.

At my current rate of progress I'll be on a Rocket 3 in three bikes time.

Sometimes I wish there was room in my life for a wee bike, but I just know that, given how I currently use them, I'd kill one in six months. :shutup:

Oh - and I have four children too.
You might be surprised.
I had and RG150 for nearly 3 years. It used to carry all my gear in a 60L pack and set of panniers. At the time I weighed 85kgs.
What actually killed it was me and my need for speed (I was young and stupid). I was forever going past 140kph.

[Sable]

Little bikes are so much more fun than big bikes. Straight line speed ain't everything. Incidentally my FZR1000 just sold and I shall be investing the money in multiple 2 strokes.

[SMOKEU]

BUT!...in saying that, I have noticed (compared to a large bike) the lack of control, braking and general handling around town and more so on the open road is not even comparable to a bigger motorcycle...its...well...adequate...yet kind of lacking?.
And I have found it seems to feel more dangerous than a big bike.:shit:



Little bikes are so much more fun than big bikes. Straight line speed ain't everything. Incidentally my FZR1000 just sold and I shall be investing the money in multiple 2 strokes.

I'm having a lot more fun on my GSXR600 than on the CBR250R I had, and the GSXR feels a lot safer because the suspension is much, much better. The 600 is a lot more stable on the road and it doesn't have tired 24 year old suspension which was designed for tiny Japanese riders. Also the extra power is useful for overtaking.

When I'm pushing the GSXR out of my garage, it feels heavier than the 250 but on the road the GSXR feels lighter in some ways as the steering is a lot more sharp and responsive than the 250. I did have a bloody good time on the 250 though, it was a really good bike.

[avgas]

I'm having a lot more fun on my GSXR600 than on the CBR250R I had, and the GSXR feels a lot safer because the suspension is much, much better. The 600 is a lot more stable on the road and it doesn't have tired 24 year old suspension which was designed for tiny Japanese riders. Also the extra power is useful for overtaking.

When I'm pushing the GSXR out of my garage, it feels heavier than the 250 but on the road the GSXR feels lighter in some ways as the steering is a lot more sharp and responsive than the 250. I did have a bloody good time on the 250 though, it was a really good bike.
Ride a 30 year old big bike and you soon realize all that poor handling and brakes on your 250 had nothing to do with the fact it was a 250......and lots to do with the fact it was 24 years old.
I miss my big bike. But love blatting with little ones. You don't have to risk as much.
On my FZ1 it didn't feel like it was 'going' on the open road until about 140-150kph. At 200 you feel as if your just starting to stretch your legs.
Scary concept when you like keeping your license.

[Tigadee]

I'm beginning to embrace being on a small (engine, not size) bike - I am after all, mostly a daily commuter and weekend pootler around greater Auckland, so I have no need for a open road machine.

As long as it's big enough to be comfortable for me, I can now see myself on a 250 bike for a long time, for the following reasons:
1. Lower fuel consumption
2. Cheaper parts and maintenance
3. Lighter weight
4. Lower rego

The Venox I am extremely pleased with as it has all these qualities. The Scorpio is great in most areas except for the lack of seating comfort... Power? I have all I need, even if I have to switch gears a little more often than someone on a bigger engine bike. I'm not a speedster, just a middle-aged guy wanting some wind in his face and a feeling of freedom, and THAT you can get no matter the size of the engine...

The exception is when the wife decides to join me as a pillion after I get my full, then I will start looking for a larger bike to handle two-up. Hmmmm, will I lose my sense of freedom then though? :laugh:

[Drew]

Great message, "ride at, or beyond the bikes limits".

I am well aware of the upside to riding small bikes, and do so from time to time. That said, your analogy to being childless doesn't ring true from what I have seen in society, and the idea of riding a bike past it's limit on public roads is usually not that well met by the bunch round here.

Meh, the world is full of fuckin hypocrites, what's one more example to the bunch?

[superman]

I've been told to get a 125 as it improves your skill immensely in carrying speed through corners and trying to keep up your momentum. I'm actually considering a CBR125 as my second bike, cheaper fuel, cheaper tyres, cheaper bike. Pretty keen on my very limited budget.

[Sable]

Go RG150. Cheaper faster and they sound awesome when the powervalves open. I'll have a rebuilt one coming up for sale shortly.

[SMOKEU]

I've been told to get a 125 as it improves your skill immensely in carrying speed through corners and trying to keep up your momentum. I'm actually considering a CBR125 as my second bike, cheaper fuel, cheaper tyres, cheaper bike. Pretty keen on my very limited budget.

By the time you buy another bike, pay the insurance premiums, vehicle licensing, WOF and maintenance it will cost you more money than the amount you'll ever save in fuel costs or tyres. Not a good idea if you're on a "very limited budget".

[superman]

By the time you buy another bike, pay the insurance premiums, vehicle licensing, WOF and maintenance it will cost you more money than the amount you'll ever save in fuel costs or tyres. Not a good idea if you're on a "very limited budget".

I'm averaging about 650km per week. My 250 currently costs me $65 a week in fuel (at 2.20 a litre), a 125 would get that down to $35.75.

Huge saving if I keep it for a good while.

Maybe it wouldn't save me money if I rode the bike only on nice weekends like some people... :laugh:

Not to mention insurance only costing me about $45 a year... (yay for third party)