Love of big bikes vs handling of smaller?

[Pussy]

I actually got bored with my SV1000 for this reason. There just wasn't that much challenge to it and i found myself constantly passing other traffic. Twist and go, twist and go... ho hum ho hum.

Traded in on a K8 GSXR 600. Was a bit worried that the 600 was going to feel gutless. However i was very surprised how well it sings along! Overtaking does require a bit more planning and/or room, but i feel the challenge has added to the fun/adventure factor of a ride.

It's a bit like a feeling of quality over quantity going to a nice handling 600.

... and it's not as though Suzuki gearboxes aren't very nice to use, too!

I am far happier on my 750 compared to my previous 1000

[Squid]

see thats why I ride a sem fiddy. (try to) Use all of its power on the strights and on track. Not to mention the sound of the thing at full noise.... Mmmmm.....
and yeah the neighbors dont mind much at all

[crash harry]

I really enjoyed riding a 600 in the UK (couldn't insure anything bigger), and when I came home I went to get another one just like it - and only eneded up testriding 1000cc + bikes. Partly to do with what's around when you're looking, but there's something in the brain that goes "ooh - shiny!" when I see something with real grunt. Managed to stop myself buying a ZX12 as a commuting vehicle, but only just...

[MaxCannon]

My 10 year old 600 has never had a problem keeping up with much newer and more powerful bikes on the road.
At the track it's a different story but modern supersports are within a couple of seconds with the thousands.

A friend with a 1000cc superbike collects points on his license all too frequently.

I don't know what my next bike will be but I do hope I don't have any roadside talks with the plod about it.

[mynameis]

I love riding my scooter up and down my driveway

[Winston001]

My view is that the bigger bikes provide a more relaxing and enjoyable ride.

It's easier to ride a big bike slowly. It is also easier to zip from 120Kph to 200Kph down a long straight

Whatever floats you boat.....................

What I forgot to mention but is very important to the equation is when riding on the 1000 you can be following a car through the twisties and see a small gap to pass, turn the throttle and you're safely past in an instant....

The roads in Western Europe play a part too. They are much better than NZ, provide passing lanes and margins, gentle gradients, and generally have features which make riding a 600 easy. Or instead they link towns and villages and anything big is impracticable.

NZ roads are rough, we have lots of blind and reduced-speed corners, passing lanes are never where you need them, and hills are steep. The result is the average motorist on a trip spends an appreciable amount of time patiently following lorries, campervans, etc at slow speeds waiting to pass.

On a motorcycle we are able to react and deal with restrictions which slow down cars. That is something I particularly enjoy. Yes, a 600cc bike can do this. And yes, a 1000cc can do it better IMHO.

So I agree with Yellowdog and Rocketman. Relaxed riding. Torque. Having ridden a underpowered bike for many years it's a positive relief to pass when I want to and not lose speed on hills.

[MaxB]

One reason why you might want to ride a ZX6 in the UK instead of a ZX10 is my mate who pays approx $2.5k per year on insurance premiums. The ZX6 is less than half that. To be fair now he has a years no claims and has moved out of the city his premium is expected to drop, but it is a lot of $$$.

Back on topic, once you take your ego out of it you can make a decision based on your actual type of riding. If you are a weekend racer wannabe there is a lot of fun to be had on a race rep 600. Or an SV650 for that matter.

I used to ride a race rep and it was great but now I tend to ride longer distances between stops so for me high speed comfort becomes more important than racetrack handling. The ability to overtake quickly and safely is important to me. Sometimes I have a pillion, so 2 up handling becomes a factor too.

So for mine I need a physically big bike and mostly they happen to have large engines. A lot of people buy Busas and big Ninjas so I guess I'm not alone in my thinking.

[ducatilover]

I have a loud, slow 250. I have no neighbors, I have lots of good roads. I have far to much fun within a reasonable speed. I can throw it around like crazy, it will pull just over 170 on the flat last time I tried, it passes people fine, I love to keep it revving anyway. No power, no torque, lots of revs and a sexual noise = most fun I have ever had. I think my tricked little spada is more fun than my bros650. Safer too

[JayRacer37]

I would have a thousand by choice. Speed is exiting. The ability to have speed quickly is satisfying. And when you nail a thousand, it's much more thrilling. After racing a 600 for a few years, it's all a bit ho-hum without 160RWHP. Thats what it takes to get me going, and that's what I want out of a bike. Hoping to trade up to a nice mental thou (04 ZX-10R) soonish.

Oh - also, on a 600 on the road I find myself going faster, as you have to thrash it to get it moving, and that turns into a bit of a frenzy when you know where you are going on a road.

[WuZards-Eugene]

BIG IS GOOD

[Bren]

BIG IS GOOD

Thats what my wife said, man was she dissapointed

[WuZards-Eugene]

Don't you hate it when she rubs it, and ya pass out, its soo dam frustrating

[Bren]

Don't you hate it when she rubs it, and ya pass out, its soo dam frustrating

Passing out through sheer embarrisment?

[Subike]

I too gave up 50 odd bhp and haven't missed it at all.
Besides, it's way more fun to use 100% of 80bhp than 25% of 160bhp.
You just have to rationalise your requirements a bit better. How many 1000's get used to their full potential, I would guess oh.... about none. It's just a lot of willie waving.

My 30 year old 1100, with only 86BHP at the rear wheel , quite often sings the 9000rpm song.
It depends upon where you live.
If you knew the roads around my home, the traffic volume, the condition of said roads, you would be there as well.
You only have to visit the reigon once and the inland road to Kaikora, the Leader road and the Scargill valley road all become etched in your memory as places you can, if you dare, stretch your legs.
this is an area where the 1000cc+ machines leave the smaller ones far behind.
This is my back yard, and its a 2hr ride around my block from my front gate back to my front gate. Anything smaller than a 1000cc would be boaring

[Big Dave]

Get it right. BIG DAVE IS GOOD.