Lightweight person, lightweight bike?

**Grashopper** · 27th February 2013, 23:37

Had this discussion with my neighbour today. Would a light weight person be better off with a light weight bike or with a heavier bike in terms of stability, especially, but not only, when it gets a bit gusty. I was thinking that it is probably better for a light weight person to have a heavier bike, to be not as vulnerable against the wind, but he said that if a heavier bike gets moved around by a wind gust than it would be more difficult to maneuver it back. Made sense to me, too.

Any comments, experiences etc?

**Ender EnZed** · 28th February 2013, 00:27

Wind generally isn't as much of an issue as low speed maneuvering where less weight is always better than more.

The size and shape matter as well as weight of course, but once you're comfortable riding it in the wind it'll always be easier than reversing a heavy bike up a slope.

**Tagger** · 28th February 2013, 02:45

the problem with wind is that people start gripping their handlebars way too hard, in wind you should make yourself as light as possible as aposed to heavy. you will start floating all kinds of directions but your bike will stay a lot more stable. If you can handle your bike, it doesn't mather how heavy you are ...

**FJRider** · 28th February 2013, 06:09

Originally Posted by Grashopper

Had this discussion with my neighbour today. Would a light weight person be better off with a light weight bike or with a heavier bike in terms of stability, especially, but not only, when it gets a bit gusty. I was thinking that it is probably better for a light weight person to have a heavier bike, to be not as vulnerable against the wind, but he said that if a heavier bike gets moved around by a wind gust than it would be more difficult to maneuver it back. Made sense to me, too.

Any comments, experiences etc?

No ... a lightweight bike will always put a lightweight rider at a disadvantage, as usually the extra weight comes with extra horsepower to push through the wind.

Don't go huge/heavy too fast ... build up to it in stages .... and you will enjoy the extra HP/weight.

**sinfull** · 28th February 2013, 06:51

Don't eat onions and wind won't be a problem !

**Grashopper** · 28th February 2013, 07:25

Originally Posted by Ender EnZed

Wind generally isn't as much of an issue as low speed maneuvering where less weight is always better than more.

Didn't think of the slow speed handling, but yeah, that would need a few more skills on a heavier bike.

Originally Posted by Ender EnZed

The size and shape matter as well as weight of course, but once you're comfortable riding it in the wind it'll always be easier than reversing a heavy bike up a slope.

Good thought, and short legs don't really help either.

Originally Posted by Tagger

the problem with wind is that people start gripping their handlebars way too hard, in wind you should make yourself as light as possible as aposed to heavy. you will start floating all kinds of directions but your bike will stay a lot more stable. If you can handle your bike, it doesn't mather how heavy you are ...

I usually lean forward as much as possible, try to relax and hope that the next truck won't blow me off the road. My throttle has to be kept at a deathgrip on a highway unfortunately to keep at highway speeds. The throttle resistance somehow increases quite a bit between 80 and 110 and if I relax the throttle hand it goes straight back to 80.

Originally Posted by FJRider

No ... a lightweight bike will always put a lightweight rider at a disadvantage, as usually the extra weight comes with extra horsepower to push through the wind.

Hm, good point. I always try to slow down slightly when I see a truck coming and then accelerate slightly through the turbulences to use the forward momentum to increase my stability. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.

Originally Posted by FJRider

Don't go huge/heavy too fast ... build up to it in stages .... and you will enjoy the extra HP/weight.

Not yet interested in going huge/heavy/(too powerful). Just something easier to ride at highway speeds would be nice for now. But ask me again in a few months

**McFatty1000** · 28th February 2013, 07:36

I'd be your typical light person on a lightish bike. Main reason is ability and confidence which I'm building up before going to a bigger bike (Also, funding and restricted license)

I've only had a real problem with the wind once and I think most bikes would have been a little uncomfortable in it, and versus the low speed stuff/being able to move it comfortably myself, it makes a lot of sense for me to be starting out like this

Having said that, also quite keen to move up to something close to an r6 when I'm able

**arcane12** · 28th February 2013, 08:31

I used to move over to the left hand wheel tracks whiched helped a bit with trucks.

The bigger bike does help - going form the Scorpio to the 650 I felt it helped. It's also a confidance thing - the more you tense up and worry about it the worse it is. Someone told me that once, and I mentally took it as 'HTFU', gave it a go, and what do you know, it wasn't as bad anymore.

So basically as suggested try to relax a bit, and not to worry too much. Good luck!

**SMOKEU** · 28th February 2013, 08:47

A heavier bike is probably better, but not too heavy that it becomes difficult to handle.

**Devil** · 28th February 2013, 10:25

Low speed manouvering? My gigantic BMW R1200GSA is easier to ride at super low speed and perform U-turns on than every other bike i've ridden, period. Light doesn't mean easy. Heavy doesn't mean hard.

As for reversing up a hill - thats just poor planning.

For the wind issue - yer better off just loosening up like has been mentioned.

**kave** · 28th February 2013, 11:12

At 60kg and 5'5", I have ridden some reasonably light bikes (yammie SRX250, suzy SG350) and some much heavier bikes (suzy GSXR 1100m). I really don't think weight is too important, but as a smaller rider I find seat height does make a huge difference. I am happy on my suzy GSX1200 now, even though it isn't a light bike the low seat height makes it really easy to manage. Once you are reasonably experienced heavy winds won't bother you, it doesn't matter if your bike is 130kg or 300kg.

**ducatilover** · 28th February 2013, 11:29

It all comes down to a few factors which are mainly the rider.
How you ride, what you personally feel comfortable on
Your abilities to cope with wind

I'm 5ft 6 or7ish and 60kg on a big day, I have owned bikes with, and without fairing, light and reasonably heavy.
I have only had problems when not used to riding in wind, I thought my first GN sucked in the wind, but I'm fine in wind on my current GN.
My ZZR600 is rock solid in the wind, with and without fairings (it's now 30kg lighter and still solid in the wind) I think it's due to it's moderate steering angle.
I was okay in the wind with my VT250, 139kg bike. My CB400 was good in the wind...

I think it really comes down to your ability to deal with the wind.
But admittedly my GN does get knocked around more than the Kawasaki

**Maha** · 28th February 2013, 13:36

You just have to be comfortable with the bike, light/heavy? does not matter, if you are comfortable on it, there shouldn't be problem.

Personal height V Bike size....can mean a struggle with everything, except the riding bit.

Anne is on the shorter side but is very comfortable on a Goldwing...could never own one, because of the Height/Size thing.

**FJRider** · 28th February 2013, 17:33

Originally Posted by Grashopper

Not yet interested in going huge/heavy/(too powerful). Just something easier to ride at highway speeds would be nice for now. But ask me again in a few months

Even a 400-500 cc bike ... you will notice the extra weight/HP. And within a few weeks ... you will wonder how you managed on a 250.