Moving up from a 250 - some questions

[want-a-harley]

Hi. Have posted here before and got some pretty good answers so thought I would again. I am about due to sit my full so will be looking to move up to a larger bike within the next few months. I currently ride a Suzuki GN250.

I am interested in getting a midrange japanese cruiser (cos of the price) I was thinking something like a Suzuki Boulevard C50. I have posted here rather than the cruiser section as I am interested in opinions from other riders as perhaps some of my pre-conceptions about this style of bike being the most suitable for me are incorrect.

So first off, bike use. I plan to use the bike for everything. Commuting, trips out of town and in time longer trips. I plan to take the missus pillion also.

My riding style, I do not speed (excessively) ie 60 in a 50, 110-120 on a straight bit of open road.

Comfort, definately of importance to me. I am a big lump 6"8/2m and 125kg. Currently with the ginny I have to stop, stretch and have a walk every 100km. In my mind this pushes me towards a cruiser as they seem to have more room? When I look a sport bike it doesn't seem like I could fold up enough to fit on one.

Is this jump from the Ginny to an 800cc cruiser too big a jump?

I know that I have to get out there, sit on bikes and take some test rides but I would like to do a bit of research and have a few bikes in mind before I start.

Any suggestions/comments appreciated.

Cheers

[jrandom]

You might find the upright style of bike more comfortable over the long (and even short) hauls than a cruiser. Cruisers put your back in an unnatural position. They are not particularly ergonomic, neither does their geometry lend itself to particularly easy handling in traffic or on twisty roads.

Your options are not just 'cruisers vs sport bikes'. Motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes.

I, for instance, ride a GSX1400 (ain't she purdy?)

You could also look into the adventure-touring type bikes. The V-Strom, various KTMs and BMWs, etc.

Personally, I'm partial to the big nakeds. In your position, I'd start by test-riding the GSX1400, CB1300, and XJ1300.

You might also find the Ducati Multistrada, odd-looking though it is, to be surprisingly good. It's definitely worth a test ride if you can fit one into your budget.

I'm sure there'll be some more suggestions added shortly.

Enjoy your test riding! And make sure you go for decent test rides. I've never had any issues with any of the Auckland bike shops letting me do so - I like to head up the motorway and do the Coatesville-Riverhead, Old North, Peak Rd route, then turn around and come back. It's important to get a good feel for the machine on various types of roads.

[wetdog]

Hello,

I've just got a new Kawasaki Versys, it's a very comfortable bike to ride position wise.

Might pay to look at some of the dual sport bikes like the V-Strom, F650GS, Transalp etc. I was looking at these for the comfort factor too.

I would think these are a great type of bike to move up to, as handling is very easy, and the engines are tuned low/midrange power which is very useable.

Good luck with your test too!

Also here's a video of a 2m rider on a Versys, he makes the bike seem small but he looks comfortable enough!

Clicky

[Radar]

An 800 cc cruiser would not be an unmanageable jump from what you have now as long as you are sensible and take a few days to adjust. A 1000cc sports bike or other such racer knock-your-lid off bike would probably get you in trouble real soon.

I do agree with the above two posts: cruisers can be back for the back, and do try a sports adventure bike. The easiest thing to do is to sit on all sorts of bikes at the shops and if something grabs your attention, go for a test ride. If you test ride a cruiser, convince the sales guy that you are seriously interested but need to ride the bike for at least an hour (or more) to see if there are posture issues.

[varminter]

I've just changed from a GN250 that played hell with my back, to a Suzuki Katana 250 (still on restricted) that, for me, was a quantum step forward. As they say, try before you buy, I'd love a picture of you on the GN, I'm only 6 foot (well I was before I shrunk with age) and I felt like a pimple on a pig's back. The Suzuki is heaps of fun compared to the GN it goes like shit off a shovel, but I feel a bit like a grasshopper with my legs tucked up

[varminter]

Oh yes, anything will be heaps faster than a GN so take care out there.

[Griffin]

Speaking from my own experience... I went from a 250 to the 800cc Boulevard C50T and it was a very manageable step. I had contemplated going for a C90T but wanted to progress through my engine sizes steadily.

Like you, I use my bike for everything, commuting to and from work daily (rain or shine) short and long trips, popping down to the dairy etc. The Bully is a very comfortable bike and has enough get up and go to perform (in cruiser terms) without scaring the pants off you.

One day I will get my dream Harley, but for now the C50T ticks all my boxes and makes me smile everytime I ride her... what more could you want from your bike?

Like the others say... try out as many bikes and styles as you can before you decide, you may find the Bullys not for you but if you do get one... Im pretty sure you wont be disappointed.

[Shadows]

At 125kg and with a "don't speed much" kind of attitude I think you'd be fine with a big cruiser type bike. Maybe even better off.

Cruiser type bikes are completely different animals compared with sports bikes. The whole step up in cc rating thing kind of works backwards.

The bigger twins are gruntier but that doesn't necessarily mean faster. It just means the motor doesn't need to work quite so hard and the gear you are in doesn't matter quite so much. In many ways that makes them easier to ride than the smaller ones where the rider tends to need to use the horsepower found at higher revs to make up for the lack of grunt at lower revs. That tends to get one into trouble faster.

An increase in capacity doesn't translate directly to any increase in weight either, and all of the weight is down low on that style of bike so it doesn't matter anyway.

I reckon if you get a baby cruiser like an 800, especially if you're going to be pillioning your Mrs. around, in a couple or six months you'll be wanting for more low down grunt and regretting the decision to buy small capacity.

[want-a-harley]

, I'd love a picture of you on the GN, I'm only 6 foot (well I was before I shrunk with age) and I felt like a pimple on a pig's back.

I look something like this

[Krayy]

Best thing to do would be to book some test rides on dealer demo machines once you get your full license. Take some small cruiser or adventurers out and see how you go, and as Shadows says, don't be afraid of a big cruiser. It's your right hand that dictates how much power goes to the back wheel, so just be nice and smooth with the throttle and you'd be surprised how tame they actually are. That's not to say you can't rark it up when required (in a straight line of course).

I went from a 250 to a Buell 1200, but I was on that 250 for 4 years and riding it at it's limit when I was out on the weekend hooning. The Buell can be ridden very smooth when you're winding it on nice and smooth, or it can bring out the when the mood strikes.

Maybe being over 40 helps (in your face, Paul Henry).

[PrincessBandit]

Both my husband and I started on a ginny (our son rides it now) then I went to the 650GSF and hubby went to a 650 Burgman.

The 1250 bandit is almost physically identical to the 650 and is a fantastic sport/tourer. Very comfy having someone on the back (taken my teenage son many times and a few of my friends) and still has plenty of grunt. Just thought I'd mention it as it has a more upright riding position than a full sport but not as "back on the base of the spine" as a cruiser. (I find the burger comfy for a while, but on longer trips my back starts to get sore).

[kickin back]

i have a 750 intruder i am looking at dr650 Vstrom or 1000.i like position of adventures upright and manouverable in and around town and comfy on long trips verisys and trans alpines too. Thats not to say i would part with my intruder,she just gets up and goes and is fun