Why buy a larger bike

[Biker Biggles]

Hows your small polla in the garden?

Mr.Boggles you very rudey man! It is safely tucked away where it should be put.

[mister c]

I have ridden small, medium & large capacity machines & always end up coming back to the mediums, but they seem to do everything I want them to do. I am not looking for the thrill of going down a straight road at mach 3 on the latest hyperbike. I always tell my students when i do CBT's that anyone can ride fast in a straight line, its in the smoothness of your riding (which includes cornering). I think you get a bigger buzz out of a nice twisty road at about 60 - 80 than flying down a dual carriageway at 140 - 170.
A few years ago a mate of mine bought a ZZR1100, so that he could impress the women in the pub that he had the fastest bike in the world. Whenever he came out for a ride with us we had to stop & wait for him to catch up until we hit the long straights, then he would just take off like a numpty. Soon as we hit a few bends he dropped off like a stone.

Originally Posted by Baph

You've never kept chickens, obviously!

Kept chickens from what? How about keeping chickens discreetly?

Anyway- my tuppence, 'cos I've been thinking about this of late.

1000cc sports or tourers have got WAY more power than the british roads allow, so to me seem a little much. I guess if your big boned (!), or carry a spouse (or grouse, or even a chicken) on the back, then you need more oomph to be able to ride the bike with less revs/effort. I'm sure, if you've got the skills and experience, they also come off well on the track.

But I can't ever see myself getting a much bigger engine than a 750/800 (when/if they become production bikes), if even that. I've got about 126 indicated out of my SV- it was fun for a few moments and I didn't have the opportunity to push it harder- I'd like to get 130 out of it at some point. I prefer the acceleration and corners to top speed. Let's face it- anything over 80 results in lots of points and a possible ban anyway, though it is fun to go fast from time to time. Unless I get a big cruiser in a couple of decades..!

I've ridden my Bro's CBR400 a couple of times now and that is faster than my SV- he regularly gets 135 on it and it gets there much quicker and as it is smaller, you feel like you're going even faster- it never fails to rip a grin out of the rider. I'm fairly convinced that the next bike will be a CBR600RR- and after the 400, the SV is starting to feel decidedly sluggish- I'm already pushing it to high revs in gears before changing. Though I would love an SP-2! The V's continue to have their pull on me...

Simply acceleration. Which gives more of a thrill and CBRR's and GSXR's have better handleing.

I'm not big boned (11st and 5'9) but if next years 10R had an extra 20hp through out the mid range I'd swap immediately as I could certainly use more even on public roads. The peak power is another matter. It is probably "enough" in fairness although I wouldn't want less.

I dare say over the next few generations of machine we will see more peak power that I don't need at the expensive of mid range which I need more of.

By the way, going back 10 years ago, doing 70mph on my old CD175 honestly felt as quick as 170mph on my current bike. Not sure what that means but I thought I would mention it anyway!

Originally Posted by Pedrosa

Mr.HRC has made me ride smaller bike! But it still very,very fast and I still earning same money?

if you dont start riding it faster you wont have a job

Originally Posted by thedonal

I've ridden my Bro's CBR400 a couple of times now and that is faster than my SV- he regularly gets 135 on it and it gets there much quicker and as it is smaller, you feel like you're going even faster- it never fails to rip a grin out of the rider. I'm fairly convinced that the next bike will be a CBR600RR- and after the 400, the SV is starting to feel decidedly sluggish- I'm already pushing it to high revs in gears before changing. Though I would love an SP-2! The V's continue to have their pull on me...

The 400s shouldn't be able to keep up with you at all! A 400 raced against an SV with equal skill should result in the SV soaring ahead. - A 400 certainly feels faster though, which makes it misleading. Its all about spread of power, not peak.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

Sv has plenty of go above 100.

Hmm, I must have had a really underpowered K6 SV650 then as mine was pants above 90. I guess it depends what you are used to.

Originally Posted by muffles

(I've heard tales of people being outgunned by Civic Type-R's ffs! )

I'd invite any challenge Yes it's not a big bore and the type r's top speed I can't match but IMHO, I can get to my top speed quicker that he can.