Why are motorcycles getting bigger?

[RhadamYgg]

It's what people will buy.
Apparently, we're compensating for something...

And apparently that something is getting smaller over time!

RhdamaYgg

[IcyHound]

Mmm... I do love a plastic wrapped sports bike.

It may also be what people are growing up with in forms of taste. Looks matter a lot and many bikes get shot down for being ugly.

Once I eliminate bikes based off of looks, I have a much smaller group to work with. As a lover of plastic wrapped sports bikes, I have a limited number of options. I could never see myself on a 1400 but perhaps a liter simply becuase I like the sprint so much.

[Shorts]

+1...err 2 now, gsJack.


I wish Americans were able to see the variety of bikes that are available. I know they think they wouldn't like anything else than their "Harley or Ninja" but I know they'd be pleasantly surprised and a bit intrigued of the cool bikes out there.

Example: My sis and her beau are hardcore Harley. They ride the juice out of their bikes and they have other brands they enjoy, but they have the 'Harley thing' She hears me talking a lot about what I ride, what I'd like to get, neat bikes coming out, etc and they're supportive. The 'let's go ride' thing is all there, no matter what it is, but they'd take their Harley any day. Well, yesterday I talked to my sis. She says she stopped by a few bike shops near her place. The HD shop, then another one across the way, an Italian bird. Had Ducs, Aprilias, and some other items on the floor. She walked the floor, the sales guy was cool. She walked up to a new Monster 696 and the sales guy immediately fired it up. She said she was so shocked that a "bike like that" could sound that good. So she hopped on and she said it felt good. I think there's a bug in her ear now that you know, there are other bikes besides her Harley that would be fun and impressive to ride. Now, she still wants the 1200 anniversary thingamagigger, BUT, now she knows "Hmm, that Duc did sound and look good"

[the_sandman_454]

More power, bigger engines, tires, heavier frames, have got to be better than lighter/smaller ones, don't they? Basically that's the American way when it comes to looking at things. The companies are making what they're making in order to produce what the consumer appears to want to buy. If there wasn't a market for anything over a 600cc size engine for example, everybody would be making bikes that size or less.

I'm surely not going to complain about companies fighting to make more power available, or engines that make more HP/cc, provided they still make available some smaller models too. When they push the envelope trying to make more HP more efficiently, the new technology they evolve will trickle down to the smaller bikes too.

One guy I work with has an 1800cc Honda cruiser, and he can only wring 35mpg out of it, while bikes with significantly smaller engines can make similar or more power while bringing in better efficiency. I think it's ridiculous to have such a big heavy bike. Just not my thing. Others (like this guy) love big cruisers and can't figure out why I chose a standard.

[TorontoBoy]

Small bikes are certainly available, just not in the "advanced" world of North America. We have a thirst for gas and large engines. I just don't understand it. I'd love a 350-400cc sporty standard that's all too common in Europe. FI, front disks, modern style. They certainly are out there.

If and when the MC companies WANT to get these gems certified for NA there'll be such a choice of what to import. I know when I was in Japan their bikes really looked cool. India also has some really modern looking small bikes.

[Brackstone]

I feel this way too.

I have my 750cc bike and that's enough for me. It's mostly about looks for me, I want a quick bike too, but if there was a really bitchin 500cc bike I may have got that instead.

I told the same thing to my friend who wanted to get a 1000cc bike as a starter. Not only that it was a bad idea for a beginner but also that he'll never need 1000ccs.

[dr_bar]

I do have a small bike... well compared to the Triumph and others like it on the market. My 1300cc's are just about a mid level bike now a days. Even my Valk is a 1500, I would love to see a full touring bike come out that's a bit more fuel efficient...


I would ride the smaller bikes if my back, arms, shoulders etc. would let me.

[wmg1299]

The thing that really bothers me is that engine sizes are growing exponentially, but the frames aren't. I'm 6'05" and can't comfortably fit on anything other than a full-sized Harley or a Dual Purpose bike. I can possibly see the reason for an 1800 cc bike, but not if it the stock pegs won't accomidate anyone over 5'04".
If the little guys need to compensate by buying three times more cc's than are needed for regular cruising, then so be it. However, would it kill the manufacturers to throw us big guys a bone by offering classics like the Harley Sportster 883, Triumph Bonneville, or Ducati Monster with a frame that might fit a male over 6 feet tall. All of these bikes, which fall in the 650-1000 cc range, are a blast to ride and can easily do speeds that can get you put in jail for the night. Unfortunately, the big companies employ countless engineers to figure out how to produce an overpowered cruiser that can transport a fat guy while still leaving plenty of room for $10,000 worth of accessories.

[cakmakli]

I have a Vulcan 500 and really love it. It is very quick, easy to handle, can cruise easily at 75 - 80 mph, and gets over 50 miles to a gallon. The best part is that it only cost me $4,000 instead of the bikes that my friends have that costed 3 - 5 times as much

I love it and yet I still have people ask me when am I going to upgrade to a bigger bike. I ask them why and they can't really give me a good reason other then I just need a bigger bike.

I'll stick to what I have. I don't need to ride something just because everyone else does.

[High_Side]

Why are motorcycles getting bigger?

.....because penises are getting smaller????