To the low CC/small bike crowd that recommends bikes to ppl.

[Myself002]

Unnamed
PostPosted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject:
Actually Zootech all the water in the world could sink a ship without getting inside. If the ship was a submarine and went too deep the pressure could crush it and make it sink.

So maybe you're saying "but the water has to get inside before it sinks!"

But, even if the hull is crushed perfectly evenly, all the water in the world would easily make it so small that the air remaining inside couldn't possibly make it float, and thus it would sink.

Thus, 1000cc sportbikes are too much for beginners.

I'm sorry, but that example has pretty much no relevency to this topic...

It also is completely wrong, when something is getting crushed the pressure inside that crushed thing keeps getting greater and greater, eventually that air is going to have to go somewhere and I'm guessing it will be through the hull. An explosion will allow the water to get in and then sink it. I'm not an expert on pressure or boats or the sea or anything but thats just what common sense tells me

[ZooTech]

Using the same reasoning the following arguments should not be made:

"you're going to get bored."

If we're talking about a 250, most of the time that advice will be dead on.

"you'll need more power to have fun."

I am not guilty of this argument and honestly haven't seen it used. I believe I could have fun on any size bike, but am nevertheless prone to becoming frustrated with a bike I have to wring out to maintain freeway speeds.

So...if we've learned anything from this, the 5347th argument about bike size, it's that A) you don't need a big bike to have fun or ward off boredom...and B) buying a bike with a large displacement is not an indication of ineptitude.

Thank you, drive through.

[Shiv]

Okay, first off...what's wrong with that?

Secondly, why throw around insults about liter bike owners saying the only reason they ride one is because they don't know how to push a 500 to its limits?

Never said anything was wrong with it. Just pointing out that you don't really need a 1000cc bike. It's a material desire, not a need.

The whole topic of this thread is whether you need a bigger bike or not. Earwig says he needs a bigger bike for acceleration, which I guess is plausible.

But most people only buy the 600cc+ for the looks. It's more than you'll really need.

Some day I plan to buy an SV650 because I like the look better than the EX500/GS500s. But I know that I don't actually need the extra power, I just like the look.


And I never threw an insult that I know of. I was explaining that what Kal was getting at was that people don't know how to ride their smaller bikes and get the power they want out of the bike so they have to buy a bigger bike to get the same power because they didn't know how to ride their first bike properly.

[ZooTech]

And I never threw an insult that I know of. I was explaining that what Kal was getting at was that people don't know how to ride their smaller bikes and get the power they want out of the bike so they have to buy a bigger bike to get the same power because they didn't know how to ride their first bike properly.

If I am understanding you and Kal correctly then...I got rid of my 700 and moved up to a 1600 because I lacked the skills to ride the 700 properly (which implies that I am leaning on the extra power like a crutch).

Or am I mistaken?

[Shiv]

Depends. Did you move up because you thought the 700 lacked power? Or did you move up because you like the way the Meanstreak looks? Or because it's more comfortable? Or because it handles better?


I'm not saying people can't move up to a bigger bike. They're often more comfortable/responsive/what have you. All I'm saying is it's not necessary like a lot of people claim.

To tell someone that they absoleutely will, without a doubt, get bored of a smaller bike and therefore they should start with a bigger bike is just stupid.

And not I'm not accusing you of doing that.

[jmillheiser]

comparing a 1600cc cruiser to a 700cc standard is like comparing apples to oranges.

I dont see wanting to have a bike that will do highway speed at a nice leisurely rpm vs a bike that has to be wailed on as a sign of ineptitude.

my little 500 will do 80mph with no problems unless its in a headwind. However it is turning 7700rpm at that speed and is not the most comfortable bike to do long highway rides on. It has resonably decent acceleration without having to wail on it, but to get to where this bike really makes its power requires 6000+ rpms. Technically this bike has all the power I NEED. I want a bike with a bit more power and better handling that is better suited to the type of riding I like to do.

[ZooTech]

Depends. Did you move up because you thought the 700 lacked power? Or did you move up because you like the way the Meanstreak looks? Or because it's more comfortable? Or because it handles better?

Good question! What led me to be in the market for a new bike was three-fold:

1) A trip to Chicago in April of '04 during which we rode against a 30mph headwind in Northern Indiana. I kept having to drop down to 5th gear to get back up to 75mph, which got old after four hours.

2) One day I was cruising along on my way home from work doing about 75mph when I came upon a Pontiac Grand Prix in the passing lane doing maybe 65mph. I moved over to the right and started to pass, which apparently pissed this guy off for some reason, so he took off, determined to not let me pass. Despite dropping from 6th to 4th and landing smack in the meat of the bike's powerband, I got my "O Ring" handed to me by a 2-ton sedan with a 3.8 liter V6.

3) A bankruptcy and a divorce both left my credit in the crapper, so I wanted to purchase a vehicle to help boost it back up. A new bike was more realistic cost-wise than a car, so I went that route.

I saved up $5000 cash, plus had my NightHawk for trade, and made a list of bikes that had adequate power, starting at $6000.00 and increasing about $1500.00 until I got to the Vulcan 1600 Classic, which I thought was my limit. The first bike on the list was a new Bandit 1200 at my local dealer for $5,999.00. From there, I listed the V-Strom 650, Kawasaki Concours, Suzuki C90, and Vulcan 1600 Classic on top. I had read about the Mean Streak extensively, but at $10,999.00 I figured no bank would hook me up without a co-signer. I ended up sitting on one at Ask Kawasaki in Columbus and, from what they told me, they were going to apply to their bank for a line of credit and see how much I qualified for. I could then decide which bike to buy based on my down payment and the amount of credit I was approved for. What they did instead (sneaky bastards!) was write up a credit application for the Mean Streak I sat on (mine), for which I was approved the next day. Since everything was already in place, and the Mean Streak was on my wish list anyway, I signed the paper and rode away.

The End.

[Z (fka Sweet Tooth)]

Congrats on your honeymoon!

Wants and needs, it's subjective for everyone. As far as your 750 trying to keep up with larger bikes, I've been there I know what you're talking about. I have an 800 Vulcan Classic and everyone else I ride with, including my Husband all have 1300's and up. It takes more out of my 800 to keep up than it does for the bigger bikes. Can I eventualy catch up? yes, but it breaks up the pace of the group just like you mentioned.

If you want to continue to ride with the bigger bikes and not feel like the lone ranger back there, then you need a more powerful bike. But then again back to wants and needs. Do you need to catch up to them or do you want to catch up to them. If you're riding as a group then you have to stay as a group, within reason....

[BubbaGump]

I constantly see this heated topic come up on here. Doesn't it make sense to ride something that you feel comfortable handling instead of worrying about big vs. small? Idiots aren't going to change their attitude or how they ride based on what they ride, they'll just kill themselves faster.

[Mintbread]

Never said anything was wrong with it. Just pointing out that you don't really need a 1000cc bike. It's a material desire, not a need.

But most people only buy the 600cc+ for the looks. It's more than you'll really need.

Have you ever owned a 600cc+ bike?
If not, please leave your opinion at the door because in this instance it is utterly worthless. Thank you.