When to consider going to a bigger bike?

[SCgurl]

I tried to search for this, but nothing came up, and I wanted others' experiences on it...

At what point did you go "I'm ready for a bigger bike"? Was it an issue of mechanical limitations (for instance, keeping up with traffic on the interstate), was it feeling like you had challenged your skills as much as you could on the smaller bike, etc. ?

I ask because when doing my research and reading past threads, everyone recommended the time frame of 6 months to a year on a beginner's bike before moving up. However, I am already feeling how "small" my bike is (I'm riding a LOT and practicing on the MSF course a LOT) and my intention was always to graduate to a more comfortable bike for highway trips. It'll be January before I move up at the absolute earliest, but time seems like such an artificial gauge.

[storysunfolding]

I suppose it's when your current bike doesn't fit your needs. It could be a panoply of reasons from wanting to take a passenger on long trips, to switching to a more comfy riding style.

The internet and everday life is full of the guys who "outgrew" their ninja 250's and had to move up to gsxr 750's and R1's. Now I get to pass more expensive bikes when I take out the ninja250 through my favorite twisties. Some of them are almost good enough to catch me on the V-strom.

When it comes to cruisers I think the reason most people move up is so friend's stop commenting on their bike. I've never seen the need for the engine sizes they throw on some of those monsters.

[Shorts]

I started noticing that I was wanting more passing power on the roads. I think I'm at a great spot right now as far as handling my bike. It's predictable and I wish I could stay on it longer because I know it. Just like you get use to wearing certain shoes or driving a certain vehicle. It's familiar and very manageable. I've reached a point where I'm not afraid of the bike but rather if I screw up and do something to cause it to be squirrely or tip, it's because I had a brain fart and flubbed controls rather than my skills not being developed enough to comprehend. I wish this bike was a 500-650 - same size frame and seat, same weight, but more power and it'd be perfect to keep growing with.

Our timing is going to work out well as we are needing to sell our bikes now before our move back to the States. There's no way my bike will be able to keep up on the roads in Texas, at least not the highway cruising I'm anticipating I'll need. That's aside from the need to go through import regs.

There's a lot I have yet to learn and I wasn't wanting to go through another learning curve on the next bike. I'm often satisfied to stay status quo in that regard. But it's looking like a necessary step.


I think Story's answer is about right, it may be time to consider a change when it no longer fits your needs.

[NWTrtle]

This is just my experience, and should not be construed as a general standard.

I started on a 250 cruiser and put between 1500 and 2000 miles on it over the course of 8 months before starting to get the itch for something different and/or bigger. The 250 could do freeway speeds, but it was just about at its limit when going 70 mph and had no oomph left. I knew I wanted to be able to do more long distance riding and felt like I was ready to do so. I did not feel like I was a master at my 250 though. I never explored the max lean for a corner, but knew my comfortable limits. I also had a problem with the riding position not being comfortable on the little cruiser.

I then purchased myself a used Ninja 500R which fulfilled a couple of needs. First, it had the power to do the freeway rides with power to spare (at least for me) and the riding position was significantly different and more comfortable. I did make some adjustments (bar risers, Corbin seat, mirror extenders) to make it more comfortable. I put another 1500 miles on it over the next three or four months. I then let my own over confidence get the best of me and I wrecked. I came out just fine as I had on all of my gear, but the bike did not fare all that well.

I have often asked myself if I upgraded too soon. I really don't think so, but perhaps I should have practiced a lot more on the Ninja in parking lots instead of just hitting the road.

I see you ride an S40. Most reviews I have read say it is a great bike for cruising around town, but feels underpowered on the freeway. If you are looking at doing road trips, the S40 probably is not the correct bike. But, are you ready to upgrade yet? No one really knows except you. Unless you have some trips planed in January (when you thought you might upgrade), I would plan on riding what you have until April.

Not sure if any of this helps with your decission.

[SCgurl]

This is just my experience, and should not be construed as a general standard.

I started on a 250 cruiser and put between 1500 and 2000 miles on it over the course of 8 months before starting to get the itch for something different and/or bigger. The 250 could do freeway speeds, but it was just about at its limit when going 70 mph and had no oomph left. I knew I wanted to be able to do more long distance riding and felt like I was ready to do so. I did not feel like I was a master at my 250 though. I never explored the max lean for a corner, but knew my comfortable limits. I also had a problem with the riding position not being comfortable on the little cruiser.

I then purchased myself a used Ninja 500R which fulfilled a couple of needs. First, it had the power to do the freeway rides with power to spare (at least for me) and the riding position was significantly different and more comfortable. I did make some adjustments (bar risers, Corbin seat, mirror extenders) to make it more comfortable. I put another 1500 miles on it over the next three or four months. I then let my own over confidence get the best of me and I wrecked. I came out just fine as I had on all of my gear, but the bike did not fare all that well.

I have often asked myself if I upgraded too soon. I really don't think so, but perhaps I should have practiced a lot more on the Ninja in parking lots instead of just hitting the road.

I see you ride an S40. Most reviews I have read say it is a great bike for cruising around town, but feels underpowered on the freeway. If you are looking at doing road trips, the S40 probably is not the correct bike. But, are you ready to upgrade yet? No one really knows except you. Unless you have some trips planed in January (when you thought you might upgrade), I would plan on riding what you have until April.

Not sure if any of this helps with your decission.

I do worry about upgrading too soon, but by the same token, I am actively exploring the limits of my bike and am improving at a rate much quicker than I had expected. I am currently racking up around 300 miles per week on it, both controlled course and general traffic riding.

What made me start exploring the upgrading question was a 120 mile ride last weekend-I was fine on the secondary higways power-wise, but the merge onto 95 was scary. I have been on the local interstates, but that merge left me thinking "if I needed the top end to make an emergency maneuver, could I?" and the answer was no. I would have to brake. So I stuck to the secondaries on the way home.

So the answer to the trips question is I am already doing some moderate-distance trips and would like to be able to wander further at a moment's notice. I'm one of those. But, unless I feel absolutely sure about upgrading, I won't. I'm not there yet.

[motokid]

Hi,

I ride a s40 so let me ask a few questions:

- what is the maximum speed that you have achieved (and sustained) on your bike?

- can you make an U turn in less than 2 parking spots width?

- can you make a full circle with handle bars mostly locked to one side?

- did you ever drag your pegs? Did you do it during slow speed maneuvers?

- can you stop and start without putting your right foot down? Can you do it repeatedly in traffic, especially on the tight right turns?

- can you constantly avoid 'duck walking' when getting out of parking spot or driveway on the street?

- can you constantly avoid using your foot to save from shaky situations during slow speed turns and stops?

- do people in cars constantly outrun you from lights even though you are doing your best to beat them.

In my opinion, as long as you can't answer all these questions with 80 mph, yes, yes, .....yes. you don't NEED bigger bike. Now, whether you want it and should you act upon your wants ... nobody can answer for you.

Before people jump on me for some of these questions (dragging a peg e.t.c), I don't think that dragging a peg should be part of every day's driving routine, but it does show skill, confidence and familiarity with the bike.

S40 is very light (in terms of cruisers) so most of time during jerky stops and turns it can be saved from dropping it by jumping on your feet and holding the handlebars. Most of those occasions on something 200 ponds heavier (honda shadow and likes) would mean dropping the bike.

K


EDIT:

just saw your other post. S40 can get up to 85 mph, but say it can get to 75 reasonably fast and steady. Now, what kind of emergency maneuver do you have in mind that would surpass that speed? I can see from your other post that your first ride was on Aug 11 this year. I would think that for the person with your experience 99% of time, emergency should be braking.

On the other side, how good are you with braking? Could you stop from 60 to 0 in less than 5 seconds?

[storysunfolding]

Dragging a peg at slow speeds doesn't impress me unless you're leaned over with a knee down gymkhana style. Dragging a peg at speed tells me one of three things
1.) Bad line
2.) Bad form
3.) Speed well in excess of the speed limit.


Why would braking be the maneuver for 99% of the time? I would think that a swerve would be more if not equally common.

[Thumper]

I think it's a YMMV kind of thing. I got to a point where I wanted a little more power than my Rebel was putting out...and then waited another 6 months. That gave me about 15-16 months on the Rebel.

I certainly didn't need more power, but I wanted it. Sometimes you get a new bike itch, and eventually you have to scratch it. As long as you're not physically too big for a small bike, you never really need anything bigger. But there's nothing wrong with wanting it.

[motokid]

...

Why would braking be the maneuver for 99% of the time? I would think that a swerve would be more if not equally common.

I mentioned braking in context of OP's prior post, as opposed to accelerating in emergency situation for novice rider.

However, here's a nice write up about the choice between the two:
http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=200&Set=

[storysunfolding]

I don't understand how context of either response ruled out swerving.

Btw- that article isn't on the choice between the two- it's further clarification when they shouldn't be combined. A "panic stop" shouldn't be combined with a swerve into a "panic" swerve. Personally I never panic on a motorcycle, but apparently msgroup.org encourages it during stops.