Motorcycle Commuting - Why go bigger?

[DirthNader]

Spending a couple of months commuting on my 250 I've started to think about that "next" motorcycle. Given the reality of my commute, I'm starting to wonder if it'd actually be less fun on a bigger bike.

Commute is 11 miles one way in light to medium traffic. Speed limit never goes over 45mph. There are one or two places where you can safely go ~65mph and not risk getting caught. The closest thing to a curve in my locale is a green light at an intersection with no one in front of you in the turn lane.

I remember someone posting "my [literbike] does 100mph in 1st gear" when I posted about buying a 250. Honestly, that would suck for me; I'd never have the bike anywhere near the redline, even in first gear. From what I've read even a Ninja 650R will do ~50mph in first, which means I'd get to run through one gear and then shut down. On the 250 I can wring it out through three gears and not be too far beyond legal.

Unless I'm doing track days at Jennings (I'm not, $$$) or trying to keep up on the highway (I'm not on the highway), is there any reason to go bigger?

 

[SAWYER]

The only time you ride the bike is to work? Seems like a waste of money to buy a bike, insurance and gas to just drive to work

 

[crosshairs]

if your only riding it to work, no reason to get a bigger bike....my son rides a Ninja 250....Its his first bike, and he will be going bigger next year...but him and I do a lot of riding.

I rode it home as he did not have his license when he bought it......my experience is the 250 is anemic,sure it will get up and go, but its simply not an enjoyable ride for me.....also, if you ever plan on riding 2 up, that 250 will just not be up to the task......will it haul 2 people, sure it will. will it be safe and enjoyable... I doubt it.

but again, if its only for commuting, then its fine....

However,the one big downfall about the 250 is that the bike lacks the power to get you OUT of trouble.....I find it way to slow to accelerate out of a bad situation....such as someone coming into your lane, and forward is the only place for you to go...twist the throttle and count to 10..if your lucky,you may be 5 feet ahead of the person.....

 

[PlasmaBomb]

The only time you ride the bike is to work? Seems like a waste of money to buy a bike, insurance and gas to just drive to work

Maybe he doesn't have a car and the public transport options suck?

 

[satyajitmenon]

If you didn't already have the 250, I'd have suggested getting a GS500. A little more get up n go, and (in my opinion) more comfortable than the ninja 250.

Since you've already got the 250, it may not make financial sense to switch unless you can sell the 250 for whatever you'd pay for a good used 500.

 

[DirthNader]

Yeah, the bike certainly isn't fast in a straight line, especially given that I'm 6'1 and 195 lbs. I managed to keep up with a 328i the other day

I do use it for joyriding, but central Florida isn't exactly the most exciting place in the world to ride. Flat, straight roads, low speed limits. I see a lot of 600cc supersports around here with squared-off rear tires.

I just enjoy riding, something I've wanted to do for 10 years.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Hell, for that kind of commute I'd probably get a scooter!

I think the perfect commuter, if you're going to be on freeways, is probably the Suzuki V-Strom 650 or the new Kawasaki Versys.

 

[ShawnD1]

I remember someone posting "my [literbike] does 100mph in 1st gear" when I posted about buying a 250. Honestly, that would suck for me; I'd never have the bike anywhere near the redline, even in first gear. From what I've read even a Ninja 650R will do ~50mph in first, which means I'd get to run through one gear and then shut down. On the 250 I can wring it out through three gears and not be too far beyond legal.

I think I said the same thing about 400HP cars. Shit cars like mine hit red line every single day and use every bit of power the engine can put out. In a car with a V6, it mostly goes unused, but is still used when passing cars on the highway. Up around 400HP in a car or having a 1300cc GSXR is just completely pointless. The first three gears can't be full throttled because you'll lose control and die. If you're in the other gears and are going full throttle then you are probably going way too fast and will die.

Stay small. Having tons of power and not being allowed to use it is just a cock tease. That's like having a super hot wife that you can't have sex with. Like what's the point?

 

[DivideBYZero]

I think I said the same thing about 400HP cars. Shit cars like mine hit red line every single day and use every bit of power the engine can put out. In a car with a V6, it mostly goes unused, but is still used when passing cars on the highway. Up around 400HP in a car or having a 1300cc GSXR is just completely pointless. The first three gears can't be full throttled because you'll lose control and die. If you're in the other gears and are going full throttle then you are probably going way too fast and will die.

Stay small. Having tons of power and not being allowed to use it is just a cock tease. That's like having a super hot wife that you can't have sex with. Like what's the point?

Meh, you'll never know unless you've had one. You write it off without ever really knowing what having lots of power is like.

 

[Zargon]

I think I said the same thing about 400HP cars. Shit cars like mine hit red line every single day and use every bit of power the engine can put out. In a car with a V6, it mostly goes unused, but is still used when passing cars on the highway. Up around 400HP in a car or having a 1300cc GSXR is just completely pointless. The first three gears can't be full throttled because you'll lose control and die. If you're in the other gears and are going full throttle then you are probably going way too fast and will die.

Stay small. Having tons of power and not being allowed to use it is just a cock tease. That's like having a super hot wife that you can't have sex with. Like what's the point?

there is something wrong with you


and the car if it has 400hp and cant hook in first at all, like shitty tires for starters

 

[jlee]

Meh, you'll never know unless you've had one. You write it off without ever really knowing what having lots of power is like.

This man speaks truth.

 

[Zap]

Hell, for that kind of commute I'd probably get a scooter!

I've always wanted a scooter. The Yamaha Zuma (the 50cc two stroke version) with some performance mods sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[satyajitmenon]

I've always wanted a scooter. The Yamaha Zuma (the 50cc two stroke version) with some performance mods sounds like a lot of fun.

Yeah. Do this

 

[andylawcc]

If you didn't already have the 250, I'd have suggested getting a GS500. A little more get up n go, and (in my opinion) more comfortable than the ninja 250.

no, don't get the GS500. It's heavy and slow. If you wanna go up sensibly get the SV650 or Ninja 650.

I am perfectly happy with my 250, but then i think i am a rarity.

 

[Vic Vega]

Some of us like having power on tap.

 

[Vic Vega]

if your only riding it to work, no reason to get a bigger bike....

I typically only ride to work and I disagree.

My commute is 13 miles each way, 12 of those miles are interstate with 1/2 mile of on/off ramp and city street on each end. With a smaller bike I always felt merging and working my way over to the left lane to be a chore. With the 1200 I just sort of casually zip into traffic, find a hole and blip the throttle to get in. Getting over into the left lane is even easier.

My riding (and driving) style is very casual and not aggressive at all and with the 1200 I can sort of calmly ride to work without worrying about traffic too much. Additionally when I get to my exit, it can be a real PITA to get over as traffic is thick at this point. Again, put the blinker on, find a hole and zip on over.

With a smaller bike I always felt I was fighting the bike for the right gear or really having to give it the beans to get into and out of traffic. The 1200 is like butter, power on demand, smooth and consistent. I'd never go back to a 250.

 

[ballmode]

Sv650

 

[Throckmorton]

Is it possible to detune a 600cc or 1000cc bike so that novice riders don't get themselves into trouble?

 

[Vic Vega]

Is it possible to detune a 600cc or 1000cc bike so that novice riders don't get themselves into trouble?

Why do you post here?

 

[Fenixgoon]

Is it possible to detune a 600cc or 1000cc bike so that novice riders don't get themselves into trouble?

Yamaha made the fz6r (detuned old R6 engine) for just this reason. I don't know that id call it a beginner's 600cc bike but it is definitely way more friendly than an R6

 

[Throckmorton]

Why do you post here?

What? Am I missing something?

People on this forum are always telling new motorcyclists to get 250cc bikes... then they want to upgrade a little while later because they're not powerful enough. It would make more sense to be able to detune a bigger engine to reduce horsepower.

 

[Vic Vega]

What? Am I missing something?

People on this forum are always telling new motorcyclists to get 250cc bikes... then they want to upgrade a little while later because they're not powerful enough. It would make more sense to be able to detune a bigger engine to reduce horsepower.

You want a bigger engine with less HP? Get a V-Twin. What you're suggesting makes zero practical sense. It doesn't even make "what if" sense.

 

[Throckmorton]

You want a bigger engine with less HP? Get a V-Twin. What you're suggesting makes zero practical sense. It doesn't even make "what if" sense.

Buy a bike with a 600cc engine. Detune it so it makes as little power as a 250cc engine because you're a new rider who everybody and his grandmother says needs to start off on a 250cc bike.


When you outgrow the 250cc level of power, restore it to full horsepower.

This would have benefitted DirthNader and FuzzyBabyBunny, who a couple months ago was saying his Ninja isn't powerful enough anymore.


Is that so fucking hard to understand? Do you tell small children they should buy tricycles instead of get training wheels on their bicycles?

 

[Vic Vega]

Buy a bike with a 600cc engine. Detune it so it makes as little power as a 250cc engine because you're a new rider who everybody and his grandmother says needs to start off on a 250cc bike.


When you outgrow the 250cc level of power, restore it to full horsepower.

This would have benefitted DirthNader and FuzzyBabyBunny, who a couple months ago was saying his Ninja isn't powerful enough anymore.


Is that so fucking hard to understand? Do you tell small children they should buy tricycles instead of get training wheels on their bicycles?

Quoted for hilarity.

 

[RiDE]

Hell, for that kind of commute I'd probably get a scooter!

+1

Go get a Honda Ruckus and hang out with the 'hellaflush' crowd.

LOLOLOL D: