Riding a smaller displacement bike | GTAMotorcycle.com

Riding a smaller displacement bike

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Merkid

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So I restored with the help of some folks on here an older Honda XL500 to do some off-road runs a few miles from my home on some vacant farm lands. I normally use a bike carrier to get it there but decided to register it a few weeks ago and get insurance coverage for quick rides to and from the places.

All my other bikes are 750cc + so these runs have been a real eye opener when dealing with existing traffic. Running the XL on pavement means taking it easy due to the knobby tires, drum brakes etc. What I have come to realize is I feel like it is open season on me with cars and trucks making ever effort to go around me then cut in front. Even intersection left turners don't acknowledge me much.

With the other bikes, I am more comfortable in dealing with this shite so have decided to curtail the runs on the XL, take off the insurance and go back to using the bike carrier.

Makes me wonder how other folks are managing with their scooters and 250cc rockets. I have a new found respect for you guys. Better still, makes me wonder how I stayed alive in the early '70s on my DT250 that was used on a daily basis cuz that's all I could afford. Oh, wait I just remembered that I was knocked off that bike on two occasions... guess drivers haven't changed much.
 
My previous CBR250 was great in all conditions except comfort. Sure it wasn’t gonna pull like bigger bikes but I never found it wanting for power at the time.

My current CB500X will do everything I ask of it and more.

Both will keep up with 400 series highway traffic with zero issues.
 
I used to commute to downtown Toronto on an old 250 cruiser. I just stayed in the right hand lane more.
 
Since I've started commuting on a scooter, I've noticed a similar response from other drivers to when I've driven a cube van: no matter how fast I'm going, lots of other drivers seem desperate to get in front of me. It's a scenario that simply doesn't happen on my Aprilia, despite (mostly) doing the exact same speed.

My theory is that a surprising (depressing?) number of drivers simply don't look at their speedometer, and so make speed judgements based almost entirely on vehicles around them. If they see a vehicle they assume will hold them up by being slower, they just go faster. This also manifests in cars that inexplicably speed up as they're passed, which happens to me all the time: dawdling along in the passing lane at five under, I eventually give up waiting for them to look in their mirrors and so undertake, then suddenly they're doing 140 like it's the last lap of the Indy 500.

Don't get me started on the numpties that do 80 on a two-lane highway, then suddenly speed up to 130 when there's a passing lane. The same idiots usually roll through towns with 50 limits still doing 80...
 
This reminds me of the inverse - when I would ride my ZX-11 people would give me such a comical amount of space I was constantly paranoid I was dragging something or was on fire
 
TwistedKestrel said:
This reminds me of the inverse - when I would ride my ZX-11 people would give me such a comical amount of space I was constantly paranoid I was dragging something or was on fire
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My green Kawi ZX-10R attracted way more attention from boy racers wanting to test their Mustang with an exhaust than any other bike I've owned. Even my previous bike, a ZX-14, didn't draw anywhere near as much attention from the overtuned set. Granted, the 14 was matte black and wine red, so didn't dazzle the eyes of the easily distracted in the same way ..
 
I think drivers just act stupid around bikes, scooters etc. I've literly seen cars try and chase down ssports on the 401 (who are blowing past everyone), like they have a chance to keep up somehow. It's dumb. The end result, there are no bounds for stupidity.

BTW I saw one of these scooters on the 401 doing west just puttering around 100 KPH, thought it was weird.
 
I've entirely forgotten I'm riding a CB300 in Aus as it will easily exceed all legal limits here and enforcement is severe.
Certainly the CB500x I sold Mimico was very stable at 140 ...I'd not run the 300 that hard
The only time I'd like a bit more juice is when passing into a headwind at 100 kph....it CAN do it but takes its time....so I'll save the fuel.

I do love it when a 12 L fill up gets me 360 km :D

My earlier Burgman 650 Exec had lots of road presence - 600 lb bike but topped out at 160 indicated and got there quick then no more - pushed a lot of air.
 
MacDoc said:
I've entirely forgotten I'm riding a CB300 in Aus as it will easily exceed all legal limits here and enforcement is severe.
Certainly the CB500x I sold Mimico was very stable at 140 ...I'd not run the 300 that hard
The only time I'd like a bit more juice is when passing into a headwind at 100 kph....it CAN do it but takes its time....so I'll save the fuel.

I do love it when a 12 L fill up gets me 360 km :D

My earlier Burgman 650 Exec had lots of road presence - 600 lb bike but topped out at 160 indicated and got there quick then no more - pushed a lot of air.
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Can confirm....500X is nice and stable at 140.
 
sburns said:
I think drivers just act stupid around bikes, scooters etc. I've literly seen cars try and chase down ssports on the 401 (who are blowing past everyone), like they have a chance to keep up somehow. It's dumb. The end result, there are no bounds for stupidity.
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Truth. I haven't found the right roads here, but in BC, the worst was coming up behind a dude (always a dude) on a twisty road. Instead of being gracious and letting us by at the next pullout, some would decide it was time to show us how it was done in their WRX, or even worse, a pickup. We'd be rolling along with an elbow on the tank, meanwhile they think they're in a WRC event. After watching them cut the fourth corner in a row, risking the lives of any oncoming traffic, we'd have to back way off so they could give their tiny balls a squeeze until the next dashed line or passing opportunity (on those roads in BC, dashed lines can be a long way apart, and most corners are totally blind).

sburns said:
BTW I saw one of these scooters on the 401 doing west just puttering around 100 KPH, thought it was weird.
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As long as they weren't in the passing lane!
 
Drivers in vehicles approaching from behind tend to have more confidence to pass a motorcycle purely because they can see ahead of you through the lane…as opposed to having to see around a car or truck. You’ll always get that on rural roads.

I’ve never personally had issue with this. Just keep an awareness of who is behind you and ride in the proper lane position.

Now tailgaters…those are the idiots I worry about most .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Robbo said:
Now tailgaters…those are the idiots I worry about most .
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You'll get no argument from me!

While we're griping about bad drivers, why is tailgating the one speeding-related bad habit that seems to be equally men and women? Also, is there anything more puzzling than being tailgated, getting out of the way, then them not going anywhere, just staying the same speed? Or even worse, changing lanes and having them follow while still tailgating?
 
I've had no issues on my Versys X 300...it can cruise at 130km/h on the highway for hours with no problem and can go higher than that if needed. Just have to shift down if you need to do a quick pass.

I don't feel any less safe than when I was on my Z900.
 
I never noticed anything riding a CBR125 on the QEW, Gardiner, or DVP for one season commuting to Scarborough from Mississauga every day. I always made sure I wasn't in the passing lane unless I was actually passing - that tends to piss of drivers more than anything.
 
Merkid said:
So I restored with the help of some folks on here an older Honda XL500 to do some off-road runs a few miles from my home on some vacant farm lands. I normally use a bike carrier to get it there but decided to register it a few weeks ago and get insurance coverage for quick rides to and from the places.

All my other bikes are 750cc + so these runs have been a real eye opener when dealing with existing traffic. Running the XL on pavement means taking it easy due to the knobby tires, drum brakes etc. What I have come to realize is I feel like it is open season on me with cars and trucks making ever effort to go around me then cut in front. Even intersection left turners don't acknowledge me much.

With the other bikes, I am more comfortable in dealing with this shite so have decided to curtail the runs on the XL, take off the insurance and go back to using the bike carrier.

Makes me wonder how other folks are managing with their scooters and 250cc rockets. I have a new found respect for you guys. Better still, makes me wonder how I stayed alive in the early '70s on my DT250 that was used on a daily basis cuz that's all I could afford. Oh, wait I just remembered that I was knocked off that bike on two occasions... guess drivers haven't changed much.
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I ride small and big bikes, never see much difference.
GreyGhost said:
At least one rider on here quite likely has the fastest available street bike and one of the slowest. He puts far more km's on the small bike. Adjust your riding style and expectations and it can work out.
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That's sort of me. I regularly ride a 1.3l ST, a 650 ADV and a 125 Enduro. I've always had a 250 something (drill have a couple but never seem to ride them).

I dont notice a difference in other drivers behaviour.
 
Priller said:
You'll get no argument from me!

While we're griping about bad drivers, why is tailgating the one speeding-related bad habit that seems to be equally men and women? Also, is there anything more puzzling than being tailgated, getting out of the way, then them not going anywhere, just staying the same speed? Or even worse, changing lanes and having them follow while still tailgating?
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They're not tailgating, they're drafting.
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