I am on a 1250 now and I think that is about my lower limit.
CT125in 2015 after not riding for roughly 30 years I started out on a Husky 701 which I still have. Most of the riding I do is adventure riding with camping luggage.
Even though the 701 is considered a light bike I find it too heavy.
I switched to a KTM EXC 450 for the adv riding with luggage. I find that too heavy too.
I would love to get a 350 for adv riding... Until I find that too heavy also
I wish they could downsize motorbikes for travel to the weight of my trials bike which only weighs 68 kg
No hate for little bikes , but time matches on bike advancements have really worked in our favor. I'm not talking about bikes riddled with electronics.Once upon a time when the world certainly seemed to be ever so slightly saner.
People had a fondness of the 250s, the manufacturers fed us with an endless array of types and models from std naked type to trail bikes and racer styled models, people liked the 250s because they got up close or even passed the then magic 100mph mark accelerated well and were cheap to buy cheap to run and not forgetting the important bit they were lightweight and fun to ride.
Even after the learner laws changed in the UK and other places, the 250 was honed to perfection with fast suzukis kawasakis and aprilias ETc with real performers and then some time around the millennium the tap was turned down to a dribble and it seems 250s exist but are fewer less interesting in most cases and not as well favored in the motorcycle community as they once were. Why the Demise do you think? and Please share your insight into your favourate 250s then or now.
The Weight Power and torque thing 250s to 450s as kind of always been a thing anyway, ok modern versions have more power but we need only look at the market options from 40/50 years ago to see its always been so re the weights.No hate for little bikes , but time matches on bike advancements have really worked in our favor. I'm not talking about bikes riddled with electronics.
Semi old school XR 250 vs XR400. Nearly imperceptible weight difference between the two but the torque factor of the 400 makes feel horribly underpowered.
Fast forward from a 1998 XR400 to 2003 and the WR450 is alive and well. Modern 450's are on par with the old 250's on weight while having 2x-3x the power.
We don't have to choose between big engines and light bikes anymore. The gap has closed.
I used to see stuff like this and not really get it. I'm on a torquey 120hp bike now and I know I wouldn't enjoy riding as much if I had less power.I am on a 1250 now and I think that is about my lower limit.
I used to have a 125 HP sportbike. I still have a blast riding my 13 HP scooter. Its a different kind of riding. Around town my scooter is more fun than any other bike I have owned. I can actually use all 13 HP. 125 HP is complete overkill and boring around town unless i wanted to lose my license.I realize these comments aren't a flex. Going back to 30hp on the street just isn't fun after you've felt power.
Even if you are into speed 10 HP can be fun. I talked to a guy once who was riding the dragon on his Z125 which has around 9 HP. He said he also owned an RC-51 but the Z125 was more fun to ride on the dragon.It's less fun. That is if you primarily use the motorcycle as a toy,, and suffer from impatience. Are always in a rush. Don't enjoy the relaxation of the travel,, and the views on the way.
But. If you change gears (metaphorically). Slow down, look at the views around instead of hyper focusing on overtaking the car in front. Take the back roads. Then even 10 hp becomes plenty and enjoyment takes over from fun.
Well, that's my 2 cents.