Less Bike = less danger?

[richw]

I decided to make this a thread.

I closed my business so now am trying to enter the job market or may have other irons in the fire. Either way without the backing of an existing organization I could not afford to be laid up or significantly crippled without grossly affecting my family's fortunes.

SOO..

Right now I have a 05 Gixer 1K. Tire spinning, power wheeling, fun coaster.

Considering a senior experienced rider

Would a less powerful bike say 650 twin significantly reduce the hazards of high speed on the public roads ??

I think not much; discuss

[stoinkythepig]

I agree. At 60 years old, assuming you've been riding awhile, it's obvious you are able to show restraint.

Are you really 60?

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

I am sort of doing the same thing, Not so much for safety but more to stay out of trouble. I have always rode 600's on the street I have a good career so they are never more then 2 years old. I just found myself overdoing it on the street. just for the rush going the speed limit (or close) just felt like I was not even riding. I traded in my GSXR for a KTM supermoto 650 single(sub 100 MPH Fun). and Have an old streeted racebike SV650 as a commuter.

Its not about the speed but the sensation of speed, I had an old fiat spyder that felt amazing at 60 MPH like you were going to take flight. You were so low to the ground you felt like you were going really fast.

I am looking for that same feeling in bikes these days

[Doc]

Got rid of my Duc 900ss and gonna run my Hawk on the street.

Hawks are interesting bikes. Easy to upgrade and work on with a good following. Plus they have the SSSA.

I know where you might get a Hawk for cheap Rich. :

[burnham]

You could always trade your 05 1k for my 05 600 and 2k cash, but I don't think it would make any difference in terms of safety. That H2 with the driver on the phone does not care what size bike you are riding when it's on top of you. Keep the bike unless you are going to give up riding all together.

[Tricky Mike]

If you've never had one, I HIGHLY recommend a twin. I moved in the opposite direction of what you're considering... I traded in a Superhawk for an 07 GSXR 1K and the first thing I noticed it that the superhawk felt faster at slower speeds. It was a lot more fun to ride slow. The GSXR is a blast, don't get me wrong... but if I want to ride in the meat of the powerband... let's say 8K RPM's plus, I'm never getting out of first gear and even then it's far from legal. A twin, with it's deep throaty exhaust and all the vibration that goes along with it just feels fast. I'd say it's safer... but ultimately it's up to the rider.

[Paul_E_D]

The other day I saw a 60 year old on a Ducati 1098S. He left the light WOT, and while it was music to my ears, I was cringing to myself. Can he make that next corner? Does he know there's a light around the bend? If the average 60 year old can't resist the power of these superbikes, why are they legal for a 16 year old?

To answer the question ABSOLUTELY! I have been riding a 60HP Duc twin for years. I ride much faster bikes on the track and have enough experience with HP to know the difference. When that little duc runs out of breath as the revs climb it makes me feel like OK that's enough. It also can only do 105 tapped out, so it's uncomfortable to ride above 85 or 90. That just eliminates a whole other world of temptation with highway antics.

Is it still dangerous? Of course. Is it as dangerous as a literbike? Of course not. It can stop and turn as good or better, but it simply cannot hurtle me towards danger as quickly, no matter how badly I may want it to.

[DynoTune]

I agree, a smaller bike, going through the gears is much more fun that a big bore going two gears. I think the smaller ones are safer...beacuse you pull the throttle and things happen much slower and you have time to think about it. I think they are safer. A gixer 1000 is a bullet, pull the trigger and pray there is nothing in the way. I have a zx-14......same deal....only a few diffrent things to think about. I have made my bike very comforable so your not always looking to go fast, I can enjoy the ride a bit more, knida cruise more....On my last bike(tl1000r) it was very agressive....riding postion and engine response, it was boring and unconmfortable when going slow. So you can have a big bike and show some restaint, if its more conforable at slow speeds. Years of experince does help but with so much power at the rear wheel it only takes a second worth of too much throttle and your in trouble.
Dont forget, small bikes get better milage as well...

[TTD]

I think moving to my KLR650 has definitely decreased my risk factors.

I ride the bike with a whole different mindset. Speed is no longer a goal... so that alone reduces the dangers.

The fact that small backroads are now a lot more fun mean that I see fewer cars per ride, which once again lowers the risk factor.

[TheIglu]

Skip the twin and go for a KLR. WAY too much fun for 39hOr, pick up a standard. Makes riding slower seem much more easy.

[Doc]

I don't think it would make any difference in terms of safety. That H2 with the driver on the phone does not care what size bike you are riding when it's on top of you.

Good point!

[Doc]

I think moving to my KLR650 has definitely decreased my risk factors.

I ride the bike with a whole different mindset. Speed is no longer a goal... so that alone reduces the dangers.

The fact that small backroads are now a lot more fun mean that I see fewer cars per ride, which once again lowers the risk factor.

Skip the twin and go for a KLR. WAY too much fun for 39hOr, pick up a standard. Makes riding slower seem much more easy.

Even Better!!!

I am in the midst of Dual sporting my CRF250x (I wish Honda would come out with something like the WR250x or even the DRZ400sm)

[CMG241]

Buy an old Buell - you'll never have a top end run thought again. Best way to stay alive is convince all of the cagers not to kill you.

[DucDave]

Would a less powerful bike say 650 twin significantly reduce the hazards of high speed on the public roads ??

I believe it has far more to do with your attitiude and why you ride. Clearly, one who lacks the respect for what can happen can get into trouble much faster on a liter bike...but a 650 will still wheelie, do endos and stoppies, go faster in a corner than the rider can address, hit immovable objects at more than enough speed to do damage, highside, low side, spin up tires, slide on gravel and come between a cage and a hard spot.

My attitude toward riding has shifted quite a bit on the street. I traded a Honda Blackbird several years ago for an ST2. (The last of a long line or I4s.) My attitude didn't change overnight but as I did longer, more touring oriented street rides, and started doing track days and eventually racing, there was a slow but steady change in my approach to street riding. My current ride is a Multistrada. For me its the perfect street bike for what I want from riding. It's upright, comfortable for long distances, fast enough that I don't hold anyone up on group rides, and handles well enough that I get plenty of pleasure in the twisties!


We all accept a certain amount of risk in this sport. For me, I have begun to balance the risk parts that make riding fun while trying to mitigate the the risky parts that aren't fun. So, I still ride pretty fast...but not as fast as I used to. I try and stay focused on my scan and staying constantly alert. And I give more thought to whats around the next corner or over the next rise...

So...a smaller displacement twin may be just the ticket as long as a corresponding attitude attends the change!

(btw...I'm not that far behind you...age wise!)

[Nix]

No way. I bet you love the powerband you have now, and you'll just start making a 600 scream to get the same desired results. Maybe like going from a Porsche Carrera to a Honda S2000... Rich W got some skills...I've heard about that guy.

If your back's still holdin' up...keep it! Otherwise, go streetfightah.

[Nix]

I believe it has far more to do with your attitiude and why you ride. Clearly, one who lacks the respect for what can happen can get into trouble much faster on a liter bike

[TIMMYDUCK]

SOO..

Right now I have a 05 Gixer 1K. Tire spinning, power wheeling, fun coaster.

Considering a senior experienced rider

Keep the bike and just buy more life insurance for this upcoming riding season.

Seems your concerns are more financial than anything else.

I mean how far back in the pack do you really want to be ?

[DucDave]

His question:

Would a less powerful bike say 650 twin significantly reduce the hazards of high speed on the public roads ??

And the following is exactly what I mean about attitude....

Keep the bike and just buy more life insurance for this upcoming riding season.

Seems your concerns are more financial than anything else.

I mean how far back in the pack do you really want to be ?

If you find yourself riding 'in a pack' on the street -- and you worry that you can't keep up on a 650 -- then, may I suggest, that selling your bike and getting off the street is, indeed, the right answer....

[ChR1s]

I decided to make this a thread.

blah blah drivel drivel...

It's the rider, not the bike. Bump up your insurance then top of the 1k with some Premium, old man.

Little bikes suck. They can't pass for shit. Corner speed is easier to carry, but that's about it for positives for a road rider. And even that isn't a positive, since there's only so much corner speed a reasonable rider would mess with on the street.

There's no substitute for mondo power. Keep the 1k or get something totally different. I tried a SuperDuke and found it to be just a naked bike with nads -- still too much top-end power bias. And, the SD990's chassis is so stout that you still need big numbers on the speedo to get any sensation of speed.

Then comes the 690SM, like we've got. That thing's a serious hoot on backroads. Soaks up anything and can just about carry three digits through most corners. The big difference is that the sensation of speed comes at much lower velocities, when compared to the "sport" bikes. If you can live with only slight passing power, and not a lot of wind protection, I suggest one of KTM's new 690 variants. That is, if you truely DO want to alter your riding behavior.

[Evil_Weasel]

Buy an old Buell - you'll never have a top end run thought again.

you'll be too busy thinking about what parts it'll break if you open the throttle too far too fast. it's amazing how much restraint your right wrist has with thoughts of impending mechanical disaster floating about.

on the bright side you can't hurt yourself too badly if you're stuck fixing it every 3rd weekend instead of riding.

[CMG241]

you'll be too busy thinking about what parts it'll break if you open the throttle too far too fast. it's amazing how much restraint your right wrist has with thoughts of impending mechanical disaster floating about.

on the bright side you can't hurt yourself too badly if you're stuck fixing it every 3rd weekend instead of riding.

Testify brother, testify.

[DynoTune]

If we all rode sportsters we would not be having this converation

Sad part is I do think smaller bikes are safer....But it would not be my only bike. Had a hawk once and on the hwy it was blown all around....did not think it was safe on the hwy....

[SSearchVT]

You can hurt yourself (or get hurt) on any displacement bike. It's all in the rider. The variables are rider skill, rider desire (how they want to ride), bike power, and bike handling - then enter in all the uncontrolables (traffic).

There is a thrill in opening up the throttle, and feeling the speed - any idiot can do this in a straight line. My CBR600 will easily break the speed limit in a few seconds in second gear. I don't know exactly how fast it will go - I know how fast I've had it - and I ran out of guts before it did. For me - I've found that the rush is better leaned over in the corners, then wide open on long straights.

As far as Rich's original post - there is nothing forcing you to twist the throttle wide open. I bet the 05 GSXR 1k will cruise at 65 pretty easy, milage might even go up, tires would last longer, etc... On longer rides - the buzziness of a small bike might be a concern - as would the tucked in position on almost any sportbike.

[Pigman]

There is always the Zuma...........

[bergj1986]

I will agree that a liter bike has more power than a 600, however, it will only have more power if the throttle is open more. I agree with previous posters who said it also depends on attitude. Just because you ride a liter bike, doesn't mean you have to be riding at WOT the whole time, it's all about experience.

So to answer the main question of the post, less bike isn't necessarily safer but neither is a liter bike. It depends more on the rider's attitude and experience. Doesn't matter if you hit a tree going 60 mph on a 600 or a 1000, it'll still hurt.

Just my $.02

-Josh