Ever thought about downsizing?

[EC2010]

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I've been contemplating downsizing for a few reasons. The main one being that I am taking a lot less long rides (minimum 5+ hours) and touring trips on the bike. If we do go far, I tend to take the car so it's more comfy for the both of us. Also starting this season, I'll be commuting regularly 100km roundtrip two times a week.

And if you have downsized, what did you miss the most?

 

[kiwi]

I've been contemplating downsizing for a few reasons. The main one being that I am taking a lot less long rides (minimum 5+ hours) and touring trips on the bike. If we do go far, I tend to take the car so it's more comfy for the both of us. Also starting this season, I'll be commuting regularly 100km roundtrip two times a week.

And if you have downsized, what did you miss the most?

I was thinking about it a few years ago when riding a 1300cc.. I really wanted something lighter in the 1000cc range but there was nothing at the time that suited my liking, then I had an incident and the bike was gone. Around the same time I stopped commuting to work, so my needs changed and I became a "weekend warrior" . Got a bike with smaller (700ish displacement) and having a lot more fun on it. Thing I miss the most is having a full fairing on long highway trips.

 

[muay_thai_dan]

Nope







....jk. half kidding.

really depends on your needs man. if you dont need a bigger bike, sure, downsize.

What is it about ur nina 650 that you feel the need to downsize. it seems like a happy medium bike between sport comfort and touring....no?

 

[Moggs023]

And if you have downsized, what did you miss the most?

The weight? Nah... downsized from a Yamaha 1100cc V-Star to a 800cc BMW F800ST. The ST more than suits my rider style. I like curves and mountains and going fast! The V-Star was slow and ungainly going around tight corners.

Buy a bike that fits you and your own rider style.

 

[Iceman]

I downsized this year, had a vstrom 1000. Was really looking hard at an fz1, then tested a Versys 650(same engine as 650r, different tuning). I'm picking up th Versys this afternoon, can't wait. I'll be commuting 200km round trip daily so I wanted better fuel range, plus I wanted something I can actually rip through the gears instead of "1st gear, lost my licence"! Lol
I'm sure I'd love the fz1, but believe I'll have more fun on the Versys. Btw, I wouldn't move down from a 650, my wife's ninja 250r feels like a pit bike to me...


"You lost 15 friends on motorcycles? and you have only been riding since 2008? was this a group ride that fell off a cliff or are you being serious?"-ZX600

 

[Iceman]

The weight? Nah... downsized from a Yamaha 1100cc V-Star to a 800cc BMW F800ST. The ST more than suits my rider style. I like curves and mountains and going fast! The V-Star was slow and ungainly going around tight corners.

Buy a bike that fits you and your own rider style.

I love it! You "downsized" to an 800cc bike that has more hp and torque than your 1100. Now that's the proper way to "downsize"!


"You lost 15 friends on motorcycles? and you have only been riding since 2008? was this a group ride that fell off a cliff or are you being serious?"-ZX600

 

[EC2010]

What is it about ur nina 650 that you feel the need to downsize. it seems like a happy medium bike between sport comfort and touring....no?

The 650 is great. The other factors will be the typicals: cheaper insurance, gas (If I go down to a 250, I can squeeze out another 120km per tank), etc.

Thanks all for sharing your experience. I think I'll start logging my km's this season and firm up my decision. In the past, I used to average 18,000 a season, with easily 8,000 used on a single touring trip. Last season got me thinking because I put on 9,000km on my car (which in the past I use maybe 3,000 tops per year) and maybe 6,000 on the bike (no bike trip last year)

 

[EC2010]

. Btw, I wouldn't move down from a 650, my wife's ninja 250r feels like a pit bike to me...

Thanks for sharing. It's true, although very capable of highway travelling, I can't say I enjoyed the feel of it now that I had the 650 experience to compare.

 

[cycling]

The 650 is great. The other factors will be the typicals: cheaper insurance, gas (If I go down to a 250, I can squeeze out another 120km per tank), etc.

Thanks all for sharing your experience. I think I'll start logging my km's this season and firm up my decision. In the past, I used to average 18,000 a season, with easily 8,000 used on a single touring trip. Last season got me thinking because I put on 9,000km on my car (which in the past I use maybe 3,000 tops per year) and maybe 6,000 on the bike (no bike trip last year)

Bottom line is it is really your choice. Ask yourself is it about money? How much pleasure does it give you?
If you answer yes and none. Time to give it up.
You should live your life as you see fit.

 

[Iceman]

Thanks for sharing. It's true, although very capable of highway travelling, I can't say I enjoyed the feel of it now that I had the 650 experience to compare.

That's it, although her bike is highly capable (she rides it everywhere I ride), it just feels really small and kinda awkward to me now.
I do feel a 650 is the ideal street bike, especially if most of your riding is solo.


"You lost 15 friends on motorcycles? and you have only been riding since 2008? was this a group ride that fell off a cliff or are you being serious?"-ZX600

 

[TSquared]

I've been contemplating downsizing for a few reasons. The main one being that I am taking a lot less long rides (minimum 5+ hours) and touring trips on the bike. If we do go far, I tend to take the car so it's more comfy for the both of us. Also starting this season, I'll be commuting regularly 100km roundtrip two times a week.

And if you have downsized, what did you miss the most?

I have a 250cc bike i use in the city and my 600cc for long trips. lower cc bikes are way better on gas plus funner to ride in the city.

 

[Ash]

I've definitely been thinking about getting a smaller street bike. After getting a dirt bike, my street riding has dropped to near zero. Commuting on the bike eventually turned into a chore rather than a pleasure, and I don't do much touring. A smaller bike would be easier to pull out of the garage for short trips around town.

I don't really want to get rid of the VStrom since it is such a great road bike, but if I'm not using it then it is just taking up space in the garage. I could use that space for a trials bike or supermoto or something.

 

[inreb]

No. My bikes are perfect size (650 single-1200 twin) for the roads. I like small bikes, I want small bikes but don't want a screaming engine on the big open spaces of Ontario. But if I ever move to a gated community.......

 

[Zoodles95]

My old 750 is a heavy thing. I test rode a Versys last year and was very pleased with how balanced it was with respect to power, braking, handling etc. I have thought of downsizing to a 650cc bike for my next ride. Looking at all sorts of options: ERN6, CBR650, Versys, Vstrom, and the CB500F is also in the mix. The insurance savings, fuel economy etc will be nice. Get a pair of hard panniers for some minor touring/roadtrips and I would be good to go.

The NC750S is another option with its integrated storage. I really need to test ride one to see if I could get used to the low rev limit and some of the other differences it has compared to traditional bikes.

 

[dricked]

The 650 is great. The other factors will be the typicals: cheaper insurance, gas (If I go down to a 250, I can squeeze out another 120km per tank), etc.

Thanks all for sharing your experience. I think I'll start logging my km's this season and firm up my decision. In the past, I used to average 18,000 a season, with easily 8,000 used on a single touring trip. Last season got me thinking because I put on 9,000km on my car (which in the past I use maybe 3,000 tops per year) and maybe 6,000 on the bike (no bike trip last year)

Wow I wish! I put 40,000km on my truck last year. 90% of that was my commute.

 

[inreb]

The NC750S is another option with its integrated storage. I really need to test ride one to see if I could get used to the low rev limit and some of the other differences it has compared to traditional bikes.

I've always found that line of bikes interesting. Don't really understand the negativity you hear from time to time about the low revs. Lots of bikes don't rev high and they have gearing to match that characteristic. Did Honda screw this up?

 

[nfq]

In an ideal world, I'd have a stable full of bikes for various purposes and pleasures. Dirt bike, scooter, touring machine, SS, etc.

You have a pretty good all around bike in the 650r. You won't really 'gain' much by downsizing, and at some point the insurance isn't enough to warrant an 'entry level' bike. It's not just about displacement, it's about comfort, suspension, feel, etc.

Get what suits your needs now, but be warned you could suck the fun right out of riding if it turns into a boring commuting rig.

 

[YamaMana]

Ah, you have a 650 twin. How much smaller can you get ...

People who downsize are coming from massive touring, cruiser, or Litre bikes. 40hp on a flickable sport/tourer is not exactly massive. As an observation, anything less and highways become a pita - blown this way and that, revving a higher rpms.

 

[EC2010]

Wow I wish! I put 40,000km on my truck last year. 90% of that was my commute.

Hehe ... I skip a huge chunk of my mileage by commuting to the train station, and then the train takes over while I take a 50min snooze Worked for me especially I hate winter driving and stop&go traffic on DVP.

 

[Riceburner]

Ages ago I ran a 250 for in town commuting, a 750 GSXR for weekend fun runs and a 750 Sabre for cross country rides. Each bike had a different use. Now I run a 600 Thundercat cause my commute is north GTA to downtown, it's been to the Gap and the track. It pretty much covers all my bases.

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