I'm thinking of getting back into motorcycling...

[jkernitzki]

JMO, I’m “old school”, if the wife would let me it’d be the Enfield or the Triumph — cost would be a big factor as at my age, in my area, it wouldn’t get ridden all that much.

If Enfield made a new sidehack, I bet I could convince the wife. Urals have priced themselves out of my interest level, and it's not like they're that much improved from 10-15 years ago. Enfield, OTOH, has shown continual improvement over the same period, and kept costs reasonable.

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[Warped9]

In Canada the 300-500cc bikes are in the $5000-$8000 CAN range. 600cc and up are about $10,000 plus. 750cc+ are around $12,000 and up.

Along with leaning toward a smaller bike I’d like to keep it under $10,000.

 

[jkernitzki]

Adjusting for the current exchange rates, they're about the same in the US.

My local dealer's RE inventory (as an example) has three 350's, ranging from $4200-$4700 USD ($5833-$6527 CAD) and three 650's, ranging from $7,000-$7200 USD ($9722-$10000 CAD), so right on track with your local pricing.

 

[Warped9]

I’ve watched a ton of reviews on different bikes from reviewers here in North America as well as many from Europe and the UK as well as a few from India, Australia and the Phillipines. One thing that stands out is the distinctly different perspectives on motorcycling in general. In North America there is a persistent perception that bikes under 600cc are pretty much for beginners and generally not taken as seriously. Of course, there are exceptions, but it’s a prevalent mindset that comes through. In the UK, Europe and the rest of the world smaller displacement bikes are generally not looked down upon as they are here. Thats borne out in the greater variety of smaller bikes available in markets outside of North America.

Still, they wouldn’t bring in what smaller bikes we have here if they didn’t sell.

 

[jkernitzki]

I’ve watched a ton of reviews on different bikes from reviewers here in North America as well as many from Europe and the UK as well as a few from India, Australia and the Phillipines. One thing that stands out is the distinctly different perspectives on motorcycling in general. In North America there is a persistent perception that bikes under 600cc are pretty much for beginners and generally not taken as seriously. Of course, there are exceptions, but it’s a prevalent mindset that comes through. In the UK, Europe and the rest of the world smaller displacement bikes are generally not looked down upon as they are here. Thats borne out in the greater variety of smaller bikes available in markets outside of North America.

Still, they wouldn’t bring in what smaller bikes we have if they didn’t sell here.

Average displacements have definitely gone up since I started riding in 1971, when a 125-175 was perfectly reasonable for anyone, in the 80's a 450 was considered upper-middleweight, and in the early 2000's the selection of sub-650 for street use was very thin.

That difference is also reflected in licensing, where much of the world has graduated licenses by displacement, and the US is essentially, "You got an endorsement? Ride whatever you want."

 

[Escape2Bronco]

I’ve watched a ton of reviews on different bikes from reviewers here in North America as well as many from Europe and the UK as well as a few from India, Australia and the Phillipines. One thing that stands out is the distinctly different perspectives on motorcycling in general. In North America there is a persistent perception that bikes under 600cc are pretty much for beginners and generally not taken as seriously. Of course, there are exceptions, but it’s a prevalent mindset that comes through. In the UK, Europe and the rest of the world smaller displacement bikes are generally not looked down upon as they are here. Thats borne out in the greater variety of smaller bikes available in markets outside of North America.

Still, they wouldn’t bring in what smaller bikes we have here if they didn’t sell.

I think it’s more to do with riding on the highways here compared to most places in the world. Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead (no pun intended) on the interstate in the US riding a sub 500cc bike. I did it when the speed limits were in theory 55mph and cell phones didn’t exist. I wouldn’t do it now days. But I’m like Bill G, also old and have better ways to travel long distances now.

Other than the weight, riding a 350cc isn’t any harder or easier than something near 2000cc. But riding a heavy weight bike on the interstate is far safer in my opinion because of the weight. Getting blown around by an 18 wheeler isn’t fun on a 2000cc bike and is even worse on a smaller bike.

I also think that most bikes in the US are bought to be used as a secondary form of transportation for fun where as in many parts of the world they area primary form of transportation. In that case, being nimble and fuel efficient is primary issue.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Average displacements have definitely gone up since I started riding in 1971, when a 125-175 was perfectly reasonable for anyone, in the 80's a 450 was considered upper-middleweight, and in the early 2000's the selection of sub-650 for street use was very thin.

That difference is also reflected in licensing, where much of the world has graduated licenses by displacement, and the US is essentially, "You got an endorsement? Ride whatever you want."

Very true. I had a coworker in Japan who had a 500cc thumper and over there, every bike over 400cc is considered large and licensing and registration is a premium. Most in Japan still use 125cc - 250cc bike as their daily drivers for this reason.

 

[Warped9]

In 1983 I had a Suzuki GS750E—beautiful bike. It had 72 hp and 44 lb-ft torque and a dry weight of 492 lbs. The thing felt crazy fast. Today two bikes I like, the Kawasaki Z650RS and the Triumph Trident 660 could easily keep up with and possible beat it given their lighter weight. The CFMoto 450NK, Triumph Speed 400 and even the Yamaha MT-03 would probably give me a similar riding experience without sacrificing much.

A big difference today is bikes are generally lighter and with better suspension systems than back in the day. A Honda Hornet 750 would likely waste my old Suzuki and be much easier to ride. The lighter weight makes them easier to handle and much easier to push around in the garage or on the driveway.

 

[jkernitzki]

I think it’s more to do with riding on the highways here compared to most places in the world. Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead (no pun intended) on the interstate in the US riding a sub 500cc bike. I did it when the speed limits were in theory 55mph and cell phones didn’t exist. I wouldn’t do it now days. But I’m like Bill G, also old and have better ways to travel long distances now.

In the mid-80’s I’d commute between San Diego and Long Beach on a Nighthawk 450, 70-75 mph all the way on I-5. The biggest hazard then was hitting “migrants” running across the freeway in the Camp Pendleton area.

To be sure, I wouldn’t do it today on two wheels regardless of the displacement.

 

[jkernitzki]

Very true. I had a coworker in Japan who had a 500cc thumper and over there, every bike over 400cc is considered large and licensing and registration is a premium. Most in Japan still use 125cc - 250cc bike as their daily drivers for this reason.

I never rode in Japan, but I did have an issued kei van whenever we were in port. To say my skills increased driving that thing in downtown Tokyo would be a gross understatement.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

In 1983 I had a Suzuki GS750E—beautiful bike. It had 72 hp and 44 lb-ft torque and a dry weight of 492 lbs. The thing felt crazy fast. Today two bikes I like, the Kawasaki Z650RS and the Triumph Trident 660 could easily keep up with and possible beat it given their lighter weight. The CFMoto 450NK, Triumph Speed 400 and even the Yamaha MT-03 would probably give me a similar riding experience without sacrificing much.

A big difference today is bikes are generally lighter and with better suspension systems than back in the day. A Honda Hornet 750 would likely waste my old Suzuki and be much easier to ride. The lighter weight makes them easier to handle and much easier to push around in the garage or on the driveway.

Nice looking Suzy-q! I had an 85 Honda Nighthawk S that was similar. The Nighthawk S was crazy fast but with 16 inch wheels fore and aft, it got a bit squirrelly over 120mph. My wife basically refused to ride on the back unless on back roads. Hence the 1700 with a windshield and bags.

Backing out of the garage and the fact my wife really doesn’t care to ride anymore has got me rethinking a smaller bike. I suppose I could strip some of the weight but the crankshaft alone is 50lbs. I did replace the pipes many years ago and that dropped some of the weight but it’s still a beast as far as weight is concerned. What I’d give to get my hands on a good condition mid 80’s Nighthawk S.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

I never rode in Japan, but I did have an issued kei van whenever we were in port. To say my skills increased driving that thing in downtown Tokyo would be a gross understatement.

I was in Kawasaki or Yokohama most of my trips. Occasionally west near Hiroshima. I did drive Konno-sans bike a few times but that was about it. Generally it was the train from Narita to Tokyo and the same from Tokyo to Yokohama. Once in a while the limo bus from Narita to Yokohama. You’d see a lot of bikes there. Large displacement bikes have been becoming increasingly popular there too but still way more small cc bikes in general. Not sure you’d ever catch me driving downtown Tokyo yet alone on a bike.

 

[Warped9]

Looking st my old bike it’s easy to see why I like the Kawasaki Z650RS.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

In the mid-80’s I’d commute between San Diego and Long Beach on a Nighthawk 450, 70-75 mph all the way on I-5. The biggest hazard then was hitting “migrants” running across the freeway in the Camp Pendleton area.

To be sure, I wouldn’t do it today on two wheels regardless of the displacement.

Yikes. I have a buddy that still drives his 750 from Carlsbad to San Diego. He said it was his only way to deal with the traffic on the 5. I’ve been called many things and drove many times faster than I should have but lane splitting is not something I’d do!

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Looking st my old bike it’s easy to see why I like the Kawasaki Z650RS.

There is something about those mid 80 standard bikes I really like too!