Simply Stu Can You Tell Goat From Butter?

Big Bike

Thursday 20th September

While I was riding the 125cc bike I thought I’d be happy owning one. Not for the grand Scandinavian tour, but for general commuting and stuff. But I went on the big bike today (a CBF500), and I’m amazed how much easier it is to ride - especially when cresting a hill and being treated to a strong gusty crosswind.

I asked about gears and torque and stalling and stuff, and to prove a point, the instructor had me do a u-turn from standing still entirely in 4th gear. It worked just fine. How strange!

So anyway, I now realise that a big bike, while being stupidly powerful is also much safer and more stable to ride as long as you’re careful with the throttle. So that’s nice.

And the other bonus… the bike drives itself. If you look where you want to end up, you’ll end up there. Looking at the kerb you want to miss makes you aim towards the kerb, while looking at the white line you’d like to follow makes you follow it. Simple, really.

Written by stu

September 20th, 2007 at 10:57 pm

Posted in Bike

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7 Responses to 'Big Bike'

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  1. heheh, simple unless you’re worried about that kerb!

    Quick! Don’t think of elephants! Your life may depend on it! Don’t think of elephants! elephants!

    sweavo

    21 Sep 07 at 9:41 am

  2. The bike driving itself is a case of countersteering becoming instinctive.

    You look wheer you are going and just give the bike the tiniest nudge to get it to go there, you will be surprised at how little you need to turn the bars to get the bike around corners.

    Plumsie

    21 Sep 07 at 10:08 am

  3. Ah, it IS great, isn’t it? :)

    Omally

    21 Sep 07 at 5:48 pm

  4. But I do have to point out that, whilst 500cc is perfectly adequate, it ain’t a BIG bike. I won’t go on a bike much bigger than that. Ooooh dear me no.. well apart from this one http://www.triumph.co.uk/usa/4582.aspx which was excellent!

    Omally

    21 Sep 07 at 5:52 pm

  5. You know you really want a big, American, 2-wheeled tractor, dont you;-)

    lordhutton

    21 Sep 07 at 6:22 pm

  6. I’d love to get my bike licence. I’ve riden a few (including a moped when I was younger) and various larger ones… All legally and off road you understand.

    Love em.

    Want to get my full licence one day.

    rob p

    21 Sep 07 at 9:19 pm

  7. If you want a big bike, you want one of these http://bosshossofarkansas.com/images/Black-pur502-12.jpg

    This is an 8.2litre V8 powered motorbike, the biggest production motorbike in the world.

    Now thats a big bike.

    plumsie

    21 Sep 07 at 9:42 pm

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