Quote:
Originally Posted by backofbeyond
Strange really that the upgrade path from 125 seems to be a fairly stoney one. Once you've chucked the L plates away it's like going from a sprat to a whale. Fine if you're 6' tall or willing to 'man up' (as per Wheelie's dangling legs discussion), but if you just want something like a 125 but better there's not much around.
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Well, it's partially a licensing thing, and partially a marketing thing. The next license limitation after a 125 is the A2 class, which is 35kW and a certain power-to-weight ratio... since so many middleweight bikes can be A2-restricted, most people just go directly to the big bike that they saw themselves on in their dreams.
I also think that if you've graduated from a 125, you can generally be trusted with a 500 that's been designed for the A2 class - that is, never meant to make more than 35kW and therefore optimized for torque and useability. That's why Honda's 500 bikes are so damn popular. By the way, if the Nighthawk is an option, have a look at the CMX500 - same engine but in a cruiser bodystyle.
Plus, in Europe and the richer parts of Asia, people who outgrew a 125 and want a somewhat faster city/tarmac machine, but don't care about looking like a cool biker, are very easily tempted into maxi-scooters. No clutch or shifting required, much bigger secure storage space, rain/wind protection, easy to get on and off... Ignore your self-image worries, and a Burgman 400 is an incredible two-wheeled machine.
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