Have your biking priorities changed over the years?
Discussion
Morning all,
I'm still undecided about whether or not to get back into motorcycling after more than 15 years away. I've been doing lots of research and have been on a couple of test rides. When I was younger I used to spend hours looking at reviews and technical specifications of each bike but as I've got older I've found that my priorities have changed. Straight-line speed and pin sharp handing are no longer as important and instead I put more emphasis on looks, comfort, value for money, and reliability. The thought of just being out on a bike in decent weather, pootling around at legal speeds really appeals to me.
Has anyone else found their priorities changing over the years?
I'm currently drawn to retro styled bikes like the RE 650 Interceptor, BSA, Z650RS, Triumph Street Twin, and even the new Triumph Speed 400.
I'm still undecided about whether or not to get back into motorcycling after more than 15 years away. I've been doing lots of research and have been on a couple of test rides. When I was younger I used to spend hours looking at reviews and technical specifications of each bike but as I've got older I've found that my priorities have changed. Straight-line speed and pin sharp handing are no longer as important and instead I put more emphasis on looks, comfort, value for money, and reliability. The thought of just being out on a bike in decent weather, pootling around at legal speeds really appeals to me.
Has anyone else found their priorities changing over the years?
I'm currently drawn to retro styled bikes like the RE 650 Interceptor, BSA, Z650RS, Triumph Street Twin, and even the new Triumph Speed 400.
t with a camera. Corners, comfort and economy are more of a priority now.
I think as you get older your priorities change. I now value comfort, practically and style over ultimate performance and handling.
I just enjoy riding bikes - almost any bikes. I’ve found that anything with around 100hp is more than fast enough. Anything more is completely wasted on me.
I borrowed a Speed Twin 900 (64hp) while my bike was in for a service last week. Loved it. I’d have more fun on that than a 200hp super-naked.
I just enjoy riding bikes - almost any bikes. I’ve found that anything with around 100hp is more than fast enough. Anything more is completely wasted on me.
I borrowed a Speed Twin 900 (64hp) while my bike was in for a service last week. Loved it. I’d have more fun on that than a 200hp super-naked.
Good to know I'm not alone......
I think some more test rides are in order. Whilst huge power doesn't interest me I'm trying to decide if I would be happy with a small 350 - 400cc single. Royal Enfield offer a 350 but this only has 20bhp - I think this might be a bit too slow! I'll be really interested in the UK reviews of the new Triumph speed 400 as I've been watching some initial ride reviews from Asia and the performance seems adequate for a light bike. Hopefully Triumph can keep the price below £5500.
Sat on a Svartpilen 401 in my local dealership a couple of weeks ago and that was quite comfy although the seat height was quite tall.
The RE Interceptor looks good value for money and has a characterful engine.
Triumph street Twin looks lovely but they start at around £9k.
Decisions, decisions.......
I think some more test rides are in order. Whilst huge power doesn't interest me I'm trying to decide if I would be happy with a small 350 - 400cc single. Royal Enfield offer a 350 but this only has 20bhp - I think this might be a bit too slow! I'll be really interested in the UK reviews of the new Triumph speed 400 as I've been watching some initial ride reviews from Asia and the performance seems adequate for a light bike. Hopefully Triumph can keep the price below £5500.
Sat on a Svartpilen 401 in my local dealership a couple of weeks ago and that was quite comfy although the seat height was quite tall.
The RE Interceptor looks good value for money and has a characterful engine.
Triumph street Twin looks lovely but they start at around £9k.
Decisions, decisions.......
What I like in a bike hasn't changed much over the years i.e. looks and performance (i need my thrills 
) but how i ride has changed a great deal. i pootle around within speed limits 95% of the time nowadays. i can still just about manage riding in a crouched/not very comfy position and can still handle a fairly big bike but when i can't then i'll have to change what i buy.
) but how i ride has changed a great deal. i pootle around within speed limits 95% of the time nowadays. i can still just about manage riding in a crouched/not very comfy position and can still handle a fairly big bike but when i can't then i'll have to change what i buy. I say it on here quite often - careful of lower power bikes, not because you need 150-200bhp but because the high power bikes usually / generally have better suspension and brakes. The smaller engined stuff doesn't command anything like the same price new, so they tend to get parts-binned and end up with commuter-spec forks and brakes etc.
If you are prioritising comfort and handling, you then need to spend a fair whack on rear shock and fork internals upgrades, and you may be limited on brake upgrade options. It's not a cheap journey, so think carefully when poddling around on that 400 or 650 - is it really, genuinely, comfortable enough and will the braking performance really meet your needs when you most need it? Lean-dependent ABS being the most obvious application of this.
If you are prioritising comfort and handling, you then need to spend a fair whack on rear shock and fork internals upgrades, and you may be limited on brake upgrade options. It's not a cheap journey, so think carefully when poddling around on that 400 or 650 - is it really, genuinely, comfortable enough and will the braking performance really meet your needs when you most need it? Lean-dependent ABS being the most obvious application of this.
FNG said:
I say it on here quite often - careful of lower power bikes, not because you need 150-200bhp but because the high power bikes usually / generally have better suspension and brakes. The smaller engined stuff doesn't command anything like the same price new, so they tend to get parts-binned and end up with commuter-spec forks and brakes etc.
If you are prioritising comfort and handling, you then need to spend a fair whack on rear shock and fork internals upgrades, and you may be limited on brake upgrade options. It's not a cheap journey, so think carefully when poddling around on that 400 or 650 - is it really, genuinely, comfortable enough and will the braking performance really meet your needs when you most need it? Lean-dependent ABS being the most obvious application of this.
This.If you are prioritising comfort and handling, you then need to spend a fair whack on rear shock and fork internals upgrades, and you may be limited on brake upgrade options. It's not a cheap journey, so think carefully when poddling around on that 400 or 650 - is it really, genuinely, comfortable enough and will the braking performance really meet your needs when you most need it? Lean-dependent ABS being the most obvious application of this.
Plus the torque and power of a bigger engine makes riding at lower speeds very relaxing. Constantly having to rev the nuts off something to make progress is fun for the first 10 mins then it gets tiring and at the end of a long day, good suspension, torque, comfortable seat etc makes the last few hours much more comfortable.
Having had the most powerful bikes I could get and afford, ( and a few that were not so powerful but good fun ), I could get since I was 16 I found as I got to 50 years old I was not too bothered about speed and performance anymore. So in the last 16 years I have been slowly getting bikes with less speed / bhp, starting with a ZRX1100, Fazer 1000, FZ1s, MT09, Z650 and now have a Triumph Street Twin 900. Whilst I will admit I sometimes have missed the power I find that I am more relaxed when I am out riding now and the more relaxed I am the better.
And you can still have fun , using a smaller capacity or less powerful bike is great in the twisties, just thrashing it without worrying about too much power. Also you do not need a large powerful bike to go touring on, just use what you have no matter what cc or bhp it has.
As some have already said the brakes and suspension might not be the best in the world, but look at how many riders buy the most powerful and expensive bike they can get then spend even more money sorting out the brakes and suspension. I am not knocking them as I have been there and done that.
And you can still have fun , using a smaller capacity or less powerful bike is great in the twisties, just thrashing it without worrying about too much power. Also you do not need a large powerful bike to go touring on, just use what you have no matter what cc or bhp it has.
As some have already said the brakes and suspension might not be the best in the world, but look at how many riders buy the most powerful and expensive bike they can get then spend even more money sorting out the brakes and suspension. I am not knocking them as I have been there and done that.
I don't think my priorities have changed but my style of riding definitely has. Like mentioned above, I am more considered about where and when I use the performance even though the capabilities of my bikes have increased significantly over the years. No one needs 150-200bhp. For that matter, no one needs more than about 75bhp, but having more available does make life a lot easier and more relaxed. I could easily ride, and enjoy riding, with less than 150bhp, but I wouldn't want to.
Mid 50s here. As others have mentioned, 100 BHP is easily enough on public roads. Comfort & reliability are my main priorities, which excludes most sports bikes. I just got rid of a KTM 690 SMC R, as the seat was just too uncomfortable after an hour or so of thrashing around. I also can't be doing the constant gear changing, so something a bit more forgiving was required - I bought a Z900 RS & am very pleased with it so far, apart from my ancient eyes having issues reading the speedo....
Biker 1 said:
Mid 50s here. As others have mentioned, 100 BHP is easily enough on public roads. Comfort & reliability are my main priorities, which excludes most sports bikes. I just got rid of a KTM 690 SMC R, as the seat was just too uncomfortable after an hour or so of thrashing around. I also can't be doing the constant gear changing, so something a bit more forgiving was required - I bought a Z900 RS & am very pleased with it so far, apart from my ancient eyes having issues reading the speedo....
Same with me, going back to an analogue speedo from a digital one just shows that sometimes going retro has its drawbacks.I can totally relate to the point OP has raised. I’ve been riding motorcycles for 40+yrs and my goals/interests have changed significantly. I used to race bikes and always searching for better lap times (extra BHP and suspension setup, skill improvement etc) and now find road riding sedately far more enjoyable!
The RE 650 is a great bike to ride and sold at a great price! It has just enough power to not feel slow. It’s far better thrashing a slow bike than pootling along on a fast bike :-) I don’t think the suspension and brakes are problematic for the riding you’d be doing in this (maybe get new exhausts if you want the noise)
I’ve got the luxury of having space for multiple bikes and have been careful to not buy any two that are too similar. That way you can enjoy really slow/low powered bikes if you have something else with a bit more grunt.
Get back on a bike!
The RE 650 is a great bike to ride and sold at a great price! It has just enough power to not feel slow. It’s far better thrashing a slow bike than pootling along on a fast bike :-) I don’t think the suspension and brakes are problematic for the riding you’d be doing in this (maybe get new exhausts if you want the noise)
I’ve got the luxury of having space for multiple bikes and have been careful to not buy any two that are too similar. That way you can enjoy really slow/low powered bikes if you have something else with a bit more grunt.
Get back on a bike!
The Ducati desert x appeals to me as it has 115hp, massive chunks of torque and you sit in a comfy position. More than enough to overtake a row of cars and all the safety electronics you could think of. It is pretty light weight and Looks great too.
Only down side to me is the big 21 inch front wheel as I would prefer a 19 so I could put more road biased tyres on it as I will never go properly off road…only the odd field.
Only down side to me is the big 21 inch front wheel as I would prefer a 19 so I could put more road biased tyres on it as I will never go properly off road…only the odd field.
This is so timely, back in the day had all sorts of race reps for the road and track days.
Dropped road bikes when child was born, but had enduro, green lane and trials bikes since.
Recently started looking around at a road bike again, the Speed Twin been mentioned by a few on here and I was also looking at them. But then I saw the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC, same engine as the Speed Twin, tuned for more low down torque. Actually test rode one this afternoon and loved it, will definitely be getting.
Dropped road bikes when child was born, but had enduro, green lane and trials bikes since.
Recently started looking around at a road bike again, the Speed Twin been mentioned by a few on here and I was also looking at them. But then I saw the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC, same engine as the Speed Twin, tuned for more low down torque. Actually test rode one this afternoon and loved it, will definitely be getting.
I've noticed lately my biking habits have changed drastically, used to be all weather commuting, out on random rides on a weekend and bike nights when I could. Now it's down to very occasionally riding to work, no real rides out and occasional track days. Once I got out of the habit of riding nearly every day when COVID hit I've gotten lazy with being bothered to get bike out and kit on, the roads seem in bad condition and people sharing the road seem to have gotten worse. Having a daughter now too makes me question is it worth it, and I never thought I'd be one of those guys who gave it up for family. I often think about getting an adventure bike or something more sedate for the road but question if I'd actually use it. I think I'll sell my R1 and probably keep to track days and I quite fancy having a go at some discipline of off road riding.
It seems there are two separate issues, one is getting back on a bike and the other is buying or owning a bike.
If it was a desire to ride wouldn't many used motorcycles be able to fulfil that function without buying new?
Regarding the 400cc Triumph single, one of the videos I watched said it'll be high revving single and that that may not lead to economical fuel economy for the engine size.
If it was a desire to ride wouldn't many used motorcycles be able to fulfil that function without buying new?
Regarding the 400cc Triumph single, one of the videos I watched said it'll be high revving single and that that may not lead to economical fuel economy for the engine size.
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