Moving up to a bigger bike, advice needed.

[baijuncheng]

Hi everyone. Need a bit of advice. I currently ride a 125, but I feel it's just not fast enough. When I'm riding on high speed roads my bike is screaming while I'm doing the speed limit. I'd like to have an engine which is capable without feeling like it's going to die at any moment.

I was thinking of going up to a 500 or 600. I haven't tried to ride a bike as large as that before, and in my mind it seems easy. Just the same as now but faster. I just wanted to ask someone who knows what's up, what can I expect?

[Kwacky]

Hi

It depends where you are, what you use the bike for and what you want it for.

Bigger bikes are easier to use for everyday riding as you don't have to do so much work to get it going. There's better acceleration and more grunt available.

I would have a think about what sort of bike you want first then consider test rides.

[baijuncheng]

Thanks for the reply. I'm in China and I use my bike every day for fun and for riding to work.
I don't think I'd be able to sort out a test ride. I speak very little Chinese.

[C00kiemonster]

Thanks for the reply. I'm in China and I use my bike every day for fun and for riding to work.
I don't think I'd be able to sort out a test ride. I speak very little Chinese.

What brings you to china then? Where did you originally come from?

Do introduce yourself

[baijuncheng]

Thanks for the reply. I'm in China and I use my bike every day for fun and for riding to work.
I don't think I'd be able to sort out a test ride. I speak very little Chinese.

What brings you to china then? Where did you originally come from?

Do introduce yourself

Well, I'm originally from England but I've been living in China for over two years now. I'm teaching English in Foshan. You're also here?

[Kwacky]

Cool. That must be a culture wake up. I don't know anyone out that way but do know some people who hit Hong Kong on a regular basis, which isn't too far from you I think.

I would have a look at something like the er-6. Nice bike, much quicker than a 125, easy to use and very road friendly.

Any of the Honda CBR600s would be good as well.

[D6Nutz]

Hi mate, welcome to the site.

I don't think I'd be able to sort out a test ride. I speak very little Chinese.

Would be useful to know what kind of riding you mainly do? Are you in cities a lot of the time where good visibility would help. or out on the open roads where it's not so much of an issue. As to what to expect from a bigger bike, it's really just a bit more of the same. You get used to it very quickly.

On the test ride front, I could imagine in smaller towns the language barrier would be an issue, but could you take a trip into a major city ? I would have thought there would be more english speakers in the bigger manufacturer dealerships.

[baijuncheng]

I live in a city, and the number of English speakers is quite low. They do exist, but few are very proficient. Where I bought my current bike, nobody speaks English.

I'm mostly riding in the city, and on high speed roads. I do like to go out on the more bendy roads when I want to lean.

[baijuncheng]

Cool. That must be a culture wake up. I don't know anyone out that way but do know some people who hit Hong Kong on a regular basis, which isn't too far from you I think.

I would have a look at something like the er-6. Nice bike, much quicker than a 125, easy to use and very road friendly.

Any of the Honda CBR600s would be good as well.

Hong Kong is just a few hours away. I regularly visit there. I'm going to take a look at those bikes, thank you very much.

Sorry for double post.

[Kwacky]

I'm not sure what's banned in China. Is it worth me posting a youtube clip of a couple of bikes?

[baijuncheng]

YouTube is banned here.

[Rossgo]

Hi and welcome in if your New??

In the news they were saying a country had banned YouTube and also Facebook? Can't remember the reason but I would be pretty peeved if ThEY banned it here...I spend majority of my spare time on YouTube haha!!
Like kwacky says a ER-6 is a very good bike as a newbie...or even as a commuter, me Dad has one and I personally find it a hoot to ride! However there are brand new Yamaha out...MT-07 or MT-09...can't remember which one it is but one of those have a triple engine and those really are smashing engines.

Anyway just a idea anyway

[Mac]

One thing I would look at given your location is a dual-sport bike such as a Suzuki DR650. Good mileage, good for highway and all around commuting, plus the power to do 70 mph plus. Not sure how available they are in China though.

Best of luck and what an awesome adventure you are on! (Y)

[baijuncheng]

Thank you all for your replies. It seems nobody thinks it's a bad idea, so I'm going to go for it. Just need to find my next bike now. I'm going to look at all of the bikes mentioned here and see which ones I can find here. It's easy to find bikes made by Yamaho, Kawazuki, Honba, most bikes I see on the road are like that. I do occasionally see a genuine brand so they do exist here.

It's certainly an adventure, things are very different here. It's awesome to experience the different culture. The people are mostly friendly although difficult to communicate with. My written Chinese is OK, and my speaking is getting better, so maybe one day I'll be able to say I can speak more than one language.

[bb41]

I will always recommend the SV650 , I did have an ER6 as a bike just to hop on to without having the full mind set and for me it was awful mind you it was the most comfortable bike I ever sat on.
Do you like faired or unfaired,
What about the KTM 690 as well.

[Kwacky]

It can be hard enough getting KTM parts when you're in Europe.

[Spudda]

I was thinking of going up to a 500 or 600.

Welcome to the site baijungcheng ... informative lot on here who like a giggle

Mate of mine has taken delivery of the new CBR500 ... doesnt sound exciting but he's just part exchanged his 125 and the 500 is more than enough for him ... just another option for you

http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cbr500r.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bb41]

Kwacky,
never thought that far ahead

[Kwacky]

I was wondering if you've had chance to decide which bike you're going for?

[Rob]

I used this ebay store
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/tasty-parts-d ... ksid=p3692" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best price I could find (without phoning round). Just had a look and it seems they do not have stock for yours Kwacky