Go Big and Ride Small

[NeilM]

I think cc as a 'definition' of small is as good a measure as any.

I passed my test in 1976 and back then a 350 or 400cc bike was a 'big' bike. My first big bike was a 500cc ex Police Triumph T100P.

I still have a bit of an issue with the modern description of 400 to 650cc bikes as being a small or medium bike, but then we didn't have 2000cc bikes about back then.

[Magnusson]

As someone who has found that he is only using small portion of the power of "bigger " bikes, I'm almost desperately searching for lighter bike. Small selection, and high prices for used bikes, make it difficult to find a good one. Maybe I'll find something in time for the ABR festival.

[ErikGustav2]

The Voge 300 rally has got very good feedback from their owners.
But maybe too high.

For my short and stiff legs, 915 mm seat hight is too much

=
Most people that goes over 125 cc wants maximum what they can ride on an A2 licence.
Then you and up in the 500-650 segment

[ErikGustav2]

https://www.relive.cc/view/vr63QxgB1dv

[Godspeed]

Getting a bracket welded up for the pannier rack on the PCX125….. and yes that is two brackets from a set of blinds.
I do wish I could weld, but I feel like the cost and space might be a bit too much

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[Godspeed]

Got the bracket welded and then fixed up my pannier system and took it for a ride. With the panniers on it makes it just a little wider than the front end so I’m going to need to remember that when filtering.

I quite like it’s new look…

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IMG_2014.jpeg (320.19 KiB) Viewed 458 times

[ErikGustav2]

It looks professional,

The panniers open the top as it looks ?
Great. I do not like when they open the side and everything fall out.
(I had that on the Kawasaki. OK Inner bag and strips.
But so much easier to load from the top.)

And it looks as if you have perfect fit, so that they can open without the top box is in the way.

Maybe you should start a new business, and sell this set.

Could you take pictures with the panniers open ?

[Magnusson]

There is a creature on top of the topcase. Scary.

[ErikGustav2]

I have mentioned parts of these before. But here is the summary and the end

I wanted a small travel bike with good luggage capacity (Alu boxes).
On road bike for twisty mountain roads.
The story about this bike was far from what I had hoped.

Functionality is perfect.
Nice and easy to ride.
Light

And
I could get a set of Aluminum panniers to turn it into a perfect touring bike.

It ticked all the boxes n my wish list.
If it was reliable. I would be vary happy.

But
1) One problem was with the ignition. That the bike stopped when it was raining stopped my trip tp Picos de Europa and Pyrenees.
I fixed the problem with NGK parts. Real rubber instead of broken plastic + a lot of high temp silicon.
I also found a small drain channel from the side of the spark plug. That should drain water, if the seals did not work.
That I cleaned up.
So problem was solved. But the time window for Picos was gone.

And should a bike not be rain proof ??

=> South America tour came /Himalayan)

Back in Portugal I started to prepare for a tour in Andalusia.
But I got a fuel leakage on the Benelli.
From a canister, that shall collect fuel vapor. When engine is not running.
But it was not vapor. It is fuel dropping. Filling the container and... Engine runs rich. Burning extra fuel instead of some vapor
I have fixed that with just plugging the house. And not use this environment feature.

So now the bike is running well again.
Happy days.

But two stopping faults in 6 000 km.
But even more important. When fixing these faults. I have seen the type och components used, how they are connected and the general quality level. And I do not feel confident with this bike. Maybe it is all in my head, not with the bike

So enough is enough. I have lost thrust in this bike.
And today it will be sold.

=

My knees and the health care system will decide when/if I buy a new travel bike.
Probably a RE Himalayan
(I did 31 00 km on mine, My friends have done 40 000 , 15 0000 and 15 000 km. Reliable)

I have a Suzuki DL 650 XT in Sweden for using during summers

Keep riding those small bikes. Small is better.

[Godspeed]

Sorry to hear that Erik, but I completely understand. I had a CBF125 which I enjoyed riding up to Scotland and back, but then it broke down on me on a couple of occasions. I did eventually fix the issue but in the back of my mind I was wondering what would happen next…. So, same as you, sold it.
You’ve got on so well with the Himalayan, it does sound like the perfect bike for you
Will you wait for the new ones? Or take advantage of the price drop on the old ones?