[TrialsRider]

A collection of sub 250cc bikes that just might change some opinions about very small motorcycles.

such a sweet little honda 175 toaster tank cafe racer

125 prototype

wanted one of these so bad when I was a kid, who would have thought they would increase in value so much over the years. Suzuki 125 Stinger

so small, so firm, so tightly packed – slightly modified Honda SL70

might be a 125, 200, 250 or 290 but with so many interchangeable parts you’d need to look real close to know for sure – 2011 Beta Evo starting at 150 lbs.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Nice photos. Another small bike, converting a Suzuki S40 from a cruiser to a cafe racer style. The beauty of these is you can get one 5 years old for a very low price and in good condition, and they are easy to get parts for and to maintain. They are good for 60 mph roads:

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/05/19/ryca-cs-1-suzuki-s40-cafe-conversion

[TrialsRider]

the Ryca is a 650, I was aiming much lower

Ducati Monza 250

Honda 250 Single

Honda 250 Twin

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Most adult beginners would be better off with an automatic scooter for safety and luggage space, but our culture is all about bigger and more stylish are better- very few 250cc motorcycles are being sold in the US. This is starting to change some, especially if gasoline gets to 4 dollars a gallon again, like it did after we attacked Afghanistan and Iraq.

Most of Consumer Reports online is by subscription, but here is a short free article:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/march-2009/cars/scooters-and-motorcycles/overview/scooters-and-motorcycles-ov.htm

[TrialsRider]

Try current price $4.73 per US gallon (1.25 per liter) for regular grade fuel at our pumps right now, and I live in an oil producing country lol …I have a bet on that it will see 2$ per liter before 2012. Diesel fuel is just as bad and 100$ doesn’t even come close to filling my truck any more.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

The only little street bike available from the biggest companies selling in the US (not including scooters):

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/kawasaki/2009-kawasaki-eliminator-125-ar72935.html

A good article worth reposting, especially since many people think a 250cc or 500cc motorcycle is way too small and underpowered for even a beginner on 60 mph roads:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/good_first_motorcycles.htm

[gitchy42]

That’s a pretty sweet looking conversion….I might consider something similar if I get bored with my SV. Thanks for posting it Jeff.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

And for a new huge dream sport touring bike if you are tired of looking at little bikes, half a Corvette engine, made in Detroit, about 150 horsepower at the back tire, and a great sound with aftermarket “racing use only” mufflers and a Moto-Guzzi look V-4 engine in a Ducati style frame. The price will probably be at or above a Goldwing, $23,000 plus (way too big for a beginner):

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/motus-mst-daytona-ride-video

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Our US and state and local governments tax fuel a lot less than many countries. Here are the highest and lowest gasoline prices around the world from 2008, the price locally for me in Kentucky now is about $3.49 a gallon:

http://www.promotionalcodes.org.uk/422/highest-and-lowest-gas-prices-in-world

[TrialsRider]

Think you are missing the point of the thread, I was trying to show there is still purpose and appeal in sub 250cc motorcycles and that once you loose interest in that little beginner bike it can have more value then it’s weight in scrap metal

As for the Motus video I will say it’s loud, (sounds like a Corvette with straight pipes operating on 4 cylinders) but at :48 and 1:28 into the video note how the rider grabs an elbow full of throttle, that’s either very poor riding style or a 3/4 turn throttle in action. Both the linked and related dyno videos demonstrate an engine exhibiting lame acceleration and pushrods that limit it to ~6K red line. They claim an impressive 140HP from a 1645cc engine which is comparable to the MV F3 675cc triple. Sorry to slam the thing but I think they should put a great big 1645cc sticker on the side so it’s clear what the target market is, that and a 1/4 turn throttle.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

It is all about the target market.

Some people want a heavy, longer motorcycle with a longer travel throttle, for going on long trips on the mostly straight interstates with more comfort, after they have learned how to ride on a smaller bike.

Some want a lighter, shorter motorcycle with a quicker throttle, better for fast cornering.

Some want a little scooter for around town.

Some will pay extra for made in the US, Italy, or Germany.

[TrialsRider]

Motus is a prototype only showcased with a strictly competition exhaust, minus a catalytic converter that will most certainly be needed before it goes production, presently too loud to be ridden legally in many cities but we already have the impressive horsepower numbers (given an engine with half the displacement). If Motus wants to be a Sport Touring bike that sells itself based on torque, why doesn’t it just go Diesel? A quiet exhaust IS a feature on a sport tourer. but as for longer travel throttle being a feature for anything, never heard of that one, the guy looks like he’s flapping one wing!

USA has an impressive history of innovation I would Love to see resurface in the motorcycle world, but I fear we’re still waiting, that bikes frame and styling screams ‘copied from Ducati’, the exhaust note blats ‘I can sound like 2 Harleys’ and the motor raves ‘look ya’ll a dern good four cylinder Nascar engine’. Do we know if the suspension components and brakes are borrowed from another bike or scratch design and built ?

If I sound harsh it could be the 5 day soar throat and head cold:( …but at least we’re entertaining the lurkers eh Jeff;)

[eon]

[Jeff in Kentucky]

I think an American company (Motus) is trying to build a Corvette-engined sport tourer- half a Corvette engine is way too heavy for a sportbike. The plastic front fairing so far sort of resembles a Corvette front end.

This is from goingfaster.com, my favorite Harley bashing site:

“If I had been Harley, I would have gotten together with Chevrolet in order to design an ultra compact, multi-valve liquid cooled four cylinder. Think of it, Harley and Chevrolet building American sport bikes, standards, and cruisers. You want foreign technology, Milwaukee? Chevrolet bought out Lotus, that’s how they got thirty-two valves in their 350 cubic inch Corvette ZR-1!

If someone out there is reading this, and you have more money than you know what to do with (multi-millionaires or billionaires only, I’m afraid, because this is going to take a lot of money), and you are wanting to do something that other people around the world will remember your name for ages to come, here’s a simple solution.

You, or you and a group of investors, need to churn out the highest tech motorcycles that the world has ever seen. Motorcycles that the Japanese will work day and night to overcome. Motorcycles that are American designed and built. Powered by the highest technology engines that Americans can produce. You’ll get the best designers that money can buy, smart kids, who aren’t afraid to try radical designs and building techniques, who know how to compete with the rest of the world.

America could build V-4s and conquer the world motorcycle market. I’m not talking about taking a Harley and plugging a small block Chevy in either! We would start to build what Americans build best; hotrods and fast bikes. You’d see them on the global tracks, you’d have racers running from other corporations for a chance to ride on your team.

Real American motorcycles: modern, CAD designed stream lined dreams that would prowl the streets of the world, proclaiming that once again, America was the power to be reckoned with. They would be light, powerful, and since they would be mass produced, they would be affordable, as affordable as the Japanese imports. Those of us who crave a real American bike could walk into a Buell or Chevy dealership and take our choice of new American standards, cruisers, tourers, sport-tourers, and sport bikes. We could even have factory designed accessories! Racing leathers, helmets, decals, etc.

Money out the wazoo from patriotic young Americans who would have a motorcycle to be proud of! Do you realize how much money is involved in aftermarket paraphernalia? Well, I guess if you are Harley Davidson, you really do understand.
Until America builds real bikes, Americans will buy their real bikes from Japan and Italy and Germany.”

The last Harley to win at Daytona was in 1969:

http://www.motorsportsetc.com/champs/daytona2.htm

[TrialsRider]

Look at the smooth flowing lines and those…

…na never mind, it was just one of those spontaneous reaction things 😮

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