[1Adam12]

I started riding in mid June, but since then I've put on 2700 plus miles. Still a novice I suppose, but certainly far better than when I started. I'm a lot more confident now - I no longer fear the rain, I am learning the limits of my lean angle, and slow speed, tight maneuvers come naturally now - if I can find two adjacent parking spaces, I'll pull in, make a tight U-turn, and end up parked front end out and ready with room to spare. No duck walking for me!

To be fair, I'm on a BMW G310R, it's a light, easy bike to sling around. I specifically got it as a starter/learner.

That said, after long stretches of empty highway with a headwind, I have felt the desire to have a bit more power. Sustained riding at over 7000 RPM isn't as fun or relaxing as it sounds. I'm not looking to break records, but to have something that would make long distance trips a bit more comfortable. So I'm already thinking of a second bike - either replacing the first one entirely, or supplementing it. I do like BMW, so maybe an R1200GS or the new F750GS when it comes out, but those are both considerably heavier than what I have now. Certainly not opposed to other brands, though that's not the topic.

I hear the techniques learned on a small bike will translate to a big bike, but is that truly the case? What other unexpected adjustments does one have to make when going to a bigger bike, and is there a general guideline as to when it's appropriate for a safety conscious rider to do so? How can one train for it in the meantime?

If it matters, I'm fairly short - 5'7" with a 30" inseam. I can double flat foot on my G310R, though in practice, I always stop with my right foot covering the brake and my left foot down the moment I stop moving.

 

[1Adam12]

Sounds like the common theme here is a new learning curve. Probably feels familiar but also alien, and easy to be overwhelmed if you're not careful.

How long did it take you to get comfortable when moving up?

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[1Adam12]

Funny enough, while running some errands, I decided to stop by another BMW dealership just to see how it would feel to sit on bigger bikes, mainly the R1200GS.

I'm on my toes if I want both feet down, but it was surprisingly comfortable, and I normally only put one foot down when stopped regardless. Heavy, but not hard to move, just have to think farther ahead than usual.

Test rode it - started by getting used to the clutch and throttle, figuring out that friction zone around the dealer parking lot. While my maneuvering was not quite as tight as I can do on my G310R, I was surprised by how capable that monster was. Much easier than I expected.

Lots of power, even down low. I'm used to shifting all the way up just to go to the grocery store down the road, with this bike I could conceivably cruise around town all day and never shift above 2nd. Definitely have to be careful, especially when stopping - lots more inertia. Felt like I did when I first got my small bike as a complete newbie.

It was nice to have that initial taste of a big bike though. I want at least a few thousand more miles on my learner, but I have a tangible goal to work towards.

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[1Adam12]

Great responses here. I've always been a cautious rider, probably more so than most - I work in law enforcement and have covered numerous motorcycle crashes. I've seen what happens with overconfidence and lack of proper technique, and have no desire to join them. Applied the same philosophy about driving cars to riding motorcycles: you don't actually have X years of driving experience, you have only 1 year of driving experience repeated X times. The only way to get better is to continue learning and always be mindful of your limitations.

I'm more than happy to ride at a relaxed, easy pace, and just enjoy the journey. So, whenever the time comes and a good deal rolls along (especially as the R1250's come out), I'll see about that R1200GS if I can find one in the color I like. I may just keep the G310R, because it's so much fun, and nice for quick errands.

Or who knows, maybe the new F750GS, which is shorter in the saddle (nice for me) and in my opinion, has a much nicer exhaust note than the R1200GS.

 

[1Adam12]

Well, I did end up buying a second bike. I now have a Triumph Tiger 800 XRX. 800 cc engine, and a lot more power than my G310R. Honestly, I may never even go for a bigger engine than 800, it'll make any speed limit in America comfortably. I could probably sit on this thing all day and not feel sore, even in wind.

But, it's a lot heavier. Lots more momentum. I honestly feel like a total novice again, like I did when I bought my first bike. Just like the first, I plan on keeping it local for a while - staying away from unfamiliar routes, just riding around the neighborhood a bit to get used to it. Over time I can move up to more challenging roads until the Tiger feels natural.

I'm keeping my G310R as well, for short local trips and practice. I intend on taking some advanced rider courses, and while I'm sure I'd get value in taking the Tiger, I'd rather take a small 5000 dollar bike versus the big one. It looks so small and cute next to the Tiger, but I think there's a lot of value in a small 300 cc thumper. Both bikes complement each other well, and are strong in ways the other might not be.