Why do people buy physically big bikes?

[OhioSteve]

It never ceases to amaze me when I see someone riding a 600-800 pound mammoth.  A guy at my office bought a 600 pound harley as his first bike!  Can you imagine duck-walking it!

I have so much fun on the GS500F, its inexpensive, and very easy to control.  There are other great small bikes available like the Harley sportsters, the little BMWs, and the ninja 250/500.  It seems to me that people (mostly older men) are just wasting their money on the bigger bikes.

[SPARKPLUG1977]

Most americans think bigger is better.  It's just a big pissing match.

[R3d]

I agree that part of the deal is the mistaken notion that bigger is better; it's a  trend that's getting out of control. (saw a headline that there is a new SUV or something bigger than a hummer coming   )

My Harley neighbor says he wanted a larger bike in the hopes that it would make him more visible.

[VTNewb]

My cruiser only weighs 430 lbs      

My friend has a harley road king however, I can't move it at all hehe

[girlracer]

the biggest bike i have ever ridden is a nighthawk 750, i'm short so thats my biggest problem when finding a bike, but my gs is good enough for me. my dad has been trying to get me on his '04 harley road king which is over 700 pounds, thats a bit much for me.

[aplitz]

Some people really like the feel of a bigger bike.  I just rode my GS again after about a month and 3000 miles on my TL1000, and the GS felt like a twitchy old CR500.  The curb weight is deceptive on some of these bikes, as many carry it well, and are relitively easy to ride.  That Triumph Rocket looks like excess at its worst, but 130ft/lbs of torque is hard to argue with.  That kind of engine has its own appeal and seduction.

[indestructibleman]

there's an argument that bigger=more stable.  people spending a lot of time on the open road like a larger bike that doesn't get blown around as much.
and then a lot of people are just compensating.

cheers,
will

[johncam4]

what about trikes
:guns:

[aplitz]

Trikes are not bikes, just wasted steel.

[JohnNS]

Trikes are not bikes, just wasted steel.

'Cept for that one they made on "Monster Garage."  I still want that  

[indestructibleman]

trikes don't interest me a bit, but i do know at least one guy who rides a trike because, due to physical disability, he cannot ride a two-wheeler.

[aplitz]

Yeah, for that small population trikes are cool, the rest are just a waste.  Why even bother?  Just get a car.

[Jared]

My ZX11 weighs 600ish pounds wet.... Yeah it's harder to move around than a Gs...but once you get used to it it's not hard.   The 11 is alot more stable at speed and alot better for two-up riding.

People buy what they want.

Some people just have to have Harleys... (I personally don't get that one....but that's just me...and yes I've ridden 5-6 different Harleys... I'm not missing anything....).  I just hate the "why don't you buy a Harley" crap from people I know.... I can have 2-3 Japanese bikes for the price of One Chrome plated farm tractor.....

Anyway... sorta getting off topic...

[pantablo]

I sat on a Rune at the dealership when I picked up my 600rr. I couldnt get it off the sidestand.

[Roadstergal]

My cruiser only weighs 430 lbs      

350some here.  

I appreciate that big bikes exist.  Driving a ~500lb bike made me appreciate light bikes!  I'd never own something that heavy again.

[Gisser]

what about trikes
:guns:

Actually, I think factory Goldwing trikes make more sense than the 2-wheeled version.  Nothing that big `n' heavy should ever fall over just because it came to a stop.

[Susuki_Jah]

when you are going 110mph and your bike is all over the place cause of the wind you can thank your light weight friend the gs500

i love the bike as a city bike. And i will tak it on long trips here and there but if i was cruising most of the time I would like to have a heavier ,, big ass loud ass harley.  Somthing that screams BAD ASS>

then i gotta grow the mustache too .

but i love harlyes.

heavier is better for cruising on the highway.

[Blueknyt]

found heavyer bikes make for a smoother and more stable ride. kinda like the ride between mustang and Lincoln.  my dad's 77 goldwing was a monster, i remember seeing something of GVWR of over 1000 but the bike weighed in about 700 or so, i know i can lift alot and i almost coulndt get the wing back up from when it fell over. Yes i was useing all the tricks, turning the wheel locking the break an all.

[kyzee]

found heavyer bikes make for a smoother and more stable ride. kinda like the ride between mustang and Lincoln.  my dad's 77 goldwing was a monster, i remember seeing something of GVWR of over 1000 but the bike weighed in about 700 or so, i know i can lift alot and i almost coulndt get the wing back up from when it fell over. Yes i was useing all the tricks, turning the wheel locking the break an all.

Yup....It's more confidence inspiring rolling down at triple digits on a wide sweeper under a 500lb beast than on a 500cc GS.  

[photog]

It's not always a d**k-measuring contest. Try loading 45 lbs of camp gear and a 135lb passenger  then go across the continent, with most of the trip being on dirt roads.  Then go back to commuting daily on the same bike and on weekends do some peg-scraping. Burn up 20-45K miles a year, year after year. Use  the same bike for mounting cameras for TV production and motorcycle training video.  I've been through many bikes (20 or so) over the past 22 years and have only found one that would allow me to do it all with one bike.  However I have to give up a few things that some folks would never concede so what works for me is ridiculous for someone else.

Torque, stability, outstanding brakes and suspension, reliability...none of that is eye-candy or excess to me and I couldn't care less what folks think of my ride. It gets me back and forth and earns me a paycheck.

I could have any playbike I want. I have a GS500.  And the same 'busa rider or H-D rider that sneers at me on my bigger bike will most likely sneer at me on the GS. So what? What kind of person does that and would you want their approval anyway?

The things that we have in common are too important to dismiss in an attempt to break our group into factions that sneer at one another. And for that matter, anyone who thinks that anyone else is a goober because of the metal they ride really doesn't have enough saddle time to have figured it out.  That goes both ways--anyone who gives someone crap on a smaller bike is just a simpleton with a checkbook.  In the crowd I run with, you get more props for riding a smaller bike well; there's less room for technology to make up for bad riding technique. In my book, the only thing that earns someone a black mark is by being a poser--and the first thing you notice about posers is a crappy attitude towards others and that speaks to deeper problems in their noggin.

It's all good.  Enjoy what you ride, ride well, and ride friendly. Respect others that do the same. Ignore those that don't.