Gotta have power to get me out of trouble!

[Stig / Major Tom]

This is just my very personal thinking on this subject....with only 45,000 - 50,000 miles of riding.
Surely no one keeps these figures - but would love to see the actual numbers.

I hear it all the time: "Yeah, getting a bigger scooter so I'll be able to get out of trouble on the road when I need it!"

I bet more riders get into trouble with bikes that have it - when compared to the actual number of riders who get into trouble due to not having enough power.


A certain % of riders around the globe are obsessed with wanting more power - but I think the vast majority of those who are so obsessed - live in the United States. And, of course, the vast majority of riders do not live in the United States.


(we'll take a break from: "Best oil", and "best break-in procedures" to thrash the above thought)

Stig
look how happy Emilio is with 125cc's!



 

[Clampett]

I'll bite:

Politicians, husbands, wives, bikers, fishermen, etc use excuses to justify the mods, improvising, accessories, gear, expenses, etc. that one desires.
The above excuse is one that works here in the USA. The women are known to use the "Look how much money I saved" when buying extra apparel on sale.
Who has used the "Scooters save so much gas" as an excuse to purchase one. But knowing full well, the cost of the scooter, faster tire replacement, accessories, etc would have bought enough gas to keep the cage going until it expired. Well, maybe not completely. The money I've spent(so far!!) on my Xciting 400i including accessories, purchase price, insurance, maintenance, etc would have powered my Optima 98,383 miles at the current price of fuel.
As stated above, no hard numbers except for my own personal data which will obviously be different than others here...some +, some -

Wanting more power? I think it is just wanting more. As in more range, more torque, more miles between oil changes, more range on tires, more mpg, more, more, more.

Again, no facts. Just my thoughts until others reply influencing my current set of considered data 

[klaviator]

I could see it in some situations.  Interstate traffic in some cities is crazy with aggressive drivers and speeds of 89-90 MPH.  IF, and that's a big if, I where to ride on those interstates I would want enough power to still accelerate strongly at those speeds.  I'm happy not to live in a big city and have to deal with the nasty traffic that goes with it.

I have somewhere around a half a million miles of riding experience with over 75,000 of that on scooters.  Right off hand I don't remember any time where I NEEDED more power to get me out of trouble.  Over the years I have gone to smaller and lighter and less powerful bikes.  I guess I subscribe to the theory that it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than it is to ride a fast bike slow.

[CROSSBOLT]

Like the historic aviators in China with P-40's against the superior Zeros, they out-thought the excellent Japanese pilots and used unique tactics to compensate. We can do the same. Think ahead...

[Tromper]

I love my B650, but there is no substitution for being alert, & aware.

Like the historic aviators in China with P-40's against the superior Zeros, they out-thought the excellent Japanese pilots and used unique tactics to compensate. We can do the same. Think ahead...

[hypophthalmus]

For the cost of everything I've put into the my bike, it'd be a measly 15000 miles on my minivan. But more realistically, I would just never go anywhere if I were only getting 20 miles to the gallon.

I think even if the best course of action was to accelerate away and I had the power, chances are I'd be braking or swerving anyways. Since that's my first instinct.

Not having enough power to keep up with traffic would be dangerous here though.