Are 300-500cc bikes too slow for safety? 

47 Bhp 🔥 As a Euro I've driven cars with less than that 🤣

Did a road trip on a 125. Just stick to the right lane and signal people to pass on single lane road. It went okay.

ive done a couple 200 miles trips on a 300 and never have any problems. Smaller cc bikes are still faster than a good portion of cars you see on the road

You don't need to pass someone from 70mph if you're a beginner rider

A 390 is about as fast as my type r in a 0-60. Highway passing power isnt crazy, but its still loads better than the average crv/rav4. People that say you need a 600 to be safe on the highway are kinda silly imo

Honestly if you're going 70 on a 350 lb naked bike you don't need "passing power." You're already going 70. Just chill out.

I bought a kawasaki ninja 400. Never rode a motorcycle. I feel like im on a rocket 😂

This is hilarious, and somewhat insane that people think this. I started on an 80cc machine. If a 300-500cc is too slow, maybe the rider is too heavy or not riding correctly. Thanks for putting this out there.

The duke 390 is not a slow bike, its totally adequate and in most of the world its a fast bike.

I started on an sv650 and honestly think for some people even that is overkill. It’s totally useable but the full 75 hp is even too much to abide the law. I want a super sport and I will certainly get on that being said that’s just me and my personal desires. I’m 20 and it’s kind of insane that most people my age have been deluded into thinking that getting a 600+ cc ss is some kind of requirement and that the only reason people ride lower cc bikes is just to “build up” to a super sport. Get a super sport if you’re young and skilled and you want the negatives that come with riding them along with the benefits, not everyone wants or needs a powerful bike and I think the internet has done a great job of misguiding people to believe that to be true. For example a sv650 or mt07 is really the absolute perfect bike for street use in general, a super sport cannot be logically justified, it can only be desired in my personal opinion.

Meanwhile in most of Asia, Africa and (probably) Latin America, 90-150 CC motorcycles work just fine.

125cc, 15HP:Inadequate. 300cc, 30HP: Bare minimum but yes. 400cc 45HP and above:Yes

So glad I found this channel! I’m taking the riders course in a couple of months and will be in the market for a bike. I’m joining the party a bit late at 32 years old, nonetheless these videos have helped me tremendously! Thank you.

Picking up my ninja 500 tomorrow. Will be binge watching your tutorial videos all night. Great vids man.

Horsepower and Torque on a bike is relative to the weight of the bike and the rider. An RC 390 weighs half as much as a Harley, hence half as much horsepower and torque to move it.

I'm new rider 3 months in, 3000kms so far, and I ride a Duke 390.. One thing the wind really bullies you when you ride60+ mph on open roads..its such a light bike.. At some point I'll upgrade to a bigger bike, but for now the Duke 390 is awesome for learning how to ride.

great content man, keep it up! 👍🏼

If you are confident on 285 you will be confident on any road in America. I’m around PCB and took 285 recently going on vacation and didn’t realize what a lawless hellhole it was. I was definitely ready to get around ATL and I had 4 wheels!

Someone linked this video in a motorcycle server I'm in, checked it out and yea this did make me feel better. Due to my smaller size, I was planning on sticking to the 250-300 cc range as a beginner, me being lighter also feels like it would give me a little extra oomph on the roads as the bike wouldn't have to work as hard to get me up to speed. Very helpful as the main roads in and out of town are 60-70 mph (but often have people going 10-15+ above) and if I can keep up (and pass if needed) to feel safe, I'm good. I don't see myself getting anything above 400-500ccs for the road, if I want even more power than that, it would be limited to the track.

That's hilarious. I'm out here taking a CB125F out on the freeway😂

Excellent point! That 390 has plenty of power to ride safe. My issue is when your on a back road with one lane going each direction and you are behind a car doing 45 in a 55 zone passing can be tricky if you don't have enough power because your trying to time it but there can be cars way off in the distance. When in doubt I just don't pass.

Bro we are literally in the same area! Love the vids

WHOA WHOA WHOA easy on us cbr3's! We're still out there, haha. I would say the performance is similar to what's shown here and I do just fine on the local highway.

I have an mt 03 , license for 9 months , first time I sat on a bike was at the driving school . 300cc bikes are faster then 95% of every car on the road , they are safe , fast and you will definitely learn how to proper ride a motocicle . More than a 300 is for when you are know what you are doing

Hey! 7 months of ownership of the KTM 390? Im in the same boat! I pucked up a 23 RC390 back in July and its been a blast! Way better than any 600 ive ridden

I'm 37, I bought my Honda CB300R for commuting to work and the occasional longer ride on back roads to the mountains or to see my parents when I don't wanna take the car. I don't need to do 100+ on the highway and have no desire to do so, so topping out around 85-90 and being a larger guy at 6'5 on my bike seems like a solid bet for both safe riding and having the power I need to get around town and on the highway perfectly fine. Could I go faster? Sure. Do I want to? Not really. I just wanted a functional bike that can take my weight and height and get me from point A to B for years to come. I'm finding the mirrors to be a pain to adjust and aftermarket parts are my best bet to extend the mirrors, but I don't care about looking slightly goofy as long as my sight picture is clear.

47 hp? Are you some kind of power demon?

Yeah i bought a 2003 kawasaki 250 as my first bike i love it still learning on it too

Truth of the matter is, you're faster up to speed on a 400cc than 90% of the cars out there. My first bike, which I still own as a second bike because it is a blast, is a 1996(!) Honda CB500 and it takes me in 5.2 sec from 0 to 60mp/h. You only need more acceleration if you plan on racing sports cars,...but if this is why you have a bike, you shouldn't be riding in the first place.

For one, a 300-500 CC bike are not fun on the highways where vehicles run 80-infinity, a 300-500 cc bike are just too light, you will need a heavy litter bike for that reason, on none highway speed roads, you can even ride a bicycle.

Just depends on circumstance and location. Around here every single highway is a garbage 2 lane with a couple spots to pass and people don't do the speed limit. You'll have to do 50-55 in a 65 for 20 miles straight you best bet that when you finally get that chance to pass you do.

I have an RC390 as a track toy. That little bike is twice as fast at getting to 60 than my Kia Rio and a good second faster than my Honda Fury which is a 1300cc bike that also weighs almost 700lbs. I've been riding for almost 25 years and even though every bike has been bigger displacement than the RC most have not been as quick and nimble. You're totally right about not getting hung up on paper specs. That's stuff people with ego issues brag about and all too often they spend their time riding like they need to prove it instead of being safe.

I have a GSX8R now, but I felt perfectly safe on my KTM 390 Adventure. Open highways, lunch hour on downtown Dallas freeways, all that.

DUAL SPORT and STREET bikes are great for the STREET getting a DIRT BIKE up to a safe speed on the street probably is a whole different barrel of fish as some of the "big" dualsports struggle getting much over 75mph thanks mate

the main safety factor is the rider

How does the 390 do with crosswinds? I have a Vit401 and they feel a little flighty on high bridges.

I've heard so many riders poo-poo smaller-displacement engines, but really: how many people regularly exceed 90mph? I'd wager 95% of drivers *rarely* exceed 85mph. I'm new to riding but my Ninja 500 gets to 80mph with no drop in acceleration, and I can't imagine a use case where I'd ever need 'more' than that.

My little Suzuki GN125 is SO FUN around town! Perfect for learning in the city... But terrifying & a bit unsafe to ride on the highway.

It's strange to me that this is even a question...although I know it is. My opinion is the only thing too slow for safety on everyday public roads (not interstates) is a lack of confidence in your decision making. If you're going to twist the throttle, commit fully. If you're in traffic and you see a driver that causes you to hesitate an extra few seconds, don't let some horn-blower project their impatience on you. It's all about staying safe, having fun and feeling free on YOUR ride! Good video!

love your content as a soon to be new rider. any chance you can make a video on ABS and TC ? I got an older bike without either, curious to know if there are any major points or techniques to consider compared to a modern bike with those systems. Cheers !

My ninja 400 lasted a few months for me just fine after the initial break in time. My biggest issue with it was the high winds we get in my area.

My ninja 500 was literally perfect as a first bike!! Didn’t get tired of it after two years.

Well done

genuine question, what gloves are you wearing? They do look very nice!

Started on a 50 cc moped at 14 with maybe 2-3 hp, like many other euro kids in the 00's. If you don't have the power to overtake, you stay behind, simple as that. Still leaves you craving for more performance, but that doesn't mean you actually need it. You might end up in dangerous situations if you misjudge what your ride can do, but that goes both ways: trying to overtake a car at 30 mph when your top speed is 32 is definitely one of those, but it's not the bike's fault. Same goes for trying to take a 40 mph corner at 80 and ending up in a ditch, or highsiding by slamming the throttle open mid corner on a 150 hp bike. Neither of these things can happen on a moped, does it mean it's safer? Not really, it's just a tool, danger comes from using it wrong.

Started with a 200. In my area which is semi urban flow of traffic is 60 -80 on most roads. Our highways are 100 posted km/hr. 200 was not enough to keep up with traffic and pass almost anyone. I had to upgrade after a season of riding in my opinion to be safe.

The one and only Duke 390. I love my little Duke. I’m 6’3” and it fits fine-ish. I’d like a bikker big just for ergonomics, but I just did a 300km ride and it did perfectly.

Meanwhile in the UK, people are starting on 125s

Can you make a video on the some Parking lot drills? The ones you think are most important.

What Gloves you wearing?

I downsized to a KTM 390 Adventure from a Kawasaki Versys 650, and have had absolutely no issues with speed, and routinely cruise at 75-80mph, I believe that, if anything, there would be more of an issue for a beginner with being blown around on the expressway by the big trucks, especially on windy days.

Hey Skyoom, sorry if this question has been asked before but what gloves are those?? they look sick

If riding smaller CC bikes was actually unsafe, insurance rates on them would be higher. I am fully convinced people complaining 300cc is too slow for traffic are just terrible riders

I would say it depends on what bike you're talking about. P twin bikes sure they get up to 115-120mph. I'd take them any place you'd take a compact car. CBR 300 or other Single cylinder bikes. That top out at like 80mph. As long as you're not getting on the highways. It's doable.

imo any bike that can hit 100mph top speed is safe in our neck of the woods speed limit is 75mph/120kmh on highways most tend to do 80-87mph any bike that can top that should be fine personally since i've been riding a vfdr400 nc30(derestricted) that is 130 capable i would not want anything slower i seldom do flat out, but find that the speed pickup of this 400 4cylinder is perfect to ride along with bigger sportbikes up to 120mph with added bonus that you can just enjoy the ride/exhaust note at high revs while not overdoing it and not worry too much about how you handle the throtlle so if i get a new bike ever it will likely be a zx4rr

First time I ever rode a motorbike was a 125cc bike, and I travelled 140 miles on 60mph roads that day. Its fine.

I see people ride their bicycle :D as long as you stay on the slow lane you are fine

When I first started riding in the uk I was using 125cc on 70mph road doing long day trips 😂😂 yes it took forever to get to 70mph depending on conditions ie wind and up or down hill. 😂😂😂

I started on a 99 Honda 900 RR and after 25 years of riding experience And three or four dozen track days There is no reason to start out on anything bigger than 700 cc. A solid dual sport would be my choice as a starting bike to give the person the widest range of opportunities from commuting to camping to let them know what direction they really want to take their next motorcycle adventure in.

riders begin on a 125cc in the UK as part of their CBT. Not dangerous as long as you pin the throttle and get up to speed quickly and stay at the legal limit. Heck there are people that tour on a 125cc its doable for sure.

47 HP is plenty. Had an interceptor 650 with 47 HP and it was fine on the highway at about 450 lbs. It can get up over 100, so you can definitely pass (a little bit scary up there anyway).

The fastest road in my state hits 85mph. Most roads around town are below 40mph. My 300cc tops out at 110mph and can get to 60mph in 5 seconds. Having riden it since 2021 I can confidently say my bike is not too slow for safety.

i got a honda cbf 500cc 2005 year with 57 hp it is indeed slower than most bikes but still manage to keep up in traffic also can safely pass cars in the range 100 km/h - 140 km/h after this speed its getting hard and dangerous for me .

Ride your motorcycle like you drive your car. If you don't speed in a car, don't speed on a motorcycle. No one is going to ram into you for not being a speed demon. Also, never stop on a freeway and put your foot down. Lane split. Keep moving.

Can you do one on how to move ur body on a naked in twisties? I can make the turns but my body barely moves.

Just got my first bike. It's a honda hornet 750, totally not a beginers bike, I don't recommend it if you don't have the right mindset. That being said, being a car driver for 11 years and after seen so many things on the road I got it and it is amazing first bike. Again if you got the right mindset.

47 horsepower is a 1968 triumph Bonneville. Not an exact comparison obviously the trumpet has a lot more torque but people forget that bikes don’t need to have car engines!

I can tell you i didnt have a fun time in central florida on one lol. Was totaly wishing for power but i guess people dont like i4 for a reason.

Being a 220lbs+ guy and having a RC390 i do feel unsafe sometimes when the bike follows every crack of the US roads and are sent a little sideways by gushes of wind. It isn't major, but a little more horsepower and a bit more weight isn't bad to feel safe.

I've got an SG250, barely goes 65, great town bike, would never take it on the freeway. Figure out what your bike can do and ride accordingly.

That’s faster than I thought for sure

I’m gonnnnna skyooom😮 sup bro

A note on the newer Duke 390 and RC390 they are neutered from the factory and apparently require a dealership ECU unlock after the first service, which if you do your own services you will never know this. I assume TuneECU would work though. ChaseOnTwoWheels got absolutely roasted in his RC390 video for not knowing this and complaining about how slow it was to comparable models. I don't believe the pre-Euro5 models had this. I know the older models simply lowered the suggested redline and shift points but would raise after the first few hundred miles without needing to go to a dealer.

It forces you to be honest and considerate. Traits that will serve you well later. I never found much fun over 70 any way. Your on a bike not an animal in a cage. ENJOY IT!

Look up the recent story out of Arizona, 18 year old girl driving a Corvette at 155 hits motorcycle, with all the spoiled rich kids in sports cars these days you must have a liter bike to stay alive!

I'm 17 and I have my fifth 125 cc in europe, because I can't get the bigger bike yet, some I keep changing between those to keep it interesting. In my opinion, the message of this video is kind of absurd because the 390 seems like a rocket ship to me.

...obviously not. I ride a Multistrada 1200. I'd have no problem at all on a 390 Duke. I rode a CRF250L on the interstate for hours. It had 17 hp.

Here is me with my learner plates and my 125cc

Lol I started on a CBR300R back when it was competing with only the Ninja 300 and R3 plus the left over 250's I honestly loved it. It was a bit down on horsepower versus the Ninja 300 and the R3 but it had a far better torque band because of its single cylinder making it far easier to ride in city traffic. Ari Henning used to run a race prepped CBR300R until he switched to his old RC390.

you're local to ATL / GA!?

I hate 75 and 285 traffic 🤧

Baby duke life is great especially when you weigh 140 like me

as someone who has been riding on a 125cc for the pat two years I agree that slow bikes are dangerous, at least outside of city. My 125cc bike couldn't even do a 60mph for even few minutes. This made me super uncomfortable on the country roads, especially when I had cars behind me. but I think 300-650 are decent enough to let you commute with no issues.

Lol I have a 125cc in the uk. 11.6 bhp 😂

Should have bought a CF Moto 450SS you'd have plenty of power for over taking cars

I didn’t watch the video but wanted to add the UK streets where bikers cruise are 30-40mph zones. Yeah they do 45 average but a 125cc woth 14bhp could do that and UK car drivers drive on average at 26mph they are sleepy slow cos 1/2 cant drive l. But atleast they can use a roundabout with precision. Im sure a 400-500cc could get anyone in the UK up to 30mph If you wanna be safe on a motorway use a car) no bike rider should not be able to not drive

No, and 125-250 in the dirt is even better for newbs to learn life saving reactions they wont get from pavement only learning. Even smaller if younger, clearly.

Definetly not! I own a cbr500 and it has plenty of overtaking power

Not all countries require fast bikes

I have a cbr300r. They are real lol!

I have a cb300f 😂

I don’t think an r3, ninja 400, ktm 390 or whatever is too slow to be safe on the road for a beginner. That’s just crazy. On the other hand though, I do feel like something like a grom or z125 is too dangerously slow for a beginner on the street. At least here in DFW. Your ass would get ran over with one little mistake lol.

I bought a FTR 1200 as my 1st. I understand speed and safety and I’ve had my fair share of experiences of fast cars and I ride standup jet skis. My biggest thing for getting it is the low end torque it has to get out of the way if I need to. Not downshifting into the peak powerband wasting time when milliseconds mean everything but I also bought it for how it looks. I am looking at getting a Duke Or RC 390 for some track use

The average speed is the same no matter the vehicle.

Grom riders:

To make this video even shorter....no.....no is your answer

Bro doesn't know the existence of 50cc scooters😂😂😂

Ridden pretty much all my life. Now only ride litre bikes and up. I will say, I'd have absolutely ZERO issue with having a new Ninja 500 as my final bike. Looks amazing and that thing can haul ass. A 500cc bike, hell a 250 can do most of what a litre bike can do and are far superior on twisty mountain roads. The big differance is how effortlessly a litre bike can do anything. For some once you experience that feeling it's hard to back to a lower displacement bike.

I wouldn't ride that on the highway.

Are 270hp cars too slow to be safe? Apparently bikers think so