Are 400cc Bikes the New Sweet Spot? 

I will be buying my first bike in 5 days time and i just cannot wait. Im having sleepless nights imagining all the trips and rides.

I agree with the last person about the ZX4RR. I am 70 and bought one. It reminds me of my 80's model Ninja 600 E model. I was tired of my MT07 because of the parallel twin motor. They say the sound of a vehicle is 60 % of the beauty of it. This little 400 puts a smile on my face every time I wind it out. I own several bikes, 2 being Harleys and I reach for the Kawasaki key more often.

In Asian countries (India, Thailand, Indonesia, China, etc...) 400cc is pretty good, actually. For Europeans and Americans, 400cc is a small bike. The new Kawi is an absolute track weapon, yes. A KTM 390 is fun as hell, we all know that. But I'd still place them as a "small" bike, myself. Great fun, awesome for beginners (and not only), perfect to have on the stable (if you can afford more then one) but I believe most of us will eventually want (not necessarily need) more power, more bike and better components. Oh, and yes, Kawasaki deserves so much respect for just doing their own thing: they never left the 600cc class unlike others, they brought the ZX-4RR in a time of parallel twins, they still have their bonkers supercharged behemoths, they have an old school sports tourer, they have a Busa killer, they have the drop dead gorgeous Z900RS, they are experimenting with hydrogen, I mean... They should be applauded and held in higher regard, in my opinion.

It’s so interesting as Western manufacturers have been chasing an aging biking population promising more power, rider aids and tech. Problem is we’re all getting more wrinkley. Touring wise 80/90 bhp seems ideal for European roads especially as I avoid motorways and head for the twisties. They can carry two and luggage . 400cc….recently test rode the Triumph Speed 400 and it was so much fun for a solo ride due it’s reasonable power, light weight and great handling….more sprightly than my RE Interceptor and although I adored my RE Classic 350 it was a bit lacking on the occasional dual carriageway or motorway. The ‘middleweight’ sector seems to be on the up and up for the do it all sector 😊. I adore all motorised 2 wheelers from scooters to 200 mph monsters - I’ll give you all a wave.

Are you sure you haven’t just come back from Guantanamo Bay Freddie! 😂, seriously though the 400 cc bikes make a lot of sense when more and more roads are being speed restricted

14:19 400cc has been the sweet spot ever since, it's a go-to bike for anything

Freddie is have a 1200GS and a couple Scooters. I ride the Scooters way more than my GS. Dont get me wrong, i love my BMW. However i loath riding big bikes in the UK. I’ve been living in the USA and I’m back here (Surrey) for 3 years. All the Cameras and 20mph has taken so much fun out of riding i would go as far as to say the UK sucks for being able to open the throttle and enjoy the ride; our roads are appalling. Yes we have amazing scenery and beaches as well as National parks which I’ll happily visit on my Scooters

Yesterday, me and a pal went for a ride out in central Portugal... me on my 750 sports bike, him on his 125 Honda... we had a blast, visited a castle, did a bit of A road, a bit of twisty lane... fantastic day.

I am biased as I have a Kawasaki Z400 and I have just put an order in for a Triumph Speed 400. Not to replace the z400 as they are both very different bikes to ride. I have had my z400 for three years and never felt I needed more power, it is an incredibly light bike and so much fun on twisty roads. I can use all the gears and all the power and keep my license (if careful) I love it. The z400 cost me £5400 brand new , I have seen push bikes cost way more then this, it was an absolute bargain. I love the look of that Kawasaki ZX4RR as it reminds me of my ZXR400 of the 90s.

It can be that easy to get it back on the road, in some instances you have to get the bike re-MOT'd and then go to a DVLA base for VIC (vehicle identification check) in this instance they confirm the bike has been repaired and the you haven't done a frame swap or VIN/reg swap on it. They will generally destroy/invalidate the original V5C and you will then on completion of the above re-apply for V5C which will then have a note stating the Reg is no-longer transferrable. Depends on the work required really... in truth two success stories of 'return to the road' are both yours and my Triumph T100 Bonneville's!

I don't know about 400cc but a 1987 Yamaha RD350LC YPVS F2 in Gauloises blue (my only brand new purchase) was my favourite out of a great many and with many being larger, faster and more powerful machines.

I rode my first sports bike last week, a Ninja 400, and I was really surprised. As a beginner bike, easy light clutch, slipper helps downshifting smoothness, easy handling, and not too bent over. But in saying that, it revs out to 11000 RPM, and all of that is usable. Not a lot of torque, but handled right, it's very quick. I couldn't believe this was a LAMS bike for beginners. Considering this for my 18 year old, and I think they are going to have to be very self disciplined on it. What a weapon!

Hi Freddie, my 2021Guzzi V7III was stolen and recovered in June 2022. I was with Bikesure at the time. The thieves had broken my steering lock, ignition switch and damaged my seat lock.. I was told by the insurers that my bike would be written off as there had been damage to the electrics. I cancelled my claim and purchased 2 new lock and key sets... The first, to enable me to get back on the road, was a pattern Aprillia 125 lock set costing £25 and delivered in a couple of days. This was while I waited 4 months for my genuine Moto Guzzi replacements to arrive at the cost of £208.00 The only difference between them being the colour of the key slot cover and the fact that it didn't say Moto Guzzi on they keys.

You hit the nail squarely on the head when it comes to Royal Enfield's 350 range. They have given me all the right incentives/reasons to return to biking after a 30 year hiatus.

Hi, Im from South Africa. Retired motor assessor. Just stumbled on this blog. Maybe UK insurance rules are similar to here in ZA. Vehicle parts are crazy expensive, car and bikes but insurance companies are usually forced to replace even slightly damaged parts (fairings, seats, screens, exhaust silencers etc) because the paintwork and decals are all done in the factory. thus, the write off value is what decides if a bike is a write off or not. Parts cost. However, i usually offered the owner cash settlemet for the maximum that the insurance could spend before writing it off. Customer can then go to a bike repairer or customizer and negotiate a much cheaper repair (eg a silencer with a small scratch can be left as is and save hundreds of pounds in cost). customer would often walk away with extra cash after a reasonable repair...

Absolutely I am a 29 + year rider always rode big bore higher CC bikes but then I discovered the RE Classic and eventually found my way to the Hunter 350 and they are game changers! I’ll send ya pics absolutely easier to live with.

That ZX7R, especially for that price, looks great in my mind.

400cc. Everything you need, if not everything you want. Years (1980's) ago I had an original CB400/4, which was the first Japanese fourstroke to be considered a sports bike in its own right. Beautiful, too. And the two strokes were something else. And as I get older, I'll very happily move to a 400 again, with low weight and dimensions working for me then. Or so I thought until a couple of years ago. Himalayan, 500x, RE Classic, new CF MOTO 450MT. I want one now. Ride safe 👍

My Harley Davidson fat boy 1990 cost me £5,500 in 2015 ,I was knocked off it in 2016 ,it was written off , the insurance company gave me £5,500 back in the bike,i brought it back for 1400 pounds got second hand parts £400,fixed myself back on the road easy i still have this bike

Hmmm.. yeah.. great question.. see you next Tuesday

I love 400cc, but in Arizona we have 75mph highways. Which means everyone is going 80-85 so its either vibrating like crazy or at a high rpm for a long time. Towns are at minimum 30 mins apart at that speed too.

Freddie this "Letters to the Editor" format is a winner and you shine at it. At seventy four 400cc is my sweet spot, it's about the experience now.

Well the family is officially hooked on Triumph 400’s

I think a lot of people upgrade to bigger bikes not for the power per se, but for the better suspension, brakes and technology you get on them, because smaller bikes just didn't offer those features. But now you see those features trickling down to the smaller bikes, we just need to start seeing things like cruise control pop up on all bikes with throttle by wire, and there will be very few reasons to buy a big, 100+ horsepower bike left.

Yes, 400cc is the sweet spot and probably the most perfect 400cc bike period, was/is the Honda CB400SF. I don’t own one but it could easily do almost everything my current 6 bikes do with ease. In the right livery they look pretty similar to that 1300 Honda as well. Basically enough mass to be stable, enough power to be fun, great looks, top reliability, good handling, good brakes, low fuel consumption and running costs. What more could one truly need.

As an older gent that started riding 250 road bikes like the Kawasaki ZZR250 , the new 400cc bike have only about the same power as the old 250 so its simply a changing of the guard due to emissions choking engine's so we can all breath .

A twin cylinder high reving four stroke remake of an RD400 might be!

Can't wait til the honda CB 400 or 500cc retro inline 4 2025 🙏🙏

Maybe, if it has 2 cylinders, at least 45Hp, cruise at 75mph with a +100mph top end. Just like a Honda CB450 "black bomber" would be capable of all the way back in 1970. It seems that what goes round, comes around.

There used to be 4 categories of write off . 2 you could repair, the other 2 could only be broken for spares..

Beta 390 with 1.5L engine oil capacity, steel subframe and wider ratio gears would be a perfect highway capable dual sport. Unless it gets too windy I guess, but I'd still send it.

It’s a documentational nightmare to get a stolen and recovered bike back on the road. At least here in the states, especially since moving to a different state. I had my Suzuki S40 Boulevard stolen and recovered 6 years later. The local state government where it was stolen reported it recovered, but the new state where I moved still shows it stolen. I even have the original title in my name. I tried so hard to get it cleared in my new state, and still no luck 3 years later. The police said I would need to clear it at the Federal level with the FBI. That involves contacting a representative in Congress. So yes, a real pain in my neck.

Having had a few years off from riding, I’m going from a GSX750 to the RE Hunter 350, just awaiting delivery, but I can’t wait. Looking forward to a bike that won’t break the bank but should give me all the freedom and fun that motorcycles should be. Your RE content was a big help, so thank you, and here’s to many miles to come for us both.

There is so much happening in the 300-500cc space at the moment - some of the options to consider [in alphabetical order]... - Aprilia RS 457 (naked/retro version rumored); - Benelli Imperiale 400 (also: 500cc variants, e.g., Leoncino); - BMW G310R / -GS (500cc bikes rumored); - CFMoto 300/450 SR/NK (retro-ish 300 CL-X); - Fantic Caballero 500 range; - Herald Classic 400; - Honda 300/500 class bikes for race/street/Rebel/off-road, 500 Scrambler; - Husqvarna 401 Vitpilen/Svartpilen (just updated for 2024); - Kawasaki Ninja/Z 300/400/500, Eliminator; - KTM 390 Duke/Adventure; - Mash 400 range; - Rieju Aventura 500; - Royal Enfied 350/411/450/500 range; - SWM Gran Milano/Gran Turismo/Six Days 440, Hoku 400, Six6 500; - Triumph Speed 400/Scrambler 400 X (new 2025 variants rumored); - Voge 350AC/300 Rally/500 range; and - Yamaha R3/MT-03. It's all very exciting! 🙃

Thats a stunning Zx7r. I do miss mine after giving it up a few years ago. As far as old sports bikes go, i think they are the ideal second bike. I have my main pride and joy, a cruiser, but somwthing about the late 90s/early 2000s sports bikes which bring so much fun/nostalgia for a fantastic price for what you get. I think about another zx7r or zx9r. Welcome back Freddie, the trip was fantastic to watch!

In the UK, with ever increasing speed cameras and ever decreasing speed limits? Yes

I love my Ninja 400, not my first bike, but all I need. I love that more manufacturers are focusing on this cc class.

Hi Freddie and Monika, Another great bike memory from you,my favourite memory of a bike was my 1980 ish Kawasaki z 650 sr,which was a replacement for my z400 of similar age, your challenge should you accept it is, a photo lol,the bike was in electric metallic blue,all pictures I have are all off the similar LTD variant. The 650 was purchased from Rye Mill Kawasaki in High Wycombe,who also supplied the z400. I commuted from Aylesbury to Exbury House down on the Solent,every day,240 miles door to door round trip for 10 weeks ,both bikes never missed a beat,for me the 650 was the smoothest bike I had ever ridden,I deeply regret selling it as within days the purchaser had totalled it 😢

If the damage is classed as structural, then it’ll need a brand new MOT before you can ride it on the road. If it’s the lesser CAT N then the original MOT is good to go after you’ve repaired it.

I agree the 90s Japanese sports bikes are special. I also think the 400 cc motorcycles makes sense. I ride an Aprilia Tuono and have an early 2001 Blade. I haven't ridden the Blade since the Covid days. I'm considering selling the Honda and getting a smaller capacity modern retro, motorcycle. I'm torn between a 90s Japanese sports bikes and a modern classic😂

S4rs is extremely reliable. I have one model newer with no abs and traction either and I've ridden it consistently 1000 mile trips without issue. Also the key to maintenance is doing it yourself. I think the viewer either got an egg or doesn't know how to maintain a bike of that caliber.

I've just sold my super tenere, 265kg and bought a ktm390 adventure, 180kg. Wow, I feel liberated, so light and flickable. No it isn't silky smooth and lacks that big bike grunt. But the ktm is so much fun and I think has rekindled the adventurer in me.

1:48 In response to the person that was told by 4th dimension that their bikes a write off. I’d question them as to why it’s been written off, my 2022 Interceptor was taken by them after a car drove head on into me while I was waiting as a junction. They tried writing it off even though the repairs were going to cost them around £800. Their offer was a payout of £3000 minus the cost of returning it to me (£300 or so). In the end I pushed back and they repaired the bike because. Interestingly enough, they went through and replaced every single part that had even the smallest scratch on it. The other thing to consider is insurance costs going forward as you’d need to declare that the bike had been written off.

It’s amazing how you come up with poetry spontaneously … splendid 🎉

Steves mrs sounds like a real keeper, god love her. In regards to small bikes I’m not sure I’d be on a bike if it wasn’t for the Royal Enfield Scram 411. It just looked…right. It looked fun. And the pricing was really reasonable. I ended up getting a Tracer 7 but you’re quite right that it did at least get me into proper motorbikes.

Watch out for the rust on those things, after a few years if your in the UK!

I have a 97 vfr750, had it for about 7 years and love it.

I have a 26 year old Kawasaki zx9r, 90s sports bike are a joy to ride and only cost me £1300. Cheers Freddie

I don't know about the UK but when I check Craigslist in California there are a lot of "salvage title" bikes, but especially cars listed. Luckily I've never had to go through the process. The other thing is that they all want far too much money for a vehicle that has been written off.

Freddie - would love to see some kind of collaboration with Tomboy a Bit !

Hi Freddie. I have bought many right off bikes and put them back on the road. It all depends on the catogary of right off. Sometimes it’s just a steering lock or something light. It’s a good way of keeping your bike and cash in bank

My friends and I used to own and ride 400cc bikes in the late 70‘s early 80‘s, until the press came along and made them uncool, stating it’s better (and supposedly cooler) to go 600cc thus resulting in their extinction. Glad to see them return under the spotlight 😃

I am enjoying my Triumph Scrambler 400x in a big way in Fairhope, Alabama, USA. Hope to get my entire family into biking with these

My girlfriend just bought her 1st bike. A Z400, I’ve been on bikes 41 years, can’t praise these 400s enough

Alters the category and will show on the log book not sure what it changes to but then it has to pass mot can be good deal as long as it’s not to expensive to fix If the payout covers the price of the bike 🤔 and if you can live with it

Riding a slow bike fast is more fun than riding a fast bike slow.

I've just had a good run on my 390 Duke in northern Thailand, but I wouldn't want a 350/400cc bike as my only one. Nick

Definitely the 400cc bikes in Australia would be the bike “ a lot of learners would use here “ , as you can ride up to a 650 - if it’s detuned. Also that 400-500 as as a ADV bike is definitely the sweet spot here .( as a bonus they are cheaper to register, insure and maintenance costs .

Hello Freddy it’s Ricky from Birmingham I know your a huge fan of triumph and royal Enfield I am currently on the market for a new bike well low mileage second hand my dilemma is having just sold my Ktm 1190 r 10 years old now my wife loves getting on the back but the Ktm was tall to say the least so I am looking at the royal Enfield 650 twin 47 horsepower 52 ft pounds torque love the shape and classic looks stunning bike 5 grand or do I go go for the triumph speedmaster which is best for comfort for coastal trips with the wife on the back your opinion will help me choose love the channel great content ime in my mid 50s time to slow it down and take in the view

I own a Fantic Caballero which is a 450cc pocket rocket. I absolutely love it for the Algarve hills where I live. It's light, fast and agile. But you're right, it's not suitable for pillions, and for going on motorways to Lisbon or Seville it's a non starter. It's best as a second bike, no question, but if you're light on funds like me, as a single bike it's a sensation...

Freddie you're right about 400s becoming the preferred bike, I've just bought a Ducati Scrambler 400 Sixty2 and it ticks all the boxes, it's light, looks ultra cool and is a joy to ride as you move up and down the gearbox. I've had two strokes, four strokes and even rotary engine bikes but this Ducati is simply more than enough to satisfy my biking adrenaline rush. Ride safe.

Hi Freddie, thanks for featuring my suggestion for bike of the week! Though I must say for a second I thought you had had a mishap at border control on your way back from Sri Lanka in that orange.😂

I couldn't agree with you more. The "middle weight" segment will keep motorcycling alive. I tip my hat to Royal Enfield for focusing their efforts in this category. A nod to Triumph for their 400's, too. The big 4 really need to get a push on and give the market more offerings.

I’ve been riding for 7 years now and made my way up to a BMW 1200R before an unfortunate accident wrote it off. On returning I decided to go for a Duke 390 and absolutely loved it! It made me realise that a light weight easy to live with bike was so much more fun! I ended up changing to a Street Twin but as much as I love it I have a hankering for the Duke once more - shame I’m not the target audience as a fat, bald 53 year old 😂

Re: 400cc bikes: I have ”downshifted” last year to a smaller bike from an inline twin which I loved but was sure to kill me as I am now in my mid 70’s and reflexes are not what they were. I was hoping to get the RE hntr 350 which I likeed after a test drive, unfortunately the dealer here in Finland would not take a trade in bike, so I switched to the Benelli 400 Imperiale. It’s very comfortable, rides well, will do 130kms/h on motorways all day if you like that sort of driving, but is perfect for winding B roads. All the things you mentioned about 400 bikes are true, especially with insurance costs and emission problems today. I still remember fondly riding my friends Vincent Black Shadow and my Norton SS twin in my youth , but times and traffic have changed since those days and motorcycling pleasure can be had on smaller machines. PS. I enjoy your traveling videos immensely, have done India & Sri Lanka myself, I recommend Malaysia & Mauritius next!

The thing is when the insurance company writes off a vehicle and you put it back on the road. It’s going to have a category attached to it like A B S, or N et cetera UK vehicle write off categories….. so A is for vehicles that have been so badly written off, they would be scrapped. B is for vehicles broken up for parts and the really damaged section of the vehicle the body or the frame would be crushed. S is structural damage bent or crushed frame. Sometimes parts of the vehicle can be replaced and repaired and put back on the road. N is for superficial damage like bodywork or the forks which can be replaced and repaired and the vehicle put back on the road. The thing about the S and N categories is that they do affect the value of the vehicle. Should you wish to resell it once repaired…. Personally, I would want to stay clear of a category S motorbike, it may never handle on the road perfectly again, and I’m not sure I’d want to risk my life on one, category N is a possibility.

Freddie we have been in the situation with a written off bike and 4th Dimension would not release the bike back to us they write off everything as they get way more money than selling it back to you it’s a scam!

No. In the UK it'll be 94bhp bikes that can be restricted down to 47bhp for A2 compliant license holders. The manufacturers have eventually come round to that way of thinking but we need to remember that manufacturers don't make bikes specifically for the UK, they make them for the trading blocks such as Asia, USA, EU, Etc. I believe we have the same A2 licence rules as the EU but I stand to be corrected.

Absolutely they are ! Here’s the news 📰- they do 70mph !

I still have my 350 royal Enfield..😅 just refreshed the top end. New valve guides and seats ...80 pound ... BIG shout out to Hitchcocks motorcycles .. you should look into them great service

Crazy you gave them a 2017 r1200rs a 1996 sporster and £3500 All in exchange for one second hand sport glide.

Insurance in the US will total a bike in a heartbeat over minor damage. I believe the issue really is liability from hidden damage. An unfound cracked frame opens up massive liability.

For the right people and the right situation absolutely.

I have different bike for different uses:- 69 cc mofa for short city rides 3km, 150 cc for longer city rides 20 km , 250cc V Storm for the long city to city rides and sometimes off road , 865 cc Triumph for Sunday city rides

Very nice Ducati the man bought . Wouldn't mind one.🆒😎👍!

He gets full payout from insurance and then has to buy it back off the company for an agreed assessed value. The insurance company will typically transport it to the location/garage of your choice (their cost). Basically it's a gamble that there isn't hidden damage to the transmission. It worked out pretty well for me and ended up paying for extra alarm system and better rims.

In the US the insurance company will usually “total” or write off a vehicle if the repair estimates exceed half the book value. That means they pay you the market value of the bike. Usually these are auctioned to parts “breakers”. The other option is to buy it from the insurance company and do the repairs yourself. If you don’t count your labor you can save a lot of money. Here in the US, once a vehicle has been totaled, as long as the repairs have been done properly you can get a “salvage” title. Most salvage vehicles are worth half of one with no damage history. I bought both of my Ducatis with salvage titles. The tubular frame had a cosmetic dent. The labor to replace the frame will easily exceed the value. So, you can experience some great riding for half price as long as you can accept some cosmetic imperfections. Of course the resale price will also be half.

Fred, if the cost of repair is more that 90 percent of the value they will write it off. I have had this twice with cars, each time I would call the insurance to take the car back and fix it myself. In this instance they don't write it off, but they do give you compensation for the damage which you can use to fix it yourself. The only draw back is you can never claim on the car again, bikes are the exact same. This happened to me when I lived in Scotland before I moved to Australia. Hope this helps.

Does anyone remember the long way round with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman? Well didn’t cameramans BMW 1200 GS break and he continued the rest of the journey on a small capacity bike? If you also look at some of the people that have travelled the world on motorcycles they haven’t had these big powerful GS’s they’ve gone for something more sensible, smaller capacity and more retro style bikes and they still managed to travel the world. Yes bigger engines do help on longer motorway/highways riding but a 400/500cc bike will generally do everything you ask of it, it’s just the snobbery that says it won’t.

As someone coming from mountain and gravel bikes I really appreciate weight of the machine. You can feel where specific weight savings make a difference to effort and handling but overall weight still counts for far more than just slogging uphill. So for me, not heavy myself either, I look at weight before power and that is where some of the 400s shine (and some still don't). BHP per ton can also be an interesting comparisson. I don't care about top end speed so how the engine develops what power it has is useful too. If Honda made their CB300R a 400 that would be a seller in my mind. Pretty light but not so much as you blow over in a breeze 😂 and a decent size and style.

As for insurance write offs maybe we are better just going for the chepest firms most bog standard cover seeing as though even a supposedly respected Insurer like Bennets seem to be just writing bikes of at any opportunity? Plus, if we all went with the very cheapest these other firms would have to reduce their prices to compete or go bust. UK car insurance went up an average of 34% last year (with payouts up just 18% in terms of cost and insurance company profits surging). In France premiums went up 2% and Italy 6%. The UK is a rip off merchants dream.

In NSW Australia vehicles that have been writtten off are unable to be re-registered.

Freddie if you crash your bike you can buy it back from the insurance comany. My mate crashed his Pan European and bought it back for so little money its was a no brainer. It cost us £300 for the parts of ebey . Now he got paid out and had the bike back for a total of £600 . That was buying the bike back and then the parts . It took us 3 hours to repair the bike . Then you have to get an MOT and then get VIC done. . It past its test and now is in daily use.

I am currently keeping a company car which was damaged by a third party, the insurance offer you a price and part of that is its salvage value. For example they may say the value is £3,750.00 with a £750.00 salvage value, you get the option to accept the £3,000.00 and take the vehicle to repair yourself, or they pay the £3,000.00 and then they wait to see what salvage price you get and that is sent on to you.

I will never go below 1000cc again, i rather quit driving before that day happens.

well done Steves wife, give her a hug from us all 🤣

I put my GPZ500S back on the road after it was written off, all I needed was an engineers report from a garage saying it was road worthy, obviously an up to date MOT etc, but it was worth doing as the damages weren't too bad. For me the insurance company set my excess on the bike to £700 which was fine, they didn't want to pay out on it again. I later sold it for a profit. My current Moto Guzzi V7 was bought as a repaired write off, there's nothing wrong with it.

Freddie it takes all types. From a young tearaway on mostly small bikes given to me, (before I got my licence) I legally owned and rode a BSA Bantam 175, a 350 Royal Enfield Model G (which I still ride today) and an AJS 350, I also borrowed a 750 Royal Enfield Interceptor, then I rode a Kawasaki 750 three, what a bike! In fourth gear I opened the throttle at about 60mph and to my horror lifted the front wheel well clear of the road, it also didn't really want to go round bends and I found it quite frightening. Many years later I enjoy quiet country lanes, B roads and quieter A roads to pootle around on. I have a Royal Enfield Classic 500 that I bought new in 2017, I really enjoy riding it but why do Royal Enfield bikes have to weigh so much, 190+ Kg for a 27 hp bike. I am going to test ride a Triumph 400 Speed, sorry Royal Enfield, you have to make your bikes much lighter. I have even thought about buying another BSA Bantam with 4 speed gearbox, I don't need speed to enjoy riding a motorbike, I am now nearly 69 years and want a more gentle life.

Are 400cc bikes the new sweet spot? Yes Because that's all you need to learn and grow. For developing markets, definitely. For older markets, maybe, 650-800.

Just doing the DAS at the young age of 50. What should my first bike be? I really like the motoguzzi v7 Stone. Am I crazy?

I love smaller bikes I'm a mad YAMAHA RD350LC THE GREATEST BIKE OF ALL IN LONDON FOR SURE THE HOOLIGAN FROM THE 80/90S SMALLER BIKES YOU CAN WRING THEM OUT GET THE USAGE 1 LITRE BIKES SUPERSPOTTS YOU CAN'T PLAY WIV ALL THAT POWER ITS CRAZY I THINK THE CRB 600RR IS ALL YOU NEED HIS DAYS !GATE13SW6CREWCFC cfc

I've got a vfr1200f always fancied a Indian scout or chief like the looks of the new scout 101.🤔

Freddie, at 70 I have ordered the Speed 400, for June delivery, swapping in my RE Classic 500 of the last 6 years, I want just a little more pep! The thing that worries me, with all these new models in this range, is that I will keep on wanting the next new model that comes along, like the RE Hunter 450 maybe. A little side note : In 1976 I had one of the first new Blue RD 400's, now I was recently looking up the specs on that bike, and the power output was stated 44 bhp. So where is all the power on these modern bikes that should, by the mere fact of modern materials and engine development, be well past that old Yamaha level ?

Many Years ago a 500cc Bike was Not Considered a "Small Bike" In the 60 & 70s a 250 cc Bike was a Desirable Bike .. The Japanese Put Lots of R&D into 250s as they We're Popular in Japan & The UK As You could Ride One on L Plates Honda CB250 K4s Everywhere The Suzuki Hustlers Kawasaki 250 Triples Yamaha RD 250 (Reed Valve) Followed By The Yamaha LC (Liquid Cooled) 100mph Claimed ..and Legend Has it The Government Brought in The 125 cc Law Because of The LC . as a Minister Stood up in Parliament With a Copy Of Motor Cycle News Front Page Headline 100 MPH Learner Motorcycle !!!

400 to 650cc for me it's enough it's nop the power but it's less expensive e less taxes to pay and for the city Moore practical

My best bike ever was my honda cb400 superfour. If you know how to ride them a 400 can be so much fun.

Maybe in England and Europe a 400cc is ok, but down here in Australia absolutely no way.

Manhunt from Guantanamo has been extended to Sri Lanka- reports of Tango consumption going up in SE London…

Thinking back to the cb500 I used as a learner, it was a pretty useful bike. Not slow and very easy to ride. Not sure whether I'd think the same of it now since I've only had sports bikes since passing my test 25 years ago. As to repairing a damaged bike, it's probably best left to the experts so I think repairing one yourself is not advised unless you're a pretty useful mechanic. I've crashed a few times and done most of the repairs myself, but even being an engineer with lots practical experience I always wondered if I'd done everything correctly. I usually took my repaired bikes to a proper workshop and they'd give it a once over just to make sure nothing obvious was wrong.

I "downgraded" to a 2019 KTM RC390 and it is put fun into biking for me. It's as light as a feather, is never happier than when it's on the side of the tyres, yet is cheap to run and I don't need to do ridiculous speeds to enjoy it. I park it outside work each day and it gets a ridiculous amount of attention from other riders. The temptation to put frankly stupidly expensive shiny bits for such a little bike onto it is overwhelming and it will eventually sport Ohlins suspension and marchesini wheels etc. But I love this little bike and wouldn't trade it for any bigger sportsbike.