How do you adjust when you size down?

[eidian]

Okay, some of you know that I'm getting some new tires put on the Z1000...and it's happening right now as a mater-of-fact. Anyway, I had to leave the bike at the shop over night so I ended up taking the 500R to work today. And let me tell you, I don't if my laughter was from terror or humor on my way to work (maybe it was a combination of both).

I was wringing that engine out like I never did before. Every shift was at 10k and I swear the bike felt like it only had 7 lbs of torque. I don't know how I ever rode that bike on the freeway before with no fear, forget about actually going through the twisties on it! I mean don't get me wrong, I was still quickest off the line at intersections and the bike reached 80 mph with no problems for required freeway riding. I just can't believe that I've gotten to the point where I feel that if I can't go from 40 to 105 mph in less than 4 seconds time, I'm crippled. Since when did ridiculous power like that become a necessity for me!?

So how do you people who have multiple bikes with different engine sizes actually go back down? Between fear of not having enough power to be safe and my wrist being sore from holding the throttle so far back, I'm almost considering pushing the bike to the dealership to pick up the Z1.

[NCDave]

Well, I go from a cruiser to a 650R, so it's not so difficult for me. They are two different styles so my mindset is different depending on which I mount. I don't expect one to be anything like the other....and they aren't.

Now, from the buell to the 650R, I'd say it's a comfort factor. the Buell is sporty and fun to ride for a bit, but the 650R is much easier to ride. And because it revs so much higher, it's not missing so much power. Your bikes are at a larger difference than mine though.

I'd suggest you upgrade the 500 for a 650R and you'll be just fine.

[bennice]

It still had to be better than driving though, right??

I know what you mean though. Occasionally I'll ride the wife's 650R to work, and it takes almost half the ride to get used to it.

[sheldonbourgeoi]

Its even better when you've been riding a bike bigger than what you own, then you have to downsize to your own bike!

[jbsmd]

I kinda wonder what my 750's would feel like now....but I just wonder. Going from Z to cruiser and back, is no big deal. Even though my cruiser is faster, the Z is fun too.

(cruiser is faster than stock, not faster than the Z)

[Box]

V2k to 900 is quite something, I keep thinking there is something wrong with the throttle but boy can you throw it round like it's a scooter.
As for the CBF 500 it's such a different style of bike that I'm already thinking differently when I sit on it.

[coppertales]

of why I have three KZ1100s........ chris3

[Squidly]

hey eidian, get rid of that dang 500 and get a zx-14 for the days when your z in in the shop. that should fix things. oh, wait....

[Obsidian16825]

I go back and forth from a GL1000 to an EN500. One feels like a bus, the other is relatively nimble. It just takes a few minutes to adapt.

[2WheelFun]

My long haul bike is a V2K.

My commuter is a DR 350 on/off road.

Talk about a huge gap in power and performance but I enjoy the gas mileage (65mpg) on the DR 350 while riding to and from work.

[aftermath4788]

I ride a 250 everyday and on the weekends, i pull out the zx11. For me I dont feel a difference. Bascially, when I hop on the other one, my muscle memory kicks in and I know how the throttle is and how the clutch feels and stuff like that. I dont have any issues with that. I dont know, maybe I just dont notice it?