When I was a teenager I used to ride scooters or cubs that my friends owned. That was the period that I was preparing for the time that I could finally get my first motorcycle.Unfortunately,after my accident,during rappelling from a cliff, I had to postpone it. I managed to get my license(A class) about two years ago. So,I started looking for my first motorcycle. What type of motorcycle should I get?A 600cc,a super-sport,a naked or a touring bike?Questions,questions and finally I sat down and make a couple of calculations,that lead me to the result.
My first motorcycle
After some thought, I decided to get a small 125cc. I wanted a bike that was cheap to buy, easy maintained and a good teaching instrument. Also, if I had to fix anything the spare parts should be cheap. Not investing a lot of money to a first bike,it will allow me to save money for a better bike later. The style of motorcycle that I like is classic retro roadster,cafe racers and scramblers.I got a Keeway X-light 125 for my first bike. It looks like a scrambler and I like its style. It has served me well the past years. I have never faced any problem. The services are done on time, and everything run smoothly. The engine is an air cooled single cylinder,4 stroke. It does not have a radiator for cooling purposes. It is a simple engine. The horsepower is 11 at 9000rpm. Torque is 9.7Nm at 6,500rpm. It is not a speed demon,but it is a great little bike for commuting and short rides. I have done a couple of trips riding from town to town,using back-roads. It is fun to ride at such roads. Keep the speed at around 90km and you will not feel any vibrations. Also, the rpm are kept in 8000,so that the engine is not pushed too hard. I have done a trip to a city, riding on the highway. The speed I kept was around 95km,but I reached 113km while I was coming down a slop. Some side wind had given me a hard time for awhile,too. Nonetheless, I enjoy riding this little machine,even in rain. With this bike I had also been in camping trips and outings.
Reasons to Upgrade from 125cc To 350cc
Since I ride the 125cc for the last 18 months, I think that is time to take the next step.I decide to upgrade to a 350cc. Upgrading to a bigger bike have advantages,that are the following:
Highway and motorway riding: My 125cc bike usually tops at 100km/h(around 60mph) and anything after that causes vibration and pushes the engine too much.On fast roads like a highway it struggles. I know, I have done trips. But, I prefer the back-country or secondary roads better. A 350cc bike can easily reaches 130+km/h(80+mph).Thus allowing me to keep up with traffic without straining the engine.
Safe Overtaking: A 350cc have extra throttle response,so passing trucks and slow moving cars are much faster and safer in country roads.
Better stability: 350cc motorcycles are heavier and wider than 125cc ones.Because of this,they don’t pushed around often by crosswinds and feel more stable at high speeds.
Riding with a passenger: Trying to carry a second person on a 125cc bike,slows it down a lot.On the contrary,on a 350cc bike,the engine has enough power to carry two people. It does not lose power and has better seat too.
Long distance comfort: The seats on 350cc bikes tend to be larger.The motorcycles often has better suspension and their frames are larger than 125cc bikes. These factors make the long daily commutes or weekend trips much more comfortable.
Things To Consider
Besides all these advantages,there are a couple of things to consider when making this upgrade.
Fuel economy: A 350cc motorcycle uses more fuel than an ultra efficient 125cc. The fuel consumption of my 125cc is 2.1lt/100km.
City Agility:125cc bikes are lighter and easier to squeeze through tight city traffic. A 350cc bike can also do that,just not with the easiness of a 125cc.
License requirements: Depending where you live,you may need a different motorcycle license class(such is A2 license in Europe) to ride a 350cc bike. I don’t have that problem because my license is A class.
Advantages of the Honda GB350S
I choose the Honda GB350S to replace my small 125cc,after considering some important facts.
Torque: The Honda is all about low-end grunt. On my X-Light, I have to twist the throttle hard to rev to 9000rpm to find power. The Honda gives its maximum force at just 3.000rpms,offering effortless acceleration away from traffic lights. It is not a speed demon either,but it is much better than a 125cc.
Calmer highway riding: Instead of a 125cc engine buzzing and straining at 90-100kmh, the Honda will cruise comfortably at 100-110kmh,with plenty of throttle left to pass slower traffic
Premium reliability:Moving from Keeway to Honda is a major step-up in paint,finish,metal quality,and mechanical reliability.Although,I hadn’t faced any major issues with the X-Light,the GB350S is definitely better. It is also features an assist & slipper clutch,making the clutch lever incredibly light and easy to pull -in stop and go traffic.
Fuel range:Even though the GB350S has a bigger engine than my X-Light,it is exceptional fuel efficient.With its 15 liter tank,I can easily cover more than 400km before refueling.
Price: The cost of my new motorcycle is 5.200€. It is not very high and I can definitely can afford the monthly payments. The maintenance is also very easy and simple for a novice like me,too. I could have opt for a used bike bigger and faster but I prefer the GB350S more than anything. It has so much character,and it has caught my heart in the first sight.
While I am waiting for the new motorcycle to arrive,I am still enjoying the 125cc daily. From commuting around town,go back and forth to work,or enjoying rides at the beach with my daughter.I can only smile with all that memories and moments the small bike has offered me,and I cannot wait for the chapter to begin.
My first camp out with the 125cc motorcycle https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXwZ51DsucV/?stkn=MWd5Mjc2bndkbTFpbg==
Good article, thanks for posting your experience
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