Zippokovich

They are meaningless in the real world but they are useful as a comparative measure of performance, hence why manufacturers publish them for almost every car

I saw that site actually but didn't trust it as its figures for power output vary from other sources and it says 0-60 in 6.5 for some other models too with less power and only a little less weight (if memory serves me) which just seems wrong to me

0-60 times are really hard to come by for most bikes so does anyone have any idea with the XV750 Virago? Sorry if this sort of thread already exists in the forum but its really hard to search as the search system doesn't like '0 - 60' or '0 to 60'

I'll accept I'm unfocused, I'm a total novice, I knew nothing at all about bikes 2 weeks ago and as I learn more my opinions change - e.g. as my understanding of the performance of bikes got a little better I decided a 125 or 250 wouldn't be enough and decided I would save money and hassle and go straight to a larger displacement cruiser with a little more power than the direct access test bikes. But again that might totally change! I think my first step will be to go to a GetOn session and just prove to myself that I like the feeling of being on a bike, if I do I push on and if not I walk away and put my money into a car Thanks for the advice, I very much appreciated it Well as I say I can't start this endeavour properly until next summer - money permitting. So when that time comes I will go around a few dealers and sit on a few different style bikes, will also try and find a close-by seller of the particular bike I end up wanting and go and see it, even if the price is wrong for me, just to see. I could also try renting a few bikes for a few hours each for a shot. But it does appear to me that as long as you don't damage them, bikes of a certain age seem to retain value so changing after a few months if you wanted wouldn't be that pricey. At the moment I am most considering an XV535, XV750 or a Kawasaki VN800 (please don't lynch me for mentioning a not-Yamaha!)

Direct access can leave you restricted? Though it was the test that allowed you to be unrestricted. Im 21 btw to eligible to take direct access

I wont be getting rid of my car no, I need it for alot of things. But concerning the XVS650 - I'm more tempted by the selection of Viragos to be honest, they seem better value and have a wide range of engines for me to pick from (though im still trying to understand the range), any opinions there? I know! I understand car performance, I can think in 0-60 times and I know what cars go like with various power output. With bikes Im just beginning to understand, it seems bikes handle speed differently to cars and I'm leaning. I think i've also been confused my the lack of proportion on cruiser engines with size/power. Some 600s seem to produce as much as some 1000s and sports bike engines are totally different again. Its all a learning process for me and I appreciate your guys help My basic goal at the moment is to get as fast a bike as possible (for a reasonable price, somewhere under £2000) which I'm not going to immediately slam into a wall the day after my direct access

After chatting with a biking friend I have decided that something like an XVS650 is a good idea - something in the 40-60hp range One thing thats confusing me though is most of the cruisers in this range MCN reviews describe as slow, for the XVS650 they said: 'only ever going to be in for an unhurried ride' and I have seen other videos and articles describe such bikes this way. What do they mean by this? Can anyone give me rough 0-60 times for an XVS650? How would one preform overtaking from say 50-80mph, would it achieve this faster than my 1.8 car? Basically are they just slow compared to 'other' bikes or are they slow vehicles in general?

Thanks for the detailed reply (and sorry for my late reply) I've been thinking a bit more and realised a few things. I think because I weigh 15 stone a 125 isn't really going to cut it, I want a smaller bike to learn on but if I'm going to buy a bike I want one that can overtake sufficiently which means being able to do 40-80 at least as fast as my car. I don't have the money at the moment but I think next summer when I've finished uni I will conciser doing direct access and then getting a bigger bike than a 125 but still something suitable for me to learn properly on (because we all know you really learn to drive after passing your test). 1. Does this sound like a good plan? 2. Will a Virago 250 suit my purposes or would the more powerful 400 be better - keeping in mind I want a capable bike but not one that is too powerful to lean on (and I'm quite heavy)? 3. I'm still trying to reconcile my safety concerns any advice there?

Hay guys, this is my first post here and I know almost nothing about bikes so please excuse my ignorance. I'm 21 and drive a Peugeot 406 which I love for its space and comfort (I personally like how it looks too) but its not exactly nippy and I often wish it gave a little bit more when I want to drive it quickly. I wish I could afford a bigger car but they are expensive to buy and insure so that is out of the question right now. Recently a friend suggested a bike could add a little spice back to my motoring, he assured me even a 125 would be faster (accelerating) and more fun than my car. I had always dismissed bikes because of the perceived danger but the idea of getting a CR125 intrigues me. The bike, CBT, gear and insurance are a pretty big outlay for me (probably somewhere just over a 1000 depending on the cost of the bike) but I wondered if the full consumption of the SR cold help soften that blow. So I have some questions about the bike in general and its suitability to my needs which I would appreciated some opinions on. 1. How fast is an SR compared to my 1.8 saloon which does 0-60 in 12.9 seconds, 0-40 in 7 seconds, 0-30 in about 5 seconds and tops out at 120 mph (not that I've ever gone there!) 2. What sort of mpg will the bike get, keep in mind I live in the country side and its a 10 mile 60mph run to town so the bike would be near top speed a lot 3. Will the bike even reliably take me to 60 to do my 10 mile run down the trunk road? 4. I live in Edinburgh during term time and the bike would be a bugger to drive through (not being able to use the motorway) but handy while there, would it be possible to get the bike up a wide light of stairs and into a first story flat instead of leaving it on the street?