Quote Originally Posted by ZMC888 View Post
I've spent years on smaller bikes and on mid-sized bikes and I don't really agree with you. Maneuverability is down far more to bar and peg position than weight or engine size. For example trying to ride in a city on a Fireblade CBR1000 for me was an embarrassment, not because of the weight of the bike just because it puts you in a 'superman' race position, great for track leaning and knee downing low wind resistance but terrible for me in a metropolis, at least in my hands.

A well designed mid-sized bike like a CB400, ER6 or CB500 gives away very little or nothing in a city to the average 250. A GW250 has some balls but is just too weighty for it's size so you'd gain nothing in a city over a mid size machine. Although light YBR 250 is just a bit too gutless and the brakes too poor for there to be any overall advantage. For an intermediate or newb rider possibly the smaller lighter bike is preferable, but for a skilled rider the mid-sized is best overall. You can see the proven by looking at the bikes that London motorcycle dispatch riders use CB500s are the most popular bike.

Honestly, I think you're just using wishful thinking to make having a 250cc bike OK. The fact is the engine is less powerful, the brakes are weaker. The bike IS more maneuverable, but it's only by a tiny percent in the right hands. Mostly what is better about a 250cc bike compared with a mid sized bike is the new sticker price, fuel economy and the prices of spare parts. Although a Kawasaki Ninja 250/300 or Z250/300 is certainly getting nearer the sweet spot than a YBR250.

This is just my opinion after 20 years riding and riding and about 20 bikes.
250cc bike is OK, if it is enough for you. Bigger is not better, else some sort of 5000cc bike with an engine from a car would be the best. There is no "sweet spot" either. It all depends what is enough for you. The next bike I would buy would be 150cc. That is smaller than I have ever had, but I know it would be enough for me and get its job done. I know also a few people who think that 50cc is enough for them.

I have driven with street legal racing bikes and all between them and 50cc. Powerful racing bikes are fun if you can race with them. But if you can't, then they are not fun. They are boring and frustrating beyond words when driven according to normal speed limits. They are abused if driven like that, to say the least. No point to drive them outside racing tracks, if one is going to not exceed speed limits.

Some 700cc bike is annoying too because it pretty much asks more throttle all the time, and if you give it more, you notice it should have more power, which is annoying. It is easier to be content with small bike and just enjoy the no rush ride. Not saying rush ride would be bad, it is great fun too, but it is very dangerous after all and illegal too.