Were bikes really that small...

[36654]

While running some errands in the pick-up, I saw an approaching bike and was trying to guess the brand from the head-on perspective. What surprised me was how narrow and slender the thing was..........almost wispy. When it got closer, I recognized it as a newer Triumph Bonneville. The thing is, I have a hard time believing these bikes are the same size as the "Big" bikes from the early 70's.

Am I missing something, or just having an incorrect memory?

[BC1100S]

While running some errands in the pick-up, I saw an approaching bike and was trying to guess the brand from the head-on perspective. What surprised me was how narrow and slender the thing was..........almost wispy. When it got closer, I recognized it as a newer Triumph Bonneville. The thing is, I have a hard time believing these bikes are the same size as the "Big" bikes from the early 70's.

Am I missing something, or just having an incorrect memory?

You're misremembering.

The original Bonnevilles were even smaller.

[tommcgee]

How about an R50:

[36654]

How about an R50:

The airheads weren't as tall and had a low center of gravity. They never felt wispy.

[sedanman]

When I was a kid I thought Dad's CB750FOUR was a monster. Now when I see one I realize how small it really was.

[tommcgee]

When I was a kid I thought Dad's CB750FOUR was a monster. Now when I see one I realize how small it really was.

Yep, they seemed small in later years. Here's mine when I got back into riding in 2004:

[rut3556]

Now this is small! My first bike was a '52 BSA Bantam 125 back in 1958! My present bike (K75) makes #55 since that time. :-)

[David13]

The bikes have got much bigger over the years. I'd like to say it's an American phenom, or aberration, but it may really be world-wide.
Every year must be new and improved, which translates to more horsepower, bigger, and better.
The other thing that happened, was the bikes have become more specialized than ever.
Originally, there was one thing. A motorcycle.
Now you have dirt bikes, trail bikes, street bikes, cruiser bikes, dual sport bikes, super bikes, ... etc.
dc

[jkersh1]

Back in 1973 my first bike was a Honda CD360T that I rode as my sole transportation for a time, and rode up and down the Pacific Coast twice. I saw one just like it in the parking lot after lunch a few months ago. It must have been left out in the rain because it seemed to have shrunk by about half from what I remember.

[lkchris]

Now you have dirt bikes, trail bikes, street bikes, cruiser bikes, dual sport bikes, super bikes, ... etc.

Hardly any "scramblers" however!

[tommcgee]

Hardly any "scramblers" however!

Somebody still makes one.

[32232]

Hardly any "scramblers" however!

I have one.



The Hinckley new classics line (Bonneville, Thruxton, Scrambler etc) are in fact significantly larger and heavier than their forbears to the tune of a couple inches of seat height and about a hundred pounds weight.

They aren't as small as appearing to the OP. The ergonomics of my Scrambler and RT are almost identical.

[David13]

Scramblers have actually splintered and morphed into dirt, trail, mx, and perhaps other types of specialty bikes.
The Scrambler as a model name is a retro bike. As, I think are all the Triumphs, and also the Royal Enfields.
dc

[MANICMECHANIC]

One thing I have noticed as a mechanic is that the older bikes push around the shop a lot differently than the newer bikes. But then it depends on the type of bike, too.

[henzilla]

I got to ride a Norton 750 Commando when I was 16...seemed huge as did my brothers 750-4...as others mention they sure seem small when I stand next to them now.

Been eyeballing a few Scramblers lately as well, always liked the look