Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness and big cc bikes

I just got back from a trip to Brazil to visit my wife's family and I don't think that I have seen as many tiny motorcycles anywhere else in the world as I did there. There are far more bikes per capita than in the states, and it did my heart good to see a society that has so embraced bikes as a standard mode of transportation for men and women both old and young. I was, however, saddened to see the relative lack of power available to the masses. The vast majority (over 95%) of the bikes I saw were single cylinder 125-150 cc models. Bigger bikes are available but are prohibitively expensive to the point that only the super-rich can afford them.
I know that bigger engines can be found in every corner of the globe, but upon my arrival back here in the states among the thousands of other things I love about the land I call home I have recently added the relatively easy access to all the engine a soul could ever want!
So when you read this perhaps it would be appropriate to have a brief moment of silence to remember our riding brothers and sisters around the world who are less "cc-fortunate" than ourselves.

I think it helps to have a climate that is conducive to riding most of the year or year round. Here in the good ol' USA most of us are consigned to nine months of riding or less. Also our domestic auto manufacturers stepped up long ago and offered cars and trucks that nearly anyone could afford which gave them a lock on the USA market. Also, despite a bike's advantages, a car is simply more useful to a lot of people.

Enjoy it while you can.

most of the places that have a lot of small cc bikes dont have the roads that the bigger bikes or cars can survive on

Once a bike's displacement gets much above 125 CC's the mileage benefits pretty much go away. The reason these folks drive tiny bikes is because it's what they can afford and what their governments want them to consume.

Welcome to the land of Milk and Honey!

kzcsi

Speaking of those little bikes, ever see one of those Youtube video's of them at an intersection? Vietnam is a wild place for them. Pretty crazy when a hundred or so start turning left or right at the same time. Nobody hits at all.... crazy

crazy bike video

I can totally relate to what you saw in Brazil. I got married to a woman from Colombia last January and while I was there saw pretty much the same thing. There are hundreds of small cc single cylinder bikes both 2 and 4 stroke. I saw entire families (Dad driving, Junior sitting on the tank and mom on the back) weaving in and out of Cali traffic. I'd be terrified to do this on my 1000. Most of these little bikes are the same technology we had here in the 70's. I also saw many of these little gutless wonders pulling trailers around. One morning while I was having my coffee I looked down the hill and saw one of these rigs toting a washing machine in the back.

Having access to affordable big displacement bikes is just one more thing I like about living here. I also like taking a hot shower whenever I want and the ability to get a really cold beer anytime I please.

spend a couple years in korea:P

Post edited by: PLUMMEN, at: 2008/02/12 11:45

Was in the Phillipines for four months. Same situation there.

PLUMMEN wrote:

spend a couple years in korea:P<br><br>Post edited by: PLUMMEN, at: 2008/02/12 11:45

Haha I am in my second year here. While not nearly as crazy as china, or Thailand for driving conditions 125's are the rule not the exception here.

I had one last year, a korean build daelim 4 valve 1 cylinder 125. It was a fun little guy and even took me across Korea. This year i plan on getting my bike licenses here so i can register a larger ride (CB400 are popular among high class couriers however they are quite beat most times by the time they make it to resale).

I have spotted some ZREX's, but most of the imports are hondas. Hyosung makes a 250 twin and a 650 twin...both nice and super cheap to repair here.

Parts for the jap made bikes are not stocked here...so it can take months to get a bike fixed. Mechanics here are considered just higher than beggars, sooo when i got my last bike repaired the most i ever paid was $20. I put it down trying to hop the curb, 125's are allowed on the side walks...I tore up the brake lever, mirror, and rear break rear set. The repairs were done while i waited with a cup of coffee they insisted i have.

Good tools are hard to come by here, so the mechanics has made all their own tools...they looked ugly but i bet they wouldn't trade them for anything the snap on man could bring.

ok my rant is done....riding here is outstanding, and in Seoul 125cc is more than enough to thread your way through the traffic.

where is here?

korea;)

off topic, but how did you manage to make your way over to Korea Plummen? Not many turbo charged 1300cc monsters running around, maybe you should come back to show the locals how to build a street screamer...