Bigger is Better... right?
In America, especially in the South, we're accustomed to things being
B I G !
Big open spaces, big houses, big dogs even. And especially when it comes
to driving, we're a nation that prefers big. Part of the USA's national character are these
vast, sprawling networks of freeway to connect different parts of the country. And we love roaring
down those roads in great, big vehicles! For many people, this is even a necessity, being part of their
daily commute.
There's a good portion of my own family that's about a 4-hour drive away.
Typically, the perfect choice for the task is something that can cruise smoothly at high speed and
carry enough fuel to get there without stopping. My Harley Road Glide is purpose-built for such long
drives, and it excels at that. However, most of my time driving is spent zipping around in town, not
doing long hauls.
Enter the Dragon Lizard
At this point in my life, I'm not taking many solo trips at all, so loading up for a camping trip means everyone piling into the car, rather than just me loading up the bike and hitting the road by myself. Time to downsize. There's no way I'm not going to be on two wheels, so I started doing some research. First, I had to identify my needs in a motorcycle:
- Carry enough for an overnighter or (more realistically) just some grocery shopping
- Easy to park at my favorite coffeeshop (where parking is limited)
- Good on gas
- Able to hit at least 50 mph
- Look cool (to me)
I'll save you the long, drawn out process and nights of agonizing over various choices (everything from 300cc sport bikes to modifying a Honda Ruckus were under serious consideration) and just tell you what I got: a Honda Trail 125! It checks all my needs and perfectly exemplifies the biggest advantage of a small bike, being supremely manageable around town. It's fast enough for surface streets (I guess I could putt along a highway in an emergency), and nobody bats an eye if you park it on a sidewalk (dedicated motorcycle parking isn't really a thing where I live, but it should be!).
What's it like?
Speed is not a strength of this bike. I can't pull away from traffic and
instantly pass nearly anyone else on the road like I could on other bikes. The top speed I've reached
was 55 mph, and it took a pretty long stretch of flat road to do so. The suspension is squishy (though
this is perfect for the pothole-plagued roads where I live), the brakes can only be described
as adequate, and the seat isn't very comfortable. Clearly, this is no high-spec machine.
You know what, though? I love it! The basic-ness makes me feel like
I'm on my very first motorcycle again, but this is even smaller (and slower) than my old Honda Rebel.
Everything about it is so effortless! Tight u-turns, narrow spaces, gravel, none of it is even
a concern; just trundle along and don't sweat it. And when I'm buzzing down the road at nearly
full-tilt, I'll guiltily peek at the speedo, thinking I must be speeding, only to see I'm
barely going over 40 mph. There is thrill in minimalism, riding a machine that is just enough.
Do I look silly on this diminutive bike? Probably. Am I having fun? Absolutely!
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