Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Motorcycle size, honda nighthawk 650, kawasaki zephyr

Question
I am considering buying a Kawasaki Zephyr 1100. I am only 5'9" and about 180#. The only bike I have owned before was a Honda nighthawk 650. Would this 1100 be too big for my size.

Answer
If you were able to safely handle the Nighthawk, felt confident on it, and had at least a couple years of experience on it, I believe you would be okay on the Zephyr. Bear in mind it will take upwards of 6 months to get used to it--to become familiar with it--but it should be okay.

If the 650 seems in any way too much for you, you might find the 1100 a bit of a handful. Larger bikes can mask control problems and technique errors, and you could overestimate your abilities and get yourself into trouble, a situation that your skills (and brain) won't be able to resolve.

All in all, if you're comfy on the 650 and feel like you're ready to move up, the Zephyr would be a reasonable choice.

Pat