You Don't Need a 1000cc to Be Fast

You Don't Need a 1000cc to Be Fast

He Thought His S1000RR Would Destroy My ZX-6R… Then We Hit the Twisties

You guys are going to love this one.

This whole thing happened completely out of the blue, and we were laughing about it for weeks afterward.

We went out on one of our MotoBros Sunday morning rides. It was a beautiful day, the weather was good, and we had a great group of guys together. We stopped for gas, talked about the route, and decided to take one of our old favorites: a little bit of straight road, a few twisties, and plenty of places to just enjoy being on two wheels.

Nothing crazy. Just a good morning with the boys.

And then a guy on an S1000RR showed up.

Sunday Morning With the MotoBros Crew

One of the things I love about our group rides is that we keep a pretty tight bunch.

We communicate, we have some basic rules, and we look out for each other. If it's going to be really hot, we'll head out early so we can enjoy the cooler morning and get back before the heat becomes miserable.

We also meet new riders all the time.

Sometimes somebody doesn't have a group to ride with, so they come along, get to know everybody, and before you know it, they're part of the family.

That's really what I want MotoBros to be about.

You can come to the shop, learn how to do your own oil change, ask questions, get help with your motorcycle, or just hang out with people who love the same things you do.

And on this particular morning, we were just having a great time.

Bud and I Were Being Idiots

I was riding the new ZX-6R, and my buddy Bud was on his GSX-R750.

Now, if you know me, you know I like to mess around.

If I get ahead of Bud by this much, I'm immediately like, "I'm number one!"

I'm fist-pumping, high-fiving the air, celebrating like I just won a world championship.

And Bud is just looking at me like, "You're an idiot."

Which makes it even funnier.

We were doing our usual thing at the front of the group when this rider on an S1000RR came up alongside us.

And I could tell almost immediately that he wanted to play.

He Picked the Wrong Guy to Mess With

Out of everybody in the group, he decided to come after me.

I think he looked over, saw the ZX-6R, and thought, "All right, I'm going to teach this guy a lesson."

Meanwhile, I'm already laughing inside my helmet.

Because here's the thing: I knew what he was riding.

An S1000RR is an incredible motorcycle. It has a massive power advantage over a ZX-6R, and in a straight line, if the rider knows what they're doing, that bike is going to be extremely difficult to compete with.

I'm not pretending a 600 has the same horsepower as a 1000.

But horsepower is only one part of riding.

And that's where this got interesting.

The First Run Told Me Everything

We did a little run, and I could immediately see what was happening.

He had the power advantage, but when the road started turning, the difference in riding skill became obvious.

I knew the route, I knew my motorcycle, and I was comfortable with the corners.

And I'm sitting there thinking, "Oh my gosh, man. You have no idea."

The funny part wasn't that I was trying to prove I'm the greatest rider in the world.

It was that he seemed to think the motorcycle alone was going to do the work for him.

And that's a mistake I see all the time.

You Don't Need a Liter Bike

If there's one thing I want you to take away from this video, it's this:

You do not need a 1000cc motorcycle to have an amazing time.

You don't need 200 horsepower to enjoy the twisties.

You don't need the most expensive motorcycle in the parking lot.

And you definitely don't need to feel embarrassed because you ride an R3, R7, Ninja 650, or ZX-6R.

I hear people say it all the time.

"Yeah, it's just a 650, but I'm going to upgrade soon."

Dude, you have a 650. That's the jam.

Or somebody will say, "It's only an R3."

Only an R3?

Have you ever ridden an R3 properly on a track? Those little bikes are an absolute blast.

The amount of fun you can have on a smaller motorcycle is unbelievable.

Skill Changes Everything

The more you learn, the more you realize how much there is to riding.

Braking.

Body position.

Corner entry.

Throttle control.

Looking through the turn.

Understanding what the motorcycle is doing underneath you.

When you start putting those things together, your enjoyment goes to another level.

That's why I'm always encouraging people to do trackdays and get proper instruction.

Not because everybody needs to become a racer.

Because learning to ride better makes every motorcycle more enjoyable.

And a controlled track environment is the right place to explore those limits, not a public road with traffic, driveways, and unpredictable conditions.

We Were Laughing About It All Week

By the time we got to our stop for food and coffee, the guys were cracking up.

Ross came over doing the fist-pump thing, and everybody was talking about what had just happened.

I was still laughing.

We talked about it for the rest of the day, and honestly, it kept coming up for the next week.

That's what made the video so much fun.

It wasn't some planned challenge or a big production.

It was just one of those random moments on a group ride that turned into a great story.

And it gave me a perfect opportunity to talk about something I genuinely believe in.

Stop Worrying About What Everybody Else Rides

I have an R7, and I absolutely love that motorcycle.

People will ask me, "You're riding an R7?"

Yeah, dude. I'm riding an R7.

Then they'll say, "Are you going to upgrade?"

No. I love my R7.

I have other motorcycles, but that doesn't make the R7 any less fun.

The same goes for the R3. I've raced one before, and I'm excited to build another one because I know how much fun those bikes can be.

Once you stop worrying about what everybody else thinks, you can actually enjoy the motorcycle you have.

And that's a much better way to ride.

Straight-Line Riders, Track Riders: Just Enjoy Two Wheels

I know some people love straight-line riding.

That's their thing.

They love the acceleration, the horsepower, and the feeling of a powerful motorcycle pulling hard.

And that's fine.

Other people love corners, trackdays, and working on their riding technique.

To each their own.

As long as you're enjoying motorcycles and doing it responsibly, that's what matters.

The point is that one type of motorcycle doesn't automatically make somebody a better rider.

The rider still matters.

Come Ride With Us

If you've been thinking about joining MotoBros, come check us out.

We do group rides, breakfast runs, night rides, events, and all kinds of stuff throughout the year. Members can connect through our Discord, meet other riders, and get involved in the community.

We also have shop benefits and discounts, and we're always happy to help you learn more about your motorcycle.

If you've never done a trackday, that's something I really encourage you to try.

You don't have to be fast. You don't have to have a liter bike. You just need to show up with the right attitude and a willingness to learn.

We'll help you get started.

More Small-Bike Fun Is Coming

I'm glad this video happened because it shows exactly what I've been trying to tell you guys for years.

A smaller motorcycle in the hands of a skilled rider can be an absolute weapon.

But more importantly, it can be an incredible amount of fun.

I've got more videos coming with the R3, R7, and other bikes, and I want to keep showing you guys what these motorcycles are capable of when you put the time into learning.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

And remember: you don't need the biggest bike to have the biggest smile.

Please ride safe, grow your skill, and I'll see you guys in the next one.

Craig, MotoBros