If you wanted a small bike, what would it be?

Good to know. I wish I could find one in good shape for not a lot of money. The ones I see are at stealerships and they're very proud of them.
"For not a lot of money" sounds like an MSF auction, when they retire their trainer bikes. I don't know which MSF facilities used them, as I only coached in Alabama.
"One in good shape" does NOT sound like a retired MSF trainer bike, though, ...at any price. 😄
 
Didn’t take me long to go to the floorboards which bring the feet back a bit.

I put floorboards with a heel and toe shifter on my GL1000. It was the most comfortable riding position I've ever experienced. I don't remember exactly were my foot was in relation to the gearshift shaft but IIRC my leg from the kneed down was perfectly vertical. That made for a larger than 90º angle between my thigh and lower leg. Very comfortable. I'd seriously consider a set of well designed floorboards for the ST IF they moved my feet forward a few inches.
 
"For not a lot of money" sounds like an MSF auction, when they retire their trainer bikes. I don't know which MSF facilities used them, as I only coached in Alabama.
"One in good shape" does NOT sound like a retired MSF trainer bike, though, ...at any price. 😄
I guess I'm being cheap. Even the low mileage ones are not expensive as things go, but it's a hard pill to swallow when I only paid $1,800 for my 22k mile 2001 ST1100. I need a deal like that.)
 
I won't mention my first Suzuki GT550 cost a massive $1500, brand new... because others here have similar or better stories.
Oh darn, I did just mention it, didn't I?
*sigh*
It's not 1974 any more.
 
That was a good writeup and a compelling argument for the NX750. FWIW, I've never heard a single bad thing about these bikes. As a matter of fact, the owner of the Honda dealership in Venice, Florida who had his choice of any bike bought a NX700 and loved it. I'll keep my eyes open for one.
There isn't much to dislike with the Honda NC's. You spoke of goat trails, the NC suspension is basic to the point of crude. On good asphalt it is fine, but on anything appoacing ADV riding, it is not kind. I upgraded the front of mine with RaceTech cartridge emulators and the rear with an Öhlins shock. The tank is quite small and accessed under the rear seat. If you don't carry a passenger that can be remedied with an aftermarket or homemade luggage rack in place of the rear seat. The seat is difficult to enjoy, but Russell is waiting to help. DCT is the hot ticket. Maintenance is dead simple. I sold a 2009 Yamaha TMax to buy mine, and in the end, bought another 2009 TMax to replace it. It shares the NC's defects of an unkind suspension, a crummy seat, and a small tank, but it suits me well as a frail old man getaway bike that will probably one day be replaced by a Vespa 300. When my R1250RT becomes too heavy to manage, the Yamaha, my BMW airheads, and a Triumph 900 Scrambler should get me a bit farther down the road.
 

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I won't mention my first Suzuki GT550 cost a massive $1500, brand new... because others here have similar or better stories.
Oh darn, I did just mention it, didn't I?
*sigh*
It's not 1974 any more.
I hear ya, but I bought my ST1100 last year. Sure, $1800 was a good price, but ST's aren't exactly expensive. Neither is a Honda Blackbird. I can pick one of those up for the same price as the TU250X. Far less than a new Honda 125 Trail. Just goes to show how great a value the older bikes are. I'm sure that somewhere someone has a bike for me and just wants to broom it to the relief of his wife.
 
There isn't much to dislike with the Honda NC's. You spoke of goat trails, the NC suspension is basic to the point of crude. On good asphalt it is fine, but on anything appoacing ADV riding, it is not kind. I upgraded the front of mine with RaceTech cartridge emulators and the rear with an Öhlins shock. The tank is quite small and accessed under the rear seat. If you don't carry a passenger that can be remedied with an aftermarket or homemade luggage rack in place of the rear seat. The seat is difficult to enjoy, but Russell is waiting to help. DCT is the hot ticket. Maintenance is dead simple. I sold a 2009 Yamaha TMax to buy mine, and in the end, bought another 2009 TMax to replace it. It shares the NC's defects of an unkind suspension, a crummy seat, and a small tank, but it suits me well as a frail old man getaway bike that will probably one day be replaced by a Vespa 300. When my R1250RT becomes too heavy to manage, the Yamaha, my BMW airheads, and a Triumph 900 Scrambler should get me a bit farther down the road.
Hard not to like an airhead. Yours is a beaut. My buddy had a BMW 650 that would fit the bill of my "smaller" bike needs. Just not exactly what I'm looking for.

Most of the roads here are pretty good, but the roads with 30 cattle guards on them out in the boonies can be bumpy. Also, the roads over the "mountains" are chronically rough. My Blackbird beats me up on those roads, while the ST rides more like a Buick. There are some roads that even the ST is miserable on, though. I definitely need good suspension.

Vespa 300....I think those are very euro-cool, but I'm not sure I can see myself on one. I need something more butch. Like an ADV bike or ADV-ish. Around here, that's almost all you see along with Harleys.
 
Suzuki SV650 - by a landslide.
At first I mistakenly thought V-Strom, but read it again. The SV motor is the heart of the Wee-Strom, but the SV is still a highly-regarded all-round motorcycle.
I'd still like to have one... not just for a "smaller" bike, but just because it's such a darn good motorcycle.
 
If Suzuki brings this into the US it looks very promising. SV-7GX sports tourer. It is a 650 V twin.


The Suzuki SV-7GX is an all-new middleweight crossover motorcycle designed to blend sportbike agility with adventure-touring comfort. Built as a modern sport-touring evolution of the iconic SV650 platform, it upgrades the legendary 645cc V-twin engine to meet Euro5+ emissions regulations.

1782159474678.png
 
If Suzuki brings this into the US it looks very promising. SV-7GX sports tourer. It is a 650 V twin.


The Suzuki SV-7GX is an all-new middleweight crossover motorcycle designed to blend sportbike agility with adventure-touring comfort. Built as a modern sport-touring evolution of the iconic SV650 platform, it upgrades the legendary 645cc V-twin engine to meet Euro5+ emissions regulations.

1782159474678.png
Very nice.
 
Vespa 300....I think those are very euro-cool, but I'm not sure I can see myself on one. I need something more butch. Like an ADV bike or ADV-ish. Around here, that's almost all you see along with Harleys.
They are fun, more than you'd think. I gave up giving a damn what anyone else thinks as a gift to myself when I retired.
 
If Suzuki brings this into the US it looks very promising. SV-7GX sports tourer. It is a 650 V twin.


The Suzuki SV-7GX is an all-new middleweight crossover motorcycle designed to blend sportbike agility with adventure-touring comfort. Built as a modern sport-touring evolution of the iconic SV650 platform, it upgrades the legendary 645cc V-twin engine to meet Euro5+ emissions regulations.

1782159474678.png
I cant imagine Suzuki bringing that in when they have their 800 sport tourers in dealer showrooms
 
Most of my local riding is around 45-55 mph. My Vulcan S does these very nicely. Yet it also rides with the traffic on the super slabs without effort if needed. The pegs position is toward the rear of the range for forward controls so not hard to get used to at all. Not nearly as far forward as the CTX700. My BIL has, or had, one of those the last time I visited.

Yesterday I just returned from LOCSTOC on my Vulcan S and it was perfect for me on any road and any speed I traveled. I even pulled a trailer with it with no issues... that keeps all my camping gear off the tail of the bike.
PXL_20260621_152015759.jpg
 
They are fun, more than you'd think. I gave up giving a damn what anyone else thinks as a gift to myself when I retired.
I can see your point. What is odd is that I can see riding a Vespa 300 in Comfort, Fredericksburg, Boerne, and downtown San Antonio around the Alamo, etc. Those places are more artsy. Obviously, I need to expand my thinking as to where the Vespa fits in. It would really help to ride one to figure that out. The scooter that comes to mind that fits for goat trail riding is the Honda ADV160. I really like the looks of that scooter, but I don't like the fact that it's only a 160.
 
Most of my local riding is around 45-55 mph. My Vulcan S does these very nicely. Yet it also rides with the traffic on the super slabs without effort if needed. The pegs position is toward the rear of the range for forward controls so not hard to get used to at all. Not nearly as far forward as the CTX700. My BIL has, or had, one of those the last time I visited.

Yesterday I just returned from LOCSTOC on my Vulcan S and it was perfect for me on any road and any speed I traveled. I even pulled a trailer with it with no issues... that keeps all my camping gear off the tail of the bike.
PXL_20260621_152015759.jpg
I never expected to see that combination - a cruiser pulling a trailer. Nice trailer, too. How does it feel? Like some of the other bikes mentioned, I'd have to ride a Vulcan to see how I like it. I've never been a "cruiser guy", but that's not a hard and fast rule.
 
I can see your point. What is odd is that I can see riding a Vespa 300 in Comfort, Fredericksburg, Boerne, and downtown San Antonio around the Alamo, etc. Those places are more artsy. Obviously, I need to expand my thinking as to where the Vespa fits in. It would really help to ride one to figure that out. The scooter that comes to mind that fits for goat trail riding is the Honda ADV160. I really like the looks of that scooter, but I don't like the fact that it's only a 160.
You'd have to constantly wring its neck and you will be an obstacle rather than a participant in traffic. It would be nice if Honda would import the X-ADV 750 scooter, but they wouldn't sell. Yamaha has started and stopped the TMax over here because it didn't sell well and Suzuki dropped the 650 Burgman in 2018. The Burgman 400 is still here, I think. My 2009 TMax does long distance trips quite well but if I replaced it I would go smaller - either a Yamaha XMax or a Vespa GTS300. It doesn't take a maxi-scooter to do road work. Google up the Scooter Cannonball. Many normal non-cannonball folks have ridden coast-to-coast on 300cc scoots like the Vespa 300, the Piaggio BV400 (don't tell anyone it is code-named the "Beverly"), and the Yamaha Majesty and XMax. I'm convinced that scooters get summarily dismissed by a great number of people who would be converted if they gave one a good honest try.
 
NC700X or 750X.
This. If no long tours, if the latter the NT 1100. It give me everything my heavier sport touring bikes in a lighter, smaller platform. The bike has character and is just fun to ride. I also have a 2017 CB 1100, even more downsizing. I too no longer ride over 60 or so unless on the freeway.
 
I never expected to see that combination - a cruiser pulling a trailer. Nice trailer, too. How does it feel? Like some of the other bikes mentioned, I'd have to ride a Vulcan to see how I like it. I've never been a "cruiser guy", but that's not a hard and fast rule.

Actually there are a lot of Harley and other brand cruisers pulling this kind of trailer.
For me, this setup felt right. It's not too heavy. Hard to notice it back there when running at constant speed on smooth roads. The bike doesn't really handle badly at all when pulling the trailer. As long as both are well balanced. It does slightly impact starting and stopping performance. Heavier trailers generally result in a bigger impact but this one is a light trailer... other than the load I put in it. I also need to remember there are 2 wheels sticking out the sides so I can't hug the inside of curves or turns... especially if there is a drop-shoulder or curb. I have a swivel coupler on the trailer so there is no impact with leaning the bike while the trailer stays level.

You are correct that you'd have to test ride a Vulcan S to see how you like it. That is true of ANY bike you haven't ridden before. I've owned one true cruiser before. This one doesn't really feel like a cruiser as much as you'd think. The engine and tranny come from the Ninja 650 so it has sport bike bones other than the obvious ergonomics. It revs higher than a typical cruiser and has much better acceleration. But is very well behaved on all roads I've been on. It's also very easy to work on.
 
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