In the sixties, 250cc ws regarded as midsized. Now it is small, but with the changes in engine tchnology it apears that it will do just fine for me. What I do not want is a bike with a car engine in it. Meaning, I want a bike that I can work on, not something I have to take into the dealer every time it hiccups. Carbeurated, air cooled if possible, just a simple bike that is reliable.
After I spend a year or so on that bike I’ll know whether I need a 750. Would probably be a Honda Aero, a cool machine.
I have owned a SSE492 (car with 492cc) and have ridden around in other cars of about 850cc. So my predilection for something a bit smaller than many would like.
Can’t tell you howm any times I have stripped down, cleaned and repaired a carbeurator my sports cars. For about 40 bucks.
The problem with a 250 isn’t the power, even a Nighthawk 250 will stomp most cars in a stoplight drag, but the noise and vibration at highway speeds. At modern highway speeds, just about all 250s are screaming their heads off and are uncomfortable to ride.
Also, most of the smaller bikes are still carbureted, so you’re set there, if you insist - but bike fuel injection systems are very simple and often go 100,000 miles without needing any attention whatsoever. Likewise liquid cooling - they’re pretty much trouble-free now - and if you’re ever stuck in a traffic jam where you can’t move for a while, the liquid cooling will keep your bike from overheating and dying.
Finally, just about everything but the big tourers or sportbikes are still easy to work on at home. Well, unless you buy a BMW, then you’re screwed.
Today’s engines get a lot more horsepower for the displacement. My 125cc four-stroke from 2006 delivers as much as a 200cc from the 1970s.