Text/photo: OAI

With simple steps, you can actually replace queuing or delay hell with new fun and enjoyment

Time is not only a scarcity factor, it’s also a factor that affects our health and stress levels every single day. Indirectly, stress can cause us to make poor choices or simply experience health challenges; in most cases, stress is quite unhealthy. Traffic is getting denser and denser, and trains are more and more often delayed due to lack of maintenance or old equipment, sometimes they simply don’t arrive, or thunder past because they are full! Consequence – we get delayed, we get stressed and some even get health problems over time.

Then you should know that the solution is dangerously close and very much available. In fact, at a lower cost than an average electric pedal bike. An ordinary A1 (light motorcycle) or A2 (medium motorcycle) often costs between 50 and 100,000 kroner. Yes, they may not have a lot of power, but on the other hand they are lightweight and have excellent handling, so you get a lot of utility and driving pleasure for your money. All you need to do is adjust your aim and remember that you’re not riding a big, powerful motorcycle with tons of power. Believe it or not, less weight and less power can still be at least a little fun.

I personally ride a Yamaha XSR 125 Legacy in the off-season, with a pair of lovely and soft studless winter tires from ANLAS (Winter grip Plus) that stay soft and nice even when it’s cold. In the fall and early spring, I drive safely and efficiently in temperatures as low as 0 degrees. This is very good material for the time we are in with low temperatures, a lot of gravel and salt dust in the road surface.

The advantage of the A1 and A2 classes is that they are lightweight and particularly suitable for commuting or so-called urban mobility. The A1 class has a maximum power output of around 15 hp, which is sufficient for commuting and city driving. The bikes in this class are stingy on petrol and have consistently good handling and deliver a lot of riding pleasure. The experience of having too little power is usually between the ears, good riders are efficient regardless of size and type of bike, they simply ride well on all types of bikes and don’t need a lot of power to go fast with good flow. You can get a new XSR 125 for around SEK 50,000, while the new MT 125 model is slightly higher in price.

A new MT 125 costs around 67,000 new and is among the most popular models.

In the A1 class, we generally only find good products with serious importers and dealers who can meet customers’ needs for service and complaints. For between NOK 50 and 70,000 you can get a brand new A1 bike, and if you choose one that’s been used for a year or two you’ll get a good bike from NOK 35,000 upwards.

Honda is in the upper price range but, like Yamaha, has high reliability, few faults or defects and a high resale value, provided the bike is well maintained and cared for.

The Voge 125 R is manufactured in China and is a competitive alternative that costs around NOK 43,000 brand new.

The motorcycles produced in China are usually just as good as the larger and recognized brands that are often produced at exactly the same factories in Asian countries such as India and China. This is the case for many product groups today, so “Asia phobias” are often not very well rooted in reality! The resale value of these bikes is not necessarily lower either, if you take care of your motorcycle you will usually get a good price for it the day you sell it. We should also remember that the skepticism towards Japanese motorcycles in the 1970s was at least as high as the skepticism we have today towards China, India and, for example, Korea. Today we know from statistics and experience that Japanese motorcycles outperform their European competitors in terms of reliability and faults, so don’t worry about it. The most important thing is that you take care of your bike and look after it well.

The benefits of freedom

Personally, I love the smallest motorcycles that make my everyday life both easier and more efficient. They’re lightweight, easy to maneuver between cars in queues or heavy traffic and, not least, easy to park or leave behind. Modern A1 models are very comfortable and have excellent cornering ability, so it’s absolutely no problem to take these bikes out for a long ride. If you’re going to use the bike to and from work, it’s wise to choose a naked model where you sit relaxed and upright without putting too much weight on your wrists, arms and shoulders (ps: most relevant for adults and older riders). This year I’ve been particularly pleased with the soft ANLAS tires that perform as well as they actually do early in the season, even on gravel. The Yamaha simply gives me the freedom to manage my own priorities and my own time and, of course, a sense of freedom and the ability to be efficient. And, everyday life with the commute to and from work becomes quite a bit more enjoyable. The ability to extend the riding season and, not least, get a lot more riding practice is also a good argument for choosing an A1 or A2 model as my second bike.

If you choose a scooter, you get a very practical and fun commuting tool with a large load capacity (normally under the seat) and good special protection. Scooters are perhaps even better suited to urban use and can also withstand a long trip with your fishing rod and lunch box. The seating comfort on the scooters is usually very good and you can choose from cool, practical or classic designs. References, shape or color, here you can easily find something that suits your own image. The scooter is probably one of the most widely used means of transport in southern parts of Europe, but we Norwegians are a little more conservative when it comes to the use and utilization of this small, festive and not least practical vehicle. Today, there are also many good electric alternatives that work very well and have a good range that is suitable for everyday commuting, and there is no shortage of creativity in terms of design and design language.

This is BMW’s CE02, which can be driven with a driving license for the A1 class.

Or, what does the A2 class have to offer?

In this class we find slightly more powerful and slightly heavier bikes, but the A2 bikes generally have a fairly low weight and certainly decent power. Motorcycles don’t have to weigh 250 kg, have 150 hp and cost 2-300,000 thousand to be fun, and certainly not if your goal is to master everyday drama with simpler logistics. The model range in the A2 class is large and here you will find bikes in all segments, shapes and colors. and these bikes therefore cover a large interest and application area. Here you’ll find light and stylish commuter machines, classics, off-roaders, touring adventure models or cruisers. They tend to be a little more powerful and usually have a wider range of uses than the A1 class.

ROYAL ENFIELD is the only brand I know of that only supplies A2 bikes and with a large portfolio. The Adventure model Himalayan 450 is probably the most popular and has perhaps the widest range of applications.

There will be a separate article about ROYAL ENFIELD on this website shortly.

Honda, BMW, Triumph, Husqvarna, CF Moto, Fantic, KTM, Yamaha, Voge and Kawasaki all have their own A2 models and the range is extensive. In 2024, the A2 class showed good growth, so the trend is probably that more and more people are finding their way to these versatile and affordable bikes that cover many needs.

The NX 500, CL 500; CB 500 Hornet and CRF 300 Rally are very popular A2 bikes that are affordable and cover a wide range of applications.

With these or other models, you will definitely be able to experience much more peace of mind in everyday life, as well as joy and not least great experiences. The A1 and A2 classes are inexpensive to buy, consistently very reliable and good, and not least fun to drive. Jump out of the queue and into public transport lanes and small side roads, it’s definitely the way to go.

Good luck with your choice.