We’ve ridden many Big Boy motorcycles over the years, and in this time, we have both seen and experienced the importers SAM (Southern African Motorcycles) and Big Boy’s range grow. Big Boy is well known as the “leader” in the commercial segment in South Africa, with the highest sales figures, strong backing, and pricing that has been very tough to match. However, Big Boy has also put a lot of effort into their pit bikes, scooters, electric transport, commuter and agricultural vehicles. It’s fair to say that they have a broader net these days, while still focusing on what they do best in the commercial segment.
We get to ride all the latest motorcycles in the market, but 90% of the time, it’s the more affordable and smaller capacity vehicles that get the non-motorcyclists’ attention. Motorcyclists are a passionate bunch, and we often forget where it all started. Most new riders are stepping into the motorcycle world purely for a more affordable means of transport these days. Yes, those who buy motorcycles because they love them will always stick around and support the industry, but the entry point into motorcycling is crucial to keep our two-wheeled ecosystem not just surviving, but eventually thriving.
Smaller capacity bikes have always been more approachable to the first-time motorcycle buyer, and for many good reasons, too. They are lighter, which makes the learning curve less steep, lower seat height, better fuel economy, lower servicing costs, and they barely cost you a short December family holiday to the coast these days. At just over 20k, these motorcycles do way more than what their spec sheet suggests; they are crucial for the industry’s growth by expanding the customer base and addressing transportation and affordability needs. These little bikes serve as an essential entry point, encouraging new riders to develop skills and move to larger, more premium bikes later on.
From Big Boy’s line-up, there are two clear commuter favourites at the ZA Bikers office. We are talking about the TSR 250 and Pacer 200; these two bikes bring their own quirky characteristics to the table and a world of simplicity. To try and make the decision easier for you, we swung a leg over both and have come up with a few reasons why you should consider either.
The long in the tooth favourite has to be Big Boy’s TSR. The TSR 250 for me is the modern-day Honda XL 185 S, offering riders a superlight and compact dual-sport that gets you wherever your imagination or gravel road may lead, but also the daily commute with proven reliability, modern LED lighting, decent power, good fuel economy of over 30 km/L and a “take my money now” price of just R28k before licensing fees.
Unfortunately, the Japanese kings of the 80s, those who brought many new riders to the roads, cannot keep up with the rising production costs and inflation. Luckily, there are brands and yes, Chinese ones, but brands that are trying their best to provide decent quality for the up-and-coming rider, for old years’ money. The TSR is a perfect example, coming in at a third of the price of its modern-day Japanese competitor, and it performs better, looks the part and has been proven to get many students to classrooms and budget adventurers across borders. In my book, the TSR deserves some respect and is worth looking at as a daily means of transportation or as a “plaas” bike and even a bit of weekend offroading fun.
The TSR is for the rider who likes the dual-sport scrambler look, occasionally rides on roads less travelled and enjoys the upright scrambler ergonomics. I’ve gotten a few non-motorcycle friends from my high school days onto TSRs, and coming from 4-wheeled backgrounds, they never rode motorcycles during high school or university. Recently, one of the best men from my wedding bought a TSR as well and is enjoying affordable transport, but also some freedom over the weekends. Seeing non-motorcycle riders jump onto two wheels for the first time as adults and enjoy it is such an awesome thing to behold.
This leads us to one of Big Boy’s newer models, the Pacer 200. Like the TSR, the Pacer has some scrambler characteristics but more 60s Bonneville rather than 80s monoshock era. In essence, it’s a road bike with nobblies, which means you get a wider and softer seat, lower bars, a bigger 18 litre fuel tank (TSR is a 12 litre) and a centre stand, a classic headlight protector, crashbars, a USB charger, forward splayed footpegs and a heel and toe shifter. Yes, you don’t have as much travel and ground clearance as the TSR, but you have more range, better fuel economy and a centre stand for chain maintenance.
The Pacer 200 is a great city runabout, looks handsome and can tackle light gravel roads with ease. If you aren’t interested in riding off-road, then I would recommend swapping out the tyres for something more road-biased, but if you do enjoy the occasional ride into the sticks, then the Pacer 200 is a great do-it-all all out of the box.
The Pacer may outshine the TSR in features, but it does cut back with an analogue dash, a rear drum brake and does not come with LED lights as on the TSR. What about the 50 cc less? The 200 cc motor surprisingly doesn’t lose out much compared to the 250 cc in the TSR. The Pacer makes 2.5 kW less at 10.0 kW @ 8,500 rpm and 6 Nm down at 12.5 Nm @ 6,500 rpm. In reality, you barely feel it as the Pacer has more torque lower down, so you end up quick-shifting through the gears, and this translates to almost a litre less per kilometre than the TSR.
If you are looking for an all-rounder, great commuter, open road bike with range to match and a very accommodating seat height for shorter riders, the Pacer will look after you. After showing the mates the Pacer, one of them would have actually preferred the Pacer over the TSR, while the other two were very happy, as they have taller frames and enjoy riding off-road. The Pacer is extremely attractive in price at just R23k, leaving you plenty of extra money for a year’s worth of commuting.
So, there you have it! Whether you swing towards the TSR or the Pacer, you won’t be disappointed in what your twenty-odd grand can buy you. For more information, visit – www.samotorcycles.co.za
Big Boy TSR 250 and Pacer 200
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