@rde09 Sounds like we are looking at this new model with a similar perspective. I've had big powerful, heavy bikes and I'm a bit over it now.
I've done a fair amount of touring over the years and a fully loaded big bore is hard work if not impossible to pick up by yourself if you drop it. Not a good look.
It's all about PTW ratio for me these days. As you alluded to with the story of the drag with your mate on the 250's, body mass is a big factor in this equation too. But for the most part there is not much we can do about this, we are what we are. I'm lucky from a racing point of view in that I'm a 55kg bean pole. I would make a great Moto3 rider if I had the skills

. I do well with my light weight in the local class I race in though as we all have about 70 -85 HP. If I get a good start I can pretty much guarantee I will get the holeshot and be able to ride in free space until/unless someone passes me. Such a bonus.
I lightened up my CBR300 by 13kg (29lb) from stock to improve its PTW ratio. For a 30HP bike it was actually quite quick off the line up to about 60MPH and I used to enjoy surprising guys on bigger bikes. That's with me on board though!
But yeah less weight helps in all sorts of ways like improved handling (flickability) and lesser fuel consumption. I was pleased to see kawasaki have fitted lighter wheels to the 400 as the benefit to handling of having less un-sprung weight and a lighter rotating mass that produces less gyroscopic force is considerable. That's why race teams fit carbon fiber wheels to their bikes. Oh and they look way cooler too!