What did you do to your bike today?
- Thread starter edd1e
- Start date
Are you going to get the fairings for it?
Not unless some second hand ones pop up really cheap they're the best part of £300 for unofficial unpainted ones, and if the paint didn't match it would really bug me.
Yep first thing I did was take that out, I'll give it a good run out before it's clean tomorrow and see what it sounds like. Hopefully I'll still get the odd pop and bang like my old one.
I don't mind that, although, if possible I would have an electric car and petrol bike.Ooooooo unluckybikes will be electric by the time you've passed
I was thinking about another 125, but its too slow. I got frustrated so many times, I needed more power for a manoeuvre and couple times it was really close... Mainly because I didn't have enough power to get out of that danger zone, its like my dad said.
"Power or speed doesn't kill, an idiot will kill himself on a moped."
Ahh just think though, once you've got that out the way it'll only be 2 years before you can ride any bike you want! *subject to price/insurance/practicality/garage... of course
You had to mention that didn't you?
So in total, nearly 3 years intill I can ride whatever I want. It's stupid, that I've to retake all the test whilst having A2 though...
That's got nothing to do with the lack of power and everything to do with poor planning and awareness on your part, if you know you don't have the power to pull off a manoeuvre in the space/time you've got you don't do it.
Yes the extra power on a big bike is great but it shouldn't be used as a crutch for poor planning.
Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Mar 2011
- Posts
- 6,479
- Location
- Kent
You can't plan for everything though, overtakes yes - with a 125 you have to plan hours ahead and need half a mile of clear road to make the move, but there's stuff like being on a DC, overtaking a car/van which when you're alongside, decides it wants to be where you are - on a big bike you can either power out to get out the way or brake, on a 125, it's brake or be squashed.
Also the time exposed to danger when overtaking/passing on a DC is much less on a big bike, say you're passing some cars that are doing 25mph in a 40 zone, or 30mph in a 50mph zone (something I regularly do on my commute) you'd normally pick off each one to make sure they've seen you and aren't going to do something stupid - on a big bike a quick squirt and you're past and back into safety on your side of the road, on a 125 that same overtake takes 5-10x as long.
In anything but 30/40 zones 125's are woefully underpowered, the amount of time and run up it takes to overtake someone doing 40mph in a 60 zone is immense.
IC3 - May will come round soon enough, maybe you can try to find some taster sessions before you do your DAS - I managed to get a test ride (only 10 minutes but it's something!) on an A2 MT-07 at the Yamaha MT tour and also did a 'big bike experience' (basically 90 minutes on an NC700 in a closed off area round cones and a longer bit of track) in the meantime to keep you going!
It only happened on two occasions, once I followed a biker on a GS1200 during a really heavy traffic and just about made it, another situation is overtaking 2 cars and excavator which wheels started turning as I was pretty much next to it... I tried to twist the throttle to get out just in case he didn't bother to look or didn't see me, but was already pushing it to its limits. If I had more power, that situation wouldn't be as dangerous.
The feeling you've more power than needed in situations like this, just gives you that peace of mind. That's why mopeds are dangerous, even my instructor said they are dangerous... no power to escape even in town. On a 125 in town you can escape, but as soon as you go out even on A road you're F...
Any particular site/blog to look at for those types of events? Not many bike dealers around my area, but I could possibly take the bus... The thing is, since I sold my bike and car I lost 3kg's just by walking. I still take the bus, but I still have like a 10-15+ min walk to bus stop from the destination. It's an example of me going to college and that getting up early in the morning... grrr. Best transport was a car, get in drive, get out and go straight to college. No fluffing around with gear, helmet etc...
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Mar 2011
- Posts
- 6,479
- Location
- Kent
Dunno if anyone used to watch the old 5th gear show, they used to do a test of cars to see how long it takes one to overtake a HGV doing 30mph and get back onto the right side of the road - there's one here, with a 320d (some efficient version) with 168bhp, 0-60 in 8 seconds according to google
Skip to 2:50
That did it in about 9 seconds, what's a 125 0-60? 12-15 seconds roughly? So a 125 doing this would probably take say 10 seconds.
Edit - just seen a duke 125 on youtube do 40-60mph in 8 seconds
I'd forgotten they were that slow...
I've found on my footage where I overtake a HGV which is doing around 45mph on a straight road, I'm on the wrong side of the road for 4 seconds. And that's on a little 50bhp bike which really isn't fast compared to something with 100bhp or more.
The big bike taster was done by a training school down here, so maybe check with your local schools, see if they do anything similar? Dealers won't do test rides if you're just on a CBT, but training providers normally have an off road area and it's worth their time as a percentage will come back after getting hooked on a big bike for more training!
Skip to 2:50
That did it in about 9 seconds, what's a 125 0-60? 12-15 seconds roughly? So a 125 doing this would probably take say 10 seconds.
Edit - just seen a duke 125 on youtube do 40-60mph in 8 seconds
I'd forgotten they were that slow...I've found on my footage where I overtake a HGV which is doing around 45mph on a straight road, I'm on the wrong side of the road for 4 seconds. And that's on a little 50bhp bike which really isn't fast compared to something with 100bhp or more.
It only happened on two occasions, once I followed a biker on a GS1200 during a really heavy traffic and just about made it, another situation is overtaking 2 cars and excavator which wheels started turning as I was pretty much next to it... I tried to twist the throttle to get out just in case he didn't bother to look or didn't see me, but was already pushing it to its limits. If I had more power, that situation wouldn't be as dangerous.
The feeling you've more power than needed in situations like this, just gives you that peace of mind. That's why mopeds are dangerous, even my instructor said they are dangerous... no power to escape even in town. On a 125 in town you can escape, but as soon as you go out even on A road you're F...
Any particular site/blog to look at for those types of events? Not many bike dealers around my area, but I could possibly take the bus... The thing is, since I sold my bike and car I lost 3kg's just by walking. I still take the bus, but I still have like a 10-15+ min walk to bus stop from the destination. It's an example of me going to college and that getting up early in the morning... grrr. Best transport was a car, get in drive, get out and go straight to college. No fluffing around with gear, helmet etc...
The big bike taster was done by a training school down here, so maybe check with your local schools, see if they do anything similar? Dealers won't do test rides if you're just on a CBT, but training providers normally have an off road area and it's worth their time as a percentage will come back after getting hooked on a big bike for more training!
Last edited:
Well, you learnt the hard way you should NEVER follow through
You do not have the view the lead bike has nor know what his plan is. If the lead bike has to back out you are both screwed.Mopeds are not dangerous. A 125 twist and go will have most people in most other vehicles off the line, it's just so easy. When you are riding them on A roads you just don't overtake. Most cars have just as little push on power at A road speeds, it's not like your average Ford Fiesta can power out of a right of way violation.
Why was the excavators wheels turning when you were next to it? Were you overtaking next to a junction/premise entry? A 3 vehicle overtake on a 125 WOULD required great planning as the time and space needed demands it.
Don't get me wrong, having more power is always nice to have. But more power does not exempt you from proper planning and choosing your overtakes wisely. I probably only make a small fraction of overtakes I could have PHYSICALLY made. Simply because the risk presented meant taking the overtake would have been stupid. Slower moving cars are more risky than faster moving ones, they tend to be the ones who change directions/turn off the main road without warning the most.
Last edited:
Nah, thanks. I'll stay with 4T, I ridden 2T when I was younger mainly 50cc tho. They stink and the engine sound is annoying...
The big bike taster was done by a training school down here, so maybe check with your local schools, see if they do anything similar? Dealers won't do test rides if you're just on a CBT, but training providers normally have an off road area and it's worth their time as a percentage will come back after getting hooked on a big bike for more training!
I'll give my school a call and see if they're doing anything, they've the best opinion around my area. They've CBR650F's, I doubt they'll let me on one that earlier before my bday tho...
Well, you learnt the hard way you should NEVER follow through
Why was the excavators wheels turning when you were next to it? Were you overtaking next to a junction/premise entry? A 3 vehicle overtake on a 125 WOULD required great planning as the time and space needed demands it.
Yes, I've...
The excavator was turning into a a little country road in the middle of no where, just fields around. So, I assumed its ok to overtake, I was literally on the opposite lane behind him when I saw him slowing down and turning his wheels, it was too late to break so my reaction was a twist. I twisted the handle so hard, that I twisted the freaking grip around and the glue gave up...
Its hard to plan 10 minutes a head, as that's how long it takes on a 125 to finish any maneuver... My Duke 0-62mph GPS showed 14.9 seconds, my Civic was 8.2 seconds 0-62. So overtaking a bus on the same A road was easy, even though that car was still slow compared to my dads 9-3 Turbo.
The other thing that annoys me about 125's is the price, they're expensive. People are asking stupid money for them... Nearly 4k on a brand new MT125, when you can get a MT07 for couple hundreds more is ridiculous!
Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Mar 2011
- Posts
- 6,479
- Location
- Kent
15 seconds 0-60 is glacially slow, and slower than most cars on the road. Even a 1.0l VW up! with 70bhp (oh the power!!) does 0-60 in 14 seconds!
A 50bhp bike which does 0-60 in 5 seconds will be so much fun for you for a couple of years, trust me!
A 50bhp bike which does 0-60 in 5 seconds will be so much fun for you for a couple of years, trust me!
I know, that's why its depressing. I would consider a 125 2T if I was 17 now, not nearly 19. I'll wait, save up and take my time in choosing the bike.
So far its between SV650A 2016 and MT07, I really like the refreshed version of the SV and V-Twin sound with a decent system is satisfying... although MT07 with a decent system has a really aggresive exhaust note for a parallel twin. Without owning any vehicle I'm able to save more, I spend around 7 quid per week on public transport with my student card.
MT07 example of roar sound and why more power is saves you.
https://www.facebook.com/lcznmv/videos/vb.105155229823103/172492723089353/
So far its between SV650A 2016 and MT07, I really like the refreshed version of the SV and V-Twin sound with a decent system is satisfying... although MT07 with a decent system has a really aggresive exhaust note for a parallel twin. Without owning any vehicle I'm able to save more, I spend around 7 quid per week on public transport with my student card.
MT07 example of roar sound and why more power is saves you.
https://www.facebook.com/lcznmv/videos/vb.105155229823103/172492723089353/
Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Mar 2011
- Posts
- 6,479
- Location
- Kent
That car was indicating right for sooooo long before it eventually went to turn right, he should have never even been in that situation.... and he was doing less than 20mph (30kph) so could have stopped with room to spare.
not a good example of why power is a good thing, more **** poor observational skills
But yeah, the MT07 does sound nice They're not the best built bikes, if you're tall the MT07 tracer will be worth a look if it gets released soon.
not a good example of why power is a good thing, more **** poor observational skills
But yeah, the MT07 does sound nice
They're not the best built bikes, if you're tall the MT07 tracer will be worth a look if it gets released soon.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 24 Mar 2011
- Posts
- 6,479
- Location
- Kent
I pass a 50cc scooter occasionally going the other way on the way to work, in a NSL - it always has a mile long queue of cars behind it, I can't imagine the abuse they must get!
I'm around 186-187cm tall, so around the same height I've sent the video from. On a video it always looks like he had more than enough time to do a different manoeuvre, but in reality its different. I know that by looking at some of my videos... straight after I comeback home from riding.
50cc moped are pointless, had one when I was 11-13. I can't imagine riding one at my age hahaha, I remember when some chavs tried to race me whilst I was going to my friends house. The police followed me from town and joined the main road with me after the moped have passed. Shame I didn't have a camera, those sirens going off. I thought I would get pulled as well, but thankfully I didn't. Win!
50cc moped are pointless, had one when I was 11-13. I can't imagine riding one at my age hahaha, I remember when some chavs tried to race me whilst I was going to my friends house. The police followed me from town and joined the main road with me after the moped have passed. Shame I didn't have a camera, those sirens going off. I thought I would get pulled as well, but thankfully I didn't. Win!