I think it does, ultimately. The trip to the Lakes was undertaken - cautiously ! The bikes were a Yamaha YBR125 and a Lifeong 125J both Learner specials, pushing out a mighty 10 hp each. 400 miles in 3 days, using 14 quids worth of fuel. Both were loaded with camping equipment and two well fed riders.... I set off from my NW Wales retreat in hammering rain and a fair old gusty - the bike managed the first phase of meeting up and a ride through the nether regions of the North West using the A59 from Liverpool to the A6 in Preston and then on to Kendal. The journey took a staggering 5 hours to undertake hindered by heavy traffic, traffic lights by the thousand and poor weather. But we made it. Once unburdened of their loads the bikes came into their own, lithe and light with the almost ideal performance envelope for Lake District roads - easy to park they saved a fortune in parking fees, money best kept for beer etc. The return trip was just as lengthy and riding into a headwind on the westbound A55 showed the true limitations of the bike on anything other than 30, 40, 50 speed limits. As a city bike the 125 is almost ideal, simple to filter in and out of traffic and quick enough from the lights to shame any cars...
Would my BMW have made a difference on this trip ? Of course it would, full weather protection, sophisticated safety features and a three figure touring speed would have put the lakes within a couple of hours riding along the M6. However once in the Lakes the bike would have been too big for comfort..
Would I do it again ? Ask me tomorrow maybe...
Last edited by: Pugugly on Sun 22 Aug 10 at 20:04
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You must be one of those gritty northerners I've been hearing so much about on the other thread :-)
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Maybe an honorary one ! Nawt gritty about me.
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Just curious, why did you do that when you have a proper motorcycle ? Was it a bet or some kind of self flagellation thing ?
:-)
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>> Just curious, why did you do that when you have a proper motorcycle ? Was
>> it a bet or some kind of self flagellation thing ?
>>
>> :-)
Because it's there, dammit!
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My brother-in-law turned up here today on his brand new red Ducati sports somethingorother. I hate my brother-in-law sometimes.
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sell him some pigskin biking boots.
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Splendid idea ! I'll get some made along with some matching bike leathers. He'll hum like a council tip in high summer.........
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Remembering my Direct Access course you sum up the Honda CG125 pretty well.
Through traffic and away from the lights nothing on four wheels can touch it but a flat out 65mph down the A1 between London Road, Edinburgh and Old Craighill Jctn by Musselburgh was enough for me thank you very much.
I've done 750 miles in a day on 600 and, much as I love riding a bike, I felt like putting a match under it at the end of that ride. I'm planning on doing it again next year hopefully with a few more horsies under me next time around.
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We were talking about why we did it last night (over a beer or four) - we both have big bikes that make touring easy (friend came back from a two up trip to Croatia) His argument was that you could tour on a bike of any size - thus the gauntlet was picked up, couldn't back down after that....
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Must be hellish being retired. Too much fun could be bad for you. Far better to be up half the night worrying about work stuff you've got to deal with in the AM. Remember that feeling ........?
:-)
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>> Must be hellish being retired. Too much fun could be bad for you. Far better
>> to be up half the night worrying about work stuff you've got to deal with
>> in the AM. Remember that feeling ........?
>>
>> :-)
>>
Yes sheer hell, decisions,decisions. So much world still to see, so little time. How did I ever find time to work. :-)
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>>>you sum up the Honda CG125 pretty well. Through traffic and away from the lights nothing on four wheels can touch it but a flat out 65mph down the A1 between London Road, Edinburgh and Old Craighill Jctn by Musselburgh was enough for me thank you very much.
We've had family in Cambs and The Cotswolds for many years. Various relatives have been wearing a groove in the 100 mile cross country Peterborough-Corby-Market Harborough-Lutterworth-Fosse Way-Evesham route since the late 60s.
The shortest time record is still held by me as a teenager on my Honda 125 trail bike in the early hours. Only stopped for traffic lights and stop junctions but otherwise wound fully open at 62mph with a tail wind. I was buzzing at the end.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Mon 23 Aug 10 at 09:56
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There should be a happy medium, though, say a Suzuki DR-400? Not much attention seems to be given to bikes between 125's (for learners) and road rockets starting at 600cc. 250 and 350 were popular sizes once, and it would be nice to have that sort of choice again.
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Does size really matter ? - corax
