125cc and the motorway - Do you do it?

[Recluso]

Evenin' all, I hope you're enjoying your Bank Holidays.

As some of you may know, I recently changed from a Honda PS125i to a Yamaha YBR125 with the intent of doing my Mod 1 and 2 toward the end of August.

I'm currently in the middle of moving house, the new house being quite literally 5 minutes off the motorway where it would be far quicker and easier for me to get to uni and my work placement, by hopping down the motorway 3 stops.

But I've been wondering whether it's viable for a 125cc to actually go on the motorway. My YBR will hit a comfortable 60 - 65, trying to push it any higher and it gets a bit bone jarring. Obviously a 125cc would be confined to the slow lane, but I'm wondering whether it would be safe for a 125cc to use the motorway given that it has a lower speed capacity.


Any thoughts and advice would be very much appreciated.
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[Easter Bunny]

[stinkwheel]

You do know you're not allowed on the motorway on a provisional licence?

If a copper sees L-plates on the motorway, he'll pull you for sure Then he can choose between MW10 (Disobeying special motorway regulations) which gives you three points or LC20 (driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence) which gives 3-6 points.

If you take the L-plates off and are caught. It's 3 points per missing L-plate PLUS the above and you could be looking at a ban.

In answer to the original question. I would, and have taken a 125 on the motorway. In fact, I've taken a C90 on the motorway. I also take my Enfield on the motorway and it is slower than a 125. I do however have a full licence so I'm allowed to.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Rogerborg]

I've taken my 125 and (slowwww) 250 onto motorways and 70mph dual carriageways, and didn't enjoy it at all. Ragging your bike to its utmost just to keep up with the slowest traffic gives you very few options if anything goes screwy.

Your indicated 60-65 is more like an actual 56-61, the same speed as an artic. That's fine until you get involved in a game of artic leapfrog, and you get hidden in the middle. Drivers generally do not check the left lane just after overtaking a large vehicle, so you're very vulnerable.

So no, I wouldn't recommend it. If you do it, I'd suggest that you adopt a "C90" mindset, don't try to keep up, and give other traffic every encouragement to overtake you so that get behind them and remain visible.

But then as soon as you're legal to go on the motorway, you'll be able to get a bigger bike anyway. A fast 250 capable of an actual 75 or 80mph with a little in reserve is the minimum bike I'd want to take on a motorway.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Glenben92]

Speed wise, it's easily achievable. Distance is the problem that I find. I have quite a high level of mechanical sympathy and topping out or almost topping out my bike for long periods of time is not something i'm at ALL comfortable with. I always try to avoid using 60/70 roads if possible but won't go TOO far out of my way to do so.
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Teflon-Mike]

Depends what motorway!
I live in Nuneaton.... about three miles from M6 J3, just off the M42, just off the M69, and not far from M1 or M5...
M6.... heading north.... no problem!
Nothing bludy moves more than 45mph in daylight!
M69... no problem..... virtually empty, apart from rush hours, and even then, only really a niggle when you hit the Leicetser M1 interchange!
M42... no bludy chance! That ones just lairy!

As others have said, motorways are duel carriageways where 'special rules' apply, hence no L-Plates. Otherwise, if you'd ride down a duel carriageway, why not a motorway?

Depends on the bike to some degree, as well. I used to do Coventry Stafford up the M6 a fair bit, when I had my AR... but that was 20 years ago! Spaghetti is a little interesting at more than 50, due to it being all elevated sections, and its rather windy! and the AR125 was very light! 105Kg from memory, lightest of the sports 125's and 10Kg less than a CG!

End of the day, its swings and roundabouts, and what your most comfortable with.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Recluso]

[stinkwheel]

I don't see why people have difficulty. Riding at 50mph in the left hand lane is not a problem. Motorways are designed to allow for overtaking. The only issue I have is that it's boring. It can be a bit tricky moving across into lane 3 where a four lane motorway splits but I've found wagon drivers to be very courteous in this respect and they will flash you out.

What'll surprise you is how many vehicles you overtake yourself. Heavily laden lo-loaders and old shape transit vans with a palette of concrete blocks in the back will not be doing much more than 50. Military vehicles are usuaually doing 50mph on the nose too.

I've never had a problem with tailgating or people cutting past halfway between lanes when in the left lane. It's reps and boy racers who do that sort of stuff and it exclusively happens between lanes 2 and 3.

Best one is a full petrol tanker. These usually sit at nearly bang-on 60. You can slipstream one on a 125 for miles and miles with the throttle barely half open.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Nai]

I do the A40 every day past Northolt (NSL stretch, 3 lanes either side) and I have never had an issue. Helps having a bike that can make 70, even if that means raggin the teets off it. But the left lane seems to move between 50-60 at its fastest anyway. Even off rush hour times.

Do I guess thats a yes from me.

[Livefast123]

I take it your referring to the stretch of M5 around Junction 19. It is pretty flat for miles south from there apart from Tickenham Hill and Naish Hill so the 125 should do it without an issue when you get your licence

Plenty of clued up traffic cops around those area's and all it takes is a driving licence check
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Current ride - Yamaha MT-07

[locked]

I take my 125 on the motorway on the M6 and M42 with no problems.
40 miles each way, traffic is usually heavy during rush hour so you just filter through.
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on the look out for my next bike....
CBT Passed - 13/09/09 Theroy Passed - 19/12/09 Mod 1 Passed 04/05/10 Mod 2 Passed 14/05/10 - Free to ride ANYTHING!
Motorcycles are perfectly safe as long as you remember they're dangerous.

[N cee thirty]

i'm next to the m6,but wouldn't fancy it on the cg in the slow lane as the massive grooves left from the lorries would be a reet pain in the anus
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Recluso]

[Teflon-Mike]

[Recluso]

Okay, now I must admit I've gotten a bit confused by the talk of slipstreaming and weaving. I'm only fairly new to this don't forget

But it's still good to hear that people think that it will be a viable option to jump down the motorway when it's convenient to do so
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[blurredman]

[Frost]

A shit load of the M4 has a 50 limit enforced by average speed cameras, so that'd be perfect for a 125. But as said above no learners. Some bits of motorway can be very heavily policed, and it's not like you'd have anywhere to hide!

[Frost]

[N cee thirty]

slip streaming behind a range rover worked very well for me,got 75 on the clock on my cg :O
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Teflon-Mike]

[blurredman]

No one knows whether it works in certain circumstances compared to other circumstances. The cyclists can't tell because it's so little gained speed. And then if they do feel faster, is that because they're in a cluster of cyclists? Things can just seem faster the closer they are.

And yes I admit, you can do it behind lorries because they are tall and slab backed. But would you really want to do that? They cannot see you in their mirror, and you cannot see infront of them. If a crash occurs, you're head will explode before you even think about applying the brakes.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (bored to 295cc) - 38k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 49k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k.

[CaNsA]

I have,

stayed in the slow lane, planned a head and over took anything going slower than me.

Travelled 100ish miles with the throttle pinned open without having to slow down.

obs and planning is the key!

[lozza]

accidentaly turned onto the M1 on my at the time restricted NSR on L plates. shat a brick lol it was horrible just hoping i didnt get spotted before i reached the next junction. i think you'd really struggle especially going up an incline, i lost ALOT of speed on a tiny gradient.
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rrrring ding ding ding

[Gazza M]

i rode from basingstoke up to cambridge today, tried to avoid the dual carriageways as much as i could... the few that i did go on were just not fun.

i just don't like sitting at full throttle, up around the red line... not nice. manage about 60 indicated most of the time!

didn't help that it pissed it down halfway there, like riding thru a waterfall! so i stopped in luton (lovely place) for a maccy d's.

[prawny1]

Their is no such thing as a slow lane or fast lane on the motorway normal driving on the motorway should be on the left lane the outer lanes are for overtaking but they all have the same speed limit.

If you get an arsy copper you can get done for driving in the outer lanes for too long especialy if the motorway is clear.

As far as riding a 125cc bike on the motorway that is no problem motorways have no minimum speed limit.

"Prohibited vehicles. Motorways MUST NOT be used by pedestrians, holders of provisional motorcycle or car licences, riders of motorcycles under 50 cc, cyclists, horse riders, certain slow-moving vehicles and those carrying oversized loads (except by special permission), agricultural vehicles, and powered wheelchairs/powered mobility scooters (see Rules 36-46 incl)".
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hellkat wrote:

Some people are only alive cos its against the law to kill them.