Beginner on a 100mile trip... advice please.

[c-m]

I took my cbt in July last year, since then I haven't been on a been on a bike, though I still remember everything (its not exactly complicated)

I have recently bought a bike and need to go and pick it up.

As the only biking experience I have on the road is my CBT, I'm a bit worried about riding my new purchase the 100miles or so home.

Any advice?
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Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Barker-CBR 600]

No way of getting a van etc to help?

Remember on a CBT you arent gunna be on any motorways which'll make that 100 miles suddenly get alot longer.

Apart from that just take it easy, get a feel for it and take plenty of stops. Make sure you got a mobile handy and maybe even have a bit of fun if u can sqeeze it in

Seriously though take it slow at first and just get a feel for it, you'll soon fall into a rythm and the miles will drop away.

What bike etc out of interest?
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Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[c-m]

I checked before buying, there aren't any motorways, between me and my destination.

I bought a KH125
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[cokker]

Just take it easy mate.

Im looking for a few tips too, im planning a trip to box hill one Sunday (260-ish mile round trip) and as the furthest I've been is roughly 100 miles round trip.

Sorry for jacking your thread.

Good luck mate
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No longer have a bike due to a DVLA/Court royal f**k up.

[beatnck]

hi
as already mentioned, just take it easy. dont rush anything, make sure you're not knackered before you start or hungry - you wont concentrate as well
take plenty of breaks, and make sure your mobile (if you have one) is charged up in case of any difficulty.
mostly though, just enjoy it

[jackw72]

You brave motherf*****

im doing my cbt tomoro and i cant imagine going on a hundred mile ride after it! never mind the fact you havent riden bike since then!

but you should be quite experienced after the journey LOL

Good luck
____________________
08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[bin]

c-m, make sure you know the route home and take it steady.
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...its what you make of it...
...Silver Suzuki gsx1400...

[snapperslappe...]

hey there,

used to do 100+ miles every day on a cbt/125 cc, so not to big a task. i find the a roads are more fun than long stints on the motorways, but make sure you eat your wheatabix before you set out, cause you will get drained after the first hour or so.

and dont forget your ear plugs, make's concerntrating on all the a roads can throw at you a doddle, plus you can still hear when you get off.

happy saddle time

cheers

snappy

[gypsyjackson]

Hi, I had a similar thing a few weeks ago when I bought my bike - I hadn’t ridden since passing my CBT last June. I was pretty nervous, especially as it was just a few days after the snow, so I was on the look out for icy patches.

However, after the first 5 miles, everything had come back to me, and the ride passed without too much incident. Except going the wrong way down the A41 - twice! I found it helpful to say out loud what I should be doing. I felt a bit stupid, but no-one can hear you. Besides, I couldn't have looked more dense, having taking the wrong turnoff twice.

The journey was meant to be about 80 miles, but with my extra detours, it probably weighed in around 100, and the last 95 of those were pure fun. Just relax, and it should be fine. Oh, and try not to stack it!

[Danoid]

When I use to have my moped I use to travel to my house to my nans which was 102miles there and bike. Listening to a poor 2 stroke engine struggling for that long, hurts your ears and I swear I could hear the piston knocking up and down after the trips :O.

Try to go somewhere quite close and try to get a nice scenic route. You won't be looking at it obviously because your meant to be riding, but its great fun.

If your weather is anything like it is down here 100miles you'll be bored, cold and miserable. Summer runs through the New Forest are the best

[KTM Gordo]

First of all, don't panic - take your time, and try not to get stress when under way.

Don't forget to take your helmet and gloves with you - it's easy to forget if you're not leaving home on the 'bike.

Take a map and mobile with you - especially if you're not on familiar territory. Waterproofs might be handy with the current moist conditions.

Find out of there are any friendly BCFers en route to offer a pit-stop if necessary

HTH - and let us know how it goes
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Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.

KTM 990 Adventure | KTM EXC 250 Racing | Land Rover Freelander SE Td4

[c-m]

cheers guys for the advice.

Sorry to dissapoint you all but..

...i've had a chat with the seller who chuckled slightly at the thought of some riding a little 125 a 100miles or so, and offered to deliver the bike (for a price obviously). Since he wasn't available for me to pick it up on the day I wanted, I've decided to let him deliver instead.

I was starting to look forward to my 100mile adventure, but this is probably the most sensible option and not that much more, considering I'd have needed to get the train to go pick up the bike. Not to mention, fuel, oil, food for the journey.

Looking forward to practising around my local streets.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Barker-CBR 600]

Nothing to stop you having that 100 mile adventure anyways mate?

Once your a bit more confident or whatever!

And to be honest, probably safest bet... but still plenty of adventures still to come!
____________________
Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[c-m]

Well the guy delivered my bike today, he was friendly and help full.

The bike does look like its been dropped once or twice (scratched pegs etc.) but i'd expect that from any beginners bike.

The bike run ok so far. I haven't got any L plates for it yet.

i'm so glad I didn't ride this the 100miles. I got on it this morning to test it out and stalled it twice immeadiately. I was also very slow changing gear.

My clutch control is awful at the moment and I really need to take it to a large car park and practise, before I get some comfidance. The only problem in that is that the car park is over a mile away and I will have to stop at least 4 times on the way (junctions etc..)

I do have one or two concerns.

1) I don't appear to have been given a log book, not that I know what one looks like.
2) I only received 1 key, he said its the only one he has
3) Not sure th key I have can open the fuel tank
4) How do I know how much fuel is in it? (he filled up with oil before delivering)

I have the guys full contact details and he left me a card and told me to call him is I have any problems what so ever.

The idleing revs seem pretty low and I have to give it some to get away without stalling. Is this normal for a two stroke? I've only been on a 4t before.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[cokker]

[c-m]

cool.

I sign a dvla peice of paper that he took away and I was given one for myself.

Managed to open the fuel cap with the key (that wasn't easy) There are a good few litres in there and its full up with 2t oil so that good.

Just got back from the university car park, where I did lots of stop starts and figure 8s and even a brake test of two. I didn't stall it there or back.

here is a picture of the beast
https://www.eastcoastlacrosse.co.uk/carl/kh125-k9.jpg

I noticed that the rear light never seems to come on. only the right indicator works and the horn sounds like a mouse screeming. (I accidentally left the front light while I went shopping for an hour or two)

I'm also having problems with the mirrors. I can't see anything and won't stay in position.

The bike starts on the kick first time and mechanically seems great. Though I don't feel I a have as much stopping power using the front disc break as when using the rear drum.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[KTM Gordo]

[gfiandy]

If you left the lights on then before anything else you probably need to recharge the battery.

You can sometimes recover horns by adjusting the little screw that comes out the back as this adjusts the tension on the vibrating plates. However just as often this will break off because its rusty. A new horn will only cost about £5 - £10 and a car one will work fine (they tend to be cheaper) so long as the bike has a 12V system. I don't know this bike so can't say if it is 12V or 6V.(look at the battery to find out)

With the indicators check the obvious first have the bulbs blown, if not then try wiggling the indicator switch to see if its just a bad contact. If that fails then you will need to get a multimeter and check the circuit through from the switch to the flasher unit then on to the bulbs.

Same with the rear light, first check the bulb if that is ok then check the switch if that looks ok check the wiring, if you can;t see anything wrong with the wiring you will need a multimeter to check for voltage from the switch to the light fitting.

Hope this is of some help, if you have any friends that know car or bike mechanics try to get them to take a look. Regards, Andrew.
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ANDY

[gfiandy]

One more point if the front brake is worse than the rear then it is probably faulty. It may just need new pads or it may need the fluid changed but it should be better than the rear brake.

Its fairly easy to see if the pads are worn out usually just by looking in the brake. For most bike pads there should be at least 1mm of material left over the whole surface of the pad, if the pad is crumbling at all at the edges then it is very old and should be replaced as it could fail at any momnet (this happened to a friend of mine and his life was saved by a driver who miraculously did look over his shoulder when turning right - to see Rob barrelling through at 60MPH unable to stop.)

Other possible faults with the brakes are corroded brake piston causing it to jam (this normally causes the brakes to drag, you can feel the brakes are slightly on when trying to move the bike). Faulty master cylinder, this normally means that the brake lever can be pulled back to the handle bar. Old fluid and old brake lines can also mean the brake lever will have to much travel.

As I am sure you are aware brakes are important, I would get this seen to if you are not confident to sort it yourself.

Bike looks nice in the picture so I hope you can get it sorted out

Regards,
Andrew
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ANDY

[wilbur]

Front brake probably needs bleeding. Should be instructions if you search the site.

Its a nice comfy little bike. Enjoy.

[Jull]

WD40 the petrol lock, with only 1 key you don't want it sticking/snapping in there if it's stiff.

[wilbur]

I'm pretty sure its a 6v battery. I may be wrong.

[c-m]

its a 6v battery and its charged up now.

The bike passed its MOT mid January and judging from the mileage hadn't been ridden (much if at all) untill I received it on 3rd March.

So i can't see how it would have got through the MOT without a working brake light or left indicator.

Took it to the coast yesterday but only managed 57MPH downhill and 45mph up hill I think my L plate restricts airflow fo the engine. Though I did expect a touch more speed.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Stelmer]

I'd check/change the plug, Airfilter and if it has one the Fuel filter. Also bung a bit of Redex in the tank and take it on a steady run for a couple of hours. Especially if it's been stood.

You will notice a difference in both performance and economy.

It's a nice bike. Much better to look at than a CG125.

[c-m]

With regard to the top speed. I found this on another site: