Just got my new bike

[andymarks]

I have just bought a 06 plate CG125 to do my lessons and stuff on when i turn 17 in may. It only had 5000 on the clock and was in good condition.

Cost 1395 from a dealer and he is going to give it a complete service including new engine oil and a new back tyre as the existing one is well worn.

The main thing i wanted to ask is as i have some room to ride it of the road what sort of things can i be practising to help towards my lessons in a couple of months?

Thanks

Andy
____________________
Bikes--2002 GS500---2006 CG125(For sale, PM me for details)
Theory-PASSED -------Practical-PASSED.
33bhp restriction ends 6/7/2009 .

[Kickstart]

Hi

To be honest I would say practice finding the biting point of the clutch. If you have a gravel drive then even better (harder to move off on gravel than tarmac, so get yourself sorted on that and tarmac will be easy).

Remember the road traffic act applies on all sorts of things that you would not regard as a road, and so you still cannot ride on them until you are 17, etc.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[andymarks]

Im fine for riding mate as my garden is about an acre with a huge driveway. Is it worth doing U-turns and is there more to do in the test like that?
____________________
Bikes--2002 GS500---2006 CG125(For sale, PM me for details)
Theory-PASSED -------Practical-PASSED.
33bhp restriction ends 6/7/2009 .

[Kickstart]

Hi

I would leave practicing that for a while. Clutch control, and coordination between the brakes, clutch and throttle will help.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[jackw72]

dont wheelspin on your gravel drive
____________________
08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[Dalemac]

[Spoon261]

Congratulations on getting the best 125cc bike to learn on according to almost everyone, you will not regret it.

I have the same model version and can thoroughly recommend it, its does live up to its reputation.

There is one thing to watch out for though, tyres. If the shop changes just the back tyre for a different make or model, you will have terrible handling and grip.

Tyres are the most important thing on a bike, the Yamaha clone of the Honda CG125 has very bad cheapo tyres and everyone says they are lethal, loads of people have fallen off their bikes because of them.

The original tyres fitted to all Honda CG125 made since at least 2005 are Pirelli City Demons. It’s a 2.75-18 front and a 90/90-18 rear.
I have worn both my originals out, the UK Importer refuses to stock or sell them, even though they are on their website. Actually I think they will sell one but not the other.

In the end I had no choice but to buy a pair of Michelin Pilot Sporty tyres which are available in the correct size and weight carrying capability for the Honda CG125.

No other makes or models were available in the exact size and weight carrying ability, people kept saying they have a 3.00-18 rear tyre and that’s the same as a 90/90-18 well its not and theirs a reason why Honda put a 90/90-18 on it.

You must always have a matched pair of tyres, same make front and rear and they must be designed to work together.

There is a possibility of a Metzeler ME22 in the correct sizes and weights but was not in the country at the time.

But I can tell you the Michelin Pilot Sporty is an expensive tyre but is brilliant in every way imaginable, the only test I have not done on them is to wear them out and see what mileage I get.

Getting the right tyre on a bike will make learning much easier, much more pleasurable riding, more confidence and most importantly falling off a bike due to bad tyres can hurt physically but is also expensive to repair bike and clothing.

[Kickstart]

[veeeffarr]

Yes 3 is 90, 2.70 is 80 iirc i've got a conversion chart somewhere

[Spoon261]

Looks like I need to explain to some people the difference between a 3.00-18 and a 90/90-18 tyre. The 90/90-18 is metric, the 3.00-18 is imperial.

Officially the 3.00-18 can be used instead of a 90/90-18 according to the tyre manufacturers.

The 90/90-18 reinforced can carry 230kg weight, the 3.00-18 reinforced can only manage 200kg. This would be ok without a passenger, but would be overloaded unless both of you were very light.

A 90/90-18 is 90mm wide and 619mm diameter.
A 3.00-18 is 80mm wide and 627mm diameter.

I have been told the Honda CG125 a long time ago used a 3.00-18 on the rear, but it was changed to a 90/90-18 and has been like that from at least 1998 onwards.

90/90-18 reinforced (reinforced means its strengthened to be able to carry more weight) rear tyres are hard or impossible to obtain in any make in the UK and the rest of the world, 3.00-18 are very easy in the UK and the rest of the world.

Honda changed to a 90/90-18 for a reason and it was not due to what’s available at the time, in fact the Pirelli City Demons that are supplied as standard on all new Honda CG125 are also available in 3.00-18.

I believe the reason they changed to the 90/90-18 tyre is to carry a passenger, but also to improve handling and stability.

People report using a 3.00-18 rear being twitchy round the bends and next time they try a 3.25-18 and say its better, but then settle on a 3.50-18 which they say is much better.

A 3.50-18 is 93mm wide and 649mm diameter.
A 3.25-18 is 89mm wide and 639mm diameter.

I advise against using a 3.25 or 3.50-18 tyre since its diameter is allot greater than the 90/90-18, this will change the ride height of the rear which will mess up the handling.

I believe people have been using the 3.25 and 3.50 since the 90/90 was not available in the UK, the Michelin Pilot Sporty 90/90 was only introduced recently to the UK market.

All my data is from the tyre manufacturers technical manual.

I have got both a 3.00-18 and 90/90-18 from other bikes and put the tyres side by side (both were no longer on the bikes) and they do look totally different, the 3.00-18 looks thin and tall, the 90/90-18 seams fat and not as tall.

[Kickstart]

Hi

It is the load rating that is important, and that is specified at a particular speed. Reinforced is just shorthand for a few extra points on the load index.

The City Demon load rating for the 3.00 x 18 is 52P (441lbs), for the 90/90 it is 57P (507lbs). That is the max loading at those speed ratings, and P rating is 93mph, which you will not get near on a CG125. Added to which that is the maximun load for that "axle". Assuming you are using a City Demon from (42P, rated for 331lbs), the bike car carry a (perfectly positioned) load of 772lbs on a 3.00 / 2.75 combination, so 350kg. Allowing 130kg for the bike with fuel, etc, that 220kg left which is a pair of 17 stone people. OK, more weight is on the back, but then the higher load rating is already on the back.

Personally I suspect the reason Honda changed would be more likely to do with what they were being offered cheaply.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[ApriliaLad]

Imo practise pulling away.
Finding the snatch with the clutch.
And breaking distances, going up the gears and down.

The amount of people what have to go back to tests the following days due to them struggerling to pull away... make sure you find the snacth.


____________________
Cheers,
Matty
https://www.bikepics.com/members/mattyaprilialad/

[Spoon261]

A 90/90-18 non reinforced tyre has a weight carrying ability of 195kg
Compared to a reinforced 90/90-18 can carry 230kg.

“Kickstart” Theirs a massive flaw in your maths,
the pillion weight is at the back of the motorcycle just behind the rear springs,
this means the vast majority of the pillion weight goes directly on the back wheel,
it also means the pillions weight will lever the bike down at the back levering the front of the bike up,
shifting some of the weight at the front to the back.

Also according to the Honda Press Release

Kerb Weight 126kg (F: 55.4kg; R: 70.6kg)

Loaded Weight 266kg (F: 82kg; R: 184kg)

Max. Carrying Capacity 180kg


Look at the loaded weight above vs the kerb weight, most of the weight has gone on the back wheel, note the total loaded weight example they give is 140 kg (22 stone) more than the kerb weight, we also do not no if that’s the weight of 1 person or 2.

Also don’t forget those figures are when stationary, when you accelerate the weight is pushed to the back of the bike, when you brake it’s sent to the front.

[Kickstart]

[andymarks]

. Now i am really confused? On a honda CG with a top speed of 60ish MPH will there be a huge difference?

https://www.aardvarkmotorcycles.co.uk/bikedetail.asp?ID=516

Thats the one
____________________
Bikes--2002 GS500---2006 CG125(For sale, PM me for details)
Theory-PASSED -------Practical-PASSED.
33bhp restriction ends 6/7/2009 .

[Spoon261]

[andymarks]

Ok mate. Thanks for clearing that up.

I am not a complete begginer. I have had a year on a 50 and have also been riding a 250 montesa of road since i was about 10 so have no problems with clutch control.

Thanks for all the advice and info.

Andy
____________________
Bikes--2002 GS500---2006 CG125(For sale, PM me for details)
Theory-PASSED -------Practical-PASSED.
33bhp restriction ends 6/7/2009 .

[andymarks]

I actually picked the bike up yesterday after he gave it a service and did what was needed. I have been riding it around a bit and seem to have got the hang of the clutch bitting point. It is so different to my 50 . Cant wait to be able to put it on the road!!!
____________________
Bikes--2002 GS500---2006 CG125(For sale, PM me for details)
Theory-PASSED -------Practical-PASSED.
33bhp restriction ends 6/7/2009 .

[Spoon261]

[andymarks]

To be honest i didnt look at the tyre. He changed the back tyre for a new one as the old one was well worn. But i dont know what he used.

Ill have a look when i get back from work and let you know.

Im just gutted i have to wait till may to ride it on the road .
____________________
Bikes--2002 GS500---2006 CG125(For sale, PM me for details)
Theory-PASSED -------Practical-PASSED.
33bhp restriction ends 6/7/2009 .