Long journey on a 50cc :)

[The Artist]

Righty, im going on a 250 miles trip on my 50cc motorbike. 250 miles there, 250 miles back and undoubtadly going to be doing 100+ miles in the week im away.
This is a long journey for most people, especially on a 50cc going 60mph flat out. oh and I can't go on motorways.

I thought that it would be a good idea to get some better sprockets for my journey, so I have bought a 15 tooth front one rather than 12 tooth and a 44 tooth rear one instead of a 52 tooth. This should give me less accelration but for the long parts of the journey, I can get up speed and not hold the engine at 10,000 rpm and still get a decent speed.

Im planning stops on the way, petrol and food etc. Every 1 hour or so.
My tyres are good
Gearbox oil was dropped recently and replaced.
Im carrying a small toolkit with allen keys, adjustable spanner, couple of spare plugs etc.
Money for anything, petrol, oil.
Usual things checked, brake pads and discs. Im taking a new set of pads with me just in case.
Carb cleaned recently by moi

Im thinking of taking out a recovery thingy for the week im away just to be sure. So if my bike breaks, I can get picked up and im not stranded.


Is there anything else you suggest I check/buy before my big adventure!

[Carl Howell]

I doubt you will pull off with that sprocket setup. If you can you will still be getting to 50 but in 4th and when you change up you will probably just slow down again. Maybe put the rear sprocket on and try to keep your speed down to 50ish.

[Moonie]

How far have you done before?

Cus I rode to Warwick on mine (30 milesish) and it was boring as foooooook.

So my advice, tape a gameboy to the tank

Out of interest where are you going?

And make sure your chain is lubed and adjusted correctly.

Good luck fella
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[The Tot]

The last person i spoke to who did a long journey was Goose who rode from Watford to Portsmouth on his honda X8R, a journey of 80 mils which took him the better part of 8 hours since he wasn't allowed to use motorways. The scoot made it nonethesss. Palmer also did a run from peterboro' to london on his RS50 ages ago. What i gathered from them was to allow sufficient stops to allow the engine to cool down, bring a spare spark plug, preferably a bottle of 2 stroke so you wont have to be stopping at random places only to find garage forecourt 2 stroke oil and plenty of drinking fluids because you'd get dehydrated in the sun. Good, effective route planning is the key for your safe and steady journey.
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[The Artist]

Ill try the sprockets out to get a good arrangement but I don't want to be red lining for minutes at a time which you have to do at the moment to get a good speed.

I haven't done far before at all. I am taking an ipod to amuse myself whichmay help.

Im going from Crewe in Cheshire to near Portsmouth. The first part of the journey won't be too boring because I never really go that way. The second part should be ok ish. The last part depending on how I feel will either be the A34 which is long and boring but straight. Or I could go a scenic route.

I will have a sat nav with me just incase and also if I did want to go somewhere else. I could stop half way down at someones house but id rather not as it would add another day to my journey and its off route for me.

I am planning regular stops

Im getting a new chain with my sprockets as mine is kind of old and tensioners are near full.

I know this journey is going to take ages. My bike is practially the same as an rs50. I was thinking to hook up another radiator inline to aid cooling but its quite big already for a 50cc. I could remove the guard on it to allow more air through.

I am trying to find someone else to come down with me which would be good, stop me getting as bored as I probably will do.

[Matthie]

You will probally be going right past me as I live in Newbury. When are you planning to go?

Cheers,

M
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***Previous: GPR50, FZ750 *** Current: Monkey bike, yella SV 650 ***

Tutton says: I hate random hardons, they are so weird...

[flat spot]

Dropping 2 teeth on the rear will be plenty enough to lower the revs.
Shouldn't worry to much about over heating. I'm sure they sell your bike in hot countries as well.

[Moonie]

Don't drift off, pay attention.

And Crewe to Portsmouth

Glad you've thought about stopping overnight, it takes me three and a half hours to do half the distance on an express train on a good day.
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[tutton]

Going to be taking a piston and rings with you

Didnt think 50cc bikes liked 250 miles in one journey, at those heats as well.
oh well you'll be riding for a bloody long time
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[strag]

I admire your decision to do it but...even if you rode non stop at an average of 35 mph (in reality it won't be anymore than that) it will take you the best part of 8 hours. Thats without any stops at all!

I imagine that distance at slow speeds will get pretty tedious.

Good luck though
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carbon bling

[The Artist]

Im not going for few weeks and yes I will probably go past newbury. I remember it was hell in the summer in the car going past newbury!

My bike is made in spain so....hot enough

Yeah, music, sat nav, scenic bit of routes and CORNERS! hopefully I won't fall asleep!

I may take a piston kit with me as theyre only £40 but it will be annoying if I stop half way, swap piston over and have to be going at running in speeds for the rest of the way! I have done it before on a different bike but the same engine. I may take a kit with piston kit, gasket sealant, hasket set.

I understand that my average speed is going to be 30-40, hopefully I can increase it on the straight long bits.
Im planning to leave early in the morning, like 7am or something and get 2 or 3 hours straight while im fresh!

Ive had another idea as the fuel light is a bit dodgy on my bike, I will take a small bottle of petrol just in case. It will have to be petrol proof and small.

[Matthie]

Well when you decide when you are going I could probally meet you for a bit and ride along for a laugh and to make your ride abit more fun.

Cheers,

M
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***Previous: GPR50, FZ750 *** Current: Monkey bike, yella SV 650 ***

Tutton says: I hate random hardons, they are so weird...

[tutton]

You cant seriously be considering changing your piston and rings on the side of the road?
if so if i meet you would you do mine
needs a rebuld and cba to pay 200 quid for shop to do it.

Id also suggest some chewing gum, helps with concentration.
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[The Artist]

Matthie: thanks, ill let you know when im going! Is the 2005 gpr the one with the slicker look rather than the new one which is kind of sharp and pointy?

I have changed the piston and barrel on my old derbi senda in 1 hour and I didn't know what I was doing. That had no platics on but even so theoretically it should be quicker now.
It'll be a pain but I would if I had to. Unless I pay for a recovery cover for the week.

good point about the chewing gum.

[Charlie]

I have done 120 miles only stopping for fuel and at junctions on my 50cc scooter.

80miles in 8 hours is shocking, thats an average of 10mph.

Your bike will be fine, remember to bring some 2 stroke with you. If you are on long dual carriages ways etc, you shouldn't hold the throttle in the same place for too long, alter you speed and you will be fine.

I dunno what everyone is harping on about, 250 miles isn't that fair at all. I heard of people going to Lands End from London on their scooters (50cc)
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[Matthie]

Yeh mines the newer one (its in my picture).

My friend and I are going to treck it up to worchester to see this girl my friend knows (and of course some of her mates ).

We are also going to fairford for the RIAT in July
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***Previous: GPR50, FZ750 *** Current: Monkey bike, yella SV 650 ***

Tutton says: I hate random hardons, they are so weird...

[The Artist]

oh right. I prefer the older style gpr. I was gonna get one before I got my bike. Someone I know has one of the newer ones in bright green and orange colours so we call it the "tic tac"

Im going probably end of June sometime. Not confirmed when.

[Al]

You should be fine just don't hold it flat out the whole time however tempting it may be on a slow bike.
I rode the length of New Zealand on a 50cc scooter and that only managed 30-35mph flat out.
The only things I needed in my trip was 2 stroke oil and a spark plug.
Like everyone else has said just take it easy and make plenty of stops.
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[Moonie]

[Matthie]

[leatherpatche...]

Cheaper (much cheaper depending on what goes wrong) to take a bus. But that's not the point I suppose?

[The Artist]

1. its probably not cheaper (unless my bike breaks) Also, bus gets to about 2 miles from where I want so I would end up walking a couple of miles but at the end of a summer day travelling its just an added awkwardness.
2. No its not the point. Because I have the bike, im supposed to be getting the supplies for my friends and also, I do fancy a good long ride on a bike.

[Knacker]

Mate i wish you the best of luck,
Sounds like your going to have fun.

Wait until something goes wrong,
Dont panic about it happening before it does
Otherwise you will be thinking all the way "somethings going to go wrong"


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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[The Artist]

I trust my bike...kind of. Not much has gone wrong with it but I haven't had it long.

Only thing im really worried about is getting bored!! I hope also that the riding position doesn't give me back ache or something. Its not a "long journey" style bike and im sure after time it won't feel so good to ride but ill make it, i hope!

I just want to keep the engine at 5000-8000 rpm so it doesn't blow up on the way. Every time I stop I will make sure my 2 stroke oil pump is working and give it a once over to make sure everything else is still good.

Is there anything else at all anyone can think of I might need?

[Noxious89123]

I'd say take a can of chain lube with you. One lubing won't last it for the amount of miles your doing.

Also, AA membership is a brilliant thing to have, even if its only there for peace of mind and you don't need to use it.

Be aware though, that the number you call if you breakdown, is NOT free from a mobile phone!

That is also an essential. Mobile phone with plenty of credit and a full battery. And don't let it get wet when you get stuck out in the rain, like i did
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