fed up with unreliable bike!

[jameswood]

(if you cant be bothered to read below, skip to the last line)

Had a VL125 for nearly a year now, as soon as you go through a puddle or some rain it causes an electrical fault and never the same one twice.
Went to the north last week on it and did about 1000 miles with one connector needing jiggling. Then this morning i was up at 4.45 am to catch a lift to Bristol and it wouldn't fucking start came very close to just dropping it.

i cant afford a car because of insurance and i cant (legally)get anything bigger than a 125cc. My plan was to get my full license done last year and get a WR250x but i fucked my leg up so that didnt happen.

So as i have another winter on a bike im not keeping the VL because i like to get to places. I've been looking along the supermoto sort of line and i quite like the Yam XTs. they seem fairly cheap too but im not sure that is a good thing!
I like riding, its not just getting from A to B and i want to enjoy it, i dont want a fag bike like the CG. i'd rather have my peg down at 40mph than be accelerating hard or topping out.
I'd quite like to tour a bit more too and the XT looks more comfortable, i prefer single track mountain B roads to A roads. i could definitely have done with more suspension travel in the Peaks!


Can anyone give their opinions on the XT or similar bikes?

Thanks

[Sable]

Cant give an opinion on the XT, but if your after reliable, my neighbour had a Honda XR really tall dirt bike thing. All he says he does is change oil every 1000 mile, change filters every 5000 mile, spark every 10,000 mile, and checks the valves every 10,000 mile. Its lasted to over 60,000 mile. Never sees dealers. Commutes on it every day through London and packs up for weekend rides regularly. Says its a go anywhere bike, so could be an ideal choice if you are wanting too tour.

[Zen Dog]

I'm confused. You don't want a "fag" bike, but you own a daelim cruiser?

All learner-legal 125's are "fag" bikes. The legislation is designed that way. Even things like the YZF-R125 are commuter engines in a shiny elvis rhinestone jumpsuit.

I don't know about the XT, but I'm sure it will be fine, and probably more reliable than your current bike. Enduro and supermoto style 125's generally aren't particularly comfortable though.

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, 2011 CBF125 Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[jameswood]

[jameswood]

looked on Auto trader, ebay and gumtree. there are so many so cheap, what's the catch?!

[Zen Dog]

[Wonko The Sane]

considered the XL125 varadero?

Found mine good for a spot of touring in the peak district from time to time, could cope on the motorway for reasonable periods (just not every day for me)

was quite well behaved too.

[EXC-Rider]

i had an xt125...they crash well i buried mine into the back of a car and week later had it running again, great little bike it was, lacked power tho but what do you expect from a 125
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owned bikes: DR50, Thumpsta 110 , Honda CR85, Speedfight 100, Yamaha XT125X, Honda CRF450, Honda Hornet '07
current bikes: KTM EXC525 AKA the wheelie machine
A friend in need is a friend indeed but a friend with weed is better!

[jameswood]

the Varadero doesn't really do it for me in the looks department, but i've not heard a bad word against them before.

good to know they crash well, i plan to do that

[jameswood]

other thing is speed. not expecting anything great but the vl tops out on the speedo at about 75mph on flat, smooth roads, do we know how the xt compares?
as long as it hold 65mph that'll do fine

[EXC-Rider]

[DrSnoosnoo]

I worry with those bikes. Has the tracky bottoms wearing spud head been ham fisted wheelying it everywhere??
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[JiveBunny]

I will buy ECU & Loom from Daelim £10 if it makes my roadwin run £100.
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When I ride, I feel as if I transcend consciousness and enter a different dimension full of instinct.

[SQL]

[Sako]

[jameswood]

completely judgmental when it comes to buying from previous owners, chavs will be discriminated against.

[nowhere.elysium]

[SQL]

[UnspeedySam]

I agree with what has already been said about dirt/supermoto style bikes being the wrong tool for any kind of distance. If you want to do distance on a 125 I would buy a Varadero or if money was tight I'd get a YBR125 and put a big screen on it.

All 125s look like 125s, especially with the give-away L-plates. So I think you're better off buying a bike based on reliability and comfort for what you want to do, than looks. Then getting your test done sharpish and getting the bike you really want!

edit: Also, using the words fag and gay to describe bikes that people on here own is a good way to make enemies If you're going to criticise bikes, try and be more constructive.
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[P.]

If you are anywhere in Kent, you are welcome to try the Vara up for size, I wouldn't have another 4 stroke 125. This thing does the job, all day long.

I've only ever ridden the WR125 which is apparently a better version of the XT125 and it wasn't super duper. Looks to use the YBR125 engine also.. or a close variant, so expect 65mph, 70 at an insane push down a VERY long hill.

[Timmeh]

[UnspeedySam]

[_Iain_]

[UnspeedySam]

[jameswood]