140 miles on a GZ125?

[Maddsto]

Hey all,

So I've got a 12 year old Suzuki GZ125 marauder, has done 12500 miles and rides at a steady 45mph, last week had a new rear tyre fitted and passed its MOT with flying colours.

Serviced regularly, with good quality oil and parts.

So it's my mums wedding next weekend in Bournemouth, about 140miles away from me, and she knows I'm coming but have booked a few extra days off work..

I wanted to surprise her by riding down and meeting her early, but I'm not 100% sure a 125 can take the journey?

I know it will takes it time, I've planned a route with regularly 50/75 mile break stops, so looking about 4 to 5 hours journey time overall.

What are your views, is it possible?
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

100% fine.

Do your normal bike checks before leaving and have a good run.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Tris]

I had a 53 plate marauder 125 myself, it managed the long haul journeys I put through it just fine, also used to do an 80 mile round trip commute every few weeks as well with no problems.

Have some fun and ride safe
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8 Years riding, and many more to come...
Current bike: Kawasaki er6f

[Maddsto]

Cheers for the comments, was planning on doing a service this weekend, making sure all is fit and dandy.

So overall views are the journey should be alright, just make sure I take regular stops, keep myself fed and stretch the legs and stop the numb bum!
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Pretty much.

[semi thread hi-jack...i.e Look at me!]

I asked a similar question...Something like is ???miles too far for a 30yr old bike.
Silly question when you think about it. If I'm fit and the bike works, it'll do it day in day out.

It was my first long trip and I didn't half make a meal of it....and thoroughly enjoyed it too.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=64402
https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=64400



I have now set the timer to 10seconds. https://www.bikechatforums.com/download.php?id=64399

..and ditched the knee sliders and ill fitting leathers....and those crappy crappy aquaboots...like wearing wellington boots.


The bike is still good.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Maddsto]

It's put my mind at ease abit knowing a few other riders think it'll be fine!

Would you say it's worth getting roadside assistance, it's £45 a year, that's pick-up, road fix, home fix, take me to my destination and unlimited call outs?

With this heat if it continues I'm going to be melting the entire journey haha!
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Pigeon]

My chinky bike as done 12,500 km and done 150-220 miles (throttle mostly pinned) in a single day every weekend for the last 10 weeks. Including today when it would have been less hot in hell.

Your bike will have no problem.

[Maddsto]

Cheers for the comments back everyone!

Was just abit uneasy as it'll be the longest I've ridden and doing it solo..

You've all put my mind at ease, doing a full service tomorrow and Sunday making sure everything is good to go!
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[sabian92]

[Maddsto]

Haha dont worry Sabian, my "tank" of a bike doesn't hit high on the speed counter! Happily plod the entire way hitting about 45mph, 55mph if im down hill and the wind is on my back!


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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Spudly]

Maddsto, I'm on a 2006 GZ125 Passive Aggressor (you know, you point it at a hill and it goes "Well you don't have to be so 'hurryist' about it, just imagine if everyone wanted to do it quickly, what then? Oh what now? A HEADWIND? Geez, you are such a fascist, why not just be happy where you are? No, no, it's ok, I'll do it, but I don't see why it's so important.") and I'd have zero qualms about a 140 mile ride on it. Well, I say zero, but I just know that my back and arse would be aching at the end of the ride.

The only thing to do would be to make sure you allowed extra time for the trip, cos you will need it.
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The Old Apprentice

[sabian92]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Just remember to update this thread once completed, so that others contemplating the same kind of trip can hear from someone who's done it
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Az]

my friend came with me to wales/cardiff which was a 280mile trip and his bike held up and it was a load shit- chinese bike with 10,000 miles on the clock and it did just fine there and back. no problemos

[Maddsto]

Cheers everyone, looking forward to it now!

Will update monday with some pictures of my new luggage rack i'm getting!
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Wait....Wait!!...Wait!!!

I thought you said GP125.

The GZ125.....Sorry, but it won't make it in a month of Sundays.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Maddsto]

Still going to go for it HT, spent the weekend giving her a full service and general tidy over.

Alot of people seem to say it should be ok, if i take regular breaks etc. Only one way to find out really
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Your back/arse/wrists/bladder is going to be the limiting factor, the bike'll probably just chug along in one go.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Maddsto]

I have no doubt the bike will be able to take it, however i'm the probably the one who will be letting the team down.. with the weather as it is, i'll be drinking water by the bottle full so pissing like a camel every 10minutes...DOH!

It's all a laugh and an adventure, i've got my roadside assistance if the shit hits the fan.
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Maddsto]

Before :

https://imageshack.us/a/img69/6417/z2dx.jpg

After I made her trip ready :

https://imageshack.us/a/img196/5512/47xx.jpg

The "universal" luggage rack was a massive pain in the ass! As you have see, had to take the chrome fender bars off for it to fit, also had to drill new holes into my topbox base (not the box itself, the bit underneath it..to tired to think of the name) so it would fit and attach to the luggage rack :-/
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

It may be just a trick of the light, but I swear that bike looks more manly after it's journey.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Maddsto]

Haha! Hasn't even made the trip yet but I agree.. With all the extra's on the bike is massive now! Doesn't look like a petty 125!
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Sorry about that. Pre-ejaculation.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Maddsto]

Don't worry buddy, there is always next time
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Current : Honda XL Varadero 125
Old : Suzuki GN125, Suzuki GZ125 Marauder

[garth]

I've done double the mileage in a day with 40cc less - You'll be fine.