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sheriffjonny
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 17 Feb 2012
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PostPosted: 16:58 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Doing the knowledge Reply with quote

Anyone here done the knowledge? I'm thinking about doing it. The problem is i live in Medway and don't fancy going up and down the A2 on a 125 scooter, but need the fuel economy to make it affordable. I'm thinking something like a sh300 will do, but i have no experience of peds at all. I think that if i could give at least 1 day a week to this i'd stck to it, but not sure if it is really just beyond my effort levels. So if anyone has done it, or is currently doing it, i'd like to hear how you are finding it, and what you're riding
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illuminateTHE...
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PostPosted: 17:19 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

I will give you the knowledge... I will give you that 5* brain
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sheriffjonny
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PostPosted: 17:33 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

illuminateTHEmind wrote:
I will give you the knowledge... I will give you that 5* brain


cheers, I feel well chuffed
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G
The Voice of Reason



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PostPosted: 17:53 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Doing the knowledge Reply with quote

sheriffjonny wrote:
The problem is i live in Medway and don't fancy going up and down the A2 on a 125 scooter,

I'm not sure doing the knowledge is right for you, then!

A 125 scooter should be faster than the trucks, at least.
These days there's plenty of people that drive slowly and if there's any traffic, you'll still be faster.
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sheriffjonny
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PostPosted: 17:56 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Doing the knowledge Reply with quote

G wrote:
sheriffjonny wrote:
The problem is i live in Medway and don't fancy going up and down the A2 on a 125 scooter,

I'm not sure doing the knowledge is right for you, then!

A 125 scooter should be faster than the trucks, at least.
.


Cos all trucks are limited to 58mph right?? I'm on the motorway for over 600 miles a week, I can tell you for sure that lorries are travelling faster than 58 mph. I'm 18 stone, a 125 ped will struggle
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SQL
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PostPosted: 18:21 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am banging off the limiter on my bike going up the A2 @ 73mph quite often. a 125 is perfect, music on and up and just chill.
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G
The Voice of Reason



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PostPosted: 18:23 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Doing the knowledge Reply with quote

It's 56mph; you might find some that will manage about 60mph on a sustained steep slope.

Note that some 7.5t vehicles are allowed to do 70mph - mine will do 70-75, but fuel economy is horrendous at those speeds.

I did 600 miles in my van on motorways on Monday. Didn't come across any trucks going much faster than 56.

(Note - my measurements are by GPS - speedometers can easily be 10% out, but it's rare that trucks with the limiters will be, as they'll want to make sure they can get a real 56.

Anyway, doing the knowledge you WILL be dicing with big vehicles whatever.

And, more to the point; there will be enough big trucks going slow that it shouldn't be a big issue.

Consider it 'character building' Smile.

And yes, I've done big A roads on a c90. Not so pleasent, but on a 125cc scooter, not so bad to my mind - especially a busy one going in to London.

Have you already got the scooter? A cheap Chinese 125 scooter may be pushing it. While a decent 2 stroke and you're talking pretty rapid.
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SQL
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PostPosted: 18:25 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

The 172 runner is blisteringly quick Shocked
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P.
Red Rocket



Joined: 14 Feb 2008
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PostPosted: 18:27 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

The fuck is the knowledge?!
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sheriffjonny
Nitrous Nuisance



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PostPosted: 18:28 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

SQL wrote:
I am banging off the limiter on my bike going up the A2 @ 73mph quite often. a 125 is perfect, music on and up and just chill.


I think i once hit 70 going down bluebell hill on my cbf125. 125+my bulk doesn't go together very well
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SQL
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PostPosted: 18:30 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy. wrote:
The fuck is the knowledge?!


To become a taxi.
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P.
Red Rocket



Joined: 14 Feb 2008
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PostPosted: 18:31 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

SQL wrote:
Paddy. wrote:
The fuck is the knowledge?!


To become a taxi.


That doesn't help... lol

Taxi, scooter, A2.... can't see how it ties in.
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SQL
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PostPosted: 18:31 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

sheriffjonny wrote:
SQL wrote:
I am banging off the limiter on my bike going up the A2 @ 73mph quite often. a 125 is perfect, music on and up and just chill.


I think i once hit 70 going down bluebell hill on my cbf125. 125+my bulk doesn't go together very well


Going from bexley to rochester 70 the whole way pretty much probably 65ish on GPS.
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sheriffjonny
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PostPosted: 18:33 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Doing the knowledge Reply with quote

G wrote:

Anyway, doing the knowledge you WILL be dicing with big vehicles whatever.

And, more to the point; there will be enough big trucks going slow that it shouldn't be a big issue.

Consider it 'character building' Smile.

And yes, I've done big A roads on a c90. Not so pleasent, but on a 125cc scooter, not so bad to my mind - especially a busy one going in to London.

Have you already got the scooter? A cheap Chinese 125 scooter may be pushing it. While a decent 2 stroke and you're talking pretty rapid.


I've got plenty of character. I know how fast a geared 125 sped me along, struggling most of the time to make it to 60!! I Haven't got a scooter yet
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SQL
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PostPosted: 18:33 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="Paddy."]
SQL wrote:


That doesn't help... lol

Taxi, scooter, A2.... can't see how it ties in.


right as far as i am aware, inorder to become a black cabby you need to learn every road in london, and it is dirt cheap to do it on a scooter rather than dick about in a car doing it.
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Shaft
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PostPosted: 18:38 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy. wrote:

That doesn't help... lol

Taxi, scooter, A2.... can't see how it ties in.


London Hackney cab drivers have to memorise a list of routes and all the features on them, then they are regularly tested, until they've learned them all and are deemed fit to hold a licence; this is known as the knowledge.

It takes about 3 years to do (or a lot longer) and it's all in London.
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P.
Red Rocket



Joined: 14 Feb 2008
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PostPosted: 19:40 - 01 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fuck. That.

Tubes + sat nav Laughing
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illuminateTHE...
World Chat Champion



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PostPosted: 00:56 - 02 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy. wrote:
Fuck. That.

Tubes + sat nav Laughing



First time I've seen you confused paddy.
Driving a cab is an occupation paddy.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha
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PostPosted: 01:51 - 02 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paddy. wrote:
The fuck is the knowledge?!


Embarassed
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Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125
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Lord Percy
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PostPosted: 02:10 - 02 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

I also had no idea about 'The knowledge'. Sounds like a real badge of honour. I wanna do it for Mumbai Very Happy
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barrkel
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PostPosted: 03:20 - 02 Aug 2013    Post subject: Re: Doing the knowledge Reply with quote

sheriffjonny wrote:
The problem is i live in Medway and don't fancy going up and down the A2 on a 125 scooter, but need the fuel economy to make it affordable. I'm thinking something like a sh300 will do, but i have no experience of peds at all.


I think you could stick it out on a decent 125 scooter. The A2 wouldn't be terribly pleasant, but not dangerously slow IMO, and a 125 would be close to optimal once you're in London. It's rare that I see a knowledge boy on anything other than a 125, typically a Honda PS.

You can get north of 90mpg on a 125 even in city traffic, if you're smooth. While my SH300 gets about 70mpg ridden fairly aggressively across London. It will cruise at an indicated 80 without too much stress, and depending on the state of the rollers / belt, it will make a true 80-85 before the rev limiter starts cutting the spark. I've toured through Scotland and Ireland on them without issue, no fear of any road; not motorway, nor steep narrow country lane - something I generally don't do on my VFR.

But the SH300 is less suited to the kind of riding I see knowledge boys doing - trundling around, alternately looking at street signs and route listings with only occasional glances at the road, lots of u-turns, etc. The SH is slightly less manoeuvrable through gridlocked traffic than a 125, about 30% heavier, and 150% more power. It's pretty decent at launching from traffic lights, excellent for darting through gaps starting from low speed, and getting back up to higher speeds after you've braked for safety reasons, all without losing much of the nimble handling of a scooter, or breaking your back / wrists / clutch hand. And the ABS is excellent in the wet, on the often oily roads in the city. The brakes are fantastic as when you use both at the same time - it has a similar but not quite as complex setup as the VFR, where the rear operates one of the pistons on the front.

But this all makes it optimized for getting from A to B in the urban environment as fast as possible while still being semi-safe. And that's not how knowledge boys ride, or what they need. The bike's capabilities encourage you to ride faster than you should, to the point where it may distract you from the task at hand!
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suburban myth
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PostPosted: 13:45 - 02 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

SQL wrote:
in order to become a black cabby


Who pays for the sunbed sessions? (I'll get my coat.......)

Seriously, become a bus driver instead. Loads less hassle and probably earn near enough as much.
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Shaft
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PostPosted: 14:18 - 02 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lord Percy wrote:
I also had no idea about 'The knowledge'. Sounds like a real badge of honour. I wanna do it for Mumbai Very Happy


I would think Mumbai would be relatively easy.

To get a green badge (that's the all London licence) you have to learn every street and everything on those streets, for a radius of 6 miles from Charing Cross.

If the OP is only going to study one day a week, I reckon it could be five years before he gets close to a licence.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
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Matt94
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 21 Aug 2012
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PostPosted: 15:49 - 02 Aug 2013    Post subject: Reply with quote

SQL wrote:
The 172 runner is blisteringly quick Shocked


And blisteringly unreliable.
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