Suitability of 125cc for my commute?

[Kazman]

Hi all, first post here. I have done lots of searches regarding the question I am about to ask, but thought I would try and get a bit more confirmation on it:

Have not done my CBT yet (long time car driver and cyclist). Getting dangerously close to being officially old, so thought I should take the plunge in to the biking world sooner rather than later (something I have been wanting to do for years tbh but always scared myself out of it).

I would like to get a 125cc after completing my CBT and use that for a year (well a summer at least). I may choose to take my test sooner rather than later, but I am under no illusions that it might take me some time to become competent (having only sat on a bike once or twice before!)

I would be using the bike for a 6 mile commute each way (when the weather is good). My concern is that my route has to include a fairly steep climb that has a duration of about 3/4 of a mile. Its also national speed limit single carriageway. The rest of the route is all lovely and rural 30/40 limits with next to no traffic (lucky me).

I am very concerned that I am going to forever have cars tailgating me as I ring a 125 to death trying to get to the top without holding everyone up... but am I just underestimating its ability to "climb"

I would estimate the gradient is about 6-7% average (its not enough to warrant a sign anyway). I'm about 12 stone and I was looking at a YBR 125.

How much of a challenge would this situation pose? Would I be able to get a decent head of speed up? It's not a super busy road, but I know how self aware I will get! Am I just worrying too much about nothing?

Also, are there any 125's that are more suited to this task? The only one I can think of is a Varradero, but they are massively more expensive for their age and i'm not sure if it would really make a massive difference anyway (couple of mph perhaps?)

Look forward to peoples feedback on this, as its the only thing clouding my decision making at the moment.

Thanks in advance

[Weedy]

Firstly, welcome to the forum and world of bikes

I'd say go for it, enjoy the bike and the weather I'm also about 12 stone and currently on a 125 until funds allow a 600, I'd have no hesitation with riding the commute you've described. If a car wants to sit up my arse for a mile or overtake, then so be it but as you've said, there's not much traffic on that road.
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<CBT passed 16th Sept 2007><Theory Test passed 11th Oct 2007><Practical Test passed 19th Apr 2008>
OWNED: 2008 Aprilia Pegaso Strada CURRENT: Bikeless :'(

[koan123]

Welcome to the forum.

I've been riding since October 13, I am also 12 stone and I do ride a Varadero.

On steep hills it'll still hold 50 (just) and will deal with that kind of commute easily. You will still find some car going slower than you so I wouldn't worry about it.

I don't know if the same could be said for all 125's as my ex's YBR was gutless by comparison! It could have just been a badly maintained one though...

[Kazman]

Thanks for the warm welcomes and useful info guys.

I think the "don't worry about it" part is the bit I need to focus on...
interesting ref YBR struggling, it seems like some are much better than others. Whether that is due to carb or FI or just wear and tear as you say I don't know.

Sorry for the double topic post as well... server time out thing happened.

[Orennayar]

I'm 73kg and I can easily go to 55 mph on my YBR, after that it takes a little longer but you can get to 65-70 depending on wind

[Weedy]

[map]

[Rogerborg]

[Weedy]

[Rogerborg]

It didn't come up on my otherwise decent CBT, which was surprising.

I'd echo the suggestion about considering a scooter. Not the most engaging rides, but it'll get the most out of the engine. When I test rode a couple of geared 125s recently, I was struck by how much I was tap-dancing through the box searching vainly for an ideal gear to eke every last nag out of the motor.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Teflon-Mike]

Stock Advice here:-
'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

Think of a 125 as a two-wheeled HGV. They cant do 80mph either, and they too get slowed by hills. And curiousely, not every car on the road is a bully Beemer trying to do 90 every where! There are lots of vehicles that have limited performance, and drivers who ARE strangely actually quite curteouse... we just dont tend to notice them as often as the pricks!

A 125 is more than 'adequete' for a 6mile commute, and a lot more besides if truth be told. They aren't 'toys' just because they are little and usually ridden by Learners. They are propper motorbikes, and whilst 'slower' than bigger bikes, they are still capable of breaking most speed limits in this country!

BUT, first step is CBT... you are paying for a lot of know-how in that course; you don't have to have all the answers before you turn up, Compulsory Basic TRAINING, not 'Test'.

Trouble is with most pre CBT wannabees, is without anything REALLY to get your hands on, or teeth into, or actually do... you do a lot of 'thinking'.. and start worrying about shit that just isn't that important, and imagination conjures it into HUGE worries...

WHEN you get out there and start riding, believe me there's enough real shit that's FAR more worth worrying about than whether a YBR125 will bleed a couple of mph on a hill!

Stop Thinking - Start Riding.

Go Get your CBT booked, get a bit of learning and some riding done, HAVE FUN... don't worry about what's not a problem yet and may never be one! Deal with what needs to be dealt with, here, now, where you are, and enjoy being where you are now. Lifes stressful enough as it is without going and looking for stuff to fret about!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[sabian92]

YBR125, 16st here, no problems going up hills Not ones that shallow anyway. You'll be fine.

[Baffler186]

Re-iterating what others have said really, but I wouldn't worry about holding other people up. That should be the last thing on your mind. Remember that lots of other vehicles (cars included) won't always be doing 60 up a hill, I've often been behind cars doing 45 in a 60. Yes if someone's tail-gating then maybe move over before you are forced over, but that's the exception and not the rule.

I also assumed that I'd be taught about lane positioning etc on my DAS course, I'd watched lots of YouTube videos that illustrated how you should be positioned when taking bends, and how you should move over to the right of the lane if passing a minor road on your left. None of this came up during my training, nor was mentioned after my test. Not saying it should or shouldn't have been, I wouldn't know, but it wasn't!

So, don't worry, do CBT, ride 125 until confident to take next step, and you'll find that a 125 is a capable bike up until 55mph or so. As with any vehicle, powerful or not, you have to ride to both yours and the vehicle's limitations.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Kazman]

Thanks for all the great advice guys (especially regarding not worrying about things that are not even a problem yet).
To address some questions in no particular order-

Got to be a bike and not a scooter for me. I do hope to progress to bigger things (assuming the bug bites) so I really want to be getting used to gears etc.
My reason for not jumping straight to a big bike and the associated test is that I think I would like to spend some time establishing that biking is the right thing for me. Also feel getting some practice in for a while before a test would be the way forward for me.
I only need to take a small back pack for lunch and trousers, can leave shoes etc under desk and wear formal clothes under textile jacket.

[Teflon-Mike]

[Baffler186]

[Kazman]

Thanks for another great reply. I really do appreciate the sentiment in your statements and the whole "mindset" thing. Far from expecting too much i am concerned that a 125 could simply not be for for purpose, but your comments are wise ones and I shall make genuine efforts to heed them when I start trying to justify significantly higher outlay for very marginal performance gains (in respect to a varadero vs a CBF/ybr etc).

And as for the comment regarding a larger lunch at the expense of trousers - I like your thinking!

[Nobby the Bastard]

I used to do a 14 mile each way commute on a DT50. There was one hill where it was down to 1st for about 500 yards (fucking red powerbands, no torque at all)

Anything is possible...
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Ballpien]

125cc and 100kg. I do 28-30 mile each way every (5) day through 30/40/50mph roads and the bike copes fine. As I was warned I would, I have gotten fairly bored of the slowish speed of a 125, the lack of pace to overtake properly when the opportunity presents itself and the noise (although this is my doing as I replaced the stock pipe with a noisy bugger).

Having built up my confidence over the last 6 months and few thousand miles, I now feel ready to do my test and move up to a larger bike.

I was the same as you and had never been on a bike previous to my CBT (around my 40th birthday)

[Ballpien]

504

[Frostdog]

I do an 18 mile commute on my ybr everyday now. I started off taking back roads after cbt, when weather was nice, avoiding dual carriageway (which bike cruises along at 60 no bother, drops to 55 on one particularly steep part - the Tyrebagger) I'm 13.5 stone.

Now after a few months practice I'm confident to take it out rain or shine, high winds, flat out all the way and I love it!

A 125 will more then do the job, you might just have to spank it a bit more but tbh 60-65 feels a lot faster than you think on it and you can still overtake plenty traffic, I'm never aware of holding up traffic etc there's plenty slower cars and trucks vans etc

+1 for the YBR - mines been very reliable, 2009 1500 miles when I bought it for £1200
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[Kazman]

Great stuff. Thanks to all you guys. You have put my mind at ease and I will keep you briefed on my progress

[Val]

17 stones and YBR with 40 miles one way daily commute on A and B roads including few miles on dual carriage ways with low traffic plus London filtering which I have to say makes my day passing massive queues at 5 o'clock rush hour

6 miles you will be more then fine mate just hold your lane and watch your back
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Kazman]