125 tourer/commuter

[DUCAUDI]

Does such a thing exist?

My 19yo daughter (20 in January) lost her licence for getting 9 points (for one offence, daft cow!) within the first two years of having her licence. She needs transport to get to and from work. From what I understand she can re-take her test again straight away as it was simply revoked, not banned, however with her track record car insurance is likely to be unaffordable for her for the next couple of years so we've suggested that once her new provisional licence comes through she does CBT and gets a 125 just to get her mobile and independent for the next couple of years while she waits for insurance to become affordable again.

She'll have a few brush-up lessons and re-take her car test ASAP just to get it out of the way even if she's only riding a 125 on L plates for the next couple of years anyway as I would hope that she'll be less likely to get her licence revoked again on a 125 over the next couple of years, and in two years time when hopefully insurance is affordable for her again she'll have passed the two year probation period on her licence (hopefully without any further points) so will have a clean sheet and able to accumulate 11 points if she so desires without fear of having it revoked again.

She may or may not decide to take her bike test so she can ride on the motorway and carry a pillion but she can decide that at a later date after she's done CBT and see how she feels on a bike.

She'll potentially be working at racing stables all over the county so her commutes will usually involve high-speed dual carriageways and motorways if she decides to take the test, it could potentially be in excess of an hour each way.

She'll be travelling all year round so needs a capable 125 of holding it's own on dual-carriageways and motorways as well as having plenty of wind and rain protection and being comfortable to ride over a long period of time.

Initially I thought the best dual carriageway / motorway 125 for her needs would be the BMW C1. I daren't repeat what she said when I showed her a picture of one! Next I was thinking of something along the lines of a Honda PCX125 twist-and-go however she's dead set on getting a geared bike :-/

I can't find many big 125s that meet our criteria in terms of having a large road presence, being able to keep up the pace and giving plenty of wind and rain protection as well as being comfortable on a long run.

I'm not sure if such a thing exists but something similar to a mid-weight tourer like the NT650V but with a 125 engine would be ideal.

So far the closest thing I can find is a XL125V Varadero.

Are there any other bikes that I should be considering that I may have overlooked or have I already found the holy grail in the Varadero?

All comments. suggestions and recommendations greatly appreciated x

[TbirdX]

How tall is she? A Varadero has a pretty high seat height for a 125.
____________________
VFR800X - TTR250

[iooi]

Confused as what this has to do with "Workshop"..

Unless OP is looking at how to fix the daughter, but pic's will be needed on that 1st

Any bike can be a tourer/commuter. Have done it on a DT 125 before. Bikes are never going to have great weather protection.

Also don't think that because it's a 125 it will stop her getting further points... That is purely down to her.
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[DUCAUDI]

[DUCAUDI]

[Teflon-Mike]

[Robby]

CBF125. They're a good size but a fairly low seat height, common, and cheap.

Common means lots of cheap pattern and secondhand parts.

[Easy-X]

Hey, she could buy my Superlight! It's even lower than the CBF125 and I would say probably the only thing someone 5'1" could get away with However, zero weather protection (you could fit an aftermarket screen I suppose) and will only cruise at 50 on the dual carriageways.

Easy of use, comfort on a long ride, good weather protection, petite... sorry, all that says scooter

Beggars can't be choosers!
____________________
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[MarJay]

I can't help but think even insurance on a 125 is going to be crippling for a 20yo with 9 points already. Plus, one has to think if she doesn't have the nouse to avoid what I assume is 3 speeding tickets, does she really have the nouse to ride a motorcycle on the road safely?

If I were you, I'd be telling her to buy a bus pass, but I'm not her parent.

Unfortunately:

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[grr666]

Yamaha MT125 is a decent physical size and is one of the faster 125s out there but there's the problem of handing
over dat 4k for a 125....

4k



for a 125...








Here's someone with empty pockets riding one to give you an idea of size. Varadero might be too tall for her*.

(*avoids legover joke beautifully)


https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/upload/304568/images/03-mt125.jpg
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Sister Sledge]

Have you tried getting a quote for a 125 motorcycle? Folk often think bikes are the cheaper option but alas once you sit down and work it all out it ends up expensive.
____________________
CCM 404 DS

[Fizzoid]

Even the MT125 is pretty high, so not ideal for someone who's 5'1"

Echoing what MarJay said, I expect even a 125 with 9 points is going to be rather expensive, and long/comfortable journies at speed on a 125?

I think public transport may be the way forward, and consider it lesson learned
____________________
Rogerborg wrote: It'd certainly make it easier to ego-find my own posts on pages, given the number of fags (gay like traps) who insist on putting my name in their .sig

[grr666]

It still costs me about half what it costs to insure my MT09 full comp to insure my 125 scoot tpft despite full licence,
years of ncb, not my main bike etc plus obviously I haven't had a ban. Personally I'd bet it was a swab test, a mate
of mine just got swabbed positive for cocaine he consumed 3 days previously. Awaiting lab results as we speak
to determine quantity in his system. Rather him than me. He's shitting it a bit.
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[MarJay]

[Ste]

Drink driving would have been a ban rather than just 9 points which then caused her licensed to be revoked.

[Grubscrew]

Varadero 125, I had two, and for a 5’1” it will be too tall, but they certainly look like a larger bike.
As suggested by another chap, a cb125, at least it’ll be a good size match for her, plus resale value will be better than a Chinese/ Taiwanese unit.


Put us all out of our misery and tell us the misdemeanour.....please.
____________________
FJR1300/CBR1000F

[BusterGonads]

[Robby]

Thinking about it some more, being that short does open up the possibility of some of cool looking semi-Chinese stuff like Mutt and Brixton bikes. Some of them are very small, like a 3/4 size model of a bike. Also look good and fairly cheap new.

[MarJay]

Actually my quid goes on driving without due care... Driving without insurance is 6-8 points.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[DUCAUDI]

Wow I had do double check when I read all the replies that I hadn't inadvertently posted on Mumsnet. Generally speaking I go there for parenting advice and here for biking advice but it seems the world has been tipped upside down.

While I accept what some of you are saying that it's her fault she should sort it out, and I do agree with this to a certain extent, the fact is if she's not able to get to and from work then she's not able to pay her own way and we either have to support her or kick her out. Neither of which is ideal. Better to give her a bit of support in getting back on the road and being able to pay her own way.

The quid bet goes to MarJay as he was closest. Careless driving (which I think is slightly different to DWDCAA). She was involved in a very minor accident with an off duty policeman. She should have given way at a mini roundabout but clearly wasn't paying attention. He reported her for the offence and the CPS gave her a conditional offer of a driver improvement course instead of prosecution. The feckless lazy cowbag couldn't be arsed to pick up the phone and book a place on the course despite me and DH nagging her daily to do so. Next thing you know the time allowed to book it has passed before she bothered to pick up the phone and it goes to court instead. I took her to court but didn't go in with her as she wanted her BF with her instead, I'm guessing they took a dim view on her antics so threw the book at her.

So yeah, totally her own doing and I've very little sympathy, not making any excuses for her whatsoever, but unless we're prepared to see her kicked out on the street or simply keep funding her unemployed arse, the best thing to do is give her a bit of help and encouragement with getting back on the road as we live rurally and you have to drive to get anywhere. Yes she could move to a town or a city and find work but without a job in the first place how is she going to afford the deposit on a flat? It's catch 22! This has to be the best way forward.

[DUCAUDI]

[WD Forte]

Eleven fahsand nicker for 125 scoot insurance???????

Bloody kids eh?
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[Riejufixing]

[stevo as b4]

All been said, but the first post screamed of the word delusional, and we've seen this type of parent on here many times before.

My questions would be:

1, Does she really want to ride a motorbike for daily transport? After driving a car a bike is rarely better or more enjoyable/comfortable/easier.

2, So she's expecting you to fund buying this motorbike and the insurance etc to get it road legal for her, so all she has to do is ride it. Is she even going to pay for her own petrol, or just ring mum and dad and say Its run out can you come and help me?

3, So going onto her earning money straight away from having transport, is that guaranteed? Have you told her your expecting £xx a month in repayments?

4, Oh and lastly now your reluctantly saying how daft she is and it's all her own fault, then firstly how comfortable and confident are you that she'd even be safe on a bike and that she would be an attentive and careful rider enough to hopefully stay out of trouble and stay alive even? (If she was my daughter I'd be dead against her ever trying to ride a bike if she couldn't prove she was a good and careful driver with a good attitude).

Secondly how confident are you that she'd be bothered to do all the necessary paperwork to keep a bike legally on the road, or that she'd do all the (frequent and intensive maintenance compared to a car) to keep said bike safe and running. I mean is her attitude to security and locking it up when parked going to be shit hot? Otherwise you could almost half expect her to phone one day and say bike's been nicked can you pick me up.

I'm with Marjay and to an extent Tef on this. I'd also show her the thread as it might be a reality check for her. And after that if I still as a parent felt the need to help her again, I'd as other people have said get her a bus or train season ticket, and say there you go now sort your life out.