27st Rider with Questions

[Brodie9666]

Ok i'm very over weight, i'm broad shouldered, 6ft tall and stocky, but I have a big gut and ass and they are both mainly made of beer and pies.

About two years ago I decided to go in for my CBT to give myself a quick easy means of self transport (I dont drive) and made the mistake of buying a cheap (yet cool looking) Chinese Lexmoto Lowride 125cc. The bike managed to get where I need to go and to haul my behind up all the hills around where I live (even if its reving like crazy and doing 35mph in a 40). But it's starting to fall to pieces now, rust and electronics you name it.

The major problem I had with it however was it's turning circle, with full lock on the bike could barely do a full circle on any roads without mounting the kerb, which is a big no no when attempting lessons.

Anyway the reason why i'm here, i am going to be replacing it, starting again and this time not with a cruiser, despite that being my favorite style.

My major needs are:
Is it powerful enough to haul my ass up and around hills?
Is the turning circle better than my Lexmoto Lowride

I've narrowed it down to two bikes, both around 4.5k GBP.

- Yamaha MT 125 ABS
- KTM RC 125

I've sat on the MT125 and found the riding position a tad uncomfortable, mainly the angle which my foot sat on the pegs, I found it a little difficult to change gear. I 've not sat on the RC125 however.

Apart from the obvious "loose weight lardy!" any advice??

To help here are the specs of all involved.

Lexmoto Lowride: https://www.lexmoto.co.uk/DFE125L.php

KTM RC125: https://autos.maxabout.com/bikes/ktm/superbike/rc-125

Yamaha MT125: https://autos.maxabout.com/bikes/yamaha/mt/mt-125

[nowhere.elysium]

[NJD]

What country are you from?

(Links make me think your outside the UK).

[Brodie9666]

[Brodie9666]

[Baffler186]

Usual advice here, if you have to stay on a 125, get a Jap bike. But, I would recommend getting a full license. License and lessons depending on which country you are in would cost you under a quarter of what you're looking at paying for a new 125. You would then have a good 3 - 4k to spend on something bigger and better. Even with your ...ahem...size, a 70+hp bike will propel you up the steepest hill like a rocket.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[temeluchus]

if you MUST have a 125 get a japanese twin shock bike for around a grand, then slap a set of made to measure hagon twin shocks to account for your weight and speak to hagon about fork springs.

You probably want to down gear it a bit as well.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[Brodie9666]

[Fisty]

CB125TD


Teffers rage incoming.
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[nowhere.elysium]

[Teflon-Mike]

I think, on the IoM you can still get a full bike licence just taking tests on a 125 like we used to before the EE stuck us with the stepped licence system. IoM isn't part of EU so they can have 'sensible' laws.
If so, (check it out) be worth the change on your 125 to get one, and get a bigger bike.
Hint.. IoM lanes are narrow.. but you make a bike turn tighter by leaning it... natural tendancy when going slow is to try and hold it up so it dont fall over, BUT bit of technique I can do U-turns on narrow welsh country lanes on bigger heavier big-bikes.. its just a matter of technique & confidence.
Pretty relaxed on IoM from reputation, examiner is likely to give you pointers if you struggle, to practice for re-test.
Other wise... you may like to ponder getting a push-bike instead of another 125.... pedal off some of the pies & ale Cheaper to insure too!
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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?'

[Brodie9666]

Thank you for the replies so far, much appreciated.

I will however break things down to the basics,

I currently own this:

Lexmoto Lowride: https://www.lexmoto.co.uk/DFE125L.php

I will be replacing it with one of these:

KTM RC125: https://autos.maxabout.com/bikes/ktm/superbike/rc-125

Yamaha MT125: https://autos.maxabout.com/bikes/yamaha/mt/mt-125

Which of the two replacements is in your much more experienced and expert opinion is the best for a (very) heavy rider who wants to use it for a year or two before eventually going in for my test.

Please bare in mind the following:

1. My weight vs the two bike's engines.
2. Seating position.
3. Turning Circle (it needs to be quite small for performing turns in the road vs the Lexmoto Lowride's iceberg like turns)
4. Resale Value 2 years hence.

[Brodie9666]

[nowhere.elysium]

[NJD]

[Brodie9666]

I want to do my test, I fully intend to do my test as soon as possible.
Here on the Isle of Man you can do your lessons and your test on your own bike, but only up to 125cc.

I dont want to use a bike supplied to me by the instructor,I want to use my own.

So I need to buy one.

It's between the two ive listed.

Want to know which is better.

[delsol]

I may well be wrong, quick google tells me you can ride a bigger than 125cc on CBT on IOM but with R plates and 50mph restriction.

If (and if) that is correct, why buy a 125cc ?

[NJD]

[Brodie9666]

[Teflon-Mike]

Neither!
125's have their place as learner tools and low cost commuters.
Spending nearly five grand on a rather more stylish one, rather defeats thier capability of offering 'cheap' commuter transport. while as a learner? Are you? You have had a bike umpety long and been using it on the public roads; if you cant perform basic maneuvers and ride 'safely & competently' by now... you never will!
How much 'practice' do you need as a 'Learner'?
So why look for yet another Learner-Bike?
Do tests! whatever you get after.
The Lexmoto doesn't have SUCH an appalling turning circle. Narrow country roads and tight suburban cul-desacs wont make it easy for you, BUT matter of technique not technology.. if you cant do a U-turn its your fault, not the bikes.
DO TESTS.. if you are doing anything wrong, examiner will tell you what it is, and probably offer advice how to put it right. LIKE leaning the thing to make it turn tighter.
Then.. you can go look for any bike, and get an awful lot more of one for your money, and know that you can ride it properly.
NOT the answer to the question you directly asked I know... but it IS the answer to the'problem'.. posed, disintegrating chinky cruiser whilst perpetually pretending to be a learner and NOT actually learning any more; suggesting the bikes you want opinion of might solve.. they wont.
So stop pretending to be a learner putting of doing tests; DO THEM. If you fail, then your problem is that you haven't learned enough; so YOU are the problem, not the bike. Go put right your errors, and repeat until you pass. if / WHEN you pass.. your question is redundant. Full Licence is passport to ALL biking has to offer, and you wont be limited to a choice of two over-priced learner bikes, when you'll no longer be, or be pretending to be a 'Learner'.
____________________
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?'

[Brodie9666]

[delsol]

OP,

I wouldn't ordinarily say this, but in this case forget the 'quality' bikes.

If you must, just get a sit up straight style as in CG or whatever the modern day equivalents are (I can't be bothered listing names and models right now).

Doesn't your riding school have bikes to learn on?, they will have bikes that will be right for turning circles and other test manouvres, just get over your hang up about getting to fully know a particular bike.

Your riding instructor will sort out your apprehension problems etc, that is what you are in a big part paying him for.

Riding other bikes will bring more confidence too.

Sorry, but have to say, you are just not listening to the advice being given, stop messing around, get down to the driving school and just get on with it.

[Teflon-Mike]

The Yamaha is a pretty decent bike, with good dealer support; but to my mind its not worth near 60% more than a YBR that has nie on the exact same functional value, same dealer support, and all round usefulness.

The KTM? Recent reports are a bit sketchy, but imply that the smaller models are basically chinese. But even if not; the marque has never had wonderful dealer support, or a great rep for reliability; so all in, I'd avoid like the plague, 'cos I'd not spend Yamaha kind of money for Lexmoto like 'liveability'.. I'd rather save 2/3 my money and buy a Lexmoto! (and even if I chucked it away after 18 months, probably cost less than the depreciation on the KTM!)

BUT either which way, we are back to the solid and overwhelming advice you are being offered "Vote None of the above"!!

Adding confidence issues into the mix, and not wanting to pay to use an instructors bike or have lessons, you are doggedly dogging the issue here.

A New BIKE is NOT the solution to your problem! Process of manning up to get the licence IS.

A new bike wont give you confidence you are a better rider, nor let you learn much you haven't already; your learning should haves peaked. If its above test standard doing tests and being told "Yes you are good enough to have any bike you like" WILL give you confidence. Fucking about on another learner re-covering old ground, risking a fancy new bikes expensive body-work, worse bashing it, practicing U-turns is unlikely to give you any more confidence, just perpetuate where you are at, with big risk that a bent and skuffed expensive new learner bike will actually dent what little confidence you have now.

PUT your money into the training and tests
If you dont pass? well you haven't peaked or peaked above test standard. BUT more fucking about on L-Plates on your own wont tell you that, even less put it right; manning up and taking lessons and doing tests WILL, and back to above, give you the confidence.

Why it no make sense?
WHY are you trying to find excuses and justifications to stay where you are and NOT move on?

Shit or get off the crapper! as the expression goes.
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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?'

[struan80]

Are you able to go and sit on the bikes to get an idea of what feels better, or better still a test ride?

I would imagine they are much of the same, one bent over riding a little bit more. From what I can gather from reading about KTM's on this forum KTM may be more prone to 'issues' so how close is the dealers etc?

One last chance to persuade you to go for your licence and bigger bike though, the training will actually give you confidence and quicker. My R6 and R1 cost less together than one of those 125's....just saying

If I had to i would pick the KTM, simply on looks.

[Rogerborg]

Bitches.

Varadero.

/thread.
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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