Hints and Tips on How to Handle Four-Wheeled Folk

[Peter Ryder]

As part of my reborn biking career, have just had a couple of days out on my bright yellow CB125F and come back unimpressed by some other road users; I will refrain from using perjorative terms for them, but can assure you that I thought them. How do other riders handle this, both in physical on-the-road terms, and inside their heads? (where hate isn't good for you, at least not for me). I travel at 55-60 mph, maybe 40-45 mph on the hills (Northumberland is hilly) - which to be honest is about as fast as the thing goes - but there always seems someone behind radiating frustration, and often they overtake in silly places, and pull back in far too close to you. If there are lay bys I often pull in to let people past. I do ride in the middle of my lane, because some years ago I pulled in to let an artic past and it came so close it took my mirror, definitely a near-death-experience. In this part of the country there are quiet minor roads, but to get anywhere it is hard to escape quite busy A roads, and they are the problem. Everywhere has I guess just got busier than it used to be....

[Stevie GooGs]

I had more close calls on my 125 than (touch wood) ever had on a bigger bike as power can get you out of a lot of problems. IMHO do your full test and get a bigger bike and you will be able to sit comfortably at the speed limit if not a little above without having people trying to offertake you all the time.


Its like people who road cycle, to me its nuts in a lot of places i ride my bike, if your going slow expect people to overtake you in stupid places as they get frustrated.
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[arry]

Buy a bigger bike.

[Peter Ryder]

I have had my full test for around half a century (passing on a BSA D10 Bantam in 1967) and parted with great regret with my NC700 a few months ago, having had heart troubles and finding it hard to heave around - thought I was giving up biking for good but realised, with relief, I was still alive and chose the 125 for my return because it was light and easy to handle (and pottering round quiet minor roads it is great), but oh dear could do with an extra 10 mph.... I call it Twinkle because its official colour is 'Pearl Twinkle Yellow' and the name just about summons up the raw power, the testosterone surge, the GGGGRUNT as they say, available (or perhaps not...) when I wind back the throttle....but the animosity it is making me feel towards (some) other road users cannot be good for the soul, and the anger and frustration they feel, losing milliseconds from their journey time because of me gently puttering up a hill in front of them, maybe is not good for theirs either.

[arry]

RE Bullet 500. Not light in figures but low and easy to wheel around. Enough power to hold its own. Characterful.

Do it.

[B5234FT]

Unless youre a miser, never leave the city, or 17, there is no reason for 125s. People get just as irate with slow cars, tractors, etc. youre just more vulnerable.

A 250/300 will be just as light to wheel around and MUCH better to ride frankly. It will do 70 comfortably on a dual carriageway and not slow down and hold everyone else up on hills.

[Peter Ryder]

Will take this advice seriously. I do like a little light bike (and gentle speeds) on quiet roads - but avoiding the busy ones is difficult. And I like the economy - but it is only just over 100mpg whereas my NC700 would do around 85 mpg (and touch 100mpg at a steady 60 on motorways). So, if health permits, maybe a 250 in the Spring... Any recommendations?. I am mechanically inept, so something like an Enfield, although they look great, might not be wise...

[linuxyeti]

How about something like these ..

https://www.mashmotorcycles.co.uk/model/black-7/black-7-250cc

I bumped into somebody who has the AJS 125 Cadwell, older chap, and loves the bike, but, bit like you, finds it a little on the slow side, the 250 version Mash sell should solve that.

There's also the https://www.mashmotorcycles.co.uk/model/roadstar/roadstar-highland-green Mine's the older verion, had mine now pretty much 2 1/2 years, not had to replace anything rides lovely, and again is nice and light.

Then, there's always ...

https://royalenfield.com/uk/motorcycles/continental-gt

or

https://royalenfield.com/uk/motorcycles/classic-squadron-blue

or

https://royalenfield.com/uk/motorcycles/bullet-500-efi

Plus, of course there's the Enfield 650 about to be launched ..
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[B5234FT]

I had a Kawasaki Z250 as a courtesy bike and really liked it, but like anything else it's a very personal decision

[Stevie GooGs]

[G]

[Bonnie Lad]

The op would do well not to listen to linyuxeti, and to avoid any Chinese garbage. It would be safer and more sensibsle to stay on his 125

[linuxyeti]

[linuxyeti]

[B5234FT]

[G]

[Holdawayt]

As others have said, buy something faster.

By the time a car driver realises they're annoyed with me I'm already long gone.

[Ste]

Twist the throttle more and brake less.

[ScaredyCat]

[G]

He was talking about the good-bit-lighter street triple.

But didn't find the speed triple heavy at all when riding.
Sure; hustle it around around a track with standard bars and suspension and I can see it'd be a bit of a workout. But got general road riding, seemed fine to me.

[Peter Ryder]

Actually riding the NC700 was fine, it was the heaving it out of the garage and getting it onto its centre stand. I also found slow speed stuff difficult - had a nightmare some years ago when I found myself on a Deauville in a two-hour feet-down shuffle on the ring road around Brussels, with wife on back and laden panniers; there was heavy rain, and then a fast four-lane wet road down to Bruges, all spray and straight into the setting sun; desperate. Most stressful day's biking ever. Fell out of love with the Deauville (and Belgium) and hardly ever rode it again.

[arry]

I struggle a bit moving my relatively light but tall KTM around whereas my Bullet is a breeze. Would recommend having a handle of one and see how you get on.

[Rogerborg]

Remove your mirrors and stop worrying about what people behind you are doing.

Something like a Z250 is a good shout though, if you can find one. It's not a particularly popular capacity, sadly.
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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

[ocatoro]

you have heart trouble, so you bought a bike which causes other road users to frighten the shit out of you?

to echo others, there's plenty of 250/300 around at the moment which will keep up with traffic at normal speeds and keep people off your arse.

i saw a review the other day by an older fella who'd got himself an rc390 "like all the 20 year olds" as he put it.. and he was absolutely loving life.
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CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[Ste]