37, 6’3”, 16st...KTM Duke 125?

[williamstom]

Evening all. Having got my CBT around 9 months ago, I thought I’d best get a 125 to commute as I have noticed my fuel costs soaring since changing jobs. I use mainly A roads so ‘L’ plates no problem.

I’ve been looking at Varadero’s and Terra’s purely for the size of the bike. Ultimately I’d rather not look like a clown at the circus on one of those little pedal bikes. That being said, I’m not finding anything worthwhile and good condition for the age for less than £1500.

By chance, I see my (not so) local bike shop have new 125 Duke’s for £2,800. This appeals to me, as I can see they hold their value well for resale, and the idea of 2 year trouble free motoring appeals.

So just wondering if there are any other larger-framed bikers who have opted for the Duke, and if so, what your thoughts are on practicality? My commute is around 15 miles each way.

Thanks,
Tom

[M.C]

Duke 125s aren't particularly big and have a myriad of reliability problems (they're made in India). I do like the Terra, they do occasionally come up cheap as they're a bit of an unknown/fairly rare. Varadero's are sought after so hold their value.

Try and find a fellow 125 noob who's riding through their first winter and are ready to throw in the towel

[Teflon-Mike]

There's some rather bizzare illogic and anti0mnaths being applied here.... I'm not entirely sure how spending thousands on a posey 125, you are allowed to ride on L-Plates, when you could buy another 125, you could likewise ride on L-plates, makes sense an an ecconomy measure.

You are bothered about what you look like?

Its a motorbike mate, not a chuffin cat walk.... number one excuse for being knocked off ANY bike is "Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You" so WHO the heck do you think is even looking, at you, let alone concerned with how stylish you might look....

Two thoughts for you here.... One: IF they bother to look AND have some opinion on what you look like.... odds is that that thought will be "Bludy Idiot!" Cos sensible people drive cars! On a bike, in the cold and the wet, you look like a rather uncomfortable drowned rat. Two... IF, they bother too look, and they have some opinion, and have any idea of what they are looking at.... the fugging big red 'L' hanging off the back and front of the bike, will definitely tell them you are a bit of an idiot, who cant pass a driving test. It sort of spoils the aesthetic a bit that does.

SO..... if you want to save money..... there's a lot cheaper bikes about.... especially if they are over 125cc you need a full licence for.

NOT having to display an L-Plate will do more to improve the pose value of anything you choose to ride, and MIGHT just might, mean that of the few folk that bother to look, who might have an opinion worth considering, it isn't "Bloody Learner!"

Interesting fact for you...... 125's suffer the learner-loading. It effects second hand prices and insurance premiums.

Annual insurance on my 125 is actually about 50% MORE than for the 750..... the 750 actually has a lower book value, too, A-N-D MPG is proportional to how hard you twist the wrist, and I tent to average about the same 70ish mpg from both bikes, getting more from the 750 than book suggests, cos I dont have to rag it every where, and less fromn the 125 than book suggests, cos I do! Go figure....

Go get a licence......

Then stop fretting about what you 'think' you look like.... with the narcissism that every one MUST be looking at you!!!! They aint... go figure!
____________________
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?'

[ThatDippyTwat]

Ignore Tef - He's got a boner for shouting at Learners who post on here. Ideally, full license. If not, read on.

The Terra has a half-decent motor (Same as the Derbi GPR and Mulhacen, on the legal limit for L's). The Mulhacen is a decent bike (I'm 6'3" as well), but make sure it's not had it's wiring pissed around with by clueless 17yr olds.Cafe version is what to look for. Varadero's can be found in deecnt nick, but they're not cheap. There's a reason they are nicknamed Very-Dearo's

Also, the Hyosung 125's (GTR, Comet, Aquila) are decently sized and have power on the legal limit.

There was talk of removing the ability of Perpetual L Platers (Re-taking your CBT every two years), but I'm not sure if, or when, that'll happen.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[kgm]

You might actually find that going full license and buying something slightly bigger will be more economical. 125s often come at a bit of a premium (including insurance on Ls) whereas many bikes in the 250-500 range will still offer excellent fuel economy plus meaningful extra performance.

If you really want to go 125, I'd avoid the Duke due to well documented reliability issues.

[M.C]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[chris_hu_cheng]

I think the biggest cosmetic appearance improvement is ultimately removing the L plates.

Try a few 125s you may be surprised, depending on body proportions, I am 6'1 and have enjoyed riding around on a CB125F for five months depends where those extra 2 inches are I have a mate who is your height and has shorter legs than me and long torso.

I do have a big frame and a considerable weight however (both muscle and errr a bit of extra padding.... so I know for a fact looked a bit big on the 125, mechanically though no issues, I adjusted the preload a notch and it felt zippy and easy to handle.

I did some commuting and a couple of long trips plus some bumbling around on country roads for fun, mostly good really but A roads could be a grind, fast busy junctions can be unpleasant, as you really don't have enough acceleration to slot yourself into gaps that would be fine in most cars and bigger bikes. Long stretches on A roads especially dual carriage way is not pleasant, I spent a full 26 miles at one point in 5th gear with occasional 4th when needed, throttle jammed open ALL the time going between 55 and 70 depending on incline etc. and have to scrub of a bit of precious speed now and then to let people filter in (using the right lane to give them space not being an option due to lack of any sort of real world acceleration at these speeds).

I passed my MOD2 a couple of weeks ago and BOOM taking the L plates off makes a real world difference. Some people even the usually mild mannered seem to be triggered by an L plate to do stupid overtakes, if anything the usually mild mannered are the worse as they may do stupid overtakes in under powered cars and are possibly going to consider squeezing you off the road a better options than colliding with the other steel cage hurtling towards them. I think this is partly accounted for some people thinking that L plate means you have to be restricted to 30mph..

Test rode a few bikes and picking up a Bandit 600 this week, almost trembling with excitement even at my age. On my test ride took it on A roads with a couple of fast roundabouts and was grinning from ear to ear.

I am a bit of a slow learner, getting full licence slowly over half a year or so with lots of 125 practice (about 3000 miles in total), worked for me, If I was a bit more confident and quick to pick things up it may have been better to do it all in one go. The Bandit felt about the point where bikes start fitting my frame.

I will miss the 125, it is being replaced by the Bandit I almost kept both, in city (Bristol or Bath for me) or country roads (eg. around Cheddar Gorge) it is terrific. But when the number of bikes start to multiply I think I will be researching something light that has just bit more poke to offset the disadvantage on faster roads (200-300cc).

[chris_hu_cheng]

alternatively embrace the clown and make it work for you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RBz3fXOcNU

[Pjay]

TL:DR edit

[M.C]

[M.C]

[Clanger]

[M.C]

[stevo as b4]

As great and better VFM bigger bikes than 125cc are, there's alot of taller and much higher seat height 125's available new and used. The really tall ones are uncomfortable, have thin poorly padded seats and are generally not great as road bikes. Upside is that if your a tall fellow that's also a fair size unit, then the 900+mm seat height drops massively when your sat on them.

The Varadero is just one tall old used 125 that's still a good road bike, but theres less good alternatives like the Yamaha TDR and Cagiva supercity, Aprilia Pegaso Rally and Gilera Apache. KTM once made a good tall road bike too called the Sting.

There's taller Chinese bikes too, and plenty of generic supermoto or adventure style ones around. Of these the well Sinnis Apache is fairly well regarded and will be coming up for classic status soon, from the masses sold to the Noughties generation.

[M.C]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[struan80]

My friend is having great fun on his 125, he plans to do his DAS next spring. A 125 is worth it just for something to ride while waiting on a DAS. From my last experience there is usually a waiting list for any training.

On the 125 front I have only ridden three, a CBF, Shadow VT and a CB125R.

My friend is 6ft and 15st and the 125R doesn't look too ridiculous, but maybe a wee bit ridiculous

[P.]

[NakedBiker]

Is it just me or does anybody else find the KTM Duke bikes a bit chavvy?

I always think they are the equivalent of owning one of those bright Orange/Green Ford Focus RS/ST's!!
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NakedBiker

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

which is why i like 'em - lary shit rocks in bike world
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[stevo as b4]

I'd much rather take a Pulse Adrenaline over KTM Duke 125. This is because of the build/quality issues with the Indian built KTM. Its not a nasty looking bike, and has typical KTM power/weight advantages, but from seeing them and what I read about them, they aren't even in the shadow of Austrian built £6000 KTM 125's.

And even the Austrian competition bikes as great and class leading as they are, well you rarely see a 10-15yr old KTM running, compared to a Japanese bike. This is not just down to expensive hard to find spares, but I think even the competition bikes are not built as well as a Japanese bike.

[ljw]

I would second what chris_hu_cheng said.

I'm 6'2" (36" inside leg) and used to commute in a city on a CBF 125. It was perfectly comfortable. Recently re-did my CBT on a 125 Duke. Reliability aside, it was comfortable for me, at least for a few hours riding.

BUT, while I enjoyed ragging my 125 on quiet single carriageway NSL roads at the weekend, longer dual carriageway stretches were never fun, nor any NSL road at rush-hour really.

[M.C]

[ThatDippyTwat]