Motorway 125?

[Craggles]

Hiya,

Taking a ride to Bournemouth to meet a friend tmw - I'd like as much time as possible with them, but need to be back in Southampton (near the Uni) by about 6:30.

Autoroute tells me it'll take just over an hour if I take the M27 past Totton, and round town (this is with it having MY speeds programmed into it too). I figure it'll take a tad longer because of rush hour, but can plan for that.

I'm on my 125 - and it cant really do over 50... is this gunna be real dangerous on the motorway during rush hour (or at any time)?

Otherwise it's an hour 20 via A roads and riding throu town.

Cheers,

Craig

P.S I am licenced to ride on the motorway - just havn't got a bigger bike yet!
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If this signature is blue, you're riding too fast

[stinkwheel]

Providing you are confident on your bike and occupy your lane fully, you shouldn't have any problems. A high visability vest would be helpful.

Motorways are designed to carry slower moving traffic without causing an impediment to the other road users and the presence of so many lanes means that people tend not to try to squeeze past...just remember to ride in the centre or slightly towards the outside of your lane.

I have ridden a CB125 from Carlisle, down the M6 to the far end of the M56. Earlier this year I rode an H100 from warrington to carlisle on the M6, my badly misfiring Jawa 350 (max 55mph) to Milton Keynes and back and a Cub 90 from Kendal to Carlisle.

The only problem is boredom, find a wagon that is doing the same as your top speed and sit in the tow, you will be amazed at the fuel economy you return.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Mnementh]

During rush hour it shouldn't be a problem only being able to do 50 as I dare say you'll be filtering for the majority of it and very rarely will the traffic get above 50 anyway.

Personally I wouldn't take a vehicle on a motorway if it couldn't do at least 70 as it holds other people up and causes frustration, especially when the traffic is busy but still moving somewhat freely. How many times have you seen small pockets of slow moving traffic on the motorway because some numpty is only doing 40-50 and causing all the lorries to have to pull out and overtake, thereby causing all the other vehicles to move into the outside lane to overtake them.

Besides which motorway riding is tedious at the best of times, I'd take the A roads personally if you can.

just my

[Ste]

You could go on the motorway and stay in the nearside lane with the slow traffic, but that will be doing closer to 60mph than 50mph so I would say to go on the A roads and B roads and though town rather than go on the motorway on your 125.

[Craggles]

I think I'll hit the A road and play it safe. Plus I know the route.

Leave the motorway riding till I have a bike capable of motorway speeds. Thinking about it, I'll only loose 15 minutes - and the A road is less likley to be as busy as the motorway, yet I'll still be doing the same speed, maybe faster, than I would be on the motorway.

Craig
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If this signature is blue, you're riding too fast

[Wave2k]

when i first when on the motorway on my rs125 i was shocked no one in the middle or outside lane goes 70mph
u should be ok on the inside lane tho

125s are really cack on the motorway imo
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[TheShaggyDA]

For the last couple of weeks I've been commuting on my Enfield, an 80 mile round trip of which 50 miles is motorway. As I'm still running it in I've been keeping my speed limited to 60. It's not that bad, and it hasn't made much impact on my total journey time. I'd quite happily do it on a 125.

As Stinkwheel has said, finding something sitting in the inside lane at 55-60 and tucking in behind it makes things easier - not so close that you haven't got a chance if they hit the brakes, and no too far or lorries will pass you and try to get into the gap.

As soon as the traffic starts bunching up it's time to hit filter mode - all those bods that gave torn past you in the last 10 minutes will have to just overtake you all over again
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[stryker]

I'm not sure how taking the "A" roads is playing it safe. At least on a motorway everyone is going in the same direction, roughly at the same speed and with no sharp turn junctions.

If your bike can just about squeeze 55mph then try what was suggested, get behind a lorry and enjoy the slipstream.
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Now what?

[Robin]

Problem witha small bike on motorways is that if it is even slightly damp you get covered in all the cr4p thrown up by lorries.

Personally I would take the A roads and have a bit more fun, but it is possible to use the motorway as long as you don't mind the boredom and discomfort.

[priller]

I often ride on motorways on my rs125, but only because it happily sits at 90mph. If I was in your place I'd stick to a roads, even in the slow lane traffic is normally doing more than 50.

I've used a cg on motorways at 60mph and that was bad enough.

[RS1Banger]

give it a go
after a while at 55mph it might clear out and go faster
what sort of 125 only does 55mph?
buy a bigger front sprocket

[Gazdaman]

I wouldn't recommend a motorway at 55mph all the way, I went on a new large A road near me, (a long straight one, so many bikers get pulled for speeding).

My bike can hold 70 down a slight hill and I was getting blown away all over the place, and that's not even a motorway.

Old thread I know, but now I've actually got something usefull to add.

Gaz

[mr.z]