Are 125s actually fun?

[Fleegle]

sc0tt said:

srob said:

Did you miss the rest of my post. You know, the bit where I explained on what I’d based my opinion? The physics, bike design, road type etc? Basically, the bit of my post that you didn’t quote. Because that explains it.

I could also add that I’ve ridden the two types of bikes, so my own personal experience can be included too. Have you ridden both? I know you mentioned you’ve ridden a 125 scooter, but that’s not what we’re talking about.

So I’d like to throw the question back to you and ask how you can categorically state that my opinion is 100% incorrect?

Yes I have ridden an unrestricted 125 many moons ago.
Yes I have ridden a litre bike.
No I have not ridden them on the same road and raced.
But the old arse dyno tells me that a litre bike would be quicker.

We can agree to disagree. I don't really care.

I've seen how you ride. I reckon I could get a 125 down country lanes quicker than you on your R1 and still have time for my flask dispensed tea to go luke warm

[sc0tt]

Fleegle said:

I've seen how you ride. I reckon I could get a 125 down country lanes quicker than you on your R1 and still have time for my flask dispensed tea to go luke warm

Indeed.

[LuS1fer]

GTIR said:

LuS1fer said:

One of the best bikes for fun, that I ever rode, was an old Suzuki GT125 2 stroke.
.

Bloody hell.

As I read that one revved up in my head! Real distinctive sound.
I had one in about 83, I was sure it was a 250 but I doubt it would have been, had loads of electrical issues with it though. I can't remember for the life of me what happened to it though.

I might have swapped it...

The smaller GT range covered the GT125, GT185 (which a mate had an on which he scared the crap out of me banking away from a solid stone wall in North Wales)and the GT250 (at one point the fastest 250 you could buy).
Avove those were the water-cooled GT500 and GT750 "water-kettles" - still 2 strokes as were many bikes back then. I think the 750 was a triple, not sure about the 500.

I recall Kawasaki had their KH range of 2 strokes - desperately wanted a KH250 when I was 16 but they also did a KH750 IIRC. Most had rubber frames back then and elastic swing-arms. if there has been one major safety advance, it is the handling of larger modern bikes.

[Tim85]

RizzoTheRat said:

You appear to be suggesting that fun=fast, which I would dispute. A low performance bike can be fun at speeds which would be boring on a more capable machine. Plus on most roads going fast enough to have fun on a high performance bike means licence losing speeds.

I think part of the fun of biking for me is the speed/acceleration. And also the social aspect. I still, and never have doubted that you can have fun at certain times on a 125. But I still 100% believe that the majority of the time I'd be much more frustrated and annoyed than having fun.
Having recently been on a pistonheads ride out if I was on a 125 I'd of been left behind within half a mile so I know I'm not the only one that rides the way I do. I'd of felt out of my depth I'd of been annoyed, they'd of been annoyed. It's just not why I ride bikes.
I enjoy the odd track days. Now I'm not that 1% that would be able to ride a 125 like a hero so I know again it'd annoy me. It probably would be fun if I could have the track to myself but that's not the reality.
I don't know anybody that rides anything less than a 600 (unless commuting) so I stand by the fact that I'd very rarely have fun on one.

I'm not saying 1000cc supersports are the only way to have fun (although I did have a lot of fun on my old k6 gsxr 1000) but I need a certain amount of oomph to allow me to a. Get that buzz and b. keep me involved in the days out with friends I currently enjoy

[MrKipling43]

It's a motorbike, therefore it's fun. End of discussion, surely?

Scooter in Spain, tucked in and wide open for minutes at a time in t shirt and shorts like a dick; on a pit bike pretending you're Jeremy McGrath; or stting your pants on ZX10R at Cadwell. It's all wicked.

Right?

Edited by MrKipling43 on Thursday 24th April 18:08

[srob]

MrKipling43 said:

It's a motorbike, therefore it's fun. End of discussion, surely?

This.

The whole conversation seems to have turned to what's fastest, not what's funnest!

[CBR JGWRR]

graphene said:

Did someone mention tea?

If I am out on the 125 and I am flat on the tank with the throttle on (a button would be much simpler), then I generally get the odd look of digust/pitty/amazement from bikes coming the other way. Well, I assume that's what they are thinking as their heads swivle to track the not-as-fast-as-it-looks progress of the so-called CBR. It makes me giggle. In my head, I might be doing a 25%-TT, and with the bouncy suspension, it more or less moves around like a bike going much faster. Who cares. Haters gonna hate, or something.

Edited by graphene on Thursday 24th April 18:03

This. You feel like you are really going for it, but you are only doing 70 odd max. Trouble is, when you can only do 70 it makes passing cars... difficult.

[Deranged Granny]

THIS DISCUSSION IS LIKE TWO DEAF PEOPLE SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER, EACH HAVING A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION AND NOT UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER

CAN SOMEONE PASS THE PEPPER

[RizzoTheRat]

FIVE TO SEVEN!

[Biker's Nemesis]

RizzoTheRat said:

FIVE TO SEVEN!

No, it was 7 to 7 when you posted that.

[Deranged Granny]

HE'S BLIND AS WELL AS DEAF, LEAVE HIM ALONE

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE OLD

[Biker's Nemesis]

Don't shout, I am not blind!

[Biker's Nemesis]

You'll have to speak up I can't see that.

[GTIR]

Who said that?

[GreatPretender]

Disastrous said:

Just reading the other thread suggesting that a 125 will be more fun than an Integra and instead of derailing that, thought I'd start another.

Are they really?

My only experience on one was doing my CBT/DAS (where we used a Yam YBR125 (I think?) and my thoughts are as follows:

Massively slow (couldn't get above 55 on mine, chin on tank)
Horrendous on anything but ribbon smooth roads (tyres following lines and ridges all over the place)
Terrifying lack of braking
Absurdly tiny (I'm over 6ft and felt ludicrous on it)
Actually difficult to ride smoothly/well

I remember the relief when we moved up to the 600s and I felt like I was on a bike designed for an adult. Suddenly I could U-turn much easier, hold a line and not worry about the bike squirming around under me.

I can see the point of a 125 for learning or perhaps getting to work in New Delhi but surely not a a serious proposition for a fully grown man I the roads?

I hear you bro.

I tried to force myself onto a 125 after I did my CBT, but try as I might, I just couldn't part with actual money for a Vespa shaped fag-chariot or bear to be seen on a bike that wanted to be an R1 but ultimately couldn't pull the skin of a rice pud. It's just not right. In the end I decided that a 125 should look like a 125cc motorbike, but then I'd inevitably be expected to deliver piza on it.

You just can't win!

There was only one option: man the fk up and do the DAS. There's simply no alternative without looking a total dick.

[hman]

only a dirt 125

and only if you're 15.

[LuS1fer]

I'll say this once.
It's MUST HAVE not must of.
Please stop it.

[Disastrous]

GreatPretender said:

Disastrous said:

Just reading the other thread suggesting that a 125 will be more fun than an Integra and instead of derailing that, thought I'd start another.

Are they really?

My only experience on one was doing my CBT/DAS (where we used a Yam YBR125 (I think?) and my thoughts are as follows:

Massively slow (couldn't get above 55 on mine, chin on tank)
Horrendous on anything but ribbon smooth roads (tyres following lines and ridges all over the place)
Terrifying lack of braking
Absurdly tiny (I'm over 6ft and felt ludicrous on it)
Actually difficult to ride smoothly/well

I remember the relief when we moved up to the 600s and I felt like I was on a bike designed for an adult. Suddenly I could U-turn much easier, hold a line and not worry about the bike squirming around under me.

I can see the point of a 125 for learning or perhaps getting to work in New Delhi but surely not a a serious proposition for a fully grown man I the roads?

I hear you bro.

I tried to force myself onto a 125 after I did my CBT, but try as I might, I just couldn't part with actual money for a Vespa shaped fag-chariot or bear to be seen on a bike that wanted to be an R1 but ultimately couldn't pull the skin of a rice pud. It's just not right. In the end I decided that a 125 should look like a 125cc motorbike, but then I'd inevitably be expected to deliver piza on it.

You just can't win!

There was only one option: man the fk up and do the DAS. There's simply no alternative without looking a total dick.

This, massively.

I remember doing my CBT and my excitement was palpable. I was suddenly Brando, McQueen, Rossi, Rainey, Sheene and I was out there on the streets, astride a fking cool motorcycle revving it and riding it, all on my own.

We stopped at some traffic lights outside a hair salon and imagined the girls inside, gazing out at me, a lone-wolf backstreet hero out a Springsteen song.

And then I saw my reflection in the shop window. In my hi-viz fking waistcoat squeezed over my ski jacket, astride a tiny stter like some sort of fluorescent gorilla atop a tricycle.

We got back to the centre and before the side stand was down, my wallet was out booking my DAS.

fking hell.

[hman]

I bought a vfr400 to learn on and then rocked up to my CBT/DAS on it, straddled the mighty CG125 and hoped to god I would get onto the ER5 ASAP for my DAS.

Every day of my CBT and DAS I would ride to and from the bike shop on the VFR have a chat with the instructors about all things bike related before leaving then pull away from the shop riding an "incorrect" bike. Not once did they query it..


Anyway - its a BHP restriction not a CC restriction isnt it?

[GreatPretender]

Disastrous said:

This, massively.

I remember doing my CBT and my excitement was palpable. I was suddenly Brando, McQueen, Rossi, Rainey, Sheene and I was out there on the streets, astride a fking cool motorcycle revving it and riding it, all on my own.

We stopped at some traffic lights outside a hair salon and imagined the girls inside, gazing out at me, a lone-wolf backstreet hero out a Springsteen song.

And then I saw my reflection in the shop window. In my hi-viz fking waistcoat squeezed over my ski jacket, astride a tiny stter like some sort of fluorescent gorilla atop a tricycle.

We got back to the centre and before the side stand was down, my wallet was out booking my DAS.

fking hell.