Aprilia RS125 - am I too old
Discussion
r5gttgaz said:
Not to old perhaps but you really need to weigh around 10 stone to get the best out of them.
I bought a tzr125 for the same purpose but I weighed 14st and it was completely shit. If you just want road time I'd really consider a 125 scoot because you'll sell it at the same price you paid for it and the 4-stroke ones like the et4 will go at a proper pace (the one we rented in crete would do 80 with me and the wife on it at any rate).
Only problem with this type of bike, particularly if you are using this to do your test is the U turn (assuming this is part of DAS). Faired bikes have a larger turning circle, and if the examiner is being an arse, will give you an extremely narrow road to turn in. I did my test on a TZR125, had an arse for an examiner. I went back to the very same location the next day, stood my bike against the kerb on one side, put the machine on full lock and walked it around, and hey ho, the bike would not go round. This, and a lack of adequate progress (25mph was too slow for him) through a housing estate with cars parked each side, and kids playing at the side of the road caused me to fail.
Exige46 said:
I did my test on a TZR125, had an arse for an examiner. I went back to the very same location the next day, stood my bike against the kerb on one side, put the machine on full lock and walked it around, and hey ho, the bike would not go round.
I had the same problem with my Mito 125, i spent ages perfecting u-turns on the bike but was not looking forward to doing one on the test.I pointed it out to the examiner before the test - that the bike had a poor steering lock & that it wouldn't do a u-turn on most side streets, so he found a wider street for me... funny thing was, that i still cocked it up by putting my foot down mid turn... i was fuming with myself as i could easily do the turn without the pressure of the examiner watching... luckily for me he didn't spot it and i passed
My test is on October 10. I just rented a 125 from the same company that I am doing the DAS with, which is simple as they insure it etc etc. It was £28 for half a day - which in this weather is plenty of time to build confidence.
I just rode straight to an empty car park, practiced really low speed manouvring and then rode around doing my usual daily stuff for four hours. It was really good for confidence just to ride around in traffic in Leeds and Harrogate.
Following day was on the 500 - it is so much easier to ride a 500.
Not sure what all the fuss is about u-turns - I find the slow speed stability stuff the easiest thing of the lot. Not overly keen on turning right across busy traffic on an uphill road though!!
I just rode straight to an empty car park, practiced really low speed manouvring and then rode around doing my usual daily stuff for four hours. It was really good for confidence just to ride around in traffic in Leeds and Harrogate.
Following day was on the 500 - it is so much easier to ride a 500.
Not sure what all the fuss is about u-turns - I find the slow speed stability stuff the easiest thing of the lot. Not overly keen on turning right across busy traffic on an uphill road though!!
Biker's Nemesis said:
podman said:
No!
Im 39 and id love a de restricted one to tear around on as well!
Actually if i had a few spare £££ id love almost any 2 stroke to tear around on at the moment..
I've got a FS1E, if that's any help.Im 39 and id love a de restricted one to tear around on as well!
Actually if i had a few spare £££ id love almost any 2 stroke to tear around on at the moment..
Exige46 said:
I went back to the very same location the next day, stood my bike against the kerb on one side, put the machine on full lock and walked it around, and hey ho, the bike would not go round.
Not sure what happened then, but before you do the U-turn now, they get you to walk it round...I guess to rule this out... I've had a full bike licence for years (1984) but not been on one for years (1989) but I'd always planned to buy an RD125LC and tune it to about 50 BHP and run it on methanol.
TBH I nearly bought a C reg GSX 750R with race spec lockwiring on all the bolts, last year but bottleed out.
TBH I nearly bought a C reg GSX 750R with race spec lockwiring on all the bolts, last year but bottleed out.
I can only have a 50 at the moment. I have just bought a DT125 for when I'm 17 though. My Dad rode it to a car park last night for me. My first time on a geared bike properly. Loved it. Once I had pulled off it was easy, changing gears as quick as my dad does normally and could even change down smoothly. I tried doing a U-turn and because the gearing is so low you can keep it in first with the clutch fully out and go slow enough. Then I did a figure of 8 (using my parents as cones) and did not put my foot down once. Brilliant bike and currently in the low power setting so it has some bottom end power. Yes, I think you should get an RS, but if I was in your position, I would get the 250. It is a bike I dream of owning one day but you have to pass your DAS first.
I had an RS125 for a couple of days a few years back when my bike was being serviced, not bad for a small bike manged almost 100mph (private road obviously 
) but struggled a bit on acceleration for my 15st (+) bulk, a good ride but I'd get frustrated with having to wring it's neck so much.
At 45 I think I'm too old (and fat)........
) but struggled a bit on acceleration for my 15st (+) bulk, a good ride but I'd get frustrated with having to wring it's neck so much.At 45 I think I'm too old (and fat)........
Edited by catso on Thursday 27th September 23:44
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