Varadero 125 good enough for learning/commuting?

[patmahe]

Hi all I'm a wannabe biker from Ireland and have been looking into getting started. Here in Ireland we have archaic laws when it comes to biking, theres the standard 125cc or restricted bikes for learners, but then when you pass you're test you continue to be restricted for 2 more years and there is no Direct Access!!

So with that in mind I need a big 125 (no point in bigger restricted bikes as insurance is charged at full rate) that will be fun, safe to learn on and comfortable for the daily commute but that will hopefully last 2 and a bit years until I have access to bigger bikes. My commute is 25 miles each way, the first 7-8 of these is on bad back roads and the remainder is on a main road with NSL. Is the Varadero suited to this sort of work, can it keep up with traffic or am I going to be constantly worried about holding everyone up.

[Hooli]

they are ment to be brilliant bikes for a 125. big enough to feel comfy & go well too. should see 70 out of one. I've known quite a few people with them & not one has really had a bad word about the things.

[y2blade]

Hooli said:

they are ment to be brilliant bikes for a 125. big enough to feel comfy & go well too. should see 70 out of one. I've known quite a few people with them & not one has really had a bad word about the things.

what he said^^^^

as far as i understand it they are a cracking bike

[lc38]

great bike, had one up until a month ago when i passed my test and used it for 9 months solid. Its a big comfy bike which will do 80mpg and feels substantial on the road. The downside is that because its so big it will do around 65/70 absolute max and you will be flogging the guts of it at that speed at around 10/11k revs. I used mine on about 7 miles of part dual carriage way commute every day and never took it above 60 for the reasons ive stated, having said that it will still cope okay.

[UpTheIron]

A 125 can keep up with traffic, but it's not the safest way to do it, as you are spending so much time concentrating on keeping up, rather than what is going on around you.

Are you limited to 15BHP 125's, or is a two-stroke screamer a possibility (if not the best choice for 50 miles a day!).

[patmahe]

restricted to driving motorcycles with an engine power output not exceeding 25kW or with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kW/kg. Bike can be any CC but must be restricted to these levels - so point in getting anything bigger for the moment.

[Carl-H]

Thats the same as the UK. There are a few bikes which will not need restricting as they are already less than 33bhp. Get a 125 to pass your test and then move onto something from this page
http://www.bat-motorcycles.co.uk/33bhp.asp

A bigger bike with 33bhp will do 95+ in most cases and will do your commute with ease.

[Robertjp]

I have one at the moment, had it since september and used it two or three days a week for my 80 mile round trip commute.

The only reason, and i mean the only reason, that i havent used it more is simply its speed capability on dual carraigeways. Every other situation it copes well, expecially when filtering and in and around town. It has coped well in all weathers and back lanes etc....

Been OK on fuel but not as good as i expected, probably because i have some long stretches of dual carraigeway and i end up at 10-11k rpm for long periods! It copes fine, uses no oil, but not ideal.

Very comfortable, very confidence inspiring, and i dont look (so) daft being 14.5 stone and 6"1!!!!! I looked like a gorilla on a toys r us special on a cg 125


Go for it, best of the 125 bunch i think....