Commute on a 125?

[Winder]

Anyone use a 125 to get to and from work? My SV was wrote off last year and I've been confined to driving a cage since. On my 25 mile commute i spend about 30 mins in crawling traffic which gets right on my nipples.

I NEED another bike now my injuries are healing up and I'm considering a 125 for the cheap running cost and so my other half can learn to ride but I'm concerned about needing to travel around 9 miles of motorway, skinny tyres in the wet and the bike generally being frustrating.

Does anyone else use a 125 for the journey to work? Pros and cons apart from being slow and being cheap?

Bike I was thinking of was a YZF R-125 by the way as they hold their value well.

Cheers

[keith_d]

I commuted to work for a year on a 125 before I got my SV. It's fine around town, but on the A-roads and motorways it's dangerously slow. Being overtaken by an HGV in the pouring rain wipes out your visibility and you get buffeted all over the place.

If you're determined to get a 125 for economy I'd look for a decent Aprilia RS125. De-restricted they will do 70-80mph no problem, and around 100mph flat out with a tail wind. Hardest bit will be finding one that hasn't been thrashed or crashed.

Keith.

[Ch00]

I use a Honda SH300 scooter for my commute up the A2 each day and it keeps up no problems. Its reported that its capable of doing 85mph. Its quite fun keeping up with bigger bikes as it looks like a 125!!

I do it every day, and don't like it. It's a tad scary not having anything left on the 60/70mph roads and not been able to keep up with traffic.

I can't wait to have another go at mod 2 and get a SV.

I did my training with a guy who had a YZF R-125, said it did over 70mph. I'm lucky to get 60 on my 125 scoot.

Id agree with choo on this, either a big scooter for the commuting as they dont hang around. Neighbour has the vespa 300 and its pretty dam nippy.
Either that for a suitable slightly older 250,350,400 crosser as they are still good on fuel parts are easy and cheap and as its abit old your not to worried about keeping it mint.

Just look at my rebuild still does 110 miles to a 9L tank and i cant get at the last 1 1/2L

If mway is involved would go for a scooter but nothing below 250cc!!!

125 will not do 75 and you need to be at those speeds without running the risk of being run over by an hgv

The YZF125 reportedly will max out at 79mph, which isn't too bad for a 125. Acceleration however is rather weak and I wouldn't want to be on the motorway with it. Better bet I reckon would be to look at a 250. You'll get around 20-30mpg less than a 125 but still an easy 80-90! However you've got a much more motorway suitable speed and acceleration. Ninja 250 would be ideal if you've got 2500-3000 to spend.

[Winder]

Yes you'r flagging things up that I wasn't too sure about. The motorway thing is a bit worrying, the main thinking behind the 125 was getting the other half a CBT and she could use it while also being my daily ride and being cheap.
I may have to have a rethink here, might test drive one on a national limit road and see how it feels.

[Ch00]

Is there a way to work with out a motorway commute or a least more 125 friendly?

The problem you have as far as I can see, is that just about anything that won't frustrate on the motorway is not going to be suitable for a learner aswell.

I did my CBT on a YBR 125 and could only manage 55 mph on a flat dual carriageway, but I am heavy and those cbt bikes have had a hard life.

If it's only at rush hour, is any of the traffic going 70 mph+ at that time? If everyone's crawling along at 40 then you don't have the same problems. Or, like has been suggested, try a different route if there is one.