125cc on a motorway!?

Originally Posted by arenalife

I've done across the country on a YBR125 on Motorway, made my butt sore but was ok. On a motorway I would find a well driven lorry and tuck in behind, no wind and loads of slipstream, could maintain 60mph with the throttle almost rolled off, must have been getting 300mpg! Be ready for brake lights though

When I was 16 I used to do Reading to Bedford, then Bedford to Leicester on a Friday nght, and then back to Reading via Bedford on Sunday evening, every other weekend when I was an apprentice in REME (the things a teenager will suffer for a regular leg-over ). This may not sound that impressive, but I was on a 50cc Yamaha FS1E that topped out at 40mph when loaded with kit and the washing I'd leave with my sister or mum in Bedford. Alot of that was on dual-carriageways with me riding for the best part of it flat-out while being passed by everything on the road.

Later on me and my cousin went down to Torquay for the weekend on 100cc Kawasakis, as he hadn't passed his test that was all done on A roads and some dual carriageways

I didn't die so it must have been perfectly safe.

[northwind]

I can't find the numbers, but bike fatalities per mile on motorways are about 1/10th as much as they are on B roads. obviously a statistic based on guessing how many miles bikes travel on each sort of road, of course, but they're still very safe for us. Not so much opportunity to fly out the side of a corner for no good reason.

Originally Posted by northwind

I can't find the numbers, but bike fatalities per mile on motorways are about 1/10th as much as they are on B roads. obviously a statistic based on guessing how many miles bikes travel on each sort of road, of course, but they're still very safe for us. Not so much opportunity to fly out the side of a corner for no good reason.

Yes, the motorway is much safer and I'd rather come off on a motorway than an A or B road. I always say so long as you have the right gear on, coming off a bike isn't as dangerous as everybody thinks it is, it's what bit of road furniture you hit, or the oncoming traffic, after you come off that gets you.

Unfortunately for the newbie, fear is not rational.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Yes, the motorway is much safer and I'd rather come off on a motorway than an A or B road. I always say so long as you have the right gear on, coming off a bike isn't as dangerous as everybody thinks it is, it's what bit of road furniture you hit, or the oncoming traffic, after you come off that gets you.

I was once deliberately knocked off my Bandit 600 whilst filtering up the inside of a dark coloured Jeep Cherokee in lane 2 1/2 of the M25 and rolled under the fuel tank of an artic in the inside lane. I had that happen about 3 years ago. Luckily the artic was travelling very slowly and the driver saw where I was headed and anchored up. My head was a foot from his rear tyre when he dragged me out.

Again, I lived so it must have been perfectly safe.

I used to put my 125 on the train from Reading to Manchester. A ticket each but with a discount card it wasnt dear. Once I passed my test I rode a few times up and down on the motorway and A34. I could do 78Mph if I had a good run up and with my head down. Then I got a 550 which I rode thru the winters up and down. Some Fridays I was a gibbering wreck by the time I got home.

I would also say try it, if insurance allows. Its an experience and lets you appreciate what your partner will be going through when you go out on rides together. If you got the money get a van for the day. Or call a favour in from a mate with a van. It may even fit in an escort van. A RGV 250 with front fairing off fits!

Originally Posted by daved407

I used to put my 125 on the train from Reading to Manchester.

You can put a 125 on a train? Really? I have been on many trains and never seen that before lol. Suppose it's almost like taking a big dog on one or a bicycle?

It used to go in the guards van, change at Brum, get off, hunt for a ramp. Off the train, ride down platform along connecting passage, up next platform find ramp and load it. Up to Manchester then same getting off there. It may be different now but I did it every term and half term from college to home. With discount card it was 7 quid. Fuel for the trip was not much less. It was in the 80s.

Originally Posted by daved407

It was in the 80s.

Ah that will be why then

I thought service was meant to improve over time not get worse?

Originally Posted by daved407

It was in the 80s.

Probably not allowed now seeing as there are hardly any Guard Vans and they treat Tanks of Fuel like they treat Hand Grenades on public transport nowadays .