I think I need some practice!

[pembo]

There seem to be a few of these coming back to biking posts at the moment, but I didn't want to hijack someone else's and there is good advice out there.

My dad is having a buit of a crisis and has just booked us a bike touring trip to Vietnam in September.

I've had a licence for about 12 years but I'm definitely not experienced, so I think I might need something to get me some practice over the next few months.

I only got my licence because I was offered a cheap Daytona 600, then had a 5 year break before getting an SV650 to commute on 4 years ago that only lasted a year before I was forced into a car.

Now I'm pretty torn on what to do.
First option is to buy a Diversion 600 cheap, run it for a few months and then sell it on to either upgrade if I enjoy it or start another break from biking.
Second option is to get a 125cc for knocking about on so that the wife can have a go as she is keen to do her CBT. I quite like the herald/bullit bikes or the yamaha XSR125 with a lot of budget creep. Again, I could use this as a step to option 3 or flog on if I don't get on with it.
Third option is to just get a £5-6k 600cc+ bike on a pcp because man maths says it would save me half the cost in fuel savings anyway but I'd be locked in for 3 years (which is probably a good thing). The problem with this is that I would struggle to chose... I like the Ducati 848, the Kawasaki Vulcan, a lot of different nakeds or even a Harley.The choice would give me a headache!

I've been going round in circles for the last couple of weeks about what to do so I thought I'd find out the opinions of the good people of PH

[carinaman]

The fuel cost savings used for option 3 also apply to option 2 if you get a 125 so both you and the Mrs can use it. I kind of think most 125s will be more fuel efficient than most 600s. There would also be RFL and insurance savings going for a 125.

Others have said insurance is expensive for someone returning to motorcycling after years away so it may be good to build up some NCB on a 125, assuming the Mrs doesn't drop it. Get some insurance quotes.


I didn't know the Duke 125 was referred to as the Spawn of the Beast or it had a 320mm front disc, the same size as the disc on the Duke 390.

For Black Friday 2017 KTM did new Pre-Reg Duke 390s for £3100. Here's a link for a new Husqvarna branded version of the Duke 125 with semi offroad avante garde modern retro styling for £3699:

https://www.thepotteries.co.uk/used-motorcycle/hus...

I only ended up there as when I googled Duke 125 PCP it returned a link to a Duke 125 laden with extras as a bit of a deal but when I clicked on that it just went to there stock list. I didn't know the 125s only had 5 gears.

If considering a new 125 phone around dealers before the end of the financial year and see if there's any deals to be done.

Going for a KTM Husqvarna Svartpilen for £3699 instead of a Duke 125 at £4449 would give a £750 saving (before discounts and negotiation) to go towards helmets, jacket, gloves and boots for you and the Mrs?


Regarding going around in circles I've been doing that since getting back on a motorcycle. For me it's a want more than a need. A pre-reg. bargain that had been languishing in a showroom for ages with the manufacturers warranty ticking down has just disappeared from their website and MCN. That's removed that temptation, but it wasn't my ideal spec. with regard to model year colours but then it was cheaper than other dealers were asking for older ones with 6,000 miles on them. If I really wanted one and it was a sensible decision with regard to other factors in my life I'd be phoning up asking for their best 2021-2022 Financial Year price for a brand spanking new one.

[Funky Squirrel]

I'd recommend not getting a 125cc they really are too slow to keep up with traffic. I had one and it nearly put me off bikes forever, I felt so vulnerable on it.

Since you have your licence already then any sensible mid size bike would be much better value.

[_Neal_]

My first question would be what bike will you be riding in Vietnam? I'd be tempted by something similar-ish to that so you get used to seat height etc (especially if it's more of a traillie-style bike you'll be riding).

Also will your riding be on-road only in Vietnam? If not spend some of the new bike money on enduro-type off-road training too, I reckon. Sounds like it'll be an amazing experience.

[KTMsm]

Sorry we need more info on the bike trip - exactly what are you doing ?

IE what experience are you trying to build up

What bike are you riding on the trip ?

[Richtea1970]

pembo said:

Second option is to get a 125cc for knocking about on so that the wife can have a go as she is keen to do her CBT. I quite like the herald/bullit bikes…

I was in a similar position last year and being of a certain age (51) also liked the look of the retro type heralds/bullits etc but I’d say no to that option from experience.
I found a 125 Herald locally for a good price and it certainly looked the part but it was absolutely gutless, borderline dangerous. Those little engines weren’t great in the first place but now they are strangled with emissions rules, they are closer to an old 50cc than a 125.
As I said, looked good but I couldn’t wait to get rid. Ended up with a Benelli Leoncino Trail, which is a much better allrounder, and at 500cc, very controllable power but enough to get you away from the lights before most cars.

[julian64]

Funky Squirrel said:

I'd recommend not getting a 125cc they really are too slow to keep up with traffic. I had one and it nearly put me off bikes forever, I felt so vulnerable on it.

Since you have your licence already then any sensible mid size bike would be much better value.

I don't really understand this. My son has a KTM RS125, it'll manage 80 on the motorway and feels at home overtaking morning commute traffic.

Its also so small width ways that when there's a queue it has no problem negotiating gaps that a bigger bike can't.

[Ed.]

julian64 said:

Funky Squirrel said:

I'd recommend not getting a 125cc they really are too slow to keep up with traffic. I had one and it nearly put me off bikes forever, I felt so vulnerable on it.

Since you have your licence already then any sensible mid size bike would be much better value.

I don't really understand this. My son has a KTM RS125, it'll manage 80 on the motorway and feels at home overtaking morning commute traffic.

Its also so small width ways that when there's a queue it has no problem negotiating gaps that a bigger bike can't.

Many 125's don't have the full 15bhp they are allowed

[KurtFlew]

MT07 is the answer to most what bike questions I think, can't go wrong.

[pembo]

Thanks for the advice, exactly what I was hoping for.

I don't really know too much about the trip, he asked me if I could get a couple of weeks off, I gave him dates and it was booked! Being Vietnam I know it's going to be a 125cc on pretty dodgy roads so that's why I started looking down that route.

I know of a couple of green lanes that I could test myself out on once I'm settled in if I got the right little bike but the big aim is to just get used to the feel of being on a bike again.

Insurance wise I'm looking at £100pa for a Diversion, £250 for me and the wife on a 125 and I've not dared look at the others yet, but it's not looking too silly.

There is the concern that I could get bored on a 125, but I'm not a particularly quick rider and always felt a bit silly commuting at 60mph on dual carriageways on the last 2 bikes that clearly wanted to go faster. As much as I liked the look, I wasn't interested in the speed and struggled to get comfortable, which is probably why I didn't stick with them very long.

[Krikkit]

I wouldn't bother with a 125 in the UK for open roads, 15hp is too gutless when you need a bit of va va boom.

What about something like a CB500? The new ones are pretty cheap, and good bits of kit for what they do. There's also the usual MT07, Z650 etc.

[KTMsm]

If it's going to be on a dodgy 125 then that is what I'd practice on - maybe up to a 400 if it means you'd use it more

[pembo]

I guess I should work out what I'd be using it for because there is no real need other than getting the practice.
I only commute 10 miles and that can either be country roads or dual carriageway.
If I can ride in safety boots and carry a hard hat then I'll get plenty of rides in the countryside to my sites, but the furthest at a 100mile round trip might be a bit much for a 125.

[hiccy18]

If your wife is keen to do her CBT then she should do that first, then progress to DAS if that is an option. If you get the Div600 (or similar) then there's an incentive for her to get on with getting her licence.

[Biker9090]

Avoid the 125. They're far too slow to be safe on and fast UK road

[Richtea1970]

Biker9090 said:

Avoid the 125. They're far too slow to be safe on and fast UK road

Don’t underestimate this.
I’m not a fast rider either, I’ve never had a sports bike and never desired one but a 125 will not be the answer (unless you’re a learner and have no choice)

[julian64]

Richtea1970 said:

Biker9090 said:

Avoid the 125. They're far too slow to be safe on and fast UK road

Don’t underestimate this.
I’m not a fast rider either, I’ve never had a sports bike and never desired one but a 125 will not be the answer (unless you’re a learner and have no choice)

Rubbish, if you can't be safe on a bike which can do 80 and gets to that speed around the same time as the majority of cars, you can't be safe on any bike.

If the argument is that you need to be able to out accelerate anything on the road to be safe then there is something wrong with the way you are driving.

Out accelerating something IS an option in some circumstances, but it isn't the ONLY option.

[Biker 1]

My 2p worth:

A mate did a couple of trips to Vietnam. Apparently he was able to rent 250cc Kawasaki or Honda enduro type bikes which were perfect for the crappy roads & going off-piste.

As others have mentioned: 125cc bikes are crap & you will definitely regret it!!!!

[fred bloggs]

julian64 said:

Richtea1970 said:

Biker9090 said:

Avoid the 125. They're far too slow to be safe on and fast UK road

Don’t underestimate this.
I’m not a fast rider either, I’ve never had a sports bike and never desired one but a 125 will not be the answer (unless you’re a learner and have no choice)

Rubbish, if you can't be safe on a bike which can do 80 and gets to that speed around the same time as the majority of cars, you can't be safe on any bike.

If the argument is that you need to be able to out accelerate anything on the road to be safe then there is something wrong with the way you are driving.

Out accelerating something IS an option in some circumstances, but it isn't the ONLY option.

This.
In the south east ,its almost impossible to more than 50 mph in a car anywhere these days, so a 125 is fine 95% of the time. You can avoid dual carriageways.
In the current market ,you can buy a 125 new on 0% finance(or very low %) ride it for 3 years and sell it for a couple of hundred pounds loss.

Edited by fred bloggs on Wednesday 30th March 16:48

[carinaman]

With lowered speed limits, average speed zones and the uptake of Dashcams and people, including people that ride motorcycles, willing create conflict to create online content let alone upload footage to police websites I think a 125 wouldn't be that much of an issue.

Even on an A2 motorcycle you've got to keep an eye on your speed.