Slow bikes? (eg Super Cub)

[ph9]

I'm thinking about buying a bike, and for some reason the Honda Super Cub C125 is quite appealing. However, I've seen some people say its top speed ranges from 40+mph to around 65mph (probably dependent on rider weight\size, wind strength and direction, and hills).

I know some people go on adventurous tours on all sorts of bikes, but I suspect the C125 might not be the wisest choice.

I'm near Inverness, so I'd be riding on a mix of A, B and unclassified roads - if commuting to work, probably a 35 mile round trip. I could probably choose minor roads for some rides, but suspect I might get bullied on the faster roads!

At the other end of the scale, I was idly browsing old BMWs (up to R1100) and even a Honda ST1300 Pan European!

Anyway, I just wondered if anyone had ridden the Super Cub 125.

I have a full bike licence, but haven't ridden for years, although I did a refresher session last year on a Yamaha MT-07. I currently don't have any gear, so would need to get that sorted (not easy!) before buying a bike...

[iidentifyaswoke]

I’ve used old 125cc Hondas in Vietnam. Fine for slow city speeds in VN, I’d say not powerful enough for the UK highways, unless you are on roads with very little traffic and just want to go at moderate speed. They are very cute bikes though I did do a 9 day trip on a 125 from HCMC to the China border then Hanoi, you can definitely tour on small bikes… if you go slow.

Used to own a Pan European. Great bike. It is big though, esp if you need to push it around while parking it. For short trips, it’s overkill.

[iidentifyaswoke]

PS, if you are looking at small, relatively low cost bikes, also have a look at Royal Enfield. Still low powered, but more than the Super Cub.

[Janluke]

There are now a very good selection of 350,400 cc bikes of all styles and physical sizes. they will do simular speeds but the engine will be a lot more relaxed and in some cases are not that much more money

[croyde]

Funny how 250/350/400cc bikes are considered not up for touring or long trips these days

When I was a Dispatch rider in the 80s, I had a Honda CB250RS single and a Honda Superdream 400 twin.

Rode them 10 to 12 hours a day, 5 days a week all around London and up and down the country.

Now I have a Monster 937 which is quick but I'd only consider it for 2 hour blats into the countryside.

Touring! I'd need something bigger with a screen, top box and bungee hooks

I've gone soft

I'm sure my Vespa 300 would make a good tourer.

[ph9]

Thanks very much. I suppose I'll need to have a think about it, and try to see one at a dealer.

I'm not sure why the 250cc-400cc bikes seem to be looked down upon nowadays. It's probably due to the licence changes where 500cc bikes are considered 'learner' bikes.

Back in the day my old 125cc 2-stroke was pretty nippy when in its power band.

I also had a Honda VT250 which I thought was a great bike with a really nice engine (V-Twin with a redline at around 13,750rpm). I used to ride it flat out down the same roads I'm considering taking the Super Cub on! There doesn't seem to be anything like that now. I think it was cutting-edge technology at the time, and packed a lot into a 250cc bike.

[Rod200SX]

I've absolutely no idea if they're any good but the BMW GS310 look quite funky. Like an adventure bike for skinny people Something like that could be quite good though I realise not the same style as the cub etc!

[ph9]

The G310GS did cross my mind. There's a BMW dealer in town, so I could go and have a look at them. I'm 6' and skinny so it might fit! The big GS and Africa Twins seem huge when you stand next to them!

[EasternBlocGeek]

ph9 said:

The G310GS did cross my mind. There's a BMW dealer in town, so I could go and have a look at them. I'm 6' and skinny so it might fit! The big GS and Africa Twins seem huge when you stand next to them!

BMW Motorad Inverness is Arnold Clark.

[v9]

iidentifyaswoke said:

PS, if you are looking at small, relatively low cost bikes, also have a look at Royal Enfield. Still low powered, but more than the Super Cub.

I’d second this. I had an extended test ride on a Himalayan and thought it was great fun, so long as you recalibrated your expectations. Brakes were terrible mind!

[KTMsm]

It's one thing riding a 125 for nostalgia on a sunny Sunday it's another riding one 35 miles commuting

Personally I'd struggle to find a reason to have one instead of one of the many bikes closer to 400cc which still aren't fast but can keep up with traffic comfortably

You have to constantly ride a 125 flat out, which isn't very relaxing IMO

[carinaman]

Out of interest how did the refresher go?


I was surprised by the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. It was fine on roads at 50-60, though another gear may've been useful.

From an ownership perspective, air cooled, long mudguards, twin shocks so not a crud catching monoshock and linkage.

At faster speeds I think they drink fuel. Supposedly for low speed stuff they can do about 100mpg. The service intervals aren't that long and don't know if it's just oil and filter or needs a valve check everytime or every second or third service.


If you're looking for a modern day VT250 I wonder if a KTM Duke 390/Husqvarna 401 would do? They're a similar weight with about a third more power, mid 40s versus mid 30s. It seems the Duke 390s average in the mid 50s mpg wise.

I wonder if the KTM Duke 200 with about 26bhp is the sweet spot between a Meteor 350 that's restricted to 70/75 and a 100mph Duke 390? Perhaps it's a 30 odd bhp BMW310?


66 mpg and twice the power of your VT250:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-search?advertisi...

The headlamp isn't the best though.

[ph9]

I think the Super Cub is slower than some other 125's, so it's probably going to struggle a bit more on faster roads. It might be fine, but perhaps it's better as a second bike to be used on nicer days and specific adventures rather than long distance commuting. Even though you don't use it all the time, its nice to have some power in reserve if you need to overtake or overcome hills and headwinds.

Arnold Clark doesn't have the best reputation, but I'll pop in and have a look at the bikes. I'll also have a look at the Royal Enfields when I'm next down south. I used to quite fancy a Moto Guzzi, but they're more expensive.

[hyper jay]

I've have a 125 Dax and use it all the time for local running around. It's great 150 + to the gallon ,fun I've tried a cb1000 r a Hornet a cb650 r a adv 350 recently .but I still love my 125

[Slowboathome]

croyde said:

Funny how 250/350/400cc bikes are considered not up for touring or long trips these days

When I was a Dispatch rider in the 80s, I had a Honda CB250RS single and a Honda Superdream 400 twin.

Rode them 10 to 12 hours a day, 5 days a week all around London and up and down the country.

Now I have a Monster 937 which is quick but I'd only consider it for 2 hour blats into the countryside.

Touring! I'd need something bigger with a screen, top box and bungee hooks

I've gone soft

I'm sure my Vespa 300 would make a good tourer.

I need to re-read this post occasionally. I occasionally get a bit antsy about my little MT07's long distance ability and start browsing for bigger sports cruisers. Then I remember that 99% of my riding is urban or local countryside which my bike is excellent for.

Ideally I'd have a 2 bike garage, but that's not going to happen, so I load up the Yamaha for the occasional camping trip and tell myself I'm Ted Simon.

Edited by Slowboathome on Saturday 26th August 08:40

[croyde]

Slowboathome said:

I need to re-read this post occasionally. I occasionally get a bit antsy about my little MT07's long distance ability and start browsing for bigger sports cruisers. Then I remember that 99% of my riding is urban or local countryside which my bike is excellent for.

Ideally I'd have a 2 bike garage, but that's not going to happen, so I load up the Yamaha for the occasional camping trip and tell myself I'm Ted Simon.

Edited by Slowboathome on Saturday 26th August 08:40

Me and a mate did go to Le Mans on a 1976 Triumph 500.

Two up with a plastic bag of clothes tied to the back. We broke down a number of times but other bikers always stopped and helped out.

I'm not sure why we are now led to believe that one can only tour if you have Ewen McGregor's BMW.

Maybe your MT07 doesn't have a fairing or screen but as it's capable of high speed, it's uncomfortable for extended riding. Like my Monster 937.

High speed wasn't a problem on that old Triumph, as in it wasn't capable of rapid progress

[Slowboathome]

croyde said:

Me and a mate did go to Le Mans on a 1976 Triumph 500.

Two up with a plastic bag of clothes tied to the back. We broke down a number of times but other bikers always stopped and helped out.

I'm not sure why we are now led to believe that one can only tour if you have Ewen McGregor's BMW.

Maybe your MT07 doesn't have a fairing or screen but as it's capable of high speed, it's uncomfortable for extended riding. Like my Monster 937.

High speed wasn't a problem on that old Triumph, as in it wasn't capable of rapid progress

That's inspiring.

I'm not a super-fast rider so I'm not too bothered about the high speed. But it does feel a tad cramped with a tent, sleeping roll, sleeping bag and a few days worth of kit crammed into a couple of Kriegas on the back.

I tell myself the discomfort is part of the adventure!

[carinaman]

I chatted to a BMW G310 rider who was getting on a bit and he said he'd take it camping down through France to Spain.

[Janluke]

croyde said:

Me and a mate did go to Le Mans on a 1976 Triumph 500.

Two up with a plastic bag of clothes tied to the back. We broke down a number of times but other bikers always stopped and helped out.

I'm not sure why we are now led to believe that one can only tour if you have Ewen McGregor's BMW.

Maybe your MT07 doesn't have a fairing or screen but as it's capable of high speed, it's uncomfortable for extended riding. Like my Monster 937.

High speed wasn't a problem on that old Triumph, as in it wasn't capable of rapid progress

I suspect that topic would fill a thread on its own but I was down at St Mary's Loch during the week sat with a coffee and watched a continuous line of large ADV bikes stop. The riders generally older guys all struggled to get on and off and park the bikes in the gravel lay by. Obviously folk should ride whatever they want but I couldn't help thinking most of them would be happier on smaller more manageable bikes

[croyde]

Janluke said:

croyde said:

Me and a mate did go to Le Mans on a 1976 Triumph 500.

Two up with a plastic bag of clothes tied to the back. We broke down a number of times but other bikers always stopped and helped out.

I'm not sure why we are now led to believe that one can only tour if you have Ewen McGregor's BMW.

Maybe your MT07 doesn't have a fairing or screen but as it's capable of high speed, it's uncomfortable for extended riding. Like my Monster 937.

High speed wasn't a problem on that old Triumph, as in it wasn't capable of rapid progress

I suspect that topic would fill a thread on its own but I was down at St Mary's Loch during the week sat with a coffee and watched a continuous line of large ADV bikes stop. The riders generally older guys all struggled to get on and off and park the bikes in the gravel lay by. Obviously folk should ride whatever they want but I couldn't help thinking most of them would be happier on smaller more manageable bikes

I've been going out and testriding and thinking about buying a R1200/1250/1300GS for a decade or more but could never quite get over the size, and the prices.

And I'm 6ft.