Hello peeps. I'm sure you've all been very, very intestered in this whole "Nick's learning to ride a motorcycle" thing.* I thought you would like to know that after doing my CBT little over a week ago, doing a Half Day "Road Rider" course on Friday, and another half day today that I've decided to sign up for four days full training (Mon-Thu next week) followed by my A2 test on Thursday. I'll be taking the test on a 125, which means I'll be restricted to 33bhp for two years (but I can always do a DA in six months time if I decide I can do it) but at least I'll be rid of the L-Plates. Thanks for all of the help that you've given me so far! Take care, --Nick. *Not strictly true
There was a burd broken down on the M23 on Friday on a 33bhp restricted bike. I have no idea what it was but it was nothing I'd seen before. She said it was a 500 but I digress. The point is she was well fit. Hey, good luck, man!
She was scrummy. The bike looked like a 400 Bros to me but it had been gashly painted in canary yellow and when I asked her what it was she said it was a 500. I asked her if she wanted to use my phone for help (so I could lick the keypad later) but she said help was on the way. Arse.
I wanted to. I was doing about 140mph when I saw her stricken steed on the hard shoulder. I had to run at least a hundred yards back up the motorway to meet her! "Thanks for stopping" As grateful as that. No, mores the pity. She was only about 22 as well.
Why on earth not? I remember riding by 18bhp to London on the M40 when I was 17, at a steady 70~75. When I got my Z400 (which, iirc, was rated at 36bhp), I used to belt down the fast lane at 90. -- Please add "imo" to above post. Champ GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX7RR Endurance Racer x 2 GYASB#0 BotToS#2 BOTAFO(T|F)#35 WG*#1 DFV#8 Team UKRM Racing : www.team-ukrm.com
18bhp? You were lucky. I used to do a Liverpool to Derby run regularly on my SL125, all 12.5bhp of it. Although TBF I didn't use the motorways most of the time, as I could go flat out on the A roads anyway. I remember being dead chuffed[1] when I was nicked for doing 92mph on my XT500. But yeah, I don't see a problem with a 33bhp mike on motorways at all. Still got plenty of poke at any point within the limit, and a good bit to spare on top. [1] Well, in a 'pissed off, but...' sort of a way.
Champ wrote The world has moved on a bit on the last thirty years. A bit of loose link but I took the Pacemaker for a brief jaunt on the M25 and got off at the first junction. Really you should try it before criticising, it is not pleasant at all.
20, you cnut. Alright, 25. That's my final offer. Yeah, I can see that. Still the trucks don't do more than 60, do they, so I would have thought that as long as you can out pace (or at least maintain pace) with them, you should be ok. -- Please add "imo" to above post. Champ GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX7RR Endurance Racer x 2 GYASB#0 BotToS#2 BOTAFO(T|F)#35 WG*#1 DFV#8 Team UKRM Racing : www.team-ukrm.com
Champ wrote Not really. Apart from the fact that to use the outside lane without causing grief to others (and thus inviting bad reactions) you need a machine capable of cruising at 80, the lack of acceleration is the real issue. Motorways are scary places on a bike and you are vulnerable enough as it is, without having to faff around staying in a danger area.
What's a Honda CG125 in the bhp stakes? I was zooming around and got it up to 65 on some NSL roads. A 33bhp should be okay at 70+. Is a restricted bike unsafe? --Nick.
Please remember that the very same bike was ridden to Frankfurt and back, covering many miles on motorways, autoroutes, autobahns. And not by a lightweight, either.
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It all sounds like a Dark Art to me. It's a complete mystery. I understand and agree with what you say about accelleration. Accellerating out of a potential problem just before it happens would be easier on a bike with higher bhp. Never having used a bike over 125cc I don't know what the power will be like on something with 33bhp, but in a couple of years (if I don't do a DA (or get scraped off of the road) before then) I guess I'll know how much 'oomph' something with 35+bhp has. I suppose (guess) that one could get out of a sticky situation by dropping a gear on a lower-power bike, but that takes more time that just opening hte throttle right up. Perhaps a valuable couple of seconds. --Nick.
Really? Why not? I've had no problem with bikes producing less than that. I'd rate the minimum as 250cc/25bhp. You want to be able to keep ahead of the trucks. I've taken my Benly on the M25, and it's *just* OK. Cruises at 60-65 or so, but I'd rather have a bit more oomph.
