Dublin to Galway on 125cc?

Gerry Manders

Google maps say it would take two hours or so to do this journey but I would think it would take a bit longer on a 125?

What do you think?

Killgore Trout

The road from Dublin to Galway has a lot of motorway; Google maps is assuming you're using a car that's capable of cruising at 120km/h.

If you have a decent amount of experience you should know how far you can ride and what your average speed going to be and what your tank range is. Apply this experience to the distance you're going to ride.

Not all 125cc machines are equal - top speed, power, comfort and range vary greatly. Speedos can be wildy off target - telling you your're hitting 100km/h when it's more like 80.

Plan ahead - nothing worse than freezing your balls off on a motorway hard shoulder cos you've broken down, got a puncture or ran out of petrol.

Low capacity bikes often have poor illumination and it gets dark very early.

You're going to need more breaks on a small bike. Plan your fuel stops. Consider non motorway options as its going to be more pleasant on a small bike.

Check the weather - a strong headwind, or sidewinds, can really hamper you.

Don't let me put you off - i've ridden long distances 125 and 200cc scooters. Holland on a PX-125 - Galway is not going to be a problem. Low capacity bike touring is nice during the summer - long distances in the depths of winter not so nice.

Del2005

My brother in law used to do the M50 on a 125 Varadero. It would be OKish in decent weather but once he got a decent headwind it was torture, as the bike couldn't keep up with traffic.

As Killgore Trout said use old N roads, even on a decent bike motorways are a PITA

BlackWizard

I used to drive daily down the M50 on a varadero 125. Not a problem, just stay in the far left lane.

I drove from Athlone to Dublin on the Varadero 125 once. It was grand. A bit boring though.

paddy147

BlackWizard wrote: »

I used to drive daily down the M50 on a varadero 125. Not a problem, just stay in the far left lane.

I drove from Athlone to Dublin on the Varadero 125 once. It was grand. A bit boring though.

How many fuel stops then???

galwaytt

Gerry Manders wrote: »

Google maps say it would take two hours or so to do this journey but I would think it would take a bit longer on a 125?

What do you think?

Stay off the motorway imho.......

Mind you, I delivered a new truck from Galway to Dublin yesterday. Electronically limited to......90km/h........your 125 would have been quicker. Mind numbingly boring.

2.5 hrs btw...no stops. ..

JimmyCrackCorn

I have a friend who did Ennis to Maynooth twice a week while in college.

As above plan, be careful and be all over maintenance as parts of the road are very quiet places to be stuck.

Cienciano

My arse is sore just thinking about it. The distance sign creeping down so slowly....
Of course it can be done, my mate went from Dublin to Cork on a 50cc scooter. But google maps is doing a car average speed, something that can easily do 120kph. If your max speed is 95kph there'll be a big difference

Faith+1

Cienciano wrote: »

My arse is sore just thinking about it. The distance sign creeping down so slowly....
Of course it can be done, my mate went from Dublin to Cork on a 50cc scooter. But google maps is doing a car average speed, something that can easily do 120kph. If your max speed is 95kph there'll be a big difference

Sweet mother of god :eek:

paddy147

Cienciano wrote: »

My arse is sore just thinking about it. The distance sign creeping down so slowly....
Of course it can be done, my mate went from Dublin to Cork on a 50cc scooter. But google maps is doing a car average speed, something that can easily do 120kph. If your max speed is 95kph there'll be a big difference

Was that legal then,with regards a 50cc scooter/moped and a motorway???

http://www.rotr.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/general-rules.html

Del2005

paddy147 wrote: »

Was that legal then,with regards a 50cc scooter/moped and a motorway???

http://www.rotr.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/general-rules.html

Since most of the Scooters sold here don't meet the Moped classification, which nobody seems to care about including the Gardaí and insurance companies, and I've regularly seen combine harvesters/cyclists on them I don't think anyone actually cares about the restrictions.

Also that fact that there's no minimum speed limit on a motorway kinda of defeats the purpose of restricting vehicles not capable of exceeding 50km/h from them. It's perfectly legal for me to drive my car or motorbike at 5km/h on a motorway and if I wanted to do this in the rightmost lane all the other traffic has to travel at that speed.

gozunda

paddy147 wrote: »

Was that legal then,with regards a 50cc scooter/moped and a motorway???

http://www.rotr.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/general-rules.html

Perhaps they didn't use the motorway?

mikemac1

I used to do Dublin to Nenagh and back again on a 125cc Varadero

Just stay left, you'd be struggling badly to overtake anyone in the other lane and then you are caught as you have to back off and go back to the left lane

Wind is a big factor too, that trip is South West so you're facing the wind most every time.
And crosswinds on Nenagh bypass were a bitch!



Used a 100cc Hond Lead scooter on the M50 many times.
Could do 80km comfortably so enough speed for the left lane.

Biggest problems was windy days and lorries overtaking you.
The wind would have you swerving, a scooter is just so light

minidazzler

I did 180 km on a 125 varadero down to Wexford for the Ploughing Championship this year. It's a long time, but it's good craic. Just do it, what's the worst that could happen?

Cienciano

paddy147 wrote: »

Was that legal then,with regards a 50cc scooter/moped and a motorway???

http://www.rotr.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/general-rules.html

It wasn't on the motorway, it was on the old road

BlackWizard

paddy147 wrote: »

How many fuel stops then???

I had to fill up in Mullingar because when I left the tank wasn't full. Good range on that 125. About 70mpg easily.

Pique

What power is a 125 Varadero cos my SV650 restricted would be no problem at all on a motorway.

BrokenArrows

Varadero is about 13bhp and gets about 170 out of a tank from what I can remember. Top speed was close to 70mph.

That's all things being equal.

Bhp is probably less unless its brand new and speedo can't be trusted.

Gerry Manders

Hi Guys, all went well. Did the journey in under 2.5 hours. A fantastic experience and no upsets. Fuel gauge stopped working when I got home but apart from that all went well. The bike truly is a beast.

Killgore Trout

Fair play. Glad you enjoyed it!

minidazzler

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Varadero is about 13bhp and gets about 170 out of a tank from what I can remember. Top speed was close to 70mph.

That's all things being equal.

Bhp is probably less unless its brand new and speedo can't be trusted.

I got 340 km out of my Varadero, almost the whole way back from Wexford after riding down on a full tank and riding around there about 15 k a day. Had to switch to reserve then.

I can get 123kmph with the wind at my back going slightly downhill. :pac: I have to say, it's a great learner bike

BlackWizard

I only managed about 110kph. The revs were getting very high and my 15 stone frame was acting as a wind sail.

I regret selling the Varadero. Sold it to some guy on adverts. Even had a Givi top box on it. I just had no room for it.

This was her: http://www.adverts.ie/car/honda/other-honda/honda-varadero-125/1351276

Perfect condition and ran so well. So many piece of sh1t 125 varaderos for sale. It was hard to find.

steveone

I've been up and down the country many times on a rebel 125, and tbh its not that slower, you can go quicker thru bendy bits..use the backroads or the old roads if you can.
avoid the motorway if you can because you're underpowered, not legally- but in the real world- if its windy or you're riding into a headwind you'll feel it stop the bike. oh and the trip will take longer than two hours, id say more like three,

peckerhead

Cienciano wrote: »

My arse is sore just thinking about it...

Mine is sore just remembering the (pre-motorways) time I did Dublin-Tralee on an old RS125 with a slashed saddle from which most of the foam was missing. When I looked in a mirror afterwards I swear I could read "Yamaha Motor Co." imprinted across my ass-cheeks...

Wonda-Boy

I did the 1st day of my IBT on a Varadero 125 and it really is a great bike, alot of bike for the money and cc.

aujopimur

I remember doing Cork/Dublin and a few other long journeys on a Honda 50 in the 60's, sometimes we travelled 2 up on night trips with spare fuel on the back. Happy days and memories.

BrokenArrows

minidazzler wrote: »

I got 340 km out of my Varadero, almost the whole way back from Wexford after riding down on a full tank and riding around there about 15 k a day. Had to switch to reserve then.

I can get 123kmph with the wind at my back going slightly downhill. :pac: I have to say, it's a great learner bike

I was talking in miles but dam 340km is good going.

arybvtcw0eolkf

aujopimur wrote: »

I remember doing Cork/Dublin and a few other long journeys on a Honda 50 in the 60's, sometimes we travelled 2 up on night trips with spare fuel on the back. Happy days and memories.

Wow!.. Any old photos or stories?.