sagalout
Registered user
Shame the weather has turned colder this weekend but the sun was still shining so headed off into the dales with my lad. He's had an MT125 for a few months now. It used to be not worth spending a lot on a 125 as you'd only have it a few months, but as you're stuck with one for 2 years now you may as well get a nice one. He's actually just passed his full test which financially is pointless, but good to get the proper training and now he's ditched his L plates he gets nods from other bikers!
So we did a loop from Harrogate > Ripon > Leyburn > Aygarth > Kettlewell > Grassington > Pately Bridge > Harrogate - about 90 miles.
At first I found it a little frustrating having to knock the pace back so much, but then after half an hour I actually quite enjoyed just bimbling about, rolling on and off the throttle in 3rd trying not to use the brakes at all. As long I kept it under 60 he could keep up fine - it just meant no overtaking and sitting in traffic, but once resigned to it it was quite relaxing! Stopped for a tea at Aysgarth where there was a brief snow flurry, and then at Kettlewell in the cafe for some food.
All in all a great day out - the little MT is a cracking bike. At first glance it looks like a full size bike but comes in at just 140KG so it feels so so easy to move around. I quite fancy the 300 version for commuting.
We've got a trip booked in August to go to Belgium to do some more WW1 stuff (also with my dad on his Bonneville) and I have no doubt that the 125 will be absolutely fine for 150 mile days.
Dales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Dales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Dales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Dales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Dales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
Dales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
So we did a loop from Harrogate > Ripon > Leyburn > Aygarth > Kettlewell > Grassington > Pately Bridge > Harrogate - about 90 miles.
At first I found it a little frustrating having to knock the pace back so much, but then after half an hour I actually quite enjoyed just bimbling about, rolling on and off the throttle in 3rd trying not to use the brakes at all. As long I kept it under 60 he could keep up fine - it just meant no overtaking and sitting in traffic, but once resigned to it it was quite relaxing! Stopped for a tea at Aysgarth where there was a brief snow flurry, and then at Kettlewell in the cafe for some food.
All in all a great day out - the little MT is a cracking bike. At first glance it looks like a full size bike but comes in at just 140KG so it feels so so easy to move around. I quite fancy the 300 version for commuting.
We've got a trip booked in August to go to Belgium to do some more WW1 stuff (also with my dad on his Bonneville) and I have no doubt that the 125 will be absolutely fine for 150 mile days.
Dales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrDales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrDales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrDales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrDales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on FlickrDales ride with Jake by Dave Wrightson, on Flickr
