Motorcycles out sell cars nearly three to one here they are primarily a means of day to day transport. I have used motorcycles a lot on farms, and for other work, especially here in Thailand. I enjoy motorcycling, but don't really see motorcycles just as a hobby. The CG 125 remained in production for many years. Despite being ok at what it could do, that quick wear cam bearing if oil changes were not done frequently (every 1,000 km) was was really a design flaw. Bikes are generally much better to ride and easier to maintain these days. None the less, I feel it is good to see ideas tried. I certainly don't live in the "good old days", but at the same time I don't think all modern developments are the right way to go. But I am still learning, and like to keep up with developments. Being a farm boy I am interested in machinery too, and have done a lot of my own maintenance. I guess having been riding for most of the 45 years since I first got on a motorcycle I have picked up a bit of information. With water cooling and all the other benefits of modern technology, it should be able to run for long periods at moderate highway speeds without any problem. Wearing an open face helmet, I get tired quite quickly going faster for any length of time.įast forward to the CBR250R, which I would call a middle-weight motorcycle. On highways 110 km/h was enough sustained speed for me. The CB250RS (air-cooled single) I had was said to be good for about 145 km/h, but I spent most of my time on byways, seldom exceeding 90 km/h. With better temperature control than an air cooled bike, they could be manufactured to greater tolerances, and could easily sustain highway speeds of 120 km/h or more. In the mid 80's all the motorcycle manufacturers in Thailand introduced water-cooled 125 and 150 cc two stroke machines. About 12 years later I returned to visit old friends, and the Yamaha was still going, still used daily. I just made sure my highway journeys were in the cooler morning and evening hours. The engine rattled a bit after that, but served me ok for the remaining year or so that I was there. I stopped for a while, to let the engine cool down, then carried on home. I engaged the clutch again abruptly, which bumped the piston back into action (I would not have done that on a four stroke). I had the clutch disengaged promptly, which allowed the rear wheel to turn again, and got on to the hard shoulder. Traveling at about 90 km/h the engine seized, which made things a little interesting there was a large bus not far behind me. One day I finished early, and was returning during the hottest part of the day. A one or two days a week I covered about 30 km of highway to an area where I would work most of the day, traveling on dirt roads, and return in the cool of the evening. In the 1980's I worked up country in Thailand and was supplied with a new Yamaha 100 (two stroke) for my job. However ridden within their design limits, engine life came down to maintenance, not how they were used. On the CB the overhead camshaft bearings would wear quickly if timely oil changes were neglected. The Honda CB and CG 125 singles, introduced in the 1970's, were good for 110 km/h and could sustain 80 km/h for long distances. They were typical of small bikes of their time. Ride them fast(ish) for too long and the engine would seize. Ride them too slow and the spark plug would become fouled. They did not take long to become clapped out. Cheap and cheerful in their time, but not what you would call quality machines. I rode a couple of clapped out BSA Bantams (two stroke) back in the late '60s and the '70s. Years ago small singles were certainly not up to highway travel. It is good to see some common sense on this thread.
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