PCX 125 on the motorway
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 3:46 am
Last night i rode over to a friends house, and back this morning and wanted to share my thoughts on the 2017 pcx 125 on 70 MPH+ roads. I have the Givi tall screen and 46ltr top box and oxford heated grips. the bike has 2800 miles on it so far.
Despite riding for 7 years and a good 60,000 miles under my belt, I was apprehensive to take the scoot on such fast open roads, especially in rush hour yesterday evening leaving london. I'm surprised by the scoot, it was more comfortable and with less wind buffering than any of my 12 motorcycles (125-750cc) and it also remained so smooth even at full throttle. The ride wasn't very long with only 35 minutes at full speed each way but it's enough to get an idea of the performance.
the only down side is the horizontal wind blast on exposed sections. the pcx is light so did suffer from side ways wind blasts but i've had larger, heavier motorcycles suffer more.It wasn't scary though, it was just present and less than expected, pretty much like any other motorcycle.
On a long steep uphill gradient i slowed to and indicated 60MPH which was still fast enough to easily pass HGV's in the left lane which slowed down considerably more so than my light scooter (im 68kg).
on flats i could hold between 62-65 indicated speed and the scooter felt smooth and planted and didn't feel dangerous. down hill i could hit indicated 70mph at full throttle and do 65 at ~90% throttle which i opted for to baby the bike where i could
As a motorcycle owner i've not had issues using the 2 125s i've owned on long distance motorway trips, i just leave longer, my vt125 15BHP could do 70mph (80 down hill) and 65 all day long any gradient, my girflriend toured france on her vt 125 twice, i felt secure in the chain and sprocket could cope, but i have no idea about scooter belts. is the high RPM likely to stretch or place a dangerous strain on them? or just wear them out much faster?
Common sense would suggest Honda built in safety limits and the scooter performance is well within spec, like engine limiters for example. and i would expect this to be the same for belt? would i just need to keep an eye on oil consumption as higher revs might burn off engine oil?
over all i have a new found respect for the PCX 125, i wasn't even the slowest thing on the road like when i took my cg 125 on a 64miles motorway trip. i passed several cars and lorries and the pcx was a pleasant and comfortable ride.
computer trip MPG read out dropped from 138 to 124 MPG so if it even gets 100+ thats very good in my book.
I wont be taking the PCX on many motorway trips but i wouldnt' have an issue at all infuture as now i know its capable. the extra 4 BHP available to full power 15BHP 125CCs would be welcome and i presume this is what the forza 125 offers. but if you are happy to travel at 60-65 all day the bike felt just as comfortable as if it was doing 50mph and i wouldn't have an issue riding the scooter again on motorways and other than the reduced speed being a downside, the ride was nicer than any of my motorcycles. the naked bikes were horrible on the motorway, the v-twin cruisers full of vibes over 70 and the sports bikes were full tuck. the adventure bikes were loud (wind buffering) and prone to sideways blasts.
thankfully I didn't need to test the bikes brakes in an emergency, but found that engine braking is very good as the bike will happily drop from full speed down to 50 if you roll off the throttle. This is most of the slowing down required on a flowing motorway. My last observation, is that the throttle cables didn't feel excessively tight. some vehicles dont like being pinned at full throttle and resist or take effort to keep pinned. The pcx throttle still felt smooth and comfortable and light even at full lock.
If the PCX could sit at a comfortable 70mph all day long it would be a vast improvement. but as the ride was so comfortable and relaxed the extra time in the saddle isn't a hardship.
As contect, I was on the M40 heading west out of london, the road is very good smooth tarmac, i think on rough roads at this speed it would be a different story as i have issues with the too firm suspension and small wheels on potholed roads, but on smooth and undulating good conditioned roads the PCX was more than up to the job and i enjoyed the ride.
Despite riding for 7 years and a good 60,000 miles under my belt, I was apprehensive to take the scoot on such fast open roads, especially in rush hour yesterday evening leaving london. I'm surprised by the scoot, it was more comfortable and with less wind buffering than any of my 12 motorcycles (125-750cc) and it also remained so smooth even at full throttle. The ride wasn't very long with only 35 minutes at full speed each way but it's enough to get an idea of the performance.
the only down side is the horizontal wind blast on exposed sections. the pcx is light so did suffer from side ways wind blasts but i've had larger, heavier motorcycles suffer more.It wasn't scary though, it was just present and less than expected, pretty much like any other motorcycle.
On a long steep uphill gradient i slowed to and indicated 60MPH which was still fast enough to easily pass HGV's in the left lane which slowed down considerably more so than my light scooter (im 68kg).
on flats i could hold between 62-65 indicated speed and the scooter felt smooth and planted and didn't feel dangerous. down hill i could hit indicated 70mph at full throttle and do 65 at ~90% throttle which i opted for to baby the bike where i could
As a motorcycle owner i've not had issues using the 2 125s i've owned on long distance motorway trips, i just leave longer, my vt125 15BHP could do 70mph (80 down hill) and 65 all day long any gradient, my girflriend toured france on her vt 125 twice, i felt secure in the chain and sprocket could cope, but i have no idea about scooter belts. is the high RPM likely to stretch or place a dangerous strain on them? or just wear them out much faster?
Common sense would suggest Honda built in safety limits and the scooter performance is well within spec, like engine limiters for example. and i would expect this to be the same for belt? would i just need to keep an eye on oil consumption as higher revs might burn off engine oil?
over all i have a new found respect for the PCX 125, i wasn't even the slowest thing on the road like when i took my cg 125 on a 64miles motorway trip. i passed several cars and lorries and the pcx was a pleasant and comfortable ride.
computer trip MPG read out dropped from 138 to 124 MPG so if it even gets 100+ thats very good in my book.
I wont be taking the PCX on many motorway trips but i wouldnt' have an issue at all infuture as now i know its capable. the extra 4 BHP available to full power 15BHP 125CCs would be welcome and i presume this is what the forza 125 offers. but if you are happy to travel at 60-65 all day the bike felt just as comfortable as if it was doing 50mph and i wouldn't have an issue riding the scooter again on motorways and other than the reduced speed being a downside, the ride was nicer than any of my motorcycles. the naked bikes were horrible on the motorway, the v-twin cruisers full of vibes over 70 and the sports bikes were full tuck. the adventure bikes were loud (wind buffering) and prone to sideways blasts.
thankfully I didn't need to test the bikes brakes in an emergency, but found that engine braking is very good as the bike will happily drop from full speed down to 50 if you roll off the throttle. This is most of the slowing down required on a flowing motorway. My last observation, is that the throttle cables didn't feel excessively tight. some vehicles dont like being pinned at full throttle and resist or take effort to keep pinned. The pcx throttle still felt smooth and comfortable and light even at full lock.
If the PCX could sit at a comfortable 70mph all day long it would be a vast improvement. but as the ride was so comfortable and relaxed the extra time in the saddle isn't a hardship.
As contect, I was on the M40 heading west out of london, the road is very good smooth tarmac, i think on rough roads at this speed it would be a different story as i have issues with the too firm suspension and small wheels on potholed roads, but on smooth and undulating good conditioned roads the PCX was more than up to the job and i enjoyed the ride.