Greetings from Daytona Beach fl,

[squeaks]

I Just wanted to say "hi" to the other members out there , and thanks for all the interesting content about the 125s,
I have had mine for better then a year now, ordered it sight unseen and was very happy with the little bike.
I done some small mods, as at 6'4'' tall, I'm kinda like a billboard on the road, i use the bike here for just bopping around and going to work, and its light enough to put in my truck to take to my place in TN, and trips to the blue ridge parkway when i camp there.
I also bought a super cub for the wife, she's very happy in the fact her bike is faster..

 

[SneakyDingo]

6'4"!!! You'd practically need that extended seat just for you on this bike. I know at 6'0" I am feeling it.

 

[squeaks]

yes, i look quite ridiculous on it...but that's cool.
i don't recommend the long drivers seat however, i still feel that bar underneath.
I'm going to make my own seat. or, buy a KLR, or some such thing as a last resort.

 

[MisterB]

Welcome aboard, Squeaks! My wife and I also have a Trail and a Cub, she's not licensed yet so we're not riding together yet, but soon.
I've heard that a windshield might help get a few more MPH out of a Trail, that might help you keep up? (not scientifically verified)
Have a blast and enjoy either way!

 

[dmonkey]

You would think that windshields would be more aerodynamic than your upright body, but you'll find that this is the true for very few motorcycle windshields since they are meant to displace more air than would be hitting the rider rather than reducing the drag coefficient. So I would say it depends on the windshield. Something smaller and torso sized, usually sold as a fairing rather than a windshield may help, but something larger that displaces more air, potentially causes buffeting, and catches cross winds will hurt both mph and mpg. This bike has a very upright seating position, so unfortunately unless you plan on taking notes from Rollie Free below, your body is going to be one of the biggest factors in top speed.

 

[squeaks]

Welcome aboard, Squeaks! My wife and I also have a Trail and a Cub, she's not licensed yet so we're not riding together yet, but soon.
I've heard that a windshield might help get a few more MPH out of a Trail, that might help you keep up? (not scientifically verified)
Have a blast and enjoy either way!

thank you, the windshield dose help a little, keeps the wind off my chest...
if you do most your riding here in the flats, i changed the rear sprocket to the 38 tooth, (i think that's what it is or one tooth down.
it dose not change the speed much, about 2 MPH but it seems to run "less angry" at WOT.
the super cub is much more streetable. but too small for me.
oh no ECU or ABS issues with that change.

 

[squeaks]

You would think that windshields would be more aerodynamic than your upright body, but you'll find that this is the true for very few motorcycle windshields since they are meant to displace more air than would be hitting the rider rather than reducing the drag coefficient. So I would say it depends on the windshield. Something smaller and torso sized, usually sold as a fairing rather than a windshield may help, but something larger that displaces more air, potentially causes buffeting, and catches cross winds will hurt both mph and mpg. This bike has a very upright seating position, so unfortunately unless you plan on taking notes from Rollie Free below, your body is going to be one of the biggest factors in top speed.

View attachment 2413

True.. i pick up 2 MPH just ducking behind that windshield on a windy day!

 

[SneakyDingo]

Windshields will only generate speed if the overall drag coefficient is reduced by the windshield. In a fluid dynamics sense it's related to eddy currents generated by the body moving through the air; if the windshield reduces the eddy currents, you will go faster. On the CT125 I don't really see that happening with the overall seating position.

Something that's potentially of interest is that this general concept is of great importance in the human powered vehicle competitions. The racer vehicles have a generalized shape, which fills the space in front of the rider with fairing, to create a streamlined leading edge (which reduces the eddy currents). However, of significance is they also fill the space BEHIND the rider as well with a fairing, to reduce those eddy currents. So there is potential that for the right shaped rider, with a correctly positioned top box, they might actually gain flat ground speed because it reduces eddy currents around their torso.

That being said, let's say your goal was fast vs. far. Those two are often related in randonneuring, where the properties that make a bicycle go fast are also the properties that make it go far. If you are to increase your comfort, even at the expense of speed, then you will fatigue more slowly and will be able to move farther in a day than someone riding a fully naked bike. In that sense, a windshield may be a great investment, and even be considered a safety device.

 

[squeaks]

Windshields will only generate speed if the overall drag coefficient is reduced by the windshield. In a fluid dynamics sense it's related to eddy currents generated by the body moving through the air; if the windshield reduces the eddy currents, you will go faster. On the CT125 I don't really see that happening with the overall seating position.

Something that's potentially of interest is that this general concept is of great importance in the human powered vehicle competitions. The racer vehicles have a generalized shape, which fills the space in front of the rider with fairing, to create a streamlined leading edge (which reduces the eddy currents). However, of significance is they also fill the space BEHIND the rider as well with a fairing, to reduce those eddy currents. So there is potential that for the right shaped rider, with a correctly positioned top box, they might actually gain flat ground speed because it reduces eddy currents around their torso.

That being said, let's say your goal was fast vs. far. Those two are often related in randonneuring, where the properties that make a bicycle go fast are also the properties that make it go far. If you are to increase your comfort, even at the expense of speed, then you will fatigue more slowly and will be able to move farther in a day than someone riding a fully naked bike. In that sense, a windshield may be a great investment, and even be considered a safety device.

indeed, i imagine so. if only i was a bit shorter....
i don't know about all you out there, but 52 mph is as fast as i care to go anyways.
it's a fun little bike, and i like tinkering with it a bit too.

 

[SneakyDingo]

If it were strict compliance with the speed limit, 52 mph would be overkill for my area. You'd be able to cover a really large number of roads. However, due to various court rulings and a police force with a different sense of priorities to me, many of the 45 mph zones have me running flat out and watching my mirrors in the rightmost lane. There's a few 25 mph zones where I look down, while not keeping up with traffic, and see 42-45 mph. Because of that, the lack of top end can be a bit of a problem. Americans and speeding is a substantial problem on this bike, reducing the number of arterial roadways I can use because noncompliance makes it dangerous for me to be there.

Left to my own devices, I usually putter along at around 35 mph even if the speed limit is much higher. Like a back country road. It's a nice speed, where you're not fighting the wind, the engine isn't working hard, you can relax, you don't have to slow down much for anything, even sharp corners, you have enough gearing and power to make it up most situations with what the engine is capable of even when heavily loaded.... 35 mph is a nice speed. Also good miles per gallon.

 

[squeaks]

If it were strict compliance with the speed limit, 52 mph would be overkill for my area. You'd be able to cover a really large number of roads. However, due to various court rulings and a police force with a different sense of priorities to me, many of the 45 mph zones have me running flat out and watching my mirrors in the rightmost lane. There's a few 25 mph zones where I look down, while not keeping up with traffic, and see 42-45 mph. Because of that, the lack of top end can be a bit of a problem. Americans and speeding is a substantial problem on this bike, reducing the number of arterial roadways I can use because noncompliance makes it dangerous for me to be there.

Left to my own devices, I usually putter along at around 35 mph even if the speed limit is much higher. Like a back country road. It's a nice speed, where you're not fighting the wind, the engine isn't working hard, you can relax, you don't have to slow down much for anything, even sharp corners, you have enough gearing and power to make it up most situations with what the engine is capable of even when heavily loaded.... 35 mph is a nice speed. Also good miles per gallon.

35 would be fine for me, here in Daytona, 35 means traffic is doing 50 + and 55 limit they are doing 65+
oh sure, some get tickets but it mostly go's unchecked. but i knew that before i got the bikes..
there are nice back roads here, but i still have to run with traffic.
but in TN it's different, so il put the stock or perhaps one tooth down as there's lots of back roads, gravel and streams..
that's where the fun is.
but right now at over 5 bucks a gallon for diesel, it is my go to transport.
what area do you ride?

 

[SneakyDingo]

what area do you ride?

I keep a spreadsheet for my fuel consumption so I can tell you the last time I filled, it was $4.40 a gallon for petrol. Pretty sure we're over $5/gal for diesel here too, or at least very close to.

I'm located in Seattle, primarily riding around the north end of Seattle and a little on the eastside.

 

[squeaks]

oh wow, very nice!