Honda CBF125 - anyone own one?

Honda CBF125 - anyone own one?

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Skyrat

Original Poster:

1,185 posts

189 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Hoping for some words of wisdom from some owners of this pretty little bike.

Did my CBT at the weekend and looking to get out on a 125. I'll be using the bike for commuting and for fun, obviously.

The dilemma is whether to get a used CG125 for £1.2k - £1.5k with their excellent reputation, or take up a good deal at the local Honda shop of getting a brand spanking new pre-reg CBF125 for under £2k.

Just wondering if the CBF is as reliable a bike as the CG. The CG is supposedly pretty nearly bulletproof. A few folk have expressed some concern over the quality of some parts on the CBF, and that maybe the black finish exhaust isn't such a great idea.

Any thoughts?

I was happy enough just to get the CG but when I saw the CBF in the flesh I was very impressed with it and, lets face it, it's a lot better looking. Since then I've done a lot of searching online and it's apparently going down extremely well, which is encouraging, but most were first rides and not from a bit further down the line

Thanks for any replies.

Condi

17,085 posts

170 months

Monday 10th May 2010
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The CBF is definatly a bit more plastic than a CG. It does feel a bit "cheap" compared to other Hondas. However, if you can get a new one for only £500 more than your paying for a second hand CG I would get a branny. Honda are pretty good with regards to warranty, so they will look after you for 2 years - by which time you will probably want a bigger bike anyway.

Just like to point out that I havent owned a CBF or CG, but I rode a CG for my CBT and a CBF for a couple of hours while doing some further training. The electronic ignition engine in the CBF is much better than the carbed CG.

Edited by Condi on Monday 10th May 00:22

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Monday 10th May 2010
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Someone on here has a black one, I'm sure they've posted pics. It's a cbr125 with less plastic isn't it? if so it'll live forever as I've seen the cbr125s take serious abuse & just keep going.

obscene

5,174 posts

184 months

Monday 10th May 2010
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My topic has arrived.

I had mine for nearly a year but it got wrote off a few weeks ago when a car smashed into the back of me.

Over the course of the year the little bike took every bit of punishment I threw at it. I believe parts are fairly cheap for them, £40 for a whole painted fairing, least that's what I was told. It took a few beatings, I fell off it and scratched the fairing. My sister came off of it and also did the fairing again, never bothered repairing it as mechanically everything was fine. The only things which broke were the indicators which were easy fixes. Electric start, so it worked everytime. As far as parts wearing away/falling off I never noticed any but there is a group on facebook where you should find alot of info which is here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=6... . I'm not sure how it'd fair in the weather as mine was kept in a garage all year.

While running in I probably gave it a decent thrashing on my second day of riding, 300 miles with a bunch of other bikers. Just to do 65 the poor thing needed to be thrashed. To hit 70 you will need a BIG hill to go down and tuck in for. It really does seem to struggle above 55/60, 6th gear was near enough useless so I can't say I ever really used it as everytime you went into it you'd lose all power and need 5th again. If you need to go above 65 I really suggest looking at the Yamaha Ybr125r as apparently that hits 70 with ease and can stay there. If that's a big point and you plan to keep it for a while, I'd look at that but I doubt it'd be cheap. I'd say it can comfortably do 55, 60 is okay, 65 is probably the most you will get out of it.

Riding position was good and fairly comfortable, plus the mirrors seemed to be okay but extensions would help alot. The new additional bigger/taller screen may help the windblast if you're not keen on the whole naked bike thing. It was a great little bike to blat round on, I rode it all year round and it was good in the pissing rain as well as tearing down country roads in the summer. The front brake seemed to be in a funny position so as long as you haven't rode other bikes it shouldn't be funny, that and you should get used to it. I only noticed it once I started riding my Hornet, that said it could of been positioned awkwardly. Being a bike newbie I'm not too sure, I'd have to sit on another one to find out. Very good on fuel, even when being ragged, about 12 quid to fill it from bone empty.

Assuming you're looking for a cheap runabout to commute/have fun on before getting a bigger bike I'd say go for it.






Edited by obscene on Monday 10th May 02:23

surfsofa

406 posts

282 months

Monday 10th May 2010
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I seem to recall reading somewhere that you can get 130mpg out of these!! Anyone got near that?

SpinningPlates

1,299 posts

187 months

Monday 10th May 2010
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yeah it was a claimed 135mpg by Honda, after reading a few reviews & such the general consensus is that you can't get it to do less than 100mpg however hard you try.

Skyrat

Original Poster:

1,185 posts

189 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
obscene said:
My topic has arrived.

I had mine for nearly a year but it got wrote off a few weeks ago when a car smashed into the back of me.

While running in I probably gave it a decent thrashing on my second day of riding, 300 miles with a bunch of other bikers. Just to do 65 the poor thing needed to be thrashed. To hit 70 you will need a BIG hill to go down and tuck in for. It really does seem to struggle above 55/60, 6th gear was near enough useless so I can't say I ever really used it as everytime you went into it you'd lose all power and need 5th again. If you need to go above 65 I really suggest looking at the Yamaha Ybr125r as apparently that hits 70 with ease and can stay there. If that's a big point and you plan to keep it for a while, I'd look at that but I doubt it'd be cheap. I'd say it can comfortably do 55, 60 is okay, 65 is probably the most you will get out of it.




Edited by obscene on Monday 10th May 02:23
Thanks for all the replies, including your comprehensive one, obscene.

One thing though. 6 gears? Specs say 5. Was that just a typo?


Skyrat

Original Poster:

1,185 posts

189 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
obscene said:
My topic has arrived.
Edited by obscene on Monday 10th May 02:23
Another question if you don't mind:

I hear the servicing is every 2500 miles. What are the servicing costs like at a Honda dealer? Mine is two wheels in Edinburgh.

obscene

5,174 posts

184 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
Yes, 6 gears but it may as well be 5 the way 6th works.

Servicing: I only had the 600 mile one done which was £100 (rip off considering it's only an oil change), had I known it needed one at 2500, I don't think I would have bothered till 4000 as I was told it was every 4k like the big bikes. It looks like it's just an oil change from the manual, my bike died at 2550 so it never got the next service.


SpinningPlates said:
yeah it was a claimed 135mpg by Honda, after reading a few reviews & such the general consensus is that you can't get it to do less than 100mpg however hard you try.
You'd have to be riding like a saint to get 135 if it's even possible. I never really looked at how much MPG I was getting but I'd imagine it wasn't bad at all.

Skyrat

Original Poster:

1,185 posts

189 months

Monday 10th May 2010
quotequote all
There's a bit about fuel economy in this article

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/353...

"[Over a 92 mile ride] I'd just achieved 117mpg, so I calculated it again because I'd been riding the bike not for economy but to get those miles behind me as quickly as possible.

In short, most of it was dual carriageway, jousting with trucks at 65mph or so, throttle against the stop, with a few forays across busy towns, and no trickling through the traffic either, but nosing to the front at lights and beating them all away. It sounds harsh but that's how 125s often get ridden, so about 120mpg would be normal for many riders. And it does make Honda's figures look reasonable: indeed, on a commuting route with less throttle and a relaxed rider I'd think you could better 134mpg."

Certainly interesting. Meh, I'm not buying it for its fuel economy, that's just a bonus

MCN say they got 87mpg. I dunno WTF they were doing to it!

Edited by Skyrat on Monday 10th May 14:14

kiddy5825

174 posts

166 months

Tuesday 11th May 2010
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I have a CBF125 and over many tanks of petrol have averaged 83mpg. I am 82kg and ride on B roads and dual carriageways on my commute. The MCN figure is much more believable. I used to get around 90mpg out of my old T reg CG125. Tighter emission regulations mean less fuel economy I'm afraid. The CBF is built primarily for the Indian market and doesn't like British winters and road salt! The std tyres are shocking, don't expect to stay upright for long in the wet, but they can be fun screeching in the dry. Knee down is achievable.

kiddy5825

174 posts

166 months

Tuesday 11th May 2010
quotequote all
obscene said:
Yes, 6 gears but it may as well be 5 the way 6th works.

Servicing: I only had the 600 mile one done which was £100 (rip off considering it's only an oil change), had I known it needed one at 2500, I don't think I would have bothered till 4000 as I was told it was every 4k like the big bikes. It looks like it's just an oil change from the manual, my bike died at 2550 so it never got the next service.


SpinningPlates said:
yeah it was a claimed 135mpg by Honda, after reading a few reviews & such the general consensus is that you can't get it to do less than 100mpg however hard you try.
You'd have to be riding like a saint to get 135 if it's even possible. I never really looked at how much MPG I was getting but I'd imagine it wasn't bad at all.
The reason the service intervals are at 2500 rather that the 4000 of bigger bikes is because it carries less that 1 litre of oil. Do not change at your peril.

The services are so simple it's unreal. You can change the oil faster than you can fill it with petrol. Valve clearances (all 2 of them) take 30mins. Instructions in the manual, just by some feeler gauges for less than a tenner.

davieg1

1 posts

162 months

Saturday 11th September 2010
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I have one of these, and did come off in the wet ,when going round a roundabout.Glad to hear that tyres might have been cause,as it did knock my confidence a bit.
As for MPG, I have done 700 miles and have only put in petrol on 3 occasions, each time I filled tank I reset trip to zero, filled when tank gete down to red, and each time I have had around 200 miles and it has cost me roughly £10. The last time I got 108 MPG.I use bike for town/work commuting

bob1179

14,107 posts

208 months

Saturday 11th September 2010
quotequote all
davieg1 said:
I have one of these, and did come off in the wet ,when going round a roundabout.Glad to hear that tyres might have been cause,as it did knock my confidence a bit.
As for MPG, I have done 700 miles and have only put in petrol on 3 occasions, each time I filled tank I reset trip to zero, filled when tank gete down to red, and each time I have had around 200 miles and it has cost me roughly £10. The last time I got 108 MPG.I use bike for town/work commuting
Welcome to PH.

wavey


3doorPete

9,912 posts

233 months

Saturday 11th September 2010
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I really like the new CBF125. Looks nice, economical and bullet proof. Dobles down South are doing them for £1899 new which seems a great price too.

CG's are absolutely bullet proof and priced accordingly, but if spending nearly £1500 second hand, I'd definitely go for the CBF.

I'd also home service it for oil changes even if you don't know what you are doing. They are a single cylinder engine with no fairing - it's honestly about the easiest thing you could ever do and will save you a load of money.
On a 125, service history isn't very important anyway - they hold their value as everyone has to have that cc and sell more on condition.

Skyrat

Original Poster:

1,185 posts

189 months

Saturday 11th September 2010
quotequote all
I went for a cbf 125 rather than a CG as I got a pretty good deal on a nearly new one with only 640 on the clock. It meant I got a warranty and free AA cover til May '11

It sips the petrol and the couple of times I've done d a calculation I got 113mpg. The trip clock has been pretty consistent between fill ups.

Not sure what the guy in a previous post is on about cos it's got 5 gears. :shrug:

Tyres wise, I've not had any major problems and unless you hit some diesel on the roundabout I'd suggest you were going too fast for the conditions. I've always taken my time in the wet as the tyres are so thin and I've been fine.

obscene

5,174 posts

184 months

Saturday 11th September 2010
quotequote all
Skyrat said:
Not sure what the guy in a previous post is on about cos it's got 5 gears. :shrug:
What year is it out of interest ? I do wonder if they've changed to a 5 speed box as mine had 6 gears but 6th was completely and utterly pointless so I never used it. That or I am completely insane, I do swear it had 6 gears confused maybe it had 5 and 5th was useless. I'm thinking the bump on the noggin I had when the bike got killed has completely made me forget. The bike is a solid little 125 though.

Edit: Just looked at some of my photos of the bike. So it does have 5 gears. 5th was useless, you'd chuck it in 5th then lose all power then go back to 4th.

Edited by obscene on Saturday 11th September 15:08

JEXY252

1 posts

155 months

Monday 4th April 2011
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Hi everyone.Owned a cbf 125 for 2 years now and ride it in all but snow and ice! I can recomend it to any new riders or if you just want a cheap commuter.Just have a bit of an issue with the quality of the finish on the bottom end around the back wheel brake linkages and foot levers. Ido live on the coast so that doesnt help nor does being a bit lazy at cleaning either! have started to repaint bits and pieces so its looking better! cant fault reliabilty though,rode a cg on my cbt then bought the cbf which is definatly better!! Oh and the local riding school i used also has cbf125s! so get one and have fun!

MonkeyBusiness

3,912 posts

186 months

Monday 4th April 2011
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Good thread resurrection!
Passed my CBT this weekend and am looking get a CBF.
Does anyone know of a dealer doing a good deal on these?

There seems to be a few pre-reg (10/60 reg) ones about.

Skyrat

Original Poster:

1,185 posts

189 months

Tuesday 5th April 2011
quotequote all
JEXY252 said:
Hi everyone.Owned a cbf 125 for 2 years now and ride it in all but snow and ice! I can recomend it to any new riders or if you just want a cheap commuter.Just have a bit of an issue with the quality of the finish on the bottom end around the back wheel brake linkages and foot levers. Ido live on the coast so that doesnt help nor does being a bit lazy at cleaning either! have started to repaint bits and pieces so its looking better! cant fault reliabilty though,rode a cg on my cbt then bought the cbf which is definatly better!! Oh and the local riding school i used also has cbf125s! so get one and have fun!
I've had mine for about 11 months now and have ridden it practically every day, including all through the winter and in the snow. I washed it down with cold water most nights and washed the crap off with muc off regularly before coating it with FS365. The brake linkages have taken a pounding though and have caused me some problems including not returning to the original position after applying the back brake. Had to get the AA out because the back wheel was stuck tight.

It's a great wee bike but the hard winter and the amount of crap on the roads up here in Scotland this winter has taken its toll. I'm gonna have to put it in for a service to sort out all the problems and it's slap bang in the middle of a service interval at about 3900 miles. I just had it serviced at 2500