Are 125s actually fun?

Are 125s actually fun?

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Disastrous

Original Poster:

10,072 posts

216 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Just reading the other thread suggesting that a 125 will be more fun than an Integra and instead of derailing that, thought I'd start another.

Are they really?

My only experience on one was doing my CBT/DAS (where we used a Yam YBR125 (I think?) and my thoughts are as follows:

Massively slow (couldn't get above 55 on mine, chin on tank)
Horrendous on anything but ribbon smooth roads (tyres following lines and ridges all over the place)
Terrifying lack of braking
Absurdly tiny (I'm over 6ft and felt ludicrous on it)
Actually difficult to ride smoothly/well

I remember the relief when we moved up to the 600s and I felt like I was on a bike designed for an adult. Suddenly I could U-turn much easier, hold a line and not worry about the bike squirming around under me.

I can see the point of a 125 for learning or perhaps getting to work in New Delhi but surely not a a serious proposition for a fully grown man I the roads?

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Yeah they are a good laugh.

I had a 125 twist and go big scooter. Was alright.

Horses for courses.

3DP

9,912 posts

233 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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On the right roads they are a laugh and in any urban environment, fun.

As for stability - this perception of them being unstable is mainly down to learners and their fists of ham. A heavier bike, masks the crap inputs. My 125 is under 100kg and I come to an almost complete halt for seconds at a time without putting my feet down. It's far easier to pin point manoevre at sub walking space than any of my big bikes. It's just like riding a mountain bike - body weight movement and finessing, measured inputs are more important than on a heavy bike with narrow bars.

Again - the lack of brakes and performance is just a case of carrying your speed and planning ahead which is rewarding in its own right.

Unfortunately, the moment you hit a long straight or any long open road journey they are dire.

catso

14,772 posts

266 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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The only 125 I've ridden that was OK was an Aprilia RS125 but it wasn't restricted so no good if you're a 'learner'. OTOH if you're not a learner then why get the Aprilia - it's a high maintenance/temporamental bike due to it's state of tune where you could get a much better bike with much less hassle by going bigger.

Plus if like me you're 14st + and not as young as you were, a 125 will be tedious at best. wink

All IMHO of course...

TommyBuoy

1,269 posts

166 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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When I first went out on the road on a 125 (last year) it felt slow, I can only imagine how dull it would be on straight roads.

Sure it was fun nipping around town, but like others, I find a 600 much more fun and a better size too!

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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One tiny back roads the size of a cycle track I expect they are fun. Too damn slow to feel safe (let alone fun) on any proper roads.

LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
I have an MSX125 bought for a 10 mile there and 10 mile back commute, over a mountain.
it's diminutive size engenders no hostility and the always on front indicators fool many into thinking it is something whose path needs to be cleared.
In summary, it's great in traffic, is flat out at 60, the chunky tyres overcome the ridges etc but even taking it for a service 20 miles away is tedious. If I had the storage, I'd have something with more power, for sure. if they did the MSx in a 250 or 300, i'd be all over it but I'm only 5'6" and under 11 stone.
The main fun is the 120mpg it is capable of despite being used unsympathetically.


Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 23 April 19:22

steve954

895 posts

179 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Yes and no! I had this 125 which I found awesome fun
I had this one yesterday to do the same daily run on and found it a chore to keep the engine spinning in the right gears etc, bloody looks good though.
Edit that fireblade isn't a 125 ! Correct picture to follow!

Edited by steve954 on Wednesday 23 April 16:06

Tim85

1,742 posts

134 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Even most 500s are pretty annoying. Granted I only use bikes as a toy and my opinion would be different if I had to commute.

Useful, no doubt but IMO their only fun when your 17 and 1% of the time when your not.

graham22

3,293 posts

204 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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As a road bike, a 250/500 will do anything a 125 can do but better - ie quicker, more sure footed & decent brakes, but without the excess weight of an average 600+ bike.

As a trail bike, a 125 is OK, particularly KMX/DTR but the 200 versions are better off and on the road, 4 stroke 125s are just pathetic.

If it wasn't for the learner cc limits of recent years, the 125 class wouldn't really exist - looked what happened to 250s compared to many years ago. Even when the 250 learner law was in force, people bought 175s/185s as well as 250s but the 125 market was quite small.

Fats25

6,260 posts

228 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Agree with the OP - only 125 I have ridden, except scooters on holiday - was on the DAS, and I was ham fisted, and really struggled. I nearly quit before I got on the 500's as I was that bad!

Yesterday I followed a mate out of Croydon on his 125 scooter as roadworks are not great and he knows the roads better than me, and was showing me a shortcut. It was painful following him. Also fairly dangerous in my view. It is certainly possible it was the rider, but I could see where he was placing himself, and the bike and I was wincing in case he was crushed.

Just not quick enough to complete the manouvres he was trying to complete. On a proper bike his riding would have been fine. Perhaps he was pushing and would not really ride like that as he was conscious I was following - but I would not fancy it for any more than a 2 mile station trip.


xstian

1,966 posts

145 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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What is it with people on this forum? "If it isn't at least a 600 its boring" Of course a 125 can be fun, especially if you get a 2T. TZR125, RS125, Cagiva Mito, are all ace bikes. You have to keep momentum into corners, which has a massive input into learning to ride properly. The people who jump straight onto large bikes after passing there test, could learn a thing or two by spending a week riding a light, underpowered bike.

catso

14,772 posts

266 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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steve954 said:
Now that looks like a decent 125... wink

Mr SFJ

4,076 posts

121 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Go onto youtube and check out "Spicy110".

He's well over 6ft and rides a Chinese 125, which he says touches 70, and he's happy with it.

Have a look.

Tim85

1,742 posts

134 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
xstian said:
What is it with people on this forum? "If it isn't at least a 600 its boring" Of course a 125 can be fun, especially if you get a 2T. TZR125, RS125, Cagiva Mito, are all ace bikes. You have to keep momentum into corners, which has a massive input into learning to ride properly. The people who jump straight onto large bikes after passing there test, could learn a thing or two by spending a week riding a light, underpowered bike.
Whilst I don't doubt those 125s CAN be fun on very specific roads but have you ever been on proper rides out with people on 125s. It's just painful waiting all the time. On any given ride out I've been on it always consists of slowly twisty roads, big sweepers and then the getting to and from said roads.
Not everyone on here bumbles around on their 600s or thousands.

The majority of 125s are commuter tools or stop gap bikes. I don't live in a city. There's no way I'd ever get a 125.

xstian

1,966 posts

145 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Tim85 said:
xstian said:
What is it with people on this forum? "If it isn't at least a 600 its boring" Of course a 125 can be fun, especially if you get a 2T. TZR125, RS125, Cagiva Mito, are all ace bikes. You have to keep momentum into corners, which has a massive input into learning to ride properly. The people who jump straight onto large bikes after passing there test, could learn a thing or two by spending a week riding a light, underpowered bike.
Whilst I don't doubt those 125s CAN be fun on very specific roads but have you ever been on proper rides out with people on 125s. It's just painful waiting all the time. On any given ride out I've been on it always consists of slowly twisty roads, big sweepers and then the getting to and from said roads.
Not everyone on here bumbles around on their 600s or thousands.

The majority of 125s are commuter tools or stop gap bikes. I don't live in a city. There's no way I'd ever get a 125.
That's not really a valid argument. Your bike is much faster of course there are problems keeping up, but I don't remember that ever being part of the question. I also wouldn't buy a 125 again, they are mainly built for people who can only ride with a CBT. But the question was, are they fun? I'm saying I think they can be, in the same way that anything with good handling can be fun. If people can't understand why a good handling bike can be fun, why are they riding for a hobby.

LiamB

7,923 posts

142 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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Yes.

My RS125 was very fun and my bike now is fun but both for a different reasons.

Disastrous

Original Poster:

10,072 posts

216 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
xstian said:
Tim85 said:
xstian said:
What is it with people on this forum? "If it isn't at least a 600 its boring" Of course a 125 can be fun, especially if you get a 2T. TZR125, RS125, Cagiva Mito, are all ace bikes. You have to keep momentum into corners, which has a massive input into learning to ride properly. The people who jump straight onto large bikes after passing there test, could learn a thing or two by spending a week riding a light, underpowered bike.
Whilst I don't doubt those 125s CAN be fun on very specific roads but have you ever been on proper rides out with people on 125s. It's just painful waiting all the time. On any given ride out I've been on it always consists of slowly twisty roads, big sweepers and then the getting to and from said roads.
Not everyone on here bumbles around on their 600s or thousands.

The majority of 125s are commuter tools or stop gap bikes. I don't live in a city. There's no way I'd ever get a 125.
That's not really a valid argument. Your bike is much faster of course there are problems keeping up, but I don't remember that ever being part of the question. I also wouldn't buy a 125 again, they are mainly built for people who can only ride with a CBT. But the question was, are they fun? I'm saying I think they can be, in the same way that anything with good handling can be fun. If people can't understand why a good handling bike can be fun, why are they riding for a hobby.
In fairness, I pretty much asked "what's the point of them, except for learners?" and you've quite angrily said "Rubbish! They're great! Though I wouldn't buy one as they're just for learners."

Deranged Granny

2,313 posts

167 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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If you can't have fun on them, you ain't doing it right

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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An emphatic "yes" from me. Compared to a bigger engined sports bike, then clearly they don't provide the same rush of performance, sound and feel, but in isolation, they are bloody great. I had a CBF125 the other week while my GSX-R600 was at the dealers getting some work done. Slow, poor throttle response, high, bouncy suspension, but decent brakes for the weight of the bike and the speed it could attain, they were more than adequate. Not something you'd take out for a blast if you had a bigger bike, but if you want a fun way to commute then they're so much more enjoyable than a car. I did 50 bonus miles on the one I had just by riding it around instead of going straight home when I picked it up.

The light weight, high and wide bars and the lack of power meant that it could be ridden with the throttle to the stop through the gears even on a fairly tight road, and it inspired so much confidence in cornering. Ok, so the GSX-R would have done it dramatically faster, but that 125 was a right laugh. I wouldn't have one as my only bike, and if I had one as a commuter I'd probably rarely take it out on evenings and weekends for the sake of it, though they are great for enjoying the scenery a bit more as it's not whizzing by so fast. I managed an indicated 70mph on mine, fully tucked in, chest flat on the tank. I'm 6 foot and 13 stone, so not exactly a huge weight to lug about.

The argument of the other thread was "is a 125 more fun than a performance hatchback", which is a definite yes from me again. The DC5 would be much quicker over the same road - provided there were no traffic lights and jams, but the bike is a bike. I'd take a slow two wheels and being on the outside over a faster 4 that you sit inside on. It would be a slower journey, but much more satisfying. Obviously not everyone is the same, but I've had a few hot hatches and been in most of the ones worth having at some point or other, and as fast as they are, they're still just cars and the DC5, as good as it is, isn't even close to what I think would be the most fun cars. Those cars would be the mid-engined, RWD type, or Caterham-esque fare. But, as good as cars are, I just prefer the feeling of being on a motorcycle. It would be dull if we all liked the same things though.