Honda CBF125 - anyone own one?

[Skyrat]

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.

[Skyrat]

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]

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.

[Skyrat]

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

[Skyrat]

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.

[Skyrat]

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

[Skyrat]

I have a 20 minute ride each morning and back at night along a NSL road. It'll haul my considerable bulk along at 60mph on a flat piece of road with my record top speed being an indicated 74mph going downhill. The only complaint I have is that the speed just falls away when going up hill. Chuck in a strong headwind too and I have trouble even hitting 50. 5th gear is useless going up hill, but I think it's fine on the flat.

[Skyrat]

My local Honda dealer does it for about £70-£80