Choice of 125cc - What have you had and ridden?

[Danm1les]

Hi,

Having recently passed my CBT and wanting to get a 125 to get some experience on before doing my direct access, what would people recommend? I've been looking at Honda CBR's, KTM's offering and Yamaha YZF 125? Has anyone got an experience of the bikes listed?

I'm hoping to spend say 2-2,500 run it for 6 months or so and then sell it again and not have lost much money!

Thanks,

Dan

[kiethton]

Had a CBR125R for 2.2 years and 13k miles until it was written off by somebody driving over the front wheel when stopped.

Never went wrong (beyond the rectifier) and gave 220 miles to £10. I then had a CBF125 courtesy bike for another couple of months which was no issue.

In terms of costs I bought the CBR from a bike salvage yard for £1,200 at 6 months old/3k miles. I didn't bother fixing the scuffed fairings (all the damage there was) and when written off I got paid out £1,900. I bought the salvage back for 20% (£380) and sold it on again for £750 without fixing the bent forks.

Did very nicely

First year insurance ~£400 TPO but I am london and it was used to commute into the city daily.

[Matt_Zeus]

My wife and I both had CB125Fs. Loved it.
Did 5000 miles in the year I owned it.
You could get a 12-month old model for around £1500 and sell it for similar

[HustleRussell]

I'm sure I'm not the only person who'd recommend skipping the 125cc stage altogether, especially if you have already decided to go down the DAS route? Complete your training, pass your test, and buy a nice 250cc+ bike which will be better in every way than a 125.

P.S. Rode a CG125 for seven months through the winter and basically hated the thing by the end, didn't like the suspension or brakes, didn't like the tyres, the gearbox seemed to want to kill me (I must've damaged it), no road presence etc etc...

Edited by HustleRussell on Monday 7th August 13:03

[Danm1les]

HustleRussell said:

I'm sure I'm not the only person who'd recommend skipping the 125cc stage altogether, especially if you have already decided to go down the DAS route? Complete your training, pass your test, and buy a nice 250cc+ bike which will be better in every way than a 125.

This would be my preferred method but the instructor recommended getting something ot get jsut use to a bike more? I have my thery booked for the 23rd of this month and fancied getting out on the road, even at not much speed. What I don't want to do is to run before I can walk type of thing, so even if i do the DAS route a 300cc bike etc might be a better shout?

[MotorsportTom]

HustleRussell said:

P.S. Rode a CG125 for seven months through the winter and basically hated the thing by the end, didn't like the suspension or brakes, didn't like the tyres, the gearbox seemed to want to kill me (I must've damaged it), no road presence etc etc...

Edited by HustleRussell on Monday 7th August 13:03

If the instructor has recommended it then it may be worth while as he has witnessed your riding.

On the point above, I own a CG125 (as well as a couple of other bikes) and it's probably the bike that makes me laugh the most. Think jumping speedbumps, wobbling through country lanes and generally larking about.

The engines are solid, parts dirt cheap and can be fixed with hammers, tape and cable ties.

I picked mine up for £450, MOT'd it where it passed with no advisories and it's likely to be worth around £700 minimum as is (has a full history file and topbox with rack)

You aren't likely to lose money and the CBF125 is just an updated version, identical engines AFAIK apart from it's black, not silver in the CBF.

[HustleRussell]

Danm1les said:

HustleRussell said:

I'm sure I'm not the only person who'd recommend skipping the 125cc stage altogether, especially if you have already decided to go down the DAS route? Complete your training, pass your test, and buy a nice 250cc+ bike which will be better in every way than a 125.

P.S. Rode a CG125 for seven months through the winter and basically hated the thing by the end, didn't like the suspension or brakes, didn't like the tyres, the gearbox seemed to want to kill me (I must've damaged it), no road presence etc etc...

This would be my preferred method but the instructor recommended getting something ot get jsut use to a bike more? I have my thery booked for the 23rd of this month and fancied getting out on the road, even at not much speed. What I don't want to do is to run before I can walk type of thing, so even if i do the DAS route a 300cc bike etc might be a better shout?

There is much to be said for listening wholeheartedly to your instructor of course, he or she is already aware of your experience level etc.

I completed my DAS during July. The experience I described above on the CG125 was 7 years before that, and I have had a fair bit of experience on bikes in other countries in the interim.

Nonetheless if I were you I’d still want to avoid the time and hassle of the 125cc phase, even if it meant squeezing in a couple of extra day’s training in between your CBT and MOD 1. While I passed both parts of the test first time, there were also people who had little or no experience on bikes before their CBT who managed the same.

[Tiggsy]

yep, my OH did her first ever ride on a bike last month....passed last week. She hated the time on the 125 during training.

[trialsta]

Depends how tall you are but I had a Honda Varadero 125, the only 'proper sized' 125cc I could find. Was a good all-rounder and felt less like a kids toy when moving between it and a 600 for lessons.

[AlunJ]

I was in the same position as you not being a complete natural at cbt was told to get a 125 and get some practice in. Absolutely hated the cg125 I rode on cbt. Got myself a Yamaha mt-125 (naked version of yzf r125) which I love, have had it 6 weeks and got Mod1 training and test booked in next month but for a beginner bike I think it's great, mates on their bigger bikes seem quite impressed with it as well. As good as it is I'm already wanting some extra ooomph.

[podman]

All of the jap 125s hold their money, due to a constant pool of buyers, how much you "lose" will depend if you over the odds for one in the first place, buy wisely and you will make money on one.

With your budget, you will get a nice, rot free example, keep it that way and im sure you will be fine.

My Dad and OH both bought YBR125s(one an early carb version, one a later F.I ) and thoroughly enjoyed the bikes and learning on them, both thought they helped them to pass their test, depends on the person of course and maybe on what roads are nearby to you but my Dad regrets selling his even now.

[JoyceyBoy]

Going back some years now my first 125cc was a Gilera DNA, ok ok it was a twist n go but it did shift. I then wised up and got back to a geared bike. At the time for me it was the Mito or the RS both of which had tendency's to blow up so I went for a 4 stroke Sachs XTC such a beautiful bike.

[Danm1les]

Thanks peeps! All greatly appreciated!

I'm 6ft 2 and did my CBT on a Yamaha YBR on Saturday which felt fine, I'm just keen to get some miles under my belt, as much as I'll potentially hate the speed element hopefully my car will cover that aspect for a while!

[King David]

I had a YZF-R 125 for a few months between by CBT and getting the full license, ended up doing about 1,200 miles on it. It's a great little bike and I really enjoyed my time on it. It's obviously not fast, but it is well balanced and I felt like I could focus on thinking about technique without worrying about speed.

The advise on here always seems to lean towards getting straight on with the license. It's a personal thing, but I wouldn't change the way I did things.

I only lost about £300 on the bike and had a great time riding around on it. By the time I came to do my test I found the basic controls were second nature and I was really comfortable on the road. It meant I only had 2.5 days total tuition time and passed both mod 1 & 2 with no minors.

Than being said, the 125 doesn't come close to a proper bike. If you do get the 125 first, then as soon as you feel comfortable be sure to crack on with the license!

[Decky_Q]

Had a KYMCO Zing and loved it but I was only 17 and it was a taste of freedom. Good bike in every way imo.

Then bought a Dragstar 125 as soon as it came out, as I wanted a V-twin and was quite disappointed in it. It wasn't as stable as the Zing with very light steering feel (I wouldn't try to fix my gloves on the move). When I had an accident on the Dragstar it was due to the very thin front wheel locking up and turning under panic braking and being bucked off into traffic rather than colliding with anything on the bike (I was 24 and have been riding from I was 11YO so not lack of experience and I didn't pull the front *that* hard) all in all the Taiwanese bike was better imo.

Also learned on a Honda H100s (similar to a CG) and wouldn't fancy the riding position long term, just my opinion.

[crofty1984]

Danm1les said:

Thanks peeps! All greatly appreciated!

I'm 6ft 2 and did my CBT on a Yamaha YBR on Saturday which felt fine, I'm just keen to get some miles under my belt, as much as I'll potentially hate the speed element hopefully my car will cover that aspect for a while!

Mrs crofty had a YBR injected model. It was a bulletproof wee thing. Though the finish on it and presumably other "Japanese" 125s is fairly poor. They're built in China.

[LiamB]

CBR125s and the like are quite small and will be quite cramped if you're 6ft 2, I recommend going the 125 Supermoto route. I've had a fair few 125s and my favourites by far were the supermotos due to their higher riding position, the ability to throw them around like it's nothing and you can go down some green lanes which is huge fun on a 125 on road tyres.

I still really miss this



That's a Sinnis Apache which won't be recommended in here as it's Chinese so I won't even bother trying to argue its case but it was a bloody good bike and only went wrong a couple of times due to my own doing

A Yamaha WR125 would be a decent shout if you'd like to go the supermoto route, you should be able to get a nice one in budget.

If you don't like Supermotos then I recommend looking at YBRs, MT-125s and anything else that's a bit upright. R125s are okay if you can get used to the riding position as it's a lot different to what you are used to. Also avoid anything 2 stroke like the plague. Trust me.

[caelite]

To counter what a lot have said.

Do not discount the more reputable Chinese options nowadays, the build quality really is no worse than the entry level Japanese fair, they where cheap to buy and do depreciate a bit, which means that there are some proper bargains on the used market. Check out Sinnis and Lexmoto, I've had a couple that I have picked up for 'a bit of a laugh' money and there really isn't much to go wrong, old carbed Suzuki motors on a simple steel frame, just watch out for consumables, the chains & tyres that tend to be put on them from the dealers are pants.

Although Euro 4 has really drove the prices up new, they might not be the bargains they once where in the future now that FI and stupid linked brakes have been forced upon them.

[jamiebae]

The Varadero is the most likely to fit comfortably and is the most grown up 125 out there, but in reality the best thing you can do is watch the market and look out for a bargain. Whatever it is if you buy right you won't lose anything that way and even if you get bored and flip it in a few months it won't cost anything.

[MGZTV8]

Honda MSX 125. Ride one of these and you'll be happy staying with a 125.