New to biking / my new bike

[Heyrick]

Hi all, just thought I'd share my journey so far!

In my 48 years I'd never given a thought about biking before but suddenly had a whim and within a couple of weeks I'd booked my CBT and passed with no issues on the 12th September. I had planned to borrow my son's 125 to practise on before going straight to the direct access but whilst browsing around the selling sites to see what style of big bike I'd fancy I found this:




It's a 1983 Honda CB125 TD-C Superdream which had only done 5,680 miles and would cost less than any equivalent modern bike and which i could probably sell on without losing any money. I quite liked the look so decided to take the plunge with the plan now being to ride it over the winter and take the direct access in the spring.

It was very good mechanically but I have cleaned and fettled the carbs which were set very rich and my son and I used some vacuum guages to balance them with each other as there was quite a vibration with the cylinders battling each other. It's now a lot smoother and has a lot more grunt in the mid range and more power overall. Even before this it was out-pulling my son's 4 y.o. 125 so I'm well pleased with it (he has a Lexmoto Arizona but I still count it as a win!). We've also changed the fork seals and serviced the chain.

Regarding kit, I responded to a FB marketplace advert for a leather jacket and ended up with the Belstaff leather jacket plus a high quality waterproof jacket, waterproof leggings, gloves, boots and helmet all for £70!! All in good condition apart from the gloves and boots which are a little tatty but still perfectly useable. Just happened the seller was my size.

I've done about 300 miles on it now and loving every bit of it. Yesterday I had a run over Dartmoor in the great weather we're having:







I've driven across Dartmoor many times over the years but never enjoyed it as much as I did on the bike! Biking is totally different to being in a car. Had loads of nods from other bikers too - you're a friendly lot aren't you!

[Andybow]

Glad you’re enjoying your first taste of biking, looks like you’re a fellow Devon boy as well

[A500leroy]

well done on getting into biking glad your enjoying it, but please please CHAIN IT UP when your not with it.

[Harji]

Nice, but do your DAS now, you're only going to pick up bad habits from now until spring.

[Heyrick]

Harji said:

Nice, but do your DAS now, you're only going to pick up bad habits from now until spring.

I am thinking about it as I seem to have taken to it a lot easier than I expected having never ridden before. I've also got my eye on a bigger bike that would suit me: a BMW K75RT that's been off the road for a few years that's available for a good price.

[podman]

Enjoyed your write up and pics, fab little learner bike you have got yourself there, the design still looks smart after all these years.

Slightly off topic but i heard a podcast the other day that said Honda initially invented the Comstar wheel to save time/labour expense of building up spoked wheels...

[LFB531]

Good story OP, I remember the 250 Super Dream version as an object of desire as a youngster.

I'm older than you but never did a bike test, just honked around on a moped back in the day. Got back onto two wheels after a VERY long break so did the CBT thing and then the DAS in short order about a year ago.

Suspect if you try a big bike, you'll do your next test asap. If you don''t, you won't!

I did and bought a GS1150 from a mate, not really tried any other big bike but the extra power/size/torque makes riding a real pleasure.

[Fastchas]

I bought a CB125 as my first bike, can't remember the age but it was old, perhaps 1979 or something.
But it did it's job! Passed my test 1st time, went out and bought a white GSX600f teapot. Never forget the first time I opened the throttle, it was like being launched from the Battlestar Galactica The scenery was a blur as it rushed past me!
You soon get used to the power & speed. Next bike was a VFR750FL then a RRT 'blade.

[MotorsportTom]

Fastchas said:

I bought a CB125 as my first bike, can't remember the age but it was old, perhaps 1979 or something.
But it did it's job! Passed my test 1st time, went out and bought a white GSX600f teapot. Never forget the first time I opened the throttle, it was like being launched from the Battlestar Galactica The scenery was a blur as it rushed past me!
You soon get used to the power & speed. Next bike was a VFR750FL then a RRT 'blade.

What the fk? Are you me?

First bike was an 88' GSX600F teapot in the mostly white with the blue tank and seats. Then a 93 VFR750, ran a CRM 250 along side it but then next big bike (I don't count the triumph as it blew up on the way home from buying) was an RRT blade!

[Fastchas]

MotorsportTom said:

Fastchas said:

I bought a CB125 as my first bike, can't remember the age but it was old, perhaps 1979 or something.
But it did it's job! Passed my test 1st time, went out and bought a white GSX600f teapot. Never forget the first time I opened the throttle, it was like being launched from the Battlestar Galactica The scenery was a blur as it rushed past me!
You soon get used to the power & speed. Next bike was a VFR750FL then a RRT 'blade.

What the fk? Are you me?

First bike was an 88' GSX600F teapot in the mostly white with the blue tank and seats. Then a 93 VFR750, ran a CRM 250 along side it but then next big bike (I don't count the triumph as it blew up on the way home from buying) was an RRT blade!

MIne was a '91 GSX...


I ran a RG250 Gamma alongside the VFR!

[wsn03]

Nice bike - like those, good find - you'll have more fun on that than most bigger, faster more modern bikes.
I've got a collection of bikes and used to race, but one of the most fun bikes I ever had was my old CD175 Honda.