Learner 125 / enduro / green lane
Discussion
Hello Gents,
Noob biker and looking to do my cbt within the next few months.
Reason being a few friends are green leaning / off-road and is like to give it a go.
My thinking is to get a learner legal 125 (MIT / lights /etc) that I can go green laning with them and see if I enjoy biking, etc, whilst gaining good experience for a future upgrade to a full licence.
My options are, as far as I can see, 125 2 stroke / 4 stroke, or full power 125 that are restricted.
Assuming KTM / Honda / Yamaha are my main options?
Not too bothered about going straight to a full licence I’d rather build my experience first (31 so can go DAS).
I want something that is off road focused.
Happy to have something a few years old but certainly user friendly.
Noob biker and looking to do my cbt within the next few months.
Reason being a few friends are green leaning / off-road and is like to give it a go.
My thinking is to get a learner legal 125 (MIT / lights /etc) that I can go green laning with them and see if I enjoy biking, etc, whilst gaining good experience for a future upgrade to a full licence.
My options are, as far as I can see, 125 2 stroke / 4 stroke, or full power 125 that are restricted.
Assuming KTM / Honda / Yamaha are my main options?
Not too bothered about going straight to a full licence I’d rather build my experience first (31 so can go DAS).
I want something that is off road focused.
Happy to have something a few years old but certainly user friendly.
Anything 2 stroke will be knackered now or in decent nick but worth a few quid. I doubt there are many 4 strokes that make over the limit for L platers. I'm sure times have changed a bit in the 15 years since I was buzzing about on a 125 but in general, anything from the big companies should do you a good turn, I had issues with chinese bikes but I'm sure they've improved since then. They'll all be similar in terms of performance, size, build quality etc so I'd just look about and buy on condition and history. So many of these bikes will get abused by 17 year olds then sold at the end of the year.
The only issue is that 'off road' bikes are a bit naff on the road, mainly due to the tyres, particularly in cold/wet weather. No an issue if you're on the doorstep of the lanes or you're going to put it in a van perhaps but I'd not want to be doing many miles on road on it.
You say about gaining experience then doing DAS, do you have any interest in road bikes? Or is that just to get a bigger bike for green laning?
The only issue is that 'off road' bikes are a bit naff on the road, mainly due to the tyres, particularly in cold/wet weather. No an issue if you're on the doorstep of the lanes or you're going to put it in a van perhaps but I'd not want to be doing many miles on road on it.
You say about gaining experience then doing DAS, do you have any interest in road bikes? Or is that just to get a bigger bike for green laning?
I’m not too fussed about rebuilding engines or paying for a decent older bike, as you say I don’t want something that has just been thrashed about by a 17 year old.
Won’t be going far on the actual road, sub 5 miles as i am in N Wales and the lads have a van too.
No interest in road bikes, it’d be for a bigger off road bike and the ability to do tours / adventure stuff abroad with them.
Won’t be going far on the actual road, sub 5 miles as i am in N Wales and the lads have a van too.
No interest in road bikes, it’d be for a bigger off road bike and the ability to do tours / adventure stuff abroad with them.
Have you thought about a restricted 4 stroke 250?
The Yamaha WRF 250 is a really good endure/trail/green lane bike which in unrestricted form will get you anywhere you want to go.
I don't know whether they can be restricted but if they can it saves you buying a 4 stroke 125 which are gutless and not a lot of use on a green lane unless its a very gentle one.
An alternative would be to do your CBT now on a borrowed bike and to be honest that should be enough to tell you whether biking is for you.
If you like the experience go straight in and do the DAS and then you can buy an unrestricted 250 4 stroke which is enough bike for green laning even on the steeper more difficult stuff. 2 strokes have a narrower power band and are not for the inexperienced.
I started with a KTM 400 EXC which was frankly too much bike for me and then bought the Yamaha which was an excellent off road bike.
The Yamaha WRF 250 is a really good endure/trail/green lane bike which in unrestricted form will get you anywhere you want to go.
I don't know whether they can be restricted but if they can it saves you buying a 4 stroke 125 which are gutless and not a lot of use on a green lane unless its a very gentle one.
An alternative would be to do your CBT now on a borrowed bike and to be honest that should be enough to tell you whether biking is for you.
If you like the experience go straight in and do the DAS and then you can buy an unrestricted 250 4 stroke which is enough bike for green laning even on the steeper more difficult stuff. 2 strokes have a narrower power band and are not for the inexperienced.
I started with a KTM 400 EXC which was frankly too much bike for me and then bought the Yamaha which was an excellent off road bike.
The best 125 trailie I can think of is the Yamaha DT125R. Easily derestricted (or buy a full power French import from Unit 5 or similar). Lighter and more powerful than the 4 strokes.
Factor in an engine rebuild (my son's cost me £100 in genuine Yamaha parts for rings, gaskets and crank seals).
Ignore those that say a stroker is difficult to ride or no quicker than a 4 stroke. Both are plain wrong. The Yamaha YPVS system makes the bike really tractable. Many of us learnt to ride on these allegedly difficult to ride beasts!
The only downside is the availability of bodywork. Find yourself a scruffy set for off road. You will drop it and nice original panels are now hard to find. If you keep the bike nice, it will be easy to sell and will hold its value.
Factor in an engine rebuild (my son's cost me £100 in genuine Yamaha parts for rings, gaskets and crank seals).
Ignore those that say a stroker is difficult to ride or no quicker than a 4 stroke. Both are plain wrong. The Yamaha YPVS system makes the bike really tractable. Many of us learnt to ride on these allegedly difficult to ride beasts!
The only downside is the availability of bodywork. Find yourself a scruffy set for off road. You will drop it and nice original panels are now hard to find. If you keep the bike nice, it will be easy to sell and will hold its value.
I’ll be doing my cbt within the next 2 month depending on c-19.
I’m not sure I want anything more than a 125, a 125 isn’t much to buy and will tell me if I am interested or not (one of the other lads has a 125 / cbt only), a decent 250 is well double the cost and would require me paying the full £1/1.2k for my bike test.
Honda XLR
Yamaha XT125R
Will have a look at the DT125R, bit older though, are they electric start?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/dtr...
I’m not sure I want anything more than a 125, a 125 isn’t much to buy and will tell me if I am interested or not (one of the other lads has a 125 / cbt only), a decent 250 is well double the cost and would require me paying the full £1/1.2k for my bike test.
Honda XLR
Yamaha XT125R
Will have a look at the DT125R, bit older though, are they electric start?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/dtr...
Edited by Lord.Vader on Wednesday 18th March 19:18
Dt125 will be kick start only but being a tiddly 2 stroke if you fart in the right direction near the kick start it'll run.
2 strokes, as long as they are in good condition/fettle, are brilliant fun and very easy to start compared to the equivalent 4 strokes.
Realistically you'll have a blast regardless of what you have under one. If you are considering selling it later down the line make sure you get something like a half decent KLX 125 or XR 125 although they are more likely to be abused and not looked after.
The dt's have a good following and aren't always owned by youngsters so are likely to be in better condition for the same year unless its a project bike
2 strokes, as long as they are in good condition/fettle, are brilliant fun and very easy to start compared to the equivalent 4 strokes.
Realistically you'll have a blast regardless of what you have under one. If you are considering selling it later down the line make sure you get something like a half decent KLX 125 or XR 125 although they are more likely to be abused and not looked after.
The dt's have a good following and aren't always owned by youngsters so are likely to be in better condition for the same year unless its a project bike
Lord.Vader said:
I’ll be doing my cbt within the next 2 month depending on c-19.
I’m not sure I want anything more than a 125, a 125 isn’t much to buy and will tell me if I am interested or not (one of the other lads has a 125 / cbt only), a decent 250 is well double the cost and would require me paying the full £1/1.2k for my bike test.
Honda XLR
Yamaha XT125R
Will have a look at the DT125R, bit older though, are they electric start?
Yeah they'll be electric start at that age, older ones not so but one that new would be. I’m not sure I want anything more than a 125, a 125 isn’t much to buy and will tell me if I am interested or not (one of the other lads has a 125 / cbt only), a decent 250 is well double the cost and would require me paying the full £1/1.2k for my bike test.
Honda XLR
Yamaha XT125R
Will have a look at the DT125R, bit older though, are they electric start?
Edited by Lord.Vader on Wednesday 18th March 19:18
125 totally makes sense to start off with, if you don't like it you can probably bin it off for close to what you pay for it. Plus you can get a bit of experience which will help if you do decide to go for the full test, I only had a couple of hours training before my big test.
I had a quick look, majority of the off road kinda bikes seem to have SM wheels these days which kinda makes sense as they're used on the road most of the time. If you need more choice you could stick some off road wheels and tyres on them and flog the SM wheels/tyres.
If you intend to go laning then whatever you get, make sure it has an electric boot.
Trust me, green laning is knackering enough without having to kickstart your bike, however easy that may be, 20 times a session!!!
I did 2 years on a DT125RE and it handled green lanes just fine. I miss it tbh. Ring a ding ding!
Trust me, green laning is knackering enough without having to kickstart your bike, however easy that may be, 20 times a session!!!
I did 2 years on a DT125RE and it handled green lanes just fine. I miss it tbh. Ring a ding ding!
Well CBT obviously cancelled, so back to browsing for bikes, I have bought all the gear (bar boots), despite never having a go! 
So any other model suggestions? With tests being cancelled until further notice I don’t want to waste this summer gaining experience so will look to get a 125.
I want something that won’t just be a hindrance to everyone else and I don’t really want a 2 stroke.
Yamaha XT125R
Yamaha WR125R
Suzuki KLX125 (Bad Reviews)
Seem to be the only really CBT friendly options.
So any other model suggestions? With tests being cancelled until further notice I don’t want to waste this summer gaining experience so will look to get a 125.
I want something that won’t just be a hindrance to everyone else and I don’t really want a 2 stroke.
Yamaha XT125R
Yamaha WR125R
Suzuki KLX125 (Bad Reviews)
Seem to be the only really CBT friendly options.
Lord.Vader said:
Rather expensive at circa £5-7k for a 125!
Might just get my full licence, can get a 250-350 then.
What’s the best theory book, I have it booked for next month who knows whether it’ll go ahead but I want to be prepared.
I bought this DVD - does loads of interactive tests and has the latest version of the hazard perception tests too. I can't remember what I did with mine (although it'd be 18 months out of date) or I'd let you have it for nowt!Might just get my full licence, can get a 250-350 then.
What’s the best theory book, I have it booked for next month who knows whether it’ll go ahead but I want to be prepared.
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