Can you have fun on a 125cc bike?

[Beemer-5]

I had a go yesterday on an Aprilia RS125 and i was amazed at how much fun it was and how fast it felt, for a bike with an engine capacity no bigger than half a coffee cup!
It felt faster than it really was, i guess, because of the 9,500 rpm-everywhere motor, but it was actually great to ride a bike 10-tenths and know you won't be going to jail!
It's not even a new bike, it's a 2004, nursed up to a very impressive 38 bhp by it's owner and a tuner in Kent.
I don't think i've ever known a road 125 which will do 100 mph, with a gear to go! (About 110 mph top speed, brilliant for a 125cc bike imo).

[y2blade]

i can have fun on ANY size bike

[mitzy1968]

I have a sachs 125, my first bike, and I have a great time on it

Apart from the side stand (see other post)

It looks great, rides well, has a rather long tank but is getting me ready for my next step up after DAS, which will be at the moment a GSXR 400.

But agree any bike is fun, and the people that ride them are too!

Edited by mitzy1968 on Wednesday 6th February 09:54

[JackHolroyde]

The hyosung was really stable on the twisties.
Got my first kneedown on it.
The Sachs XTC is an absolute HOOT!

[sprinter885]

Luigi Taveri's 5 pot 125 Honda or Bill Ivy's Yam

[catso]

I know what you mean, I had an RS125 for a couple of days a few years back (as a courtesy bike whilst my 916 was in for service).

Whilst obviously way down on power to what I'm used to, it was great fun, except when pulling out to overtake a truck at 50-60mph and there being very little go (although me being 15st mass didn't help ) but a blast being able to give it full throttle anywhere without highsiding/getting arrested, I think I'd get bored quickly though as I do like a torquey midrange.

[sjtscott]

I know its got double the cc but for me the smaller lightest bike I've ridden and had most fun on was my mates old RGV250. Wasn't that slow when you gave it death everywhere handled and stopped like a dream. I remember thrapping it flat out through the gears in Milton Keynes and thinking wow I'm playing GP racers here given the 2 stroke sound! I also loved the lack of engine braking the 2 stroke gave for downchanges too.

[Beemer-5]

catso said:

I know what you mean, I had an RS125 for a couple of days a few years back (as a courtesy bike whilst my 916 was in for service).

Whilst obviously way down on power to what I'm used to, it was great fun, except when pulling out to overtake a truck at 50-60mph and there being very little go (although me being 15st mass didn't help ) but a blast being able to give it full throttle anywhere without highsiding/getting arrested, I think I'd get bored quickly though as I do like a torquey midrange.

This thing had 38 bhp, so had a fair bit more than a stocker.
It would pull hard until about 90 mph.

[Beemer-5]

sjtscott said:

I know its got double the cc but for me the smaller lightest bike I've ridden and had most fun on was my mates old RGV250. Wasn't that slow when you gave it death everywhere handled and stopped like a dream. I remember thrapping it flat out through the gears in Milton Keynes and thinking wow I'm playing GP racers here given the 2 stroke sound! I also loved the lack of engine braking the 2 stroke gave for downchanges too.

I agree about the lack of weight.
My Husky had 67 grunty bhp, pulled well from just off idle and weighed the same as a Cagiva Mito 125!!!

[catso]

Beemer-5 said:

catso said:

I know what you mean, I had an RS125 for a couple of days a few years back (as a courtesy bike whilst my 916 was in for service).

Whilst obviously way down on power to what I'm used to, it was great fun, except when pulling out to overtake a truck at 50-60mph and there being very little go (although me being 15st mass didn't help ) but a blast being able to give it full throttle anywhere without highsiding/getting arrested, I think I'd get bored quickly though as I do like a torquey midrange.

This thing had 38 bhp, so had a fair bit more than a stocker.
It would pull hard until about 90 mph.

No idea how much power this one had but I got an indicated 100mph on the clock (private test track of course) the shop told me it would do around 110 but I think it'd need time (and probably a smaller jockey) to get there.

Also they told me not to ride it until the engine had reached a certain temp on the gauge, due to it seizing up if revved from cold?

I would reckon the 250 is a riot.....

[y2blade]

catso said:

Beemer-5 said:

catso said:

I know what you mean, I had an RS125 for a couple of days a few years back (as a courtesy bike whilst my 916 was in for service).

Whilst obviously way down on power to what I'm used to, it was great fun, except when pulling out to overtake a truck at 50-60mph and there being very little go (although me being 15st mass didn't help ) but a blast being able to give it full throttle anywhere without highsiding/getting arrested, I think I'd get bored quickly though as I do like a torquey midrange.

This thing had 38 bhp, so had a fair bit more than a stocker.
It would pull hard until about 90 mph.

No idea how much power this one had but I got an indicated 100mph on the clock (private test track of course) the shop told me it would do around 110 but I think it'd need time (and probably a smaller jockey) to get there.

Also they told me not to ride it until the engine had reached a certain temp on the gauge, due to it seizing up if revved from cold?

I would reckon the 250 is a riot.....

my mate had a RG125 that would do an indicated 100mph

[Beemer-5]

None of the std 125s would do a true 100 mph.
The speeds i quoted, were calculated from gearing and a genuine 110 mph is exceptional for a road 125, as was the 38 bhp dyno figure.

Catso, the Aprilia RS250 is a hoot. I had a tuned one for a year or more, back in 2000-2001.

Edited by Beemer-5 on Wednesday 6th February 16:59

[EvoBarry]

Back in the day I had an RD125LC and a DT125R, both hilarious fun at the time. I did prefer the KMX200 I had after that though, the extra "grunt" was welcome.

Hell, I've had fun on the 200cc scooter I use for work :P

[Rubin215]

Slightly different take on 125cc's but is anyone else excited about Bradley Smith doing so well in the pre-season testing?

After last season when we continually had four or five different riders fighting for podiums (and not some runaway Aussie doing a Doohan) I'm all up for this year.

125's boring? Nyaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!

[G Man]

Bikes are the polar opposite of women, you have fun on both but the larger capacity the bike the better, with women the opposite, you would prefer a stripped down racing model against a big unit so you get more feel

[Beemer-5]

Big lungs are nice though.



Bikes, i mean!

[catso]

G Man said:

Bikes are the polar opposite of women, you have fun on both but the larger capacity the bike the better, with women the opposite, you would prefer a stripped down racing model against a big unit so you get more feel

And if it doesn't come with all the bits as standard, there's always the aftermarket.

[G Man]

catso said:

G Man said:

Bikes are the polar opposite of women, you have fun on both but the larger capacity the bike the better, with women the opposite, you would prefer a stripped down racing model against a big unit so you get more feel

And if it doesn't come with all the bits as standard, there's always the aftermarket.

True but the engine is key do you want a high revving unit or a 1 cylinder old banger ( definately better for beginners to learn the trade on )

[jvaughan]

I miss my old DT-125 .. not a lot of power, but good fun off road

[texasjohn]

Yes you can have great fun on a 125, I certainly did, light chuckable bikes, 10/10ths everywhere, L plates off and gone up the motorway for a vmax run (only did it the once though, honest!), those were the days...