Advice for post CBT 125 for commuting 26yr old/6ft/88kg

[tnorthy92]

Hi all,

Moving from Birmingham out to Norwich in the near future to start a new job. Never needed a car or bike before (though passed car in 2010). Passed CBT a few weeks ago, primarily to see if I like being on a bike more than anything/interesting skill to have (to some small degree). Thinking of getting a 125 for practise before doing full test next year, can't afford DAS until I've been in job a few months anyway.

Need some advice on a suitable commuter for a 20 mile run from Norwich to Cromer. This being Norfolk, avoiding motorways while on CBT isn't an issue... Mud on road might be!
Personal spec:

6ft, ~88kg

Any advice appreciated. Looking to spend ~£2500-3500 on bike and kit, not incl insurance or tax.
I had a quick look around and the Honda Varadero looks like it might be a good fit. Thoughts?

Cheers

Edited by tnorthy92 on Wednesday 27th June 21:31

Edited by tnorthy92 on Wednesday 27th June 21:38

[Donbot]

Varadero would be the best option for your size and weight.

Failing that any full power (15 bhp normally liquid cooled bike).

The cheaper air cooled stuff is normally around 10-11bhp, and the power makes a big difference when considering bikes of this type.

ETA a smaller bike doesn't necessarily mean that it will be uncomfortable. My YBR125 is a small bike, but I still find it just as comfortable as my bigger bikes.

Edited by Donbot on Wednesday 27th June 21:44

[LiamB]

Varadero is a good shout and you'll pretty much get your money back once you're done with it, they're 125 V-twins rather than the usual single cylinder 125s so it should be comfortable to commute on.

[tnorthy92]

Great to know I've been looking in the right area at least!
Cheers

[Weso]

I live in Norwich, the road from Norwich to Cromer is a rubbish A road with loads of speed limited areas ranging from 30 to 50 with some nsl bits.
The suggestions of a varadero sound about Right, comfy apparently and slightly more likely to be able to get up to 60 and maintain it into a head wind/up a slight incline.
Wes

[Harry H]

Another advantage of a Honda Varado is if you buy right you can ride it around for a year and hardly loose a penny in depreciation.

[catso]

Harry H said:

Another advantage of a Honda Varado is if you buy right you can ride it around for a year and hardly loose a penny in depreciation.

The same goes for a YBR125. I bought one for my Son, he rode it everyday for 2 years, dropped it a couple of times too and when we sold it we got £40 less than we paid for it.

Wasn't the most dynamic ride though so a Varadero may well be a better bike to ride?

[nunpuncher]

I'm the same height and weight as you OP. I had a sit on a Varadero recently as the guying doing DAS with me has one (he's 6ft 2). Felt a perfect size and looks like a lot more bike than the usual 125. The instructor had me on a YBR125 when I did the first day of training it was fine in terms of height it felt a bit cramped for reach. The throttle was also like an on off switch and the front brake was brutal but I guess that could just have been that bike.

[Bumblebee7]

I'm now 27 (26 when I first bought the bike), 87kg and 6' 2. Bought a Honda CB125F brand new and very happy with it. Ridiculously economical (consistently 110mpg + spending most of its life on or near the red line). Size wise it's great and very comfortable. I prefer the more upright position to some of the more sports bike style bikes and I do not get tired even if doing a few hours of riding. I bought mine on the 1.9% finance deal direct from Honda and pay around £80 a month for it and I only put down a £100 deposit. Make sure you get a nice lid, I bought a Shoei GT Air and I'm really glad as it's super comfy even if wearing it most of the day. Good luck with whatever you choose!

[TheInternet]

Donbot said:

Failing that any full power (15 bhp normally liquid cooled bike).

The cheaper air cooled stuff is normally around 10-11bhp, and the power makes a big difference when considering bikes of this type.

Having 'compared' my rubbish 125 with many others I've yet to find a geared 125 which is appreciably different in acceleration. Presumably the power makes for slightly higher top speeds, albeit still slow in the grand scheme of things.

[tnorthy92]

Ok. Good to know. I had also looked at CBF125 or YBR125

[Bumblebee7]

tnorthy92 said:

Ok. Good to know. I had also looked at CBF125 or YBR125

I don't think the CBF125 is as well regarded. It was produced in India and I think it suffered some issues hence the production run was short. The CB125F is produced in China, and I can't speak for others but I've had no issues with mine so far. I've now done about 3200 miles on it. I chose the Honda as for me (in London) there is literally a Honda bike dealer around every corner so it made more sense than buying a slightly more expensive Yamaha from a lesser known dealer. Also, finance on brand new bikes can be so good (eg. my 1.9% APR) that it actually makes it cheaper than buying second hand. And that's not even accounting for things like tyre and brake wear & tear, other consumables as well as future resale value and warranty remaining.

[MajorMajor76]

I had a Varadero 125 for two and a half years before getting around to doing DAS which is testament to its usability, I think, i.e. I didn't feel huge pressure to move up to a quicker bike for ages. I'm about the same size and shape as you and I loved it. That was mostly in London, though. I then started doing a similar commute to the one you're suggesting after I moved up north and eventually felt I needed more go on the DCs etc.

They're normal bike sized unlike a lot of the other 125s, so comfy for 6 footers, and have decent handling due to normal bike sized tyres and suspension. I had loads of people ask me why it had L-plates on as it clearly 'wasn't a 125'. They make quite a nice noise too, being a V twin, and will easily do 70. They'll do 80 at a push but you need along run up (indicated, obviously)

The main downside is fuel economy, I got about 75mpg tops out of mine whereas most other 125s will do over 100. I took mine from 20k to just under 40k and sold it for only £300 less than I paid for it. The later fuel injected model (post 2007/8 from memory) is the one to go for.

[Donbot]

TheInternet said:

Donbot said:

Failing that any full power (15 bhp normally liquid cooled bike).

The cheaper air cooled stuff is normally around 10-11bhp, and the power makes a big difference when considering bikes of this type.

Having 'compared' my rubbish 125 with many others I've yet to find a geared 125 which is appreciably different in acceleration. Presumably the power makes for slightly higher top speeds, albeit still slow in the grand scheme of things.

Yeah, they're all dog **** slow to accelerate. But the power is the difference between struggling to 60 (my YBR) and comfortably doing 70. It makes a big difference on the faster roads.

Not that it makes those types of bike unusable for faster roads. I've ridden a Honda C90 down the M1, and that was sort of ok.

[tnorthy92]

Ok. Thanks all :-)

[Cbull]

Personally I quite like the looks of the Yamaha MT-125 (new is about £4300). I'd say that'd look OK for someone like yourself. My son has the KTM Duke 125 and when I've jumped on for a little blast it does feel quite small but I'm not sure how much of a heffalump I actually look on it.

Another option would be something like the below. Quoting myself here from another thread...
"Just seen this deal on North West Honda Blackpool FB page that might of interest to someone. Not sure what's a good or bad deal with PCP but it does appear to be alright...

New Honda CB650F plus Full A1 or A2 licence/DAS included for £89 deposit then £89pm at 0% Apr for 37 months."

Other than that it's another +1 for the Honda CB125F. Even then, if can stretch for a new CB125R that'd be ideal because they look fantastic imo and they really do look like a 600cc bike in person.

[tnorthy92]

The final thought is attractiveness to theft. While Cromer is hardly a crime hotbed, it'll be being parked on the street or on a driveway on rented property, so can't stick an anchor in anywhere. Was thinking of getting a cover, disc lock and a chain of some sort to take to work with me. I think I prefer the looks of the YBR over the CBF (such as they are)

[mad4amanda]

can get a brand new cb125f with 0% finance for £2499?
2 years warranty and roadside assistance too

https://www.maidstonehonda.co.uk/honda/honda-offer...

cheapest 125cc commuter deals I've ever seen

[CallorFold]

GF and I recently did our CBT and were able to pick up a 65-plate CB125F with only ~3000 miles for £1200.

I'm 6'2, 88kg and 27 so near identical on paper to yourself and the bike fits great, much better than the Yamaha 125 we had to use for the CBT - that thing felt like me knees were up around my shoulders.

Fuel is great, peanuts compared to the car. Commuting saves a shed load of time (bus lane + filtering). Bike is nice and light and easy to manoeuvre about. It gets off the lights fairly briskly but with my size on it struggles after about 50mph. It'll just about do 60 with some space and a bit of a tuck. Don't really have anything to compare it with but it seems pretty forgiving and good to learn the ropes on.

A couple of weeks in now and I'm already pining for more. Theory booked in August and expecting to do the DAS in October.