First bike

[ChrisG89]

Hey,

I've wanted to do my bike licence for a while now and I'm taking my CBT next week, because of issues at work I'm not going to do my Mod1 and 2 for a short while, so thinking of getting a 125cc to gain some experience until then.

I love the look of cafe racers, so looking to get something in that sort of style.

I've seen a few Honda CG125 on eBay, but these are all quite old bikes, so wondering whether I'm better getting an older Honda CG125 or something modern from a brand i've never heard off (doesn't mean you guys haven't as I'm a complete newbie to bikes!)

These are a few of the type of bikes I'm talking about:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2017-BULLIT-SPIRIT-125c...f:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brixton-BX-125-Cafe-Rac...f:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brixton-Scrambler-125cc...f:0

Vs. some of the Honda's I've seen and like:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CG125-Custom-Mint...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Cg125-Custom-cafe...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CG125-Cafe-Racer-...


I've literally no clue about motorbikes, so what sort of differences am I looking at? I can see most of the older Honda's don't have disc brakes, so guessing stopping power is no where near modern standards?

Any advice is appreciated,

Thanks

[Krikkit]

I'd get the Honda every time.

[Biker 1]

Krikkit said:

I'd get the Honda every time.

+1
No brainer.....

[dibblecorse]

Biker 1 said:

Krikkit said:

I'd get the Honda every time.

+1
No brainer.....

Yep, there is a reason that although older they hold their value, they are built right and have been for years... what these two above said is really your answer and I suspect they typed those responses without even opening the links .....

[WinstonR]

What's your budget, what's the intended main use of the bike and how long do you plan on keeping it for?

If it's out of the 2 bikes you have listed then everyone will recommend the Honda and for good reason.

If you have a slightly larger budget, plan on keeping the bike for a while and the main purpose is to look cool then I would recommend the Fantic Caballero.

[boyse7en]

The Brixton and Bullit brands are both Chinese made bikes but are British brands - the UK brand designs a custom-looking bike around a standard frame/engine/drivetrain.
There are quite a few doing this - Mutt and Herald are another two similar brands, and Lexmoto is doing some bikes now as well as its core scooter range.

Chinese bikes still suffer from a perception of poor quality due to being crap in the past, but standards have improved massively over the past ten years as has spares availability. The engines on these bikes are nearly all 'copies' of Suzuki or Honda engines (and given that all the major Jap brands get their 125 machines made in China I'm not sure how much of a copy they are vs being exactly the same engines)

Personally I wouldn't be concerned about buying a Chinese bike these days. The resale value of a Brixton or Bullit is likely to be lower in the future, but you have the advantages of more modern braking and lower emissions.

[Krikkit]

boyse7en said:

The engines on these bikes are nearly all 'copies' of Suzuki or Honda engines (and given that all the major Jap brands get their 125 machines made in China I'm not sure how much of a copy they are vs being exactly the same engines)

The difference is that the Suzuki/Honda versions require a particular metal purity etc which is often skimped on when reproducing, they also sometimes skip a finishing step which can lead to issues later in life.

To be honest when you can comfortably get a decent Honda for the same money why would you bother buying the cheap knock-off? I know they're getting better, but they're still lower quality from what I've seen.

[MotorsportTom]

I appreciate it is your first bike and you want it to look good while riding but realistically, it is still just a slow so is it worth paying like your top link for the CG, £1700??

I bought my 2005 CG125 with genuine 10k miles and full service history, for £450. It's been through two MOT's with no advisories and I am sure I could modify it for well under £500 and still come out with something looking half decent.

Or, smoke around on the standard bike and keep the change towards your test or your bigger bike if/when you come to it.



In Lichtenstein looking over towards Switzerland, only mods are different bars, handguards, a topbox and a waster-poof USB charging port.

[CousinDupree]

Stick to the Honda, as above.

Don't spend too much as you'll want to upgrade it as soon as you have the right category on your license.

[jonindorset]

Buy a good, solid, dependable Japanese 125 for the right price and you'll get at least almost all of your money back when you come to sell. Providing you can afford it to begin with, it will almost certainly work out the cheapest option.

I bought a nearly new but higher miles PCX 125 cheaply when I first needed a bike for commuting (don't ask!) realised I needed a full license and a proper bike after about 3 months, put quite a few commuting miles on it and sold it for just £50 less than I bought it for to the first person who came to look.

[ChrisG89]

Rather than wanting to look good whilst riding, I want to buy a bike I'll look at and know exactly why i bought it. I do the same every time I look at my 964. Great to drive, and I love just looking at it.


As for budget, £2k is the budget really. I want to use it around town, for a small 3 mile commute. I know I'll get bored pretty soon, but I want to get used to riding whilst my work situation gets resolved and a big powerful bike isn't needed for getting used to riding imo. So resale is important. But so is how the bike rides, I want something I'm going to enjoy riding, I like driving old cars, but I know someone new to driving may not, so wondering if its the same on bikes?

[Krikkit]

I did some of my lessons on a CG before doing the DAS and it rode fine. Compared to a big bike it felt cheap, but in a thrifty way rather than them skimping on anything serious.

One thing I would say is that you might want to keep it for your commute and have a big bike for fun in future. Depends if you have room to keep them of course.

[jonindorset]

Unfortunately, just about all 125s are built down to a price including most of the Japanese bikes. The levers, gear selector and switch gear all feel very cheap and the gutless engines and generally skinny tyres don't feel very reassuring. When you first get on a half decent 600 it's a revelation.

It might be worth trying some of the newer generation 125s like the Yamaha R125 and MT125, KTM 125 Duke and the equivalent new Suzuki's but you'll find the 600+ bikes so much better value.

Best to suck it and see on something like a secondhand Honda CBF or CB 125 or Yamaha YBR125 before doing DAS and just getting a proper bike without the Ls too in my opinion.

[CousinDupree]

That's cool, I waited ages to buy the 993 I wanted. I also thought I'd keep a 125 for a good while after passing my test. That lasted less than a week..

A four stroke 125 is like a 2CV with a misfire. 2k can buy something with bucket loads of character, that will make a 964 feel like the handbrake is stuck on.

[Patrick Star]

ChrisG89 said:

Rather than wanting to look good whilst riding, I want to buy a bike I'll look at and know exactly why i bought it. I do the same every time I look at my 964. Great to drive, and I love just looking at it.


As for budget, £2k is the budget really. I want to use it around town, for a small 3 mile commute. I know I'll get bored pretty soon, but I want to get used to riding whilst my work situation gets resolved and a big powerful bike isn't needed for getting used to riding imo. So resale is important. But so is how the bike rides, I want something I'm going to enjoy riding, I like driving old cars, but I know someone new to driving may not, so wondering if its the same on bikes?

KTM Duke was my 125.Nippy around town,handled well,good on country roads up to 50mph and looked like a real bike.




(did I mention its up for sale?)

[Kizmiaz]

Why the flip do people keep saying the quality of Chinese bikes is ok? DO NOT BUY ONE. They are all crap.

[SteelerSE]

The other options is just get a more modern Honda. The CG125 is practically unkillable but had soft suspension and a very average brake and light set-up.

Try the newer CBF125 which is a much more modern motorcycle, looks better and has decent brakes etc.

https://www.motorcycletrading.co.uk/used-honda-cbf...

Well under £2000 for a tidy one from a dealer. And 0% from Honda for a new one at the moment:

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/125cc/cb...

[Krikkit]

SteelerSE said:

Well under £2000 for a tidy one from a dealer. And 0% from Honda for a new one at the moment:

https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/range/125cc/cb...

That is a bargain, £63!

[DuckSauce]

When will you do your mod 1 and 2, if it is just a short while, I wouldn't waste your money on a 125cc and just hold out for your first "big" bike

[black-k1]

DuckSauce said:

When will you do your mod 1 and 2, if it is just a short while, I wouldn't waste your money on a 125cc and just hold out for your first "big" bike

This!

There really is nothing exciting/interesting/fun about commuting on a 125 regardless of the bike. The only time there is any excitement is the day of your CBT when it’s the first time you’re released “into the wild” on your own on a motorbike.

Even on a short commute, you’ll quickly find times when being able to out accelerate other traffic (or even a tortoise with a wooden leg!) would not only be more fun but would also make your ride safer. Pass your test quickly then get a larger bike.