125s any good for regular 60mph riding?
Discussion
Hello.
I'm new to the forum and bikes in general
I wondered if anyone could give me some advice.
I ride a 125cc motorbike to work at least I did until the engine blew.
this is the second engine now and I'm getting pretty pee'd off.
it was a honda CBR125r so from my research was a honda so meant to be bomb proof and being a bit sportier I thought could handle a bit higher speeds.
(I understand its a 125 so not that fast).
My commute is mainly A roads at 60 - 65mpg with a bit of city or country either end.
The A road is littered with traffic lights and round abouts so its only at 60 for maybe 5 mins tops.
I drive I would say conservatively. I never went in the red. If I'm honest the highest rev's I go to were 8500 the engine never sounded like it was struggling (red line was 10,000). I used to just keep it at about 7500 - 8000 and that would see me do 60 - 65 mpg.
my question is.
Can 125s do this journey regularly?, have a I just been unlucky. I did make sure I looked after the second engine - chain check, oil check, clean, oil chain etc.
125s for my commute to me make sense - they are cheap to run, great mpgs, no need to do full bike test.
but
if they're not designed for this kind of riding then I will get a bigger bike.
I've asked on facebook groups and it all seems a bit mixed. no one has a real answer. everyone just says how they've thrashed their 125 for years and its fine. I find it hard to believe at the minute on the evidence of my 2 engines.
getting a bike has made my commute so much better. I can't bare to go back to a 2hour car journey or hang round for crappy trains.
Your advice it much appreciated.
Thanks
Mike
I'm new to the forum and bikes in general
I wondered if anyone could give me some advice.
I ride a 125cc motorbike to work at least I did until the engine blew.
this is the second engine now and I'm getting pretty pee'd off.
it was a honda CBR125r so from my research was a honda so meant to be bomb proof and being a bit sportier I thought could handle a bit higher speeds.
(I understand its a 125 so not that fast).
My commute is mainly A roads at 60 - 65mpg with a bit of city or country either end.
The A road is littered with traffic lights and round abouts so its only at 60 for maybe 5 mins tops.
I drive I would say conservatively. I never went in the red. If I'm honest the highest rev's I go to were 8500 the engine never sounded like it was struggling (red line was 10,000). I used to just keep it at about 7500 - 8000 and that would see me do 60 - 65 mpg.
my question is.
Can 125s do this journey regularly?, have a I just been unlucky. I did make sure I looked after the second engine - chain check, oil check, clean, oil chain etc.
125s for my commute to me make sense - they are cheap to run, great mpgs, no need to do full bike test.
but
if they're not designed for this kind of riding then I will get a bigger bike.
I've asked on facebook groups and it all seems a bit mixed. no one has a real answer. everyone just says how they've thrashed their 125 for years and its fine. I find it hard to believe at the minute on the evidence of my 2 engines.
getting a bike has made my commute so much better. I can't bare to go back to a 2hour car journey or hang round for crappy trains.
Your advice it much appreciated.
Thanks
Mike
I think it would be fine - my 1st bike was a 1996 CG125, bought it with 48k on it and ran up & down the A2 15 miles each way into London everyday for a year thrashing it, no problems - just keep on top of the oil changes, keep it nice & fresh and should be fine, I think they only hold around 1 litre, my CG didn't even have an oil filter just a metal gauze thing that I cleaned any crap off.
If you have a license to ride a bigger bike get one, even a 250 or 300 will be a lot less stressed, a 125 4 stroke should cope fine with your commute though, even if it was flat out all day, have you missed some underlying problem when the engine was changed? as I'd expect it to be very reliable being a Honda engine and not some chinese rubbish.
My CBR125R was perfectly fine - even hit an indicated 80mph!
Could maintain 60ish without any bother and I'm 18 stone....on a good day!
How often are you servicing the bike? - The official service intervals are pretty short so if not done on time that's unlikely to help engine longevity. Mine (bout as a write off at 4k miles) did another 12k in 18 months and didn't miss a beat.
Could maintain 60ish without any bother and I'm 18 stone....on a good day!
How often are you servicing the bike? - The official service intervals are pretty short so if not done on time that's unlikely to help engine longevity. Mine (bout as a write off at 4k miles) did another 12k in 18 months and didn't miss a beat.
If you have the licence for a bigger bike I'd definitely get one over a 125. I wouldn't be comfortable doing those kind of speeds regularly without at least a bit more power.
That said, they should be able to tolerate that kind of running, but I suppose it's all down to what previous owners have done to them.
That said, they should be able to tolerate that kind of running, but I suppose it's all down to what previous owners have done to them.
Thanks for the replies.
The commute is 25 miles each way by the way so on a good week 250 miles but sometimes I'd only use 2 or 3 times.
I was planning to service it every 2000 miles as per guidelines but I didn't even get to that on the 1st or 2nd engines.
I had the first one serviced as soon as I bought it as 10000 miles then it went - was leaking oil from the overflow - as I was new to bikes I wasn't checking the oil regularly enough so it ran dry and after discussions thought it was best to replace it. it was still running ok at the time and keeping 60+mph and 100mpg.
second engine I did 1800 miles in it. checked oil regularly and chain tension and oil - the engine went as driving - a jerking feeling, difficult to shift gear and shooting out oil whilst engine was running.
just heard back from the garage - a ball bearing has come from somewhere and shot out of the main engine casing. not sure where yet but thinks clutch.
He's going to have a look further at it.
will know more detail soon.
The commute is 25 miles each way by the way so on a good week 250 miles but sometimes I'd only use 2 or 3 times.
I was planning to service it every 2000 miles as per guidelines but I didn't even get to that on the 1st or 2nd engines.
I had the first one serviced as soon as I bought it as 10000 miles then it went - was leaking oil from the overflow - as I was new to bikes I wasn't checking the oil regularly enough so it ran dry and after discussions thought it was best to replace it. it was still running ok at the time and keeping 60+mph and 100mpg.
second engine I did 1800 miles in it. checked oil regularly and chain tension and oil - the engine went as driving - a jerking feeling, difficult to shift gear and shooting out oil whilst engine was running.
just heard back from the garage - a ball bearing has come from somewhere and shot out of the main engine casing. not sure where yet but thinks clutch.
He's going to have a look further at it.
will know more detail soon.
HustleRussell said:
What was the mode of failure of the engine? same thing both times? was the engine repaired or replaced? Who repaired it / where was the replacement sourced?
You are unlucky to have one engine go, but two?
engine as replaced from a breakers synetiq - fortunately I got 6 months warranty on it so I should be covered. You are unlucky to have one engine go, but two?
mike33445566 said:
HustleRussell said:
What was the mode of failure of the engine? same thing both times? was the engine repaired or replaced? Who repaired it / where was the replacement sourced?
You are unlucky to have one engine go, but two?
engine as replaced from a breakers synetiq - fortunately I got 6 months warranty on it so I should be covered. You are unlucky to have one engine go, but two?
kiethton said:
If its a warranty from a breaker or an engine which you sourced yourself I wouldn't hold much hope tbh. Odds on they'll say it was either a fitting error, maintenance issue, or ancillary part failure that killed the engine they supplied.
I hope not. I've already contacted them and they said get it assessed bring it back if its knackered and we'll refund it.
Fingers crossed.
I had a brand new CBR 125R when they first came out, and I used to thrash the absolute tits off it, 24 miles a day, 5 days a week for two years. I got an indicated 85mph on it once. No doubt highly optimistic.
It got maintained on schedule at the main dealer and it never went wrong. With a 2nd hand model though you just don't know how it was mistreated before you got it.
It got maintained on schedule at the main dealer and it never went wrong. With a 2nd hand model though you just don't know how it was mistreated before you got it.
my Honda Grom tops out at 60mph but seems to stand up to being hammered all the time - small aircooled single that is piss easy to service (cheap chain with quick link, valve clearances = 2 inspection covers, oil change, one spark plug etc)
- its possible but would be better / easier / safer on a bigger cc bike
- its possible but would be better / easier / safer on a bigger cc bike
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