Stuck between 2 bikes

[TheColourPink]

Hey guys im doing my CBT within the next couple of weeks and i cant decide between buying a Yamaha YBR125 Custom or a Honda CBF125. im a complete newbie at bikes so your guys opinions of which you think is better would be really great .

Thanks.

[Commuter_Tim]

If its a Recent CBF, don't bother, you have a considerable chance it will rust to shit in no time flat, worth the gamble?
Just search "CBF rust" on here.

I've been looking at an upgrade to my CG, and best option seems to be the YBR (to suit my needs and within my budget at least)
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[dydey90]

It's not rust, it's just flux!
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[Baffler186]

I would go for the YBR. Having owned a CBF, I think they are now going down the lines of Chinese bikes i.e. you need to keep them dry, and impeccably maintained to stand a good chance of them lasting. Having said that, I had no trouble with my 09 model, but lots of people weren't so lucky especially with the 2010 onwards models.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Rogerborg]

Funny choice between a YBR Custom or a CBF. Why not a standard YBR? More of them around.

[TheColourPink]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

YBR custom, it has a kickstart.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Rogerborg]

How old are you?

If 17 and you're planning to keep it for 2 years, fair enough. ACF-50 all over out of the showroom.

If you're 19+ don't waste your time on a tiddler. A2 or A license, try some bigger bikes, step back down to a 125 later if you want something for fun.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[TheColourPink]

[Rogerborg]

Then I'd strongly discourage you from buying any new bike as you'll get mashed by the depreciation on it.

At 21, the usual route (now) is:

CBT
[OPTIONALLY] Buy a cheap hack of a 125 and tool around for a bit
Motorcycle theory
Training on an "A2" test bike (395cc+, 25-35kW) via a training school
A2 module 1 test
A2 module 2 test
Buy yourself an appropriate A2 bike and wheelie off into the horizon.

It used to make more sense to buy a 125 because you could get a full license (eventually) by passing the tests on it yourself. That option no longer exists, so a 125 now makes sense only for:

Cheap commuting (often on eternal L plates).
Self-training while doing taught training on a bigger bike.
Riding the best bike you can have until you hit 19.
The lulz.

Anyway, see how you enjoy the CBT and take it from there.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[TheColourPink]

[Slacker24seve...]

[pig hog]

Take a DAS course for your A2 licence and go out and buy an A2 compatible bike.

[Rogerborg]

[rideslikean00...]

Haven't ridden the CBF but I can say my bought new YBR 2013 model has been a solid little workhorse for nearly six months now, it's got 7,500 on the clock and replacements to date are new tyres, new front brake pads and misc parts changed at intervals (spark plug, oil obviously, few other cheap bits) and apart from the chain/sprocket wearing out and needing a change soon as it's super high mileage and I rag it for my commute it's been great for learning on.

I will say the fucking gearbox is annoying though, has a habit of going into neutral when you don't want and not going in when you do, or worse requiring a couple of hard stomps to come out of neutral when trying to pull away at the lights. As I understand it this is a problem more common to 125s in general, however it might also be Yamaha who seem to have a reputation for notchy gearboxes.

Given the events over again, I wouldn't buy new and I wouldn't have wasted time on a 125. However, I needed something straight away and had almost zero money to buy a used bike outright, zero money for DAS so I was stuck. For anyone 25 and over, get on a big bike straight away before they make it even more of a ballache than it already is. Four tests when new drivers have two and waiting until 25 for bigger bikes? Way to penalise a minority...
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[TheColourPink]

[Ben90]

Good luck!

Also, once your pass your A2 test and two years have elapsed you can do your A license (unrestricted), probably at minimal cost as well because there isn't a world of difference between a A2 bike and an A test bike = minimal training, provided you haven't picked up any bad habits.

Not as big a benefit to you over somebody who is 19, but at least you can get a full license a year earlier than if you never did your A2 (24)
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Yamaha FZ6 S2