First 125

[Dickens]

Hello everyone!
I am nearly 17 and have been riding a ped since I turned 16 and am set on getting a 125cc. I've been told by a mate to go for a rs125 but I hear that they aren't the most reliable of bikes. What are you're thoughts?
cheers, matt

[sunbear]

Depends on what you are using it for. They can be reliable if looked after properly. I found my old one a very good bike, but prefered the Cagiva Mito. If you are thinking of progressing to a proper sports bike, you wont go far wrong with a RS125 or a mito....just look after it !!!
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Bikes had : BMW F650, suzuki tr50, gt125, SV400, GSXR600 SRAD. Honda CBR900RRP, CBR600FX, CBR1000F, VT600, Transalp 600, mtx125, nsr125r, CB500T, Yamaha fy50, tzr125, tdr125, XV535, Diversion 600, Fazer 600, TDM850 MK1 & MK2, Majesty 400, XV 1100. Cagiva mito evolution, Aprilia rs125, Piaggio x9 125. DNA 125 . Suzuki Bandit 600, GZ125 Marauder, RF600 , RF900RS2, Kawasaki ZZR400, ZX6R Ninja, ZZR600 . Ducati 750 Sport . Triumph Tiger 955i. CURRENT : 2004 Kawasaki Z750 and LOVIN IT !

[Dalemac]

Hey dickens,

i have just turned 17, i thought about gettin an rs125 but they are a bugger to maintain and insurance is through the roof, hence i didnt go for one.

Go for a bike that is cheaper to insure, maybe a ybr 125, cg125 or en125, they are all pretty similar, you can pick a second hand one up quite cheaply and insurance is a hell of a lot lower than rs125, mito, nsr etc.

i can reccomend the ybr - i got mine on saturday, its a great little bike, has good style, unbelieveable fuel economy, and is reasonably fast - it will meet your requirements.

if i can help dont hesitate to ask

Dale
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[Rob-B]

If you are looking for a sports replica I hear NSR's are great and more reliable I think, but if you wanted something more practical a CG125 is your best bet

[Dalemac]

yeah, either a ybr125, cg125 or an en125 - they are all pretty much the same, slightly varied, but are different manufactures interpretations.
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[dew]

IMO go and test ride and narrow down your options based on how they feel/look etc. later you can check on reliability!

Cheers,
Dew
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Theory: 34/35, 64/75 Test: 23-Oct-06 PASSED (No minors)
Current: Ninja ZX- 6R Future: ???

[RS1Banger]

hi
well i just did my theory test
and i'm booking a crash cbt/practical test
i arent even gonna buy a 125
i'll just hire from the centre one for the days i need it

if i was gonna buy one,
it'd be a dt125 (used to have 1) or a similar machine
thye're fast enought to be fun, and they'll take crashes and winter weather as well as any bike can

i have heard that rs125s can do around 110mph, which is pretty impressive, but why waste loads of money on a mega dear 125 when you can pick up a t reg cbr6 for 1200 (a mate got one the other day), the rest of the money would be better spent on doing your test faster

thats what i'm doing, test as soon as poss, then get a bigger bike around 1000quid mark

[Dickens]

cool, nice one people, I'll have a look at those bikes. I want to do my A2 test yer but I can't because my parents won't let me get a bigger bike till I've driven a 125 for at least 6 months lol. My dad says that a 125 is quite fast enough at the moment. cheers again

[Stiffler]

[Dalemac]

i agree
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[Dickens]

[THCi]

Personally, though, I find his reasoning flawed. Mainly because 125's arnt good bikes, there are exceptions though. I'd have rather started off on a 500 and have gained shedloads more experience.

I wish I had of passed my A2 before I got a bike, instead of wasting a load of money on a 125. But thats just my thoughts.
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Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

[_Will_]

Hyosung Gt125

But try and convince your dad to let you take the test and get a 500
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[veeeffarr]

I'm glad I rode a 125 for a year, I felt like I had really accomplished something when I passed the test and swung my leg over my 500 for the first time.

[MRX Steve]

Take your A2 AND get a 125. You will be a better rider and safer rider, you wont have to have L plates, you will save money on insurance, save money as wont have to retake your CBT and can derestrict your 125 from 15bhp.
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Rieju MRX 50 Castrol Edition

[Dalemac]

125's are restricted? hod do you de restrict them?
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I would say if you can afford the running costs then go for a sports 125 2 stroke. Pass your test and use it for a bit longer.

While the 4 strokes are more reliable, there servicing is normally more often (oil needs changing more often) and if you do get them to go bang the bill will be higher.

RS and Mito both need lots of care. Change the piston rings fairly often. Easy enough job, just takes time. NSR engine wise is more reliable, but electrically seems more likely to leave you with an expensive ignition failure. RS and Mito are about the same performance wise, NSR a touch slower (when all derestricted).

As to derestriction. The 4 strokes are not restricted. No need as they can barely make enough power to reach the amount allowed for a learner. The 2 strokes are mainly restricted, naturally putting out 20~30hp (depending on model, year, etc). The methods they are restricted with vary. Often clamping the power valve in the low rev position, or a restriction in the exhaust.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Torque05]