What do you prefer, a Honda CBR125R or an Aprilia RS125?

[M4RK]

Hey,

I'm 18, 6"2 and looking into buying a 125cc sportsbike.

Out of the Honda and Aprilla, what one do you prefer?

Thank you,

[SoND]

Aprilia is faster and needs more maintainance (pistons, rebuilds etc), CBR tops out at around 65mph (speedo is inaccurate for anyone who says it does 80)

[McGee]

Seriously stop with the all caps titles.
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[colin1]

rs125 all the way, cbr125 is a cg125 in fancy clothers but not quite as good as a cg125
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[SoND]

It's better but more overpriced.

[colin1]

but rs125's are older, so you can get one second hand for not much money
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[DogHeadGod]

RS125!

As mentioned, it needs more care than a CBR125. It also needs fully synthetic 2 stoke oil at around £14 a litre.

I've had mine a year now and it still puts a grin on my face every time I ride it.

In terms of cost, I've had to pay £150 for a rear tyre when I got a nail through the side wall. I was also a £160ish to have a problem fixed as it wasn't revving above 5000rpm due to oil residue clogging up the exhaust.

I was 25 when I bought it and my insurance was £750. The renewal quote for this year was £450. Road tax was £15 and an MOT £27.

If you've never ridden a 2stroke before it takes a bit of getting used to. It needs much higher revs and a fair amount of slipping the clutch to pull away, but that is just the nature of the bike. I fouled a few spark plugs before I finally got used to it.

It needs warmed up before you start razzing it. There are different thoughts on the matter, but I always let it get fully up to temp (69C) before it turns a wheel which takes around 5-10 minutes.

My decision to buy it was mostly based on its size, a CBR125 looks like a pushbike in my opinion. The RS-125 has wider tyres which gave me more confidence in leaning it over.

I've just bought a ZX6R, which it will be traded in against when it comes back from its service. I paid £2500 for an 04 plate a year ago (almost to the day), and the dealer (without seeing it yet) has offered £1500 as trade in value.

To summarise... its a GREAT bike, which can be a little temperamental but is well worth the extra effort.

[hmmmnz]

being as tall as you are i would be looking at a dirt bike style bike, a dt125 or a tdr125 ect ect. all these little 125 road bikes are a joke.
although if i had to have one it would be a rs125 or nsr125
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[ms51ves3]

Yamaha YZF125R

[G]

[MattEMulsion]

Aprilia RS125 gets my vote.
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[apple tango]

Do not get the CBR125.

You will look like a giant sat on a childs push bike.
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CBR125 -> Bandit GSF600 '99 -> SV650 02

[fourten]

Depends on what you will be using bike for and whether you will put the effort into maintaining (and paying!)

CBR125
Good times: Great commuter bike, low maintenance (therefore less costs), great economy on fuel
bad times: looks like a bicycle, slow

RS125
Good times: great fun, looks better
bad times: more maintenance (more costs), finding one that is in tip top condition

Basically- i have a CBR125 and do a 40 mile commute every weekday, therefore, my choice is perfect for what i need it for. Plus i know jack sh!t about maintaining bikes (although slowly learning).

If i had more time and money, i would have DEFINITELY went for an RS or Mito as I would be very willing to learn and spend time on maintaining an older 2-stroke.... I have the best of both worlds as other half has a NSR125 and i get to fiddle around with that at weekends!
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[Slim1664]

Yeah you will look like a giraffe ridding an ant on a cbr. I'm 26 and 6"2 and looked at a cbr but no chance. to skinny.
I got the YZF R125 and its great. Only very slightly smaller than an R6. Parked next to my mates rs125 and is about the same size.
Like every one is saying depends if you want speed (relative speed ) or reliability and cheap running costs.

Consider the YZF if you buying new. £500 more than the cbr but worth it. Cost about a grand less than my mates RS ( New Spains No. 1).
One more thing, when you start up the YZF it dosent sound like my FG remote controll car.
And with the RS if you buying 2nd hand try and get one still restricted so at least you have some clue as to how its been treated.
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1ST bike-08 YZF R125 in midnight blue. (sold)
2ND bike-02 GSXR 600 K1 in blue white. (sold)
3RD bike-06/7 plate YZF R1 `Raven`. (current)

[AJI]

"WHAT DO YOU PREFER, A HONDA CBR125R OR AN APRILLA RS125?"

I didn't realise those were the only two 125 sports bike options available on the market...

Expand your horizons: Aprilia RS125, Cagiva Mito, Derbi GPR125, Gilera SC125, Honda CBR125R, Honda NSR125, Hyosung GT125R, Rieju RS2 Matrix 125, Sachs XTC125 (2t/4t), Suzuki RG125, Yamaha TZR125, Yamaha YZF-R125

Just a small list there, both new and second hand. Why does everyone only ever compare the CBR and RS, which are probably as far apart on the sports 125 spectrum as it's possible to get?...
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[fourten]

AJI's post: very true...

Try one of my old posts for an even bigger list:
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=135191&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
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[neatbik]

Go for the rs125 mate, its literally a 125 sportsbike as opposed to a vaguelly tarted up cg125.
Just look after it, love it, cherish it, otherwise it will let you down again and again

[MetalheadA7X]

I currently asked myself this same question.

I have decided to go for a CBR125R over the RS125 for one reason.

Maintenence.

I can't deal with all the care, time and money an RS needs to function propperly. Unlike the CBR which is a tarted up CG which are possibly the most reliable bike on the planet

Thats my two cents.

[Mudskipper]

Spend a couple of hundred passing your test and opening your options.

Seriously, I would recommend that every time, to anyone, over wasting time and money on overpriced (they all are) 125's.

Just think about it.
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[Mudskipper]

[MetalheadA7X]

[M4RK]

Thanks for all yuour replies so far, they've been really helpful. I'm taking everything into account and trying to work out the best bike. I will keep you updated.

Big thank you again,

P.S. Apologies for using the block capitals in the question titles,

[konsoli]

a reliable bike that's only going to be temporary & cheap to run & maintain, to pass my A2 practical test. So out of them two options, the cbr125 would be my choice.

If I could choose another, probably a CG125, they're a lot cheaper and very reliable from what I've heard and once I've passed my test I can hop onto a decent bike and worry about how I'll look on the thing. lol.

[Tango675]

"Bike" rode both back to back to spain...


maybe worth a read?
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