125cc Bike for new biker

[elrasho]

Hello,

Im new to biking and will be doing my CBT in a couple of weeks. The main reason of getting a bike is for cheaper commutes and beating the traffic jams. I currently travel 60 miles a day to and from work and so am looking for a 125CC bike that can handle that.

Ive got the Honda CG125 in mind for its durability and reliability. However I wouldn't mind getting something a bit more exciting. The bike should be good at going up relatively steep hills as I live in hilly Blackburn, Lancs

Any advice would be greatly appreciated... oh my budget is £1200

[muzz]

Try B&D Motorcycles, just down the road in Atherton( near Bolton), he gets bikes in properly services them and sells them on. Brian is really a motocross man, but has road bikes in as well, and is a great guy. I have bought 2 bikes off him, both were A1 and cheap, got a bike from someone else, needed lots of work, he sorted it and was very reasonable. Whats the price of a google/ bt directory search, and a phone call.....try it and see
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Ride Safe 'N' Free

[DugieT]

The honda should be great, mind you 60 miles commute during the winter seems quite a daunting prospect, I'm riding to work on a 5 mile ride on my cbr 125 for 2 months and people still think i'm insane.

[elrasho]

LOL yeah, but its only a 45 minute drive so hopefully on bike should be half and hour. I don't mind the weather, im gonna wrapped up in leathers and the sorts.

So the CG125 is looking like the winner here. Im 5'10" and weigh 11 stone so thats why Im not going for the CBR125. What about the Yamaha YBR125?

[Acemastr]

i'm taking delivery of a YBR125 later on today, i went for it because of price, it being a Yamaha, looks good, reliability.
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[elrasho]

Congrats Acemastr, please keep us infomred on how you find the bike

Ive heard they arent the most powerful 125 bike so I feel its gonna suffer going up hills

[Acemastr]

I shall let you know later on tonight, they arne't the most powerful bike ever, but you would need a 2 stroke for power, and i do 400miles a week so it's not efficient for me to have a 2 stroke. Unfortunately the bike has only 1 mile on it, so i have 600miles of running in to do before i take it to work but i shall keep you updated.
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[Mudskipper]

It won't particularly enjoy hills, but with any 4T 125 if you learn to use the gears and get good momentum approaching it, it's not that bad...and you get the fun of going down the hill, as well

Personally I'd strongly recommend textiles rather than leathers for winter commuting, but plenty of people do stick with leathers.
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Acemastr]

I got it!

It's AWESOME..

Lovely bike, pulls really well, even though i'm only going up to 6k revs (break in), must get used to slow speed, the throttle/clutch is a little odd (driven car for 2 years) but i'm getting there.

Would recommend this bike to anyone.
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[elrasho]

Congrats mate!

You been on any hills with it?

[Kal]

For your budget you might be able to find a 125 Veradero which has the advatages of a little more power and a screen over a CG125.

My CG used to hate hills - I'd frequently see the speed drop to 50mph on the clocks when going up hill.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Acemastr]

[neil.]

I do a 60 mile commute each day (30 miles each way) on my YBR 125 and it's been fine. Just get a bit of a numb bum but standing on the pegs every now and again helps with that. Long journeys are good for the engine, even on a 125cc, as it gets up to a nice hot temperature and any rubbishy deposits inside get burnt off.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[elrasho]

Ok so heres where Im at with the whole learning to ride a bike thing. Im gonna do my CBT ealry November. By then ill have enough for a bike worth around £900, and the equipment.

Now after doing alot of Internet research Ive decided between two bikes.

Suzuki GN125 and the Suzuki GZ Marauder. Main reason is these bikes fit in my budget and Ive heard alot of praise for their reliability, safety and cheap to maintain.

So which one of the two would you recommend for a 40mile a day commute?

[v8will]

[AJI]

Glad you've got the bike and you're enjoying it

Incidentally though:

[elrasho]

[frazer1981]

Have you looked at the Honda Varadero? I am useing a varadero for the 54 mile round trip to work, although i only got it yesterday it was scomfatable and will easily chug along at 55 no problem. The only 2 down sides are the price, i paid 2500 for a 05 model 6k on the clock mint condition. The size of the varadero could be a problem for smaller riders. My m8 who owns a 07 cbr600 rode my bike yesterday and said he has never rode a 125 which felt like a bigger bike.

[st3v3]

Depends what you want,

There's the CG125 which is a light little 4 stroke bike with easy access for maintenance and it pulls well, has an upright positin so comfortable for most on average commute's.

The sporty/exciting option is a CBR125, again 4 stroke so good puller up hills etc yet has the big bike looking fairings so looks the part. Only issue some people have with them is the sportier riding position.

If you want exciting and educational the I'd say a NSR125, but as it's a 2 stroke it will require more maintenance/checking and consumables or it will get poorly, hence the educational bit. Being a 2 stroke isn't all bad, it has mor power on tap and can get over a third more power on the road in terms of speed.

All of them being Honda's mean they will be pretty bullet proof and parts will be really wasy to source, usually cheap all round and generally not too expensive on insurance.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[elrasho]

Was thinking of the Honda CG125 but it doesn't look as good as the YBR. And Id love to own a Varadero but my budget is £1000.

Now that the weather is getting worse safety is an issue. I head the YBR tyres are thin and so not very safe, is that true?

[neil.]

[elrasho]

Thanks Neil, the YBR Ive got my eye on is a blue 2005 model and has done 4800miles. Think I could get those tyres put on and its all good.

[neil.]

[Kal]

[elrasho]

Hahahah LOL

Well the exhaust on the Yammie is better, and so are the wheels... and thats about it really

Isnt that a new CG125 aswell? I cant afford that, Im after something from the 05 range.. the older CG125s dont look like that