I'm here....no its not a midlife crisis

[mapex]

Hi all............... 1st post to say hi and getting into a bit
of biking again after not riding for 30 years, strange this
joining a biker forum, a drum, music recording or a music
forum is my norm but i'm taking tiny steps to getting into
it again and aiming for a full licence......in time.

I only had a suzuki 50cc at 16 then a vespa 90 at 17 now
i'm 45--is that to old to learn-and going for a 125 1st.
It's something i'm looking forward to but i'm a little confused
with todays bikes which look so good and seem so cheap.

Bikes like the Custom Kinroad XT 125 for 700 or the
125cc CRUISER JINLUN MOTORBIKE, whats the catch ?
good looking bikes for to little money in this day and age
it seems to good to be true.

I fancy a cruiser type 125 but reading a bit about it they
seem a little heavy for the 125 engine.

Best type of 125 is in you opinion ?

Check my music out...............
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www.soundclick.com/foursticks

[rotax81]

welcome.
you will have to have a sit on a few bikes to find a suitable one.
as for them cheap chinese things, its entirely up to you. you pay your money and take your choice
if it was me i would go for something simple like a CG125, ride it until you get your licence sorted etc then sell it on for the same price
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ZX636C6F road. ZX636C1H track. ZX7R redundant. ZX0.5R minimoto as ornament.
Audi A4 Avant 1.9TDi and VW Transporter 2.5TDi 888 Special (no mot and tax lol)

[cammy mack]

welcome mate
im 38 and like yourself im getting back into the saddle. done me cbt in october n pootering about on a wee honda h100 . as rotax says stay away from chinese imports. their not all crap but the build spec just isnt up to par
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Yamaha Tdm850
Yamaha fz6

[Darth]

I bought a chinese 125 after deciding to get into bikes. this one to be precise...

https://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/darthpalmer/PICT0024.jpg

Got it delivered in a crate, built it up myself (about 2hours) and on the road for about £700. Plan was to o my CBT then use it for commuting before thinking about my test next year. That didn't happen as the lure of more power caught me and ended up doing my DAS and buying a 600.

In my opinion, as was said above, you do tend to get what you pay for. Build quality isn't near that of more established brands but then they dont cost the same either. If looked after and regularly checked over (some things do have a tendency to rattle loose) then i still see them as a cheap way into riding. If something non chinese had come up in my area then i may have gone a different route but after spending weeks looking on ebay and the local ads pages i got bored of waiting.

Incidentally mine is up for sale now

[Moonie]

Chinese 125s are utterly shocking.

Have a search around the forums for Chinese bikes, there are a million scare stories I could tell you about them breaking, but you can find them for yourself.

You can get a good old CG125 or something relatively cheap, or a DT, whatever, if it's Japanese it's most likely to be solid.

Other than that, welcome back to biking, You're never too old to start again
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[ncrn]

My Dad picked up riding again at 40 so age isn't really a problem I don't think. However he bought a chinese 125 and it spent more time in the garage than it did on the road, so aim for a decent make.

I'd really recommend something like a honda cg125, a yamaha sr125, or a suzuki gn125 if you aren't looking for something sporty. Infact the yamaha dragstar is a really nice 125 cruiser, its not fast but it doesn't need to be.
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Past: 55 Sym Jet, 91 ZZR250, 03 NSR125R. Present: 97 ER-5.
https://www.nsr125.co.uk - NSR Owners forum.

[chris-red]

I wouldn't go for a chinky one they are meant to rot and break stupidly easily. Stick to more common makes the parts will be easier to source and I garantee a 20 year old jap bike will last longer than a brand new chinky one. Stick to Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki, I have also heard good things from Hyosung.

https://www.bikez.com/pictures/hyosung/2008/26904_0_1_2_gv125c_Image%20credits%20-%20Hyosung.jpg

Looks pretty cool for a 125.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[MaybeGuy]

DO NOT BUY A CHINESE BIKE

the women are good

the bikes are not. they're dangerous.
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[LeeR]

As you may or may not know, I've been quite vocal about Chinese bikes it the past.

However, I was in the local dealers awaiting the repair of my own machine when I saw that they were now distributing Superbyke RSR125 bikes now.

They also make a cruiser: Zong Shen ZS250, but it'snot my bag and as you can see it's a 250cc

I can't say I'd buy one as 125cc are a different world away now, but the dealer (Suzuki/Yamaha/Kawasaki/Piaggio) will guarantee the warranty etc...

So maybe if I was starting out again I might consider it, but I still think I'd prefer second-hand Jap.
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[Moonie]

You seen the warranties on some Chinese bikes?

Not worth the paper.
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[kawakid]

Personally i'd forget about planning to buy/own a 125 for any series length of time.

You priority is getting your test out of the way.

I would recommend a 2nd hand CG125 for about £700.

Do all your learning on that, even take your test on it.

And then sell, you'll get what you paid (if not more, I did!)

Then get a bigger bike.

125s are great for going to work on in town traffic, but that's pretty much it.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[mapex]

Thanks for all the replys, it was one of those posts
an hr after i posted it i said to myself..ASS----....LOL
But i thank you all and i'm looking at it from all angles.

Chinese................are out....for sure.

How much should i set aside for helmet gloves ect. I play
drums and know drums are, like everything else, good drums
av drums and shitty drums just as in bikes but
as i said i thank all who posted.
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www.soundclick.com/foursticks

[Moonie]

Spend as little or as much as you want on a helmet , but make sure it fits. A phrase commonly said on here for a reason is that a £50 helmet that fits will protect you better than a £500 helmet that doesn't. So don't be tempted by brand names or designs, and to a point pricing, instead try on every kind of helmet until you find the perfect fit. Jackets and gloves depends on what kind of thing you're going to be getting once you have passed your test to an extent, but I would recommend a padded real leather jacket preferably with armour for when you get your big bike, and armoured gloves.

Glad to see you're planning on wearing decent gear
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[chris-red]

If you plan to be riding over the next few months get your self a decent textile Jacket. Leather might look cool and protected better but you will freeze your tits of in it. Besides I doubt you could get up enough speed on a 125 to wear through a textile jacket if you binned it. Wait till the weather is warmer before investing in a leather jacket. Helmets personall I would stay away from the cheepo ones. My First lid was a HJC which was brilliant and only cost £100 if your looking at spending abit more I have heard good things about the X-lites.

Gloves get thick warm ones your hands will still be cold mind

As for Chinese bike warantys I read one which considered fairing panels consumables...
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Newbiker0507]

Buy a Honda CG.

Pass your A2 on it. (You can alternatively pass your DAS, but not on a 125)

Sell the CG.

Buy a big bike.

Job done.

[LeeR]

If I had to start all over again and was doing it the same way i.e. 125cc for a few months then DAS I'd

1. Buy a Honda XL125 Varadero, though I'm more of a Suzuki man these look to be a better suited bike for a 40 year old 6' 1" chap.

2. Buy some hand-guards for the bike, to keep the wind chill down.

3. Go to Hein Gericke and buy Goretex textile jacket and trousers.

4. Buy some Hein Gericke Goretex lined leather gloves.

5. Buy a decent back protector.

6. Buy some thick socks for the winter.

7. Invest in some ear-plugs and get used to them before I really needed them.

8. Buy the best pair of boots I could afford

9. Buy the best helmet, which fitted, came with a pinlock insert as standard, and had removeable/ washable liners, that I could afford.

10. Buy a neck buff.

11. Rinse my bike off after riding each day to clean the salt off and spray liberally with WD40/GT85/FS365
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[Newbiker0507]

[mapex]

Thanks for all the help it's appreciated greatly, i got for
my CBT on tue and have an hr lesson on Saturday so
onward i go...thanks again.

MARK
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www.soundclick.com/foursticks

[YZFR1IAN]

[Moonie]

[LeeR]