First 125 bike for a mid 30s newbie

[wooney]

Just trying to make a decision on a new bike and stumbled across this forum.

Have never had a license and am just waiting for my provisional to come through so i can take my cbt and was wondering what would be the ideal bike for a first timer. Will be using it for work 25 miles each way and am looking for something up to £500 if thats possible..and if so wheres the best place to look

Many thanks

[wizzzard]

Firstly welcome to BCF

I'll be the first to say it but certainly not the only one by a long shot, CG125 Great little learner bike with built in indestructablility. Yamaha Sr125's can also be found for this sort of money.
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And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
Zeitgeist / Addendum / Moving forward

[wooney]

Thanks for your reply, will have a look at them, think i will need that indestructive option, judging by my cycle riding days...

[Muscle Bike Rider]

Cg for that price range , if you want to spend more Yamaha YBR or my favourite ( biased ) Honda Varadero, big bike great for Winter but they are expensive. CG is bullet proof, great on fuel and go's 60-65mph. Do a search on EBay for 125's all makes, if you see anything you like the look / style of ask here and one of the helpful mass will certainly give their advice on that model of bike.
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[waffles]

I was looking for a 125 for around the £500 mark and failed, lots of people are doing CBT's and buying bikes so there aren't as many around as there were a year or so ago. Those that are being sold on are going for much more, although good condition 125's tend to hold their vaalue very well.

eBay is a good place to start. There are a few YBR's and CG's on there from anywhere between £700 and £1200. Personally I picked my bike up through the local free ads.

[FerretFing]

Welcome

Just don`t buy a chinky bike! there will be plenty of them in that price range which will look very tempting - but just do a search on here or anywhere for that matter as to why you should avoid

[Alexio]

Welcome! As a proud CG owner I can tell you that a CG won't let you down. My poor engine is ragged to death and it still just got me 160 miles this morning
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[Piggie]

I've just been reading up on the AJS eco 125,
it's built in the same factory as the yamaha ybr 125, uses the same engine,
it's is a ybr with ajs badges on and costs £1300 new!!

[FerretFing]

[DanHam]

I've ridden a CG, its a very reliable bike, I had problems getting it passed 60mph, I tried my test on the CG and failed on the mod 1.

I then bought a cbr, thats great for speeds up to 70-75 on the flat, I've had an indicated 85 down a big hill on it, but the clock is bound to be out quite a bit.

[Piggie]

[wooney]

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. Was just looking at this before i logged on here...

Guess its a no go then?

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/125cc-SENKE-SK-125-COMMUTER-LEARNER-LEGAL-CHEAP-CG_W0QQitemZ270475811278QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycles

[Piggie]

[waffles]

I know a lot of people on here say to avoid chinese brands like the plague, but my bike is a build from the crate chinese copy. So they arent the most powerful of bikes and you really have to do your research with them but they arent all junk.

For a learner bike, mine doesn't go very fast (I have done 60 on it, mostly because im still a little cautious on the roads) but it starts in the cold and was pretty cheap to insure. Im only going to be on it until I book up my DAS next year and start to commute on a big bike regularly. Plus, the other half rode it around and I trust his 20 odd years biking and taking-things-apart-and-putting-back-together knowledge! Plus, its a ton of fun to ride!

[Alexio]

[waffles]

[neil.]

No nonsense CG or YBR. You will not regret either.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Alexio]

[wooney]

Is this bike any good, seems pretty old but not sure how much i would get out of it, problems etc.

Regards

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260502548500&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3907.m38.l1313%26_nkw%3D260502548500%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

[and]

...

[deanoet]

BikeTrader Page

Few there around the £500 mark

There is very little that can go wrong with a CG
Simple engine, they dont even have a cooling system to worry about

They have been around since Gods dog, lots of spare parts for them.
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CBT Passed 18th July 2007 : Previous Bikes> CG125 : Current Bike> Hornet 600 : PASSED DAS 30th Oct 2007
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[Kingbroady]

Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd add here.

Just passed my CBT and am looking for a 125 commuter on a budget. I like the cruiser look ie Suzuki Marauder etc. I'm after something cheap to buy, run and insure that's reliable.

Any advise greatly appreciated.

[Alexio]

[dirtyharry]

Ressurecting this post for those who want to know abit more about the AJS Eco 125...

The above link relates to a different AJS motorcycle, made in china, and not for the eco. The eco itself is infact the YBR 125, and they are both made in the same factory in china. I've replaced parts on my AJS when I had a scrap, with Yamaha YBR 125 parts (bars, bar ends, front, plastic). The bike itself is uber-reliable and I do 40 miles daily. It's now on 8000 miles and i've changed the oil and spark with the yamaha recommended every 1000 and hasnt missed a beat. Solid build quality and good ergonomics. The engine is very smooth even at 65 mph+ as it has balanced camshafts! I've also fitted an IXIL Exhaust system from a ybr125 and fitted michelin pilot sporty's (a must have).
I know almost all chinese bikes are crap, but this one is an exception. Shock horror, your wonderful ybr125's are chinese too!

Harry.
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