Im sure this question has been asked so many times

[schnitty]

Hello there!

I am getting a CBT soon, am 23 years old, and fed up of getting trains and buses to work and dont feel like spending colossal amounts of money and time learning to drive a car to ridiculously high standards to pass a test nowadays. Dont have the time or money.

I have had my heart set on a Hyosung GT125R for a month now since deciding to go down the motorbike route, but many dealers I go to are telling me theyre not that good and are trying to get me to buy something else.

I have never worked in motorbike dealerships before but I am very well in the knowledge of retail and how employees are pretty much forced to make a sale for a certain product. Basically no matter what the customer asks for theyll go to the damn same product lol.

The dealerships I have gone to have stated better bikes than the Hyosung GT125R are the Reiju RS2 125 and the Derbi GPR 125.

Reiju is spanish from my knowledge, and Derbi italian?

This is the internet, so I am sure all 3 bikes I have listed will have both negative and positive reviews, so hopefully some additional information will be helpful.

1.I just want to go to work, which is an 11 mile journey, consisting of residential, 30-40 seconds on a dual carriageway, more residential, then 30 seconds of countryside riding.
2.I am NOT interested in speed, I am interested in reliability, I dont really want to be doing more than 65-70 really.
3.I want a bike with a big back wheel, so nobody mention the Honda CBR125, I have so many friends with these and theyre constantly skidding out and falling off the damn things because the wheels are so skinny.

Which of these bikes are best? Which of these bikes are worth it?

Both the reiju and Derbi from the dealers were "the last one in, and the new ones will be more" which makes me suspicious

they only have 1 left in both dealerships do they? And to get more ones in if i dont get it fast will cost more so if I get it now itl be cheaper? lol. Theyre using very basic retail tricks which makes me suspicious.

Basically they said Hyosungs are so heavy you have to rev them into the red just to get them to take off from the road.

[Rogerborg]

[schnitty]

I like the look of sports styled, and lets face facts 125's cant do more than 70 without thrashing the engine at high revs anyway, so theres little point.

Maybe they are prats, but tbh ive seen the CBR's back wheel and they are awfully thin regardless of skill

Yes it may seem fickle that im going for looks, but thats why I want peoples feedback of decent engine sports bikes.

Agreed on the backward socialist states, but does that affect engineering of the bike?

[Rogerborg]

Well, the heart wants what it wants. A really sensible bike would have 4 wheels and crumple zones, so go for whatever you want.

I would suggest that you don't commit yourself until you've done your CBT course. See how you get on with a commuter-styled bike, then you'll have a basis for comparison. You may hate it, you may want to get a pimp 125 and pose around for a bit, or you may get the bug and want to press on and do an A2 or DAS test straight away to increase your options.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[schnitty]

I agree a sensible bike would have 4 wheels and crumple zones but I did state in my original post I dont have the time and/or money for it, I have seen 2 people pass and it took them absolutely ages and cost them a brand new bike and then some.

I will be doing my CBT before buying a bike for sure, but I still think its worth researching bikes before gaining the CBT.

To simplify my question.

Is it true Hyosungs needs to be revved into the red to simply set off? Also are they mechanically relable and handling wise?
Are Reijus decent and reliable mechanically and handling wise?
Are Derbis decent and reliable mechanically and handling wise?

In fact I could sum it up into, "are any of these bikes a definite absolute no go?"

So long as I am comfortable and am not breaking down all the time and has a fairly nice chassis I couldnt care less about any other detail.

[ajbsmirnoff]

Do it. Its cost effective and cool.

But you said 'and dont feel like spending colossal amounts of money and time learning to drive a car to ridiculously high standards to pass a test nowadays'

I'd consider learning to ride a motorbike harder than learning to drive a car. You have to cope with more demanding controls without air conditioning, need to consider road conditions and be way more observant than 'Joe motorist'.

Although you are right on the money aspect a DAS course costs less than getting a car licence.

Take home message - Its cool.

[Rogerborg]

None of the above mentioned bikes sell in large enough numbers that you'll get a representative quantity of answers. At best, you'll get "My bike is the [best|worst] ever!!!!eleven!!!". If you ask the same question next month, you're likely to get the opposite answer from the same people.

So go for a CG, YBR, CBF or CBR, or take a bigger gamble on an exotic little tart and hope that you get one that's not a poxy tranny. In the end, it's your bike, and your call, all part of your adventure. The worst bike will still make you feel more alive than the best car, Ariel Atom possibly excepted.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[pinkyfloyd]

I agree with pretty much everything Roger's said.

For the most part, any sports 125 you find second hand will have been thrashed to within an inch of its life by the previous owner. If your lucky enough to get one that hasnt been then fair play. Keep on top of the servicing and enjoy it.

A more sensible option would be going for a "boring and ugly" 125 like the CG, YBR etc. You can pick them up for buttons and use it to get through the test and sell it for pretty much the same as you bought it for. Many people have had a "free bike" to do their test on. Its cheaper on insurance and servicing than the sports bikes. Pass your test and get a bigger bike.

You dont have to go mad big bike when you pass your test. A decent 250 sports bike will easily keep up with motorway speeds while a 125 will struggle.

Bear in mind the fact that a CBT is around 100 of your hard earned pounds and only lasts for 2 years thus making it more cost effective to get yourself through your full bike test within that time.

As soon as you pass your test your insurance cost will drop and once its done, its done.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Rogerborg]

Yup, 125s are great fun: cheap to run, light, easy to ride and handle. But a 250 gives you a more relaxed ride, and won't necessarily use much more fuel since you won't be riding with the throttle at "11" all the time.

The cheapest route is CBT -> used 125 -> A2 test on your own bike (£131 all in) -> sell your 125 for what you paid for it -> 250-400, or restricted bigger bike.

Fastest route (at 23) is CBT -> DAS course and test (£600+) -> any bike you like.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[psychofox]

[Ingah]

[lihp]

I had a brand new GT125R (first mistake being brand new) in 2005 bike ran great, and was reliable, started every time, and reports are that they're still improving. MCN also commented about the good handling.

However, as it's a full size bike, it's also ve heavier and therefore slower, but if you're 6foot, you'll fit one much better than it's competition. But if you want a reliable commuter then get a CG125, no point being lay over the bars of a sportsbike for residential riding.

As for the back tyre of a CBR125. having a tyre that is too wide, can reduce grip in wet conditions if the bike isn't heavy enough as it will be prone to aquaplaning.

My reason for the GT125R was that I'm 6foot and couldn't really fit on many 125s, but if I did it again I'd buy a used 125, and save a LOT of money.

[Ingah]

[pinkyfloyd]

I thought tyre thickness was in proportion to horse power. A 125cc 14hp bike doesnt need a thick tyer to get them horses down where as the likes of the R1 at around 130HP needs a whacking great thick tyre to convert that energy into movement. Bigger tyre = more road contact = more grip = more power converted into movement.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Codemonkey]

If you want something that looks like a sports bike and has good reliability, then look at the Yamaha YZF-R125. They're almost universally hated on this forum cos they're expensive and like any bike with fairings, expensive to repair if you drop.

I have one, and its been superb. burried under snow unused for a month (under its cover), and subjected to temperatures down to -15C, and it started straight away afterwards. Gets about 110mpg and will do 70+ on the flat and looks like a bigger bike. You can pick them up used for a fraction of the £4K new price, often with mileages less than 1K after the owners decided they didn't like a bit of cold/rain and would rather get a cage.

Mine's the black one on this page: https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=210419&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=50

A low mileage used one here: https://www.yamahar125.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2900

[GSF Jamie 600]

Lol if your not bothered about speed but want something reliable with a fat back tyre get a van van

https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2006models/2006models-Suzuki-VanVan125.htm

Although hyosung have come along recently engine wise, they still rust and weaken quite easily

[Glenben92]

If you're after something for commuting then you're gonna be using it all year round. And you're getting a bike because its cheap, not because you love bikes. So you're therefore less likely to spend your time cleaning it and maintaining it, so with that in mind:

All of the bikes you're considering are too high maintenance for you, they'll fall apart due to neglect and annoy you and you'll class the whole thing as a waste of money (bikes need more attention than cars)

Decide what you really want. Do you REALLY want something for commuting, or do you REALLY want something sporty and fun?

Commuting only - 125, do your A2, get to work for next to nothing.

Fun - Do DAS or A2, get something with a bit of poke, become a biker.
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[schnitty]

I work 5 days a week so Ill be using it pretty much every day apart from snowy days and severe rain. I will ride it for fun at weekends too, but the main use is commuting to work. But if I get a sports model I'll be riding it at the weekend for sure

Im 6'1" so yeah dont want anything too small haha.

I do like bikes, I prefer them to cars, so later in life will pass the main test/DAS and get a 600+ but for the next year or so I just want to get to grips with a 125 and will get bigger models later.

I'll look into the CBR and YBR/YZF, chances are I will get a CBR due to cheapness and such massive availability lol.

Thanks everyone

EDIT:Maybe I should also point out that I will be buying the bike brand new via finance, so dont have to worry about previous owner thrashings.

I understand a brand new bike is just as expensive as an 04-05 and maybe even an 06 plate car but at 25 quid a pop for lessons and tests being numerous and theory etc which now has 4 trillion sections, it costs a lot less CBT and even brand new bike on finance or not.

Ill probably sell the 125 1-2 years after for 1/2-2/3 of the price and effectively have brand new transport for hardly any price at all.

Does the fact im buying brand new change anything here?

[lihp]

[lihp]

I bought my current R6 for less than what my 125 cost brand new. It's dissapointing,

[Livefast123]

I have a 06 Hyosung GT Comet 250 that I use for commuting. I use it every day throughout the year and was even riding it through the ice and snow till I crashed and saw sense!! It has never let me down and has been perfectly reliable. Finish may not be up to old Honda standards yet but is up there with Suzuki and Kawasaki.

Parts are easy to get and if you mail order from South Korea are 50% of the price here in the UK. I recently ordered a footpeg hanger that arrived in 5 days.

In my opinion I would not go for the GTR 125 as a learner bike. I would go for a GT 125 instead. The GT/GTR are big heavy bikes - combine that with a new rider and expensive fairings and thats not a good combo.

There is a lot of biase against eastern bikes some of it with very good reason. Hyosung are Korean and built in a state of the art factory.

Drop in for a chat
https://ukhyo-ownersclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_agora&Itemid=54
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Current ride - Yamaha MT-07

[lihp]

GTR125 and GT125 share same engine and frame, very similar in weight too, just GT125 = GT125 + Fairings almost. Different riding position also,.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Do seem to be a few stories of GT125 engines going pop, but how many of those are really owner abuse I am not sure. The Hyosung is a physically decent sized bike (it is effectively the same bike as the GT250).

Don't worry about tyre width. The actual tyre (ie, construction, compound and tread) is far more important. If anything on a small light bike a wider tyre will not get up to working temp.

That said the CBR125 is a small bike and might be a bit small if you are over 6' tall (can't say for sure, I am a long way short of 6').

Both Reiju and Derbi are Spanish, although Derbi is part of Piaggio.

All the best

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

[Glenben92]

Never understood why people would buy a brand new jap 125. Yeah you can avoid thrashed ones, but you can do that by looking properly at a second hand bike.

If you're planning on riding bikes in the long run, and riding them for pleasure as well as commuting, I very strongly suggest you aim to pass your test ASAP. Make that the priority. Insurance will PLUMMET as soon as you have a full license, so staying on CBT will just piss money down the drain. And a 125 on A roads, even only for a few minutes, is fucking annoying.
Then there's always the stigma attached to L's and the sense of superiority to an L free bike. (I still feel proud to be the only bike in the college car park without L's on)
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57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Rogerborg]

6'1" on a CBR = https://www.dirtbikefanatic.com/images/mini-moto-racing.jpg

You don't have to finance a brand new bike - dealers will quite happily gouge interest out of you for a used bike as well, and the depreciation will be less. Or take out a personal loan and then pay private prices rather than dealer premiums.

It looks like you're dead set on a sports-styled beast, but apart from the GTR125 and YZF R125, they're all fairly dinky. If you really don't want a cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to fix commuter, then here's one out of left field: Honda Varadero 125.

https://ww1.honda.co.uk/mcStatic/en/picture/product/XL125V%20Varadero/prd_bike_pearl_siena_red.gif

Costs a frikkin' fortune new (another £500 gets you an SV650S!), but holds its value quite well, it's a big bike, surprisingly quick, and the owners love them.

If you're dead set on sports bike, then I'd second trying to find a low mileage used YZF R125, purely based on the size.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike