Choosing a 125

[LiamBRT]

Well hello.

With the hike in fuel prices, the old mum and dad have decided then need a cheap bike to get to work etc as the 25 mpg mazda mx5 just isn't the most economical thing.

They both intend to do cbt so there going to be on a 125cc at 14.6bhp (as you know).

Restrictions: 4 stroke, £2000 and high mpg.

So, myself, I have a Gixxer 600 and have had an Aprilia RS125 before that, so I feel I am too bias.

Basically, I was thinking along the lines of CBF125 for them.
Light weight, affordable, economical. Then I read on here 'woo, CG125, best thing ever'.

So, I do and checkout a CG125 for £600 locally, 98' jobby. Go it was the most god awful heap of shit ever. I only rode it for 10 minutes and I could not wait to get off.
The power delivery was horrific, just gutless++.

Now, this bike isn't for me, its mainly for my dad, but he is in no way about to die and I think he does intend to take a full license when the whole center fuck-up is resolved (Live on Isle of Wight, where currently there is no test center) so I don't want him having to endure a powerless heap of shit on the way to work, could you even filter with it, it didn't seem to have enough response to nip between cars?

Anywho, did I ride an exceptionally poor CG125?
Is the CBF125 much more powerful?
Do any 4strokes have power delivery like the RS125?
Is the CBR125 much sportier/responsive?

Are there any other learner legal bikes you can recommended?
(No chink chit either, rusty, slave labor built bollocks)

Thanks Yall.

[clancy]

[N cee thirty]

the only one i havnt rode is the rs125

all the others feel the same,the cbr has abit more go after 40

have a look at the yamaha ybr,feels just like riding a cg
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Highside_Hilly]

I've owned a CBF125 (Did 4,500 miles before I passed test) it uses the same engine as the CG125 so don't expect much improvement. However, you can pick up bikes with less than 2000 miles on the clocks within your budget, guess it'll help being a newer bike...the seat height and half fairing are great for commuting on. I had no issues what so ever with mine.

You won't see much difference between any of the 4 stroke 125s TBH...And having ridden both a '09 11kw rs125, and a de-restricted one, four strokes can't touch em.
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2008 CBF125 [Sold] >>> 2003 SV650s [Killed] >>> 2002 CB500/'98 748 >>> 1998 GSXR600 >>> 2009 Street Triple

[AJ9000]

I have a CBF and have just filled the tank for the second time since I got it in October. 120 miles to the gallon. £15 road tax.

Cheap to run, great around town, easy to park (I can just about lift it up) and I reckon nippy enough for a first bike. I rode a CG125 at the bike school but much prefer mine as it is quieter and just generally nicer.

[defblade]

MSL magazine just managed to get 107mpg out of a Varadero (which is also full legal power, CBF etc are down at 11bhp IIRC)
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Rogerborg]

[Highside_Hilly]

Apologies, got it wrong...w*nker

Remember it being a replacement for the CG and thought it'd be using the same/similar engine.
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2008 CBF125 [Sold] >>> 2003 SV650s [Killed] >>> 2002 CB500/'98 748 >>> 1998 GSXR600 >>> 2009 Street Triple

[fiveus]

Varadero 125 .Loved mine bits good on fuel and pretty quick as well

[Kickstart]

Hi

2 stroke power delivery is part of what makes them fun, but don't expect anything like the same delivery or total power from a 4 stroke the same size.

The CG should be adequate for commuting, and being a basic pushrod engine they are simple and tough (unlike Hondas early OHC singles that the CG was based on, which had a habit of seizing the cams in the heads if the oil wasn't changed regularly). I wouldn't expect it to fly but certainly be up to general use including filtering round town.

Depending on budget a CBF or a YBR might well be better bikes, or at least easier to find one which hasn't suffered half a decade of learner abuse.

All the best

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

[Hevra]

CBF is cheap to run and amusing too, but aren't some of them built in China anyway? Am sure Mike or Roger can confirm either way.

I love mine, but that could just be the first-bike-rose-tinteds.

Besides, you don't want anything too fast.... by the time you've got up to 5th on the IoW you've run out of island

H
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_MJS_ : TLDR; MTFU, RTFM, DIY, tits and Gary. It's the only way you'll learn
CBF125 > XJ600S > V-Strom 650

[Rogerborg]

CBF125 is made by HMSI in India. YBR125 is made in China. Look around you and see if you can find something that's not.

Have a look at the country code on your bike's VIN, but bear in mind that you can ship a vehicle anywhere then have a robot or Brummie put the wheels and VIN on it .
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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

[truslack]

Varadero 125 or CG125, both are good enough learner bikes
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[Ingah]

[LiamBRT]

Thanks for the replies.

there is a Varedero up for grabs on the Island, So I am going to give it a test run and see what I think.

Thanks.
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Had: Aprilia RS125 '06
Have: Suzuki GSXR600 Rizla '04.

[chiortas]

My advice would be to choose either CG or cbf for simple reasons, economical to maintain. since you have some biking experience you know what to look out for, so you may get a decent CG, but a decent CG costs roughly around 1k, so add a few quid and get a newer CBF which is cheap as peanuts to run, same easy to maintain, quieter, even a little more powerful than the CG. seriously despite the fact that its front wheel feels detached when riding over cracks, it's a nice bike. filtering through traffic is extremely easy, it's a small bike and good choice for a first one.
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don't judge

still a newbie

[pits]

[chiortas]