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Which is better?

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Blob
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 30 Jan 2011
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PostPosted: 13:52 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Which is better? Reply with quote
2003 4 Stroke Honda XR125L - 22,000 miles on clock - Max Speed 60

2000 2 Stroke Aprillia RS125 - 23,000 miles on clock - Max Speed 100+


Anybody got opinions on Pro's / Con's of either of these bikes as i would need the bike to commute 75 Miles every weekend.

Also if anybody has better opinions on other 125cc bikes to get would also be great.

I know a lot of you will say about getting full bike license etc, but i'm not planning to undertake this until late '11 / Early '12.

- Will
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Rogerborg
nimbA



Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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PostPosted: 15:31 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Re: Which is better? Reply with quote
WiTommo wrote:
2000 2 Stroke Aprillia RS125 - 23,000 miles on clock - Max Speed 100+


Not when it's restricted to 11kW. Not that you'll care, but if you get caught doing 100 on a 125 with L plates, even the dimmest plod might nab it and get it dynod.
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Blob
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 30 Jan 2011
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PostPosted: 15:46 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm not planning of going 100MPH, was just indications of the bikes. XR125 would just about cruise at 50, 40-45 comfortably.

Not sure how RS125s cope or what speed they can comfortably cruise at, also i've heard the RS's often need top end re-builds? Is this because people tear them to pieces?
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Paris2
Nearly there...



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
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PostPosted: 16:23 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
My XR125 will easily cruise at 55-60, with overtaking bursts to 65mph. I would definitely recommend one, but rather than repeat myself....

Have a look at this:

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=221433&highlight=honda+xr125
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 16:30 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi

Restricted the RS will do around 80 true top speed (more on the speedo). Full power will depend on what model (the newer they are, the slower they are).

However they do need top end rebuilds fairly often. Piston rings are service items (as are the pistons, just a bit less often). Being restricted doesn't really reduce this service requirement (still got a massive exhaust port giving the rings a hard time).

Whereabouts are you riding? Round town at low speed or down fast dual carriageways?

All the best

Keith
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dogbot
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Mar 2011
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PostPosted: 16:35 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
I commute about 50 miles a day, and I'm rarely cruising, tbh.

If I was you, I'd being thinking about which bike I could run most efficiently, what the servicing costs, fuel costs are etc... and how comfy it'll be for a 75 mile (round trip?) commute...

Not trying to sway you one way or the other, but I've rarely seen an RS125 that didn't look like it'd been thrashed lifeless by everyone who'd owned it. I'd want it looked over carefully, too.
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Blob
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 30 Jan 2011
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PostPosted: 16:45 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kickstart wrote:
Whereabouts are you riding? Round town at low speed or down fast dual carriageways?



Fast duel carriageways for around 80% of the journey
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 16:57 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi

Fast dual carraigeways with on a bike with a top speed of about 60 wouldn't appeal. You will be stuck with the HGVs.

There are other bikes to consider. NSR125 is slower than the RS (both in full power form, and if both are restricted as the NSR stayed with the old UK 12hp learner limit) but which are a lot less maintenance intensive.

All the best

Keith
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Teflon-Mike
tl;dr



Joined: 01 Jun 2010
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PostPosted: 17:15 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Re: Which is better? Reply with quote
WiTommo wrote:
I know a lot of you will say about getting full bike license etc, but i'm not planning to undertake this until late '11 / Early '12.

Why?
TBH, at the moment test waiting lists are starting to stretch out, and where they would start to shrink a bit into the worse weather, with 3rd directive laws looming, they are unlikely to shrink that much....
If you booked a test now, you might be looking at an eight week wait anyway...
But... question for you... Its June. The Sun is shining. We have wonderful light, dry summers evenings.
When would you rather be trying to impress an examiner?
Dong an e-stop now, in near perfect conditions with dry grippy tarmac and good lighting, or in some miserable winter haze, in the rain on a slimy road?

However, choice is simple..... whether you plan on bing on a tiddler a a couple of months or a year...... planning to do tests, you choose a test tool... Yamaha YBR125, CG125, or CBF125..... no great shakes does what it says on the box 'Learner Commuter'.
Cheap to buy, cheap to run, easy to ride, does the job, least cost, least hassle.... may not look great, may not be the most spirited machine out there, might not be the fastest or the most comfortable..... but safest bet to get you about and get your licence on, and sell with least costs incurred.

Stuff with chrome & tassles, Knoblies and wide bars, or plastic and stickers... all impose compromises and usually costs, somewhere, that make the job of getting your licence harder and more expensive, for very little gain other than style, which wearing a big red 'L' is rather diminished anyway.
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Andy_Pagin
World Chat Champion



Joined: 08 Nov 2010
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PostPosted: 20:19 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'd avoid the dual carriageways and find some nice fun slower b roads instead.
I took my scooter from Enfield to Southend on the last b.h. via b roads, lovely fun and safe ride, headed home on the A road, both boring and scary at the same time.125s just aren't adequate for dual carriageways.
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Blob
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 30 Jan 2011
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PostPosted: 20:45 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
Andy_Pagin wrote:
I'd avoid the dual carriageways and find some nice fun slower b roads instead.


When i do go up i would be using a Sat Nav as it would be the first time going up there on a bike. And Sat Navs don't have options to avoid duel carriageways although i agree with B roads being a better ride as i wouldn't need to have the bike full throttle the whole way.

This aside a 4 stroke would surely be a more efficient option as they can withstand a lot more 'strain' than a 2 stroke engined bike (if im incorrect please say Very Happy )
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P.
Red Rocket



Joined: 14 Feb 2008
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PostPosted: 20:59 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've used both...

For daily use I'd go for the XR, hands down Thumbs Up

The RS...
I looked after it, engine wise anyway... Had it rebuilt by a member on here, awesome job done!
Ran it in and it ran beautifully, but I did read up before hand instead of buying it because it was there and cheap etc.
Rebuild every 8000km I think it is? ~5000miles ish.
Needs very expensive nice 2 stroke oil.
Cruises happily derestricted at about 70, used to sit at 70/80 on motorway every now and then.
Restricted.. I wasnt ever really on a restricted one, but i'd imagine 60/70 maybe a nice cruise.. varying the revs obviously. You really need to work the bike, great fun though.

The XR...
Yes, its slower... its a 4 stroke.
Its pretty hassle free, tighten the chain and change the oil... will run for infinity and a day.
Perfect to do your test on thought Wink
Can sit at around 55mph happily. will push beyond though Thumbs Up
I had my single 4 stroke 125 hit an indicated 85 down a hill Laughing so probably a flat 70, but it did sound like it would pop a piston between my balls at some point.
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 21:15 - 03 Jun 2011    Post subject: Reply with quote
WiTommo wrote:

This aside a 4 stroke would surely be a more efficient option as they can withstand a lot more 'strain' than a 2 stroke engined bike (if im incorrect please say Very Happy )


4 strokes are normally better on fuel but slower for the same engine capacity. Strain wise depends what they are designed to do. RS125 is designed for power without long engine life being that high up the list. CBR125 (for an example) isn't really designed for power (less than half of what an RS can manage), and far more of a bias towards reliability.

While detuning an engine can help engine life it depends on what has been done. The weak point with the RS is the rings which due to the large ports get a hard life. And these are identical in the full power and restricted bikes.

All the best

Keith
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Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 14 years, 229 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
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