Help choosing a 125

[Damien1080]

Hi there BCF, this is my first post so here's hoping its of some value!

As the thread title says i'm looking for a 125 for a first proper bike, spent about 2 years on a 50cc twist and go before moving to uni so its a bit of a return to the bike after 4 years!

Looking for something to take me on the 45 minute commute *each way* with a price limit of £1k, and as this seems to get asked a lot i'm 175cm, so of average height and weight so hopefully that shouldn't rule me out of anything. And also only interested in geared now not t&g.

Thanks very much in advance for the help, as i'm a bit lost in the market at the moment

[blito]

Hi there. finding your first 125 can be a daunting task. On the one hand there are so many bikes to choose from but actually, when you start to scrutinize them there are actually so few worth having in any one locality at any one time. Just have a look at my recent post to see the trouble I'm having finding a decent £1000-2000 125 to see what I mean.
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=246242
The smart money around these parts is on a 3-5 year old YBR or CBF if you can find one. Seems YBR and CBF also read this forum and have put their prices up accordingly
I'm only a few weeks away from giving up and buying chinese as there is soooo little choice, not that Chinese bikes are bad per se, but they certainly arent built as well as Japanese ones.
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2012 Zontes Monster

[blito]

As a second point,lets see how long it is before Non-Stick Michael comes on and does the maths thing and tells you it will be cheaper to pass your test and get a Bandit instead?
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2012 Zontes Monster

[Rogue_Shadow]

[alexknight200...]

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEx3vWyHm2s/TbYdL-aV3PI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/7ziWhYFg6Ik/s400/eating%2Bpopcorn.gif%20
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Current stable: Yamaha XVS 650 1996 - Honda Super Magna VF750 1988.

[Bred2shred]

The price and lack of decent bikes will be due to the "better" weather coming in and more newbs passing the cbt.

As for a bike, if you can, go sit on a few and see what suits you best. If not get the newest, lowest mileage, best condition jap bike you can lay your mitts on.


I think at the moment if your not first there it'll be gone before you know it.
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I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

[WannaBeDude]

125s are shit and for noobs, pass your test and get 600 sports bike.
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Jogging on, destination living.

[Rogerborg]

Cash in hand, buy the first decent condition 3+ year old Japanese branded commuter bike you can find with a year's MOT.

Might be a peach, might be a lemon, but with a £1K budget in the middle of May, you can't really afford to be too fussy.
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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

[alexknight200...]

I knew it. more, more

[ninja_butler]

[WannaBeDude]

I have a 125 by the way with an L plate, great fun !


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Jogging on, destination living.

[Damien1080]

Ok do I've gone through just about every local paper and ad etc and it seems these are my options:

Yamaha ybr125
Honda cg125
Honda cbr125
Honda cbf125

All coming in at roughly the same insurance *325 tpft*

So is there any in particular that stands out to you guys as the best option?

[blito]

Of the four, see them all, sit on them all and pick the one that you like best! All four are great little machines and I'm envious that you have such choice in you area - theres feck all worth having for under £1500 near me at the moment! As with all bikes, make sure you check the obvious things - crash damage, corrosion, neglect etc but otherwise all four machines get the nod from the knowledgeable types around here!
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2012 Zontes Monster

[Damien1080]

Right after a bit of a sit and look I've managed to strech my budget to a 1200 cbf125, going to make the final purchase on June 16th so is there anything I desperately need to know before hand? Don't want to make a crap choice, all the insurance quotes came in around the same price too which was nice!

[breadlord]

Nah, CBF's basically the model they've replaced the CG with. The only other biker in the office has one to build up some no-claims, but he loves it.

Reliable, reasonably good looking, not toy sized. You won't be disappointed, but you will be hankering for more power as soon as you've had it a week.

[HJM]

Great bikes! try and haggle on the price mate! Never pay what there asking....its a crime
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"90% of all statistics are made up"

CBT-18/04/2013

[Damien1080]

Just the question of colour now ! Oh the hardships