Craving a 125?

[TomGT]

I ride a CBR 400, it's fast, comfortable and reliable and I absolutely love it. For some reason I have an itch, not for a good (for what they are) 125 like the Hyosungs, Varadero's, CBR's but a tatty, sit up and beg, slow, chug along all day 125.

The type I can fire up and nip to the shops on without a warm-up, the type that will start first time every time, require no maintenance, manage more than 25mpg and cost nothing to run 125.

Is there something wrong with me? Or is this a natural process?

I'm looking at the Yamaha's and Honda's, reputable names but I hear they're made in Brazil or somewhere weird.

Insurance will probably be pennies and tax is the same, so which is it to be? A YBR or a CG
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1992 ZXR 400

[BigDan1190]

Definately a CG.

[J.M.]

I considered this. Then I realised that a 500 twin was boring enough to ride and a 125 might have me falling asleep.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Alpha-9]

[wots]

If you can get one cheap enough, get a CBF125, especially after some fool bought one new, passed their test sooner than they expected and need to sell on at a loss. Like I may do next year

I think the 2009-2010 are quite cheap now, and the fuel economy (see avatar on the left) is not to be argued with. I start it, take locks off, helmet on etc. takes a couple of minutes and ride off. Always rides the same, hot or cold.

I've had nothing else though, but did find it easier than the CG I did my CBT on (that had done 30K though).
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Currently: Yamaha DT 125 LC2,Repsol Fireblade, and Bumblebee MSX 125

[illuminateTHE...]

[J.M.]

[TomGT]

[Rogerborg]

[wots]

CBF has no choke it's FI

It looks OK, not trying to be anything else. As a get up and go it's a doodle. If you are anywhere near me, near Croydon, feel free to come and have a look. I'm not selling BTW, not the motivation

Also, you shouldn't buy any bike older than 2009 they are all rubbish, so I've heard ...
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Currently: Yamaha DT 125 LC2,Repsol Fireblade, and Bumblebee MSX 125

[crazymotorbik...]

[TheSmiler]

[Chalky.]

Posted this earlier but hey ho.

Picked this CG up from someone on here, it's great fun. When I got it, I also had the blade and the cbr600, but it still got a fair bit of use.

Basically full throttle everywhere, it's not how late you brake for a corner but whether you can keep the throttle pinned!

Old W reg with kickstart only

https://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o22/fv53wkr/IMG_0062.jpg

[TomGT]

[Benno]

[Alpha-9]

YBR can start and go to the shops no problem first time everytime on the button

Idles higher to make up for being cold and auto choke so no fucking around, handy FI really
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Fzr-600 1999

[J.M.]

[blurredman]

I have in the last few months got myself an MZ ETZ250.

Although it's not a 125, and although it has 20hp, it certainly doesn't feel any much more than a 125 really.

A fun little bike but only really in the country, and when I say country I mean country lanes.

It's not a fast bike, apparently does 80mph, But i've downgeared it to be a bit more usable for speed limit cruising so it probably wouldn't go much beyond 70mph.

Doesn't get a bad MPG, high 50's.

It's a fun little bike to try and tame in a sense that you really have to work the gears and revs and plan ahead, more than I did my CG I would have to say, mainly due to the 6k redline and the ever always tempermental workings of a two stroke.

Never the less, I'd always say that a smaller naked bike 125/250 take your pick, does relieve the that sense of responsibility if you drop it. But beware as always the way you are treated when car drivers know they can push you around just because you're on what they perceive to be a small vehicle.

Mind you, I have spent alot of time on the side of the road, and never think not to take with me about 20 different tools just incase it stopped working on the side of the road.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[U_W v2.0]

There is something to be said for riding a 125 in VERY strong cross winds.

Certainly keeps you on your toes so to speak trying not to get thrown all over the road and into oncoming traffic.
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BCF's biggest cunt list: Cansa, Pits, Rob

[Chalky.]

[U_W v2.0]

[Teflon-Mike]

Hmmmm....

The 125 four-stroke's popularity was as much as anything prompted by the test laws demanding a full 125 for the test, at about the same time as they started hammering emmission controls.
Up till then, 'sensible' foilk bought 100cc air-cooled two-strokes on a learner-licence, as they were cheaper to insure and required less maintenence, and if you blew them up, you could usually fix them with a cornflake packet, and a bit of emmery paper!

Idea that 125's will be 'cheap' to insure, is a bit of a falacy; they are inordinately loaded bybeing learner legal, and so many being nicked or crahed by learners, putting model 'risk' up.

Folk are often surprised stepping up from a 125 that the insurance on a 'sensible' big bike like a GS500 is almost identical.

There's also a big 'hole' in the insurance rankings, from 150 to 400cc... bikes like the Honda CD200 Benley or CB-Two-Fifty commuters are laughably cheap to insure. Snowie did some like for like quotes on those two against her 125 Super-Dream, and where her Super-Dream was quoting around £120 a year, CB-Two-Fifty was quoting around 90..... CD200 Benley, even less!

200 Benley is a wonderful 'Sit up & beg' chug along all day little bike; its barely got 15bhp, hardly any more than some Learner-Legals, BUT, that extra 30% displacement gives you the extra right accross the rev range; a very flexible little engine, thats rather more spritely than the specs suggest it has any right to be! Bikes also pretty.... err.... 'substancial' for a lightweight; think its actually heavier than the CB Two-Fifty.... all metal mudguards and 'stuff', its quite a planted little bike, nicer and comfy andf stable for a littlun.

CB250 is similar, but more modern, I believe, though I think if I could find one at sensible money, they were rare, the CD250U 'Retro' would be pick of the crop. Its not got such unconventional styling as the CB Two-Fifty 'Nighthawk'.. it was styled a little 'lighter' than the older Benley, but still traditional, and with the full 233cc 'two-fifty' motor, but in a curiouse Honda perversion of convention, where historically the CB's have been tywin carbs,. the Benleys single, the CB Two-Fifty got single carb motor, the CD got twins... and a couple of extra ponies with it!

However..... combining ideas; the 'practicality' of the old 100cc air-cooled single cylinder two-stroke 'commuters'.... and the insurance efficiency of the 150-400 not a learner-legal lightweight......

MZ250

Takes you off at an all new tangent.... its the 'old' do everything 'utiliterian 'Hack-Bike' of old; piston ported two-stroke dependability & ruggedness, bit more beef than a learner-legal, yet as cheap or cheaper and easier to live with.

Of course, depending on how far you want to explore this particular perversion... you can get into CZ's possibly even the 350 twins, or any of the other more or less quixotic Former Soviete Block offerings! Plenty coming out of Poland, former East Germany and Czechoslovakia these days.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[barrkel]

[Alpha-9]

^interesting, I can see how that would be, but i'd never want to ride a scooter again

And I put forth...C90. All the way.
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Fzr-600 1999

[WULFSTAN]