Honda CB125T

[meyrick]

This is a real newbie question and my first post, so please be gentle

I just purchased my first bike, a Honda CB125T, on Friday. It is in perfect condition and it seemed like a lot more bike than anything else I had seen within my budget. I realised when I got home that I had neglected to ask about an owners manual, so I hit the internet for more info. Here's where things get spooky.

I know the bike is an import. I think it is probably made under license by some other company. I know it is a 2004 reg. The trouble is I can't seem to find any info about this bike that post dates the late 1980's. I can't seem to find any evidence at all that my bike should even exist. I notice some members have CB125T's so I was hoping someone could shed some light. Where do they come from? Is it possible to get an up to date owners manual (no luck ordering an OEM from the Honda website) for a 2004 model? If not would the still-in-print Haynes manual for the "CB/CD125T & CM125C Twins (77 - 88)" be of any use? I'm thinking of basic maintenance, oil type, correct tyre pressure, that sort of thing. I mean, I'm assuming it's a 4 stroke and that it takes regular unleaded, but even that is a guess at this point...

Any help or info about this bike, especially new models, would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading,

Paul

PS. Here's a photo of the bike for reference:

https://www.geocities.com/paul_meyrick/bike/bike.html

[mchaggis]

Firstly, welcome!

Hrm. One thing which should be the case is that despite the fact that it is an import registered this year, it's still pretty much bound to be the same design as the old one, with a few extra gubbins thrown in. (Hydraulic (?) disc brake, electric starter etc.)

As such, a manual from the 77-88 run should probably be all you need for minor maintenance work, as the design has not changed much if at all since. The CG125 is like this too, in that the major components and in particular the engine are virtually identical after 20+ years of manufacture.

It is a 4 stroke, and runs on unleaded. It should take 10W40 oil fine too, Castrol GTX (not Magnatec) should be perfectly good. So far as I know, the oil filter does not need changing with the oil, as it's inside the engine like a CG125, but there is a thimble shaped metal gauze strainer thing (probably on the left hand side at the bottom of the engine) which needs cleaning when you change the oil.

The one thing I'm not sure about/ haven't been able to find out about is the electrical system. A site I looked athttps://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.t.scott/bikes/cb125t27.html said 6V, but almost everything runs on 12V nowadays. If you need to replace a bulb, the bulb will say on it.

Other than that, it looks like a fine machine, fast for a 4t 125, enjoy it and have fun on it! (And try not to crash as much as I did in my first few months. )

Oh, and to all those newbies complaining about slow karma making you need to preview, Meyrick got his first blob and a half from a single good post.
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[0ni]

You are in exactly the same position as me! Ive got a 1983 CB 125 TDE (apparently...) which I bought on friday. Your bike looks pretty much identical to mine except its clean lol!

All ive got is an MOT certificate and a V5..

[meyrick]

Wow, what a great welcome

Thanks for all the tips. I checked the battery and it's pretty vague, although it mumbles something about '12' on the side. I guess I'll check a bulb or test it with a voltmeter if I ever need to know for sure. I think I'll also get that old manual, even out of pure curiosity about the 80's range.

At least now I can fill the tank with petrol! Heh. And change the oil.

By the way, if there are any newbies reading this in the Bristol area that are looking for clothing etc. I found all the basics yesterday in the Fowlers winter sale at less than half price, it's well worth a look.

Thanks again for posting, mchaggis.

Paul

EDIT: Just saw your post 0ni. If you have a 1983 model and you are after some info, the Haynes manual I mentioned above should be quite relevant. Like I said it's still in print and not too expensive (+/-£15).

[hawkeye]

I've got a CB125TD-C Superdream. Had it as my learner bike, but blew it up one day whilst ragging it stupid!!!! Great bike mainly because its bigger than your average 125.

Anyway, as Oni said, it looks identical to the 80's version, except cleaner. I've got the Haynes manual (in fact I have two if you want to buy one for a tenner?) and I think that says the early early bikes are 6v. Best way to check is on any bulbs - they'll have a voltage rating on them somewhere.

The CB shares quite a few parts with other 80's Hondas. The engine is also in the CM125 (but different crank configuration), the brakes are the same as the Silverwing and various other pieces are shared.

Anyway, welcome from a fellow newbie and enjoy
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[Keith]

Hey meyrick.

Nothing more to add to the other posts, just wanted to say welcome.

Also, love the bike, very nice machine!

Enjoy her.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

That just looks like a late 125 Superdream. Think they were imported with those wheels at the very end, possibly onto the last year they were sold here.

Fairly certain it will be 12V. The CB125T was 6V but was also kick start. If you are not certain take a peek at the battery. If it has 3 plugs on the top it is 6V, 6 plugs and it is 12V.

All the best

Keith
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[meyrick]

Thanks guys. I have already fallen in love with it I can't ride it yet though because the last hour of my CBT was called off when I became mildly hypothermic. I don't recommend doing 40+ mph in zero degrees Celsius wearing denim jeans, a jumper and a light anorak!!! I can't wait to take it out of the garage.

I think I got an absolute bargain, but just out of interest, given that it is an '04 reg in 'as new' condition with 1313 miles on the clock, what do people think would be a fair price to pay

Paul

EDIT: PS. I got it from a dealer, not private sale, if that makes any difference...

[Frost]

Try thrashing it and see what its like in top gear.
You may find top gear isnt tall enough to cruise at around 60mph, so the thing might overheat a bit on long journeys.
I found mine would pull top gear at 15mph and topped out at around 75mph. After changing the rear sprocket i got it to go 90+. Didnt take too long to get their either.

Mine was great! 75mph, 4 stroke twin, micron stainless 2 into 1 exaust, 100mpg+, sidestand and center stand, electric starter!

Shame about the iron hard tires :S

The CB125 is a great,cheap introduction to biking. Enjoy it!

[Gazdaman]

looks like a good £1000s worth to me. Possibly more.

the 04 reg is irrelevant I guess since it's not actually a year old is it? nice low mileage. Nice looking bike, ridiculously clean.

Now how much did you pay?

Gaz

[0ni]

Cheers mate just picked up the haynes manual i needed (along with one for the gixxer 600 ), seems pretty straightforward - lookin forward to taking mine apart and putting it back together again!


Not going to bother polishing it - will only get dirty again

Your bike does looks "as new" - I love the wheels on it!

[meyrick]

[0ni]

How does it run? Bear in mind that with only 1000 miles on the clock it has barely been run in so a more experienced biker will probably tell you about that...

I paid £500 for my 1983 21 year old CB 125 T which has 36,0000 miles - uve got a bargain there one way or another!

Also if its registered as a new bike then you shouldnt have to get an MOT done for the first 3 years - is this correct?

[meyrick]

[mchaggis]

[Kickstart]

Hi

It could well be a brand new bike that has sat in a warehouse for 15 years. I know that you can still get a brand new unregistered RD250LC if you want one.

Top speed should be a touch over 70mph. They have 12hp (the older CB125T had 16hp). They do need to be revved a fair bit though.

All the best

Keith
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[bikedudextrm]

I done my training and test on one of them, a good bike that made the test easy.
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[meyrick]

Ahaaaa! Mystery solved, mystery solved!

I was in the garage staring longingly at my bike (CBT instructor still hasn't called ) and I noticed the name of a dealer stamped on the bottom of the number plate - doh!

I just called them and it turns out Honda still make the CB125T, just not for UK export. My bike was brought into the country by an independent importer. So, the reason my bike is so insanely clean and to answer Gaz's question conclusively:

[mchaggis]

[0ni]

[meyrick]

Heh. All is well, CBT booked for Tuesday I wasn't angry

Paul

[8316]

bit late now, but welcome!
and you have a nice bike. look after it!
hope the cbt goes well
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[meyrick]

Just took the bike out for the first time

My dad drove it down to a local car park, with me pedalling like a maniac trying to keep up on my mountain bike. The conditions were pretty bad though. Freezing cold, pitch dark, quite a small space, lots of kids about calling me a ped boy (It's a f***ing 125!?!? Come on, does it really look like a ped? ). Once we switched to a better location I made more progress.

It's about as different from a 50cc twist'n'go as it could possibly be and it seems to have more of a kick than the CG125, despite being a lot quieter. I felt like an american (no offence) in a manual car, jolting forward way too much - need to get that right hand under control. I was improving towards the end, but I only had about 30mins on the bike in total. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have more time on it, weather permitting.

My dad wants one! He misses his Honda 750, poor bloke, from 20 years ago. He hasn't had a bike since...

Paul

[0ni]

Yeah I noticed a big difference from the CBT bikes on my CB 125 - plenty of low down grunt Also quite a forgiving ride!

Glad you enjoyed it!