New to Motorbikes

[RiejuXuu]

Hello everyone, im new to this all motorbike world and im thinking of getting a 125cc motorbike, i just turned 18. I was looking at vlogs of a few guys with 50cc Riejus riding and cruising and really got into it, but i think i want atleast a 125cc. The whole biking world seemed so awesome and i was so excited to get a bike.

I started to look at used bikes and wondered what a ''stroke'' meant, i saw there was 2 and 4 on different bikes and i thought whatever it's problably nothing major but later i searched 2 stroke vs 4 stroke... After i read some threads about the topic i wasn't sure if the motorbike world is as awesome as i thought... I thought Honda and Mustang owners arguing was bad until now.

IM SO CONFUSED!!! I could maybe only read the topic for 5 minutes before shutting the page down it was a clusterf*ck. So the information i gathered during these 5 minutes was:

4 strokes more complex
4 strokes much harder and expensive to maintain
2 strokes are faster
4 strokes suck
2 strokes suck
4 strokes are much heavier
2 strokes break down
4 strokes break down and are expensive to repair and maintain
125cc 2 stroke makes the same power as a 250cc 4 stroke.
2 stroke get way worse fuel consumption
4 strokes are better nowadays
2 strokes are more fun
4 strokes cost you tons of money and most people get tired of them after the first rebuild, supposedly a ''rebuild'' can cost over 400?
4 strokes are better for daily? I dont really care for comfort when i ride a dirtbike tbh.

There were much more things than that that i forgot to mention but im sure you know it all. So the bikes im looking at are the Rieju Marathon Pro 125 4 stroke or the Aprilia SX125 2 stroke. Both are 2013 Models. All i want is an everyday rider and the reason i dont want a sportbike is because i want to ride in the winter too. By the way what MPG/KPL do these get? If a 125cc 2 stroke really gets the same power as a 250cc 4 stroke then buying the Rieju would be a bummer.

IM SORRY FOR THE LONG THREAD BUT IM VERY CONFUSED AND TORN BETWEEN THE TWO.

[Andy_Pagin]

I'd suggest you start off with one of the default 125 learner bikes, CG/cb/ybr 125, all solid reliable Japanese machines.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[P.addy]

Buy a 4 stroke.

[Nemo]

I agree that 4 strokes have more components to go wrong, but as long as you keep on top of the servicing they can last forever.

Paddy has a 125 4 stroke on nearly 76000 miles, a 2 stroke probably would have died at under half that mileage.

You'll find it hard to find modern 2 strokes though due to emissions.

I'd suggest you get 4 stroke and learn to change oil and filters.
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Previously owned: Kawasaki KH125, Suzuki GP125, Suzuki GX 125, Honda CB125 TDC '83, Honda ntv 600, Kawasaki ER5, Kawasaki ZZR600, Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille
Now own: Ducati 848 evo

[c_dug]

[Zero]

I assume you have completed your CBT? If not then doing that would give you a really good idea of what to expect from a four stroke 125cc.

If you have... nice one.

For ease of maintenance and fairy hassle free riding you really can't beat a Japanese single cylinder, four stroke 125cc motorcycle.

If you stick with Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha you can't go too far wrong. Parts for most of them are fairly cheap and very easy to get hold of.

To be honest whatever you end up with will be a lot of fun, just try not to spend too much money on it to begin with. Unless you have money to burn on a bike that has a high chance of getting dropped, and a guaranteed chance of getting dropped if you ride in winter.

To sum it up...

A four stroke is a reliable marriage, a two stroke is the affair, and a cheap non Japanese bike is internet dating.
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'01 Suzuki GZ125 - scrapped
'91 Kawasaki GT550 - given away
'95 Honda VRX400 / '08 Yamaha XT660R - current bikes

[RiejuXuu]

Well it wasn't hard to find a modern 2 stroke aka Aprilia SX125, as far as i've understood bikes are pretty straight forward... When buying a car it's a little harder. With bikes the brands aren't really THAT important? And what is it about emissions? You are allowed to drive a Veyron but a 125cc Bike creates too much emission? Someone please clear me up.

So what makes the 4 stroke get double the MPG than a 2 stroke does? Can someone tell me straight forward how many Kilometres i could cover with 1 liter of fuel with an Aprilia SX125? Longetivity/Reliability of the bike is not my priority, i want an everyday rider but still have some fun, if i was looking for a reliable everyday commuter i would buy a car... im not saying cars cant be fun (Nissan 200SX hell yea) but you get my idea. and shouldn't bikes get like a million mpg since they have a much smaller engine than a car and weigh 1/10th of a car? Are they underengineered or is it because of the high rpms? Look at this badboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGi2-iFBYXU

[clancy]

Buy a 4 stroke 125. 2 strokes need to be well maintained or are probe to problems, and there all owned by 17 year olds who rag them and font look after them so they normally fall to bits

The amount of threads on here like "help my rs125 has broke" is ridiculous

4 strokes are very reliable, plenty quick for a new rider and fun. I would advise if your planning on taking bikes further than a 125, don't spend a heap of cash on some shiny new 125. Just buy a tidy CG125 to use until you do your test, a bike like that will always hold its money too
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KLX 300r

[Frost]

Day to day a 4 stroke is much easier to look after. Keep the oil topped up and change it from time to time and you're sorted. However abuse it and neglect it and the problems will be very expensive to fix.

2 strokes are more fun, more powerful, but are also more of a faff. You need to put 2 stroke oil in them that gets burned with the fuel. They are more sensitive to being thrashed when cold and can fail without much warning.

[XanderZZR]

Loved my rs125, would dearly love a mint rs250. You can't beat a stroker for the smell and giggles.

That said... Day to day get a 4 all the way.

[RiejuXuu]

Aprilia makes great bikes, my friend has an RS125. Rieju maybe isn't that well known but that's no reason to put it off, im a noob but haven't heard anything bad about them. Doesn't have to be Japanese necessarily... I would agree with you on cars tho. And im planning to buy a new bike from a dealer not used.

So if a 250 4 stroke makes the power of a 125cc 2 stroke then a 125cc 4 stroke makes a power of a 50cc 2 stroke?

Okay it seems like everyone are suggesting a 4. Do 2 stroke get worse mpg because the oil burns with the fuel?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BXAd9ze3Q4 PLEASE read the comments on this video, people seem to have VERY strong opinions here. And 99% of the people seem to be cheering the 2 stroke. But im guessing a 450cc 4 stroke would get the same if not better mpg than a 250cc 2 stroke?

The bike im looking to buy: https://www.nettimoto.com/rieju/marathon/1527776

[clancy]

[RiejuXuu]

I dont want a CG125 or any of these oldies, i want a MODERN bike. And i need to get around winter too. Man this is hard as hell. And why does some old 125cc get 100+ MPG and a 2013 125cc get some 50-70?

[clancy]

The latest CGs aren't old but anyway, the modern equivalent would be a cbf125 or Yamaha ybr125. The ybr is probably the best option


Modern bikes get good MPG too, depends wgat model your looking at. Are you in about buying a brand new dealer bike or just a newish bike ?
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KLX 300r

[RiejuXuu]

Well it's not an official Rieju dealer, just a dealer that sells bikes, it's brand new 2013, not used. I want a dirtbike/supermoto, a YBR is not one.

[clancy]

Go for a reiju 125 then if that's what you want.

If your planning on doing your test in the next few years though I would buy a slightly older bike. A brand new bike will lose far more value than a second hand one
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KLX 300r

[rac3r]

Could go for an Aprilia RS4? (not that I know much about them)
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[RiejuXuu]

Okay all i want to know now is the fuel consumption... I keep searching about both of these bikes to find the MPG but cant find it.

Still looking to know what MPG does the SX125 get... I heard it could be as low as 30-40? Correct me if im wrong... and god i hope i am wrong. Before i got interested in bikes i was on the edge of buying a Civic Type R and to think that a K20 would get the MPG of a 125 hurts.

[clancy]

Fuel consumption will be fine, Most 125s would get 70-100 mpg

Fuel consumption on bikes is always small especially compared to cars. I wouldn't worry about it, you only really get bad mpg on powerfull bikes when your gunning it
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KLX 300r

[RiejuXuu]

Yeah you are right and you have been very helpful and answering my questions but im just bothered that a 125cc engine gets the same MPG as you average car even tho it is a 2 stroke, it just bothers me. Well then i could just get a 4 banger but then that will bother me because it's just slower than a 2 banger.

Looked up the MPG of the SX125. 35... review overall says it's bad. https://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Aprilia/Aprilia-SX125-2008-current/

Well i'll just look up some videos of the Rieju and the Yamaha WR125

[clancy]

Yeah I'd guess the 2 strokes would be worse on fuel

Do the bikes you like not come in a 4 stroke option ? They are still pretty nippy, have you ever ridden either ? You might be surprised, they'll still do 80mph odd which is quick enough for anything except motorways really
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KLX 300r

[RiejuXuu]

I would be happy if i could get out atleast 60mpg from a 2 stroke 125cc while still sometimes thrashing it.

[clancy]

Btw what is the exact reiju your looking it ?

As I thought no one makes 2 strokes anymore anyway
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KLX 300r

[j.silvs]

As a new owner of any bike do not get a 2 stroke. You won't know how to maintain it and as you said you want to thrash it.

Look at the yam wr

Yes there is a big difference in the makes. It's like buying a VW against a vintage skoda.

trust me, a 4 stroke is for you. Don't worry about mpg figures, you will save money and time!

[johnsmith222]

I agree with the above and suggest you get yourself a 4 stroke 125 like a YBR125 or something. Learn how to do things like oil changes and the likes and other various maintenance jobs and go from there.

Bear in mind that MPG isn't the only thing to consider with 2 strokes as they also drink and burn oil with the fuel. This can get expensive if you've got a highly strung 2 stroke and can't risk cheap oil in it.

4 strokes obviously need oil changes but they are around £2.50 to £5 per 1000 miles.