What 125 is best for me?

[BoYSiE]

Hi, im 17 soon and i am deciding wat 125 to get. My mate has a new rs125, but i like the look of the nsr125, and i would probally only be able to get a second hand bike. Only thing is, i have seen his rs125 go, and it is fast, i was wondering if an nsr would keep up, as i dont want to be lagging behind.
Any advise?
Thanks.

[Flip]

RS is quicker than the NSR.

[Ste]

Rs is very fractionally quicker, however whichever bike is being riden by the better rider will win. NSR does about 100 and RS does about 105, however neither of them get there overally quickly. Whats the budget, are you wanting it to do anything other than be faster than your mates bike?

[AdamBoyle]

And bear in mind will you ever being doing 100/105mph on it? I think the RGs are a good buy for the right money, maybe not as quick but id rather have the extra £1000 in my pocket...

[dodsi]

if you want a fast bike buy a normal 60-70mph 4t 125 CG/SR etc

then get your licence, and buy a bigger bike you will save money in the long run, ask keith he will tell you how expensive RS/NSR/mito's etc are too run!

[BoYSiE]

Thanks for that, i like the Nsr and it is a fair amount cheaper than the Rs, if theres not that much difference in proformance, then i might go for the Nsr.
Ste, i dont to be faster than my mates Rs125, i just wanted a bike that will keep up, if the Nsr does 100mph, then that will be enough.

Thanks again,
jon

[instigator]

Bear in mind the NSR is a little more difficult to derestrict than the RS, but I'm assuming you havent passed your test yet so you'll only have 15bhp to play with, as will the RS if your mate hasn't passed his test either.

If both are at 15bhp, they should average hit 70-85 maximum I would have thought.

[Sacarius]

An NSR is geat to learn on, maybe not quite as easy as a 4t 125 but you can have much more fun. A good way to get into sports bikes, good for building confidence aswell as getting used to the type of bike. With a decent amount of care and maintanence the bike will hold out fine. If you get one with low mileage the 4k service will only cost £50 and (spark plug, washers and 10/40 oil..
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[Marc_Buck]

I would recommend a dt125, not quite as fast, but a hell of a lot more fun.
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94 fzr600r

[0ni]

Get an old skool CB125 T, cheap as cheaps, can be dropped and no kickstart like those dang CGs!

Fairly brisk as well

[BoYSiE]

[Josh|RD125LC]

You could always consider a Yamaha TZR125. I have heard that they are pretty quick and would most probably keep up with the RS. Failing that, you could always go for a RD125LC. They are not as fast though . Tuned they can do around 90mph but I reckon they would beat an RS off the line. Also there is the Cagiva Mito. That would beat the RS but it is quite a lot more expensive. Looks better than the RS too

[BoYSiE]

I do love the mito, u can pick up a second hand one for a resonable amount of money, but i spoke to someone with one, and he said that getting parts and a dealer to fix your bike if ever you need it, is impossible.

[Keith]

The RS is a gorgeous bike, both to look at and ride. Main problem being (and no, its not reliability ) the running costs. The bikes themselves arent that expensive, but then you add on stupidly expensive insurance, all the high grade 2T oil and terrible fuel consumption, it all mounts to an empty wallet.

A standard (but de-restricted) RS will hit 98mph, but will indicate anything around 110mph on the clocks. The NSR being a few horses less than the RS is only a slight bit slower, but more than capable than keeping up, depending on the rider.

Idealy, any of the sport 125's will serve you well for whatever you want to do, as long as you pick up a good one. Not one which has never seen below the redline in its lifetime. You'll be able to pick up ones around the same age, for the same sort of price, bar the Mito which often proves to be a fair bit more costly for a modern one.


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Aprilia RSV Mille R Edwards Replica - Aprilia RS250 - Suzuki GSXR600 Supersport Race Bike

[BoYSiE]

yes, my mates Rs125 according to him does 98mph, i was also thinking of getting the old Rs125, like the chesterfield shape. But seein as it would be a good 5 years old, i thought it would need too much maintainance.

[Josh|RD125LC]

Any bike you get is going to need maintenance. As people have been saying, most RS's are not as reliable as they should be and are going to be expensive. So it doesn't really matter if it is 5 years older. The Chesterfield model is a nice shape. I like it but I would much prefer the new Poggiali model. That is blingin'.

If your really that concerned about reliability and maintenance, go for an older 2 stroke sports bike like the Suzuki RG, Honda NSR (older models), Yamaha TZR. These are a lot cheaper, have the ability to keep up with the RS and parts are cheaper and more common as well. The choice is yours mate.

If I was in your situation and my mate had an RS125, I would go for something that is quick off the mark and something that would surprise him. I mean whereabouts apart from the parkways etc, are you going to do 100mph? Something quick off the line will provide him with a decent enough challenge mate.
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Keith]

[Bomberman]

[Keith]

[Josh|RD125LC]

Thats true. I suggested it because its a fast and quality bike. I would have one any day. They have the potential to keep up and even beat RS's. They have acceleration to match as well. Nice bike you have their, especially in black. Very nice.
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[stevo as b4]

I think the 2 best sports 125's are the 93-97 TZR125R (jap model) and the 92-95 RG125F. they in my opinion both look great, and are better looking than the late NSR's even if they are rarer, and in the case of the suzuki not as reliable, though even the RGF should be more reliable than the RS125. If i wanted an italian sports 125, the Mito is the only one to have! Its rarer than the RS, looks so much more special, and the bodywork at least is far more robust than the RS. I even think the Cagiva engine is a better reliability prospect than the RS, both given proper maintainence.
Its not worth spending loads on a new 125 unless your aiming to keep it for the duration of a restricted license.
I would get an older bike and do it up a bit. the TZR125L, NS125R, RG125 Gamma, or AR125. I think the MBX and RD125LC were also good in their day, but hard to find and get spares for now.

[Bomberman]

[Bomberman]

[mchaggis]

I could have sworn the TZR I saw parked at the uni was on a 53 plate... It might have been a 50 though, it wasn't clear.
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[dodsi]

Yes it must have been a nifty fifty. I think they look great!