new to road bikes

[markcwalker88]

Hi guys, forum looks very helpful

i am new to road bikes, I've ridden motorcross before, i am looking to get my CBT and progressing into my full licence maybe in a few years, gradual progression.

i have noted that height isn't always an issue and that its leg length which causes more of a factor, which is approx 800mm

i have been looking at either aprilla rs125 or the yamaha yzf r125, any advice, performance is obviously a contributing factor

sorry am sure these questions are asked a million times a week

thanks guys for any advice

[GeorgeB.]

Hi, welcome to the forum

While the two bike are similar in size and design, they have two completely different engines - The RS is a 2 stroke while the YZF is a 4 stroke. I recommend you look into the differences between the two

Other things considered, I've only ridden the YZF and that felt like an uncomfortable barge, too big for a 125 but not powerful enough to compensate for it.

The few accounts I've heard on the RS all said it's a hoot to ride and possibly one of the best handling 125s out there.

Personally, i'd go for the RS. But you need to go out and have a sit on the both of them too, see which one you find most comfortable.
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Current: '99 Fazer 600 | '99 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE
Previous: Keeway TX125 | CBF 125 | CB400SF Project Big One
CBT 04/12/12 | Theory 03/12/13 | MOD 1 06/01/14 | MOD 2 13/01/14

[Monkeypony]

You can't ride a full power RS 125 on a CBT can you?
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[P.addy]

[dydey90]

[GeorgeB.]

[Teflon-Mike]

They are little bikes, with little difference... at least to performance.
No 125 is fast, even the fastest, non learner-legal 125's like fully unrestricted RS125 is barely as quick as a thirty odd year old Honda 250 commuter! And probably more fragile.
Two-stroke RS125 is expensive to run. If you look after one, then it demands top quality two stroke oil and frequent top end rebuilds, which ent cheap. If you dont look after one... then it needs even more frequent top end rebuilds and probably the occassional new crank-shaft!So still ent cheap!
Four-Strokes? Well, the YZF has yet to prove itself long term; though so far from what I can tell, there doesn't seem much wrong with the engineering; if they suffer its usually traditional over enthusiastic newbie numptiness and quest for speed.
Still expensive for what they are and can do.
Hence voted 'other'.
Benchmark Learner-bike is the humble Yamaha YBR125. Half the price new of a YBR, they tend to be pretty dependable, reliable, cheap to look after and easy to live with, and are adequetly as quick as anything else.
Other humble, utiliterian humdrum learner-commuters do similar job with similar levels of reliability and performance; step away from them towards stuff with 'styling' whether its sporty or cruiserish or off-road-ish, you are paying to get looks and loose practicality and functionality.
So how much is the style worth to you?
End of the day, helmet hair and acne dont make any-one look particularly great; nothing looks good with L-Plates, and 99% of the population dont even SEE motorbikes.... especially if they are pulling out of a side turn... let alone care what they might look like when they pull them out from under thier bumper and call you an idiot for riding like a loonie, being in thier way!
Takes your pick and pays your money.... it is ultimately your money, so your call.
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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?'

[Rogerborg]

How old are you?

19+? Neither, do your A2 tests ASAP, you're just wasting your time on a tiddler.

17-18? Get whatever's cheapest and treat it like a bitch hi Mumsnet, as you'll be chopping it in the second you hit 19 and do your A2 tests anyway.

If you really must have a plastic bike, I'd suggest the CBR125 for no better reason than that I like 'em, and that's a perfectly legitimate argument for a bike.

Or if you see something like a running, taxed and tested Lexmoto/Kaisar XTR come up for £350 (and they do) then don't rule it out, because if you keep it running then it won't cost you a penny in depreciation over 2 years, and that's money that can go to your training and tests.

Just change the oil as soon as you get it home, if not sooner.
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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