Help Choosing bike 125

[uk_ryan]

Hi ,
Looking for a decent 125 road bike for around town and small trips.
My budget is £800-2000 depending on the quality of the bike. I really like crosser/enduro looking bikes, easy to ride ,nippy and fun.
In my Short list;
Yamaha XT125
Yamaha WR125
Kawasaki KLX 125
Suzuki DR 125 SM

Other Oddball Choices;
Derbi DRD
Reiju SMX

I'd rather stick to the lower end of the budget so the wr125 is probably too much.
Not keen on looks of the ybr and cbf even though i've heard there good.
It would be great too hear your thoughts and suggestions,thanks Ryan

[MC]

WR's the pick of that list, but they're expensive. Good thing about the DR125SM is they don't seem to be very popular, so occasionally go for very reasonable money, only bad things I've heard are a few questions over build quality (like all Suzuki's then ).

XT has the same engine as the YBR, but being less desirable than the WR they go for reasonable money. Don't know much about the KLX.

IF budget's that important you might consider a Honda XR, has the ancient CG engine, and is pretty basic (manual choke, no fuel gauge etc.) Didn't like mine but it was a dog, other people on this forum have owned & liked them.

If budget wasn't an issue you could also consider a Yamaha DT. 2-stroke and they're going up in value, however they're already too expensive IMO.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[uk_ryan]

Thanks for the reply, the DT 2 stroke is too expensive for the age etc now,almost collectable.
WR's are holding there money well and decent ones are going for 3k,
i'm not spending over 2k on a 125. I can get a near new klx or dr for 2k hence the dilema.

[Rogerborg]

[uk_ryan]

Shame to hear about the suzuki as it's a really good looking bike for the cash, i've heard the kawasaki klx is very slow aswell. Maybe i should go for a XT or cheap WR if i can find one,

[Fladdem]

I like the older XL125R's I had a ride on one and it seemed OK, prefer it to the XR125L.

I also don't like that Suzuki DR engine, rode a marauder and a sinnis apache, but a mate blew the original and put a genuine suzuki DR engine in.

I found, doing 30, I couldn't get it happy in either 4th or 3rd, too high revs in third, too low in fourth. And I was looking for a 6th gear at 50. But that may have been down to sprocket sizes.

I like my mates XT 125X as well. seems to be very comfy, and he paid £700 for it in really good nick, 6,000 miles, old boy had it before.
____________________
Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Robster]

It hasn't been suggested this week so its alright if I say

Varaaaa



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/2001_Honda_Varadero_XL125V.jpg



Derooo!!!
____________________
Up the bum no babies.

[uk_ryan]

Varadero seems to command a bit of a premium especially with there age and although i'm sure it's good would prefer a WR if it was top of the budget. I'm trying to avoid kickstarts and chokes/carbs if i can so would probably rule the oldies out.
£700 for a XT with those miles sounds a bargain.

[fozziefoster]

I've read reviews that the klx is one of the worst 125's out there. If you're willing to spend 4000 on a wr125 then I would, it's also what I'm going to do, unless I can get a husqvarna te125 (pre 2014 model) as the husky is the best enduro 125 4 stroker in my opinion. 2 strokes I wouldn't personally touch, they are good in the sense you can de restrict them after license but pre license de restricting will have you nicked, and 2 strokes are less economic and need engine rebuilds much more often, for example, a 2 stroke ridden red line for motocross needs new piston rings every or every other race and probably a few new pistons over a year, one on a road, maybe new piston a year and rebuild after 2? Correct me if I'm wrong it's what I've heard!
For me, I'd go wr125r or x depending on if you want to take it on trails or whatever.

[uk_ryan]

what do you think would be better for resale, a yam wr "r" or "x"?

[Rogerborg]

Are you an accountant? Get a Harley.

It'll depend on age, mileage, condition and the weather when you're buying and selling, not the badge.

I noticed that you avoided the question of what experience is informing your opinion that crosser/enduro bikes have particular merits.
____________________
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

[uk_ryan]

I have 0 experience of enduro/crossers, i meant to say ;
Looking for a decent 125 road bike for around town and small trips,easy to ride ,nippy and fun.

I had a Aprilia RS125 many years ago, what is your opinion of the Enduro/Cross bikes?

I just wanted to know if a road based crosser is more popular than a enduro type bike.

[Fladdem]

[uk_ryan]

Thanks for the reply Fladdem, a YBR/CG/CBF is probably a better bet but i much prefer the look of a crosser.

[uk_ryan]

Gone for a WR125X pick it up next week , thanks for the help and advice.

[Fladdem]

Good choice.

PICS! PICS!PICS!PICS!PICS!PICS!PICS!PICS!
____________________
Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[merquis00]

[uk_ryan]

Thanks guys , good advice, really looking forward to my first trip. Will get some pics up when i have it back home. Any must have accessories?

[Fladdem]

A hooligan attitude?

I would probably recommend hand-guards for any off-road bike. But if it's not going off-road, don't bother with it.

Heated grips are meant to be nice on commuters. I'd like some at some point, but I'd knacker them off-road. A slightly noisier exhaust, helps people hear you better.
____________________
Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Darth-Simba]

Why not go for the Yamaha YBR? I am getting mine tomorrow and they are very nice bikes.
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Yamaha YBR 125cc 11 plate

[Rogerborg]

[Darth-Simba]

[uk_ryan]

I did consider a YBR darth, but in the end after keep looking i wanted something i really liked the look of,after all it is my hard earned and i have to live with it. Not knocking the YBR ,it's a very capable bike.
Get some pics up when you pick it up.