Which 125 for a 30-mile round-trip commute into London?

[someguy]

Subject says it all. Must be learner-legal. Please give your reasons!

Thanks,
aytri

[scorpia4]

CBR 125R because its the only bike I've had a lot of experience with. But it does look very nice for a 125. I'm sure one of the senior forum members will have a better informed opinion.

[G]

NSR125, derestricted.
Light, narrow, reliable if you do some basic maintenance, some wind protection and ok power derestricted.
All in, you'll probably find yourself £2k or more up. Fuel will cost more, but this will likely be more than ofset by depreciation.
Also, if you crash it you won't lose nearly as much.

Spending nearly three thousand pounds on a slower 4 stroke than 30+ year old CB125T seems madness to me.

[someguy]

Should have clarified in the original post, but it needs to be learner-legal!

[G]

[P.]

I have a CBR125 2004 here you can buy for £500, its been sprayed black but its London, it'll be damaged in no time.

[someguy]

[G]

I would either A) buy paddy's CBR for £500, or B) do your DAS and get something like a £1k SV650.

Spending lots of money on a small bike is silly because 95% of people that have 125s and try something bigger find they want something bigger.

A bigger capacity bikes makes it easier to navigate through traffic - my commuter of choice for slow traffic was a GSXR1000. I chose a 144cc for fun riding elsewhere.

[notbike]

[someguy]

[G]

If you just want to 'try out biking', I'd go for the CBT and a cheap 125.

If you're happy to commit more money/time (but probably still less money than buying a new 125), I'd consider going straight for the DAS.

[someguy]

[G]

I'd be very tempted to have a look at what Paddy has offered above.

Otherwise, I'd be looking around for a £1k or so NSR in ok nick.
Still considering other CBR125s and probably Varadero 125s.

[TheSmiler]

[notbike]

[Rogerborg]

[The Tot]

Honda XR125L

You can get one for about a grand. No plastics means that there's nothing to damage. The taller riding position makes it easy to have a view over cars and traffic.

I remember that my handlebars were tall enough to clear car wing mirrors, but low enough to also clear the wing mirrors of buses.

Air-cooled engine similar to the CG125 is bombproof. And cheaper to insure than the CBR125. They're also great fun for pootling out into the home counties, as well as pulling wheelies and stoppies.

Cons? They're not THAT fast, so on dual carraigeways, you'll get buzzed by cars, but fine in the city commute. I used to drop my dad off from Edgware to Strand on a daily basis, and had no issues with 2 up london traffic.

Otherwise, Paddy's CBR125 for THAT price You can trust paddy
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[stirlinggaz]

Hi,
i wouldnt pick any of the bikes you have listed.
even though you will be commuting, doesnt mean you have to be bored stiff while doing it!
4 stroke : honda varadero, big "real" bike. virtually indestructable (ask Paddy) & decent upright comfy seating position. not built in india/china/thailand to a very strict budget using dubious materials (flux?)

2 stroke : NSR 125 (foxeye) seating/feet position is not quite as "sporty" as other 2t "race replicas" so its not quite as cramped compared to other sports 125's. probably the most reliable of them too. (im currently comuting on one & its not let me down yet)
parts are cheap enough & easy to obtain.
can be had in learner legal form, though it is impossible for anyone to be able to establish whether it is restricted or not would need to be dyno'd.
& if you do stick to a restricted bike, once you become bored of the 14bhp, its easy enough to double that powahh.

the varadero will be quite expensive to buy,compared to most other 125 4 strokes but if looked after, you shouldnt lose any money. they are dear for a reason. big, "proper" bike, good road "presence" not as feeble looking as most others. can do silly milages on that engine.

the nsr, buy as original as possible .ie : in original colours, with no add on tat (fake c/f indicators etc). keep it this way & you will end up selling it for more than you paid. most maintence is simple enough with 99% of jobs do-able with a basic tool kit.

cheers,
GAZ

[bogof]

[monkeybiker]

[Beehive Bedlam]

Varadero 125 I can't be arsed explaining why you will have to find out for yourself.

[bogof]

[barrkel]

[someguy]

[quote="barrkel"]

[Robster]

Varadero, maybe with a better seat on as mine used to hurt my bum after about 15 miles

They work... even with a fucked camshaft
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Up the bum no babies.