125 Commuter for little brother

[A100man]

HI All

My brother (45) suggested he might get a YZF 125 as a train station commuter (6 miles each way) but had reservations that as a middle aged man he might look a bit of a dick - naturally I confirmed this. I also mentioned that this is too 'nickable' and that he should get his test and buy a GS500 or similar.

BUT is there a 125 he could have and retain some cred? My suggestion was a VanVan, any others..?

Cheers

J
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750, SL1000

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600, Skorpion

[Fizzoid]

YBR?

It certainly looks like what it is, a 125 commuter

It's since been replaced with the YS125, if you're considering buying new/nearly new
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[AshWebster]

[Loui5D]

Varadero?

[Rogerborg]

[Fizzoid]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

He was channelling the essence of Tef.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Cadbury]

I kinda like the look of the new CB125R
https://www.semisena.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Honda-CB125R.jpg

Hides it's 125-ness quite well I think. No idea how much they are, I imaging they aren't cheap as they are brand new (maybe not even out yet...)
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NC700x.

[stevo as b4]

Why is he concerned on one hand about looking like a dick, and on the other fancying the racy 125's that do always make you look daft.

And why hasn't he considered a plain Jane 125, like a CG or YBR as to my knowledge no-one has ever looked a dick on these kinds of bikes, unless your 25st. He could also consider a trail bike, especially if he fancies off road riding in addition to just a 12mile commute a day. Its not very often that the people that turn up at the office in a bob tailed jacked up Land Rover Discovery with winches, snorkel and oversized rock eater tyres get called a dick to their face at least.

This might be because people know they don't give a shit, or because they are generally big and tough enough not to care.

He could of course pass his test and buy a scabby GS500 etc, but for a 6mile commute it's barely worth it unless it's 70mph+ roads and would only just about get it warm enough to run well long term.

I get your perceived idea that a tatty GS500 is possibly maybe less likely to be nicked than a flash 125 or any 125, because they are light enough to carry away. But didn't BCF disprove this theory and decide that a big and heavy 250-300kg is no safer against theft than a scooter would be these days?

Tell him to get what he wants in this short life, but take serious security precautions and also not to care what people think. Its possible to be thought of as a wanker or fool no matter what you ride or drive.

[Evil Hans]

[stevo as b4]

4k is standard though now for a non budget Japanese 125. I know inflation fucks with this but there were £4000 Cagiva's and Gilera's etc back in 94, so nothing has changed?

The nearest Japanese equivalent to my 1986 Kawasaki 125 is £4495 (WR125R). There's some more equivalent European 125's for more, and some much higher spec ones for £5500-7000.

[A100man]

Thanks chaps - the usual pearls of wisdom and unguarded critique from BCF.

Indeed we should all be big enough to shrug off thoughts of dickishness as we amble through this life but I guess it's easier said than done. I will pass him the link to this thread and throw in the Honda Grom for good measure.

TTFN
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750, SL1000

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600, Skorpion

[Panda1909]

Perhaps a Derbi Terra?

[WD Forte]

A 125 is a 125 basically all commuters.
For a 12minute ride, leave it at station all day then 12 min ride home
machine, just tell him to MTFU and get a twist and ghey scooty
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bikers smell of wee

[AshWebster]

[Powderhead]

YBR. CBF. CG. A normal commuter 125 looks fine, in my opinion.

A grown adult on a 125"R" looks a right dick
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"Now at inspector level!"

[Evil Hans]

[johnsmith222]

[WD Forte]

I think they're a larf for pootling about town
and if you live a in busy city you don't have to
tap dance on the gears and grab the clutch a thousand times a day

The bigger ones are damn pricey though, even older ones
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bikers smell of wee

[stevo as b4]

Yeah a twist and go maxi style for a nice relaxing commute to the station would tick my box's too. The issues are used prices and theft risk or desirability. I think we expect twist and go scooters to be much cheaper than a motorbike but they ain't.

Oh and I'm a right Wanker then, as I drive a 24yr old Rover.

[grr666]

[stevo as b4]

Call me a miserable fucker, but I just don't get how you can have a standard factory M2, M3, M4, M5 that has an engine with turbochargers hanging off the side. They ain't no M car in my opinion.

Im interested to hear how the magazines review the new generation of your Suzuki swift sport. As the little turbo engine I think has a good chance of ruining the fun to drive nature of that car. Saying that the new swift isn't much of a looker compared to yours so how it drives might not matter much.

[grr666]

[Tdibs]

To your original option, the vanvan is a mega easy going, low seat height. Not pannels to fuck if you drop it.

Pretty much whatever 125 is local and in budget/good nick though really.
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[A100man]