Best 125cc for me?

[adam277]

Hi,

Gave up bikes about a year ago now I've decided that having a car that can do 150mph+ isn't very good when it takes 40 minutes to do a 10 mile commute even if I save 5 minutes putting leathers and a helmet on.. well they heated seats are a nice touch as well..

Anyway I've seen reason and I want to get a reliable, comfortable 125.
I know JAP is generally best so what would you get?
I basically do a 5 mile stretch on a dual carriageway with the rest being 30 zones.

I'm torn between
CBF 125
YBR 125
Suzuki vanvan (looks really comfortable which is weird because I hated them a few years ago)
Varadero would of been great but people really know the value of them now and prices are going up.

CBF seems to have the best MPG by far but I am willing to change my mind as I've heard they rust way too quick.

I'm also open to getting a bigger CC bike but I have a budget of £1500 so I doubt I'll get a decent bike over 125cc that is also does high mpg.

I know the scooters do the best MPG but my pride cant take driving one of those things round. Plus they can be quite fiddly when they go wrong with a naked 125 everything is easy.
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Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current

[NJD]

Your budget is healthy but the distance isn't; I used to ride around 7-9 miles but swapped routes once I'd got comfy with my first, and current, big bike because I could tell that on roads with a 30 mph limit, and spending most of the time below that, I wasn't really letting the engine breath and was wasting what power it has.

Perhaps, if you've got a license, something in the 300-500 cc category might suit your needs and provide you with a bit of power for the odd social ride?

A scooter, or 125, would get the job done, and would be ideal in winter, but would I fudge recommend that engine size as an only bike.

Edit: increase mileage and get bigger bike.
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[thx1138]

I've owned both the vanvan 125 10plate and the cbf125 14plate

cbf is better for commuting imo, as the fuel economy is so much better

only time I prefered the vanvan was when the weather was bad, as the cbf got blown about more, skinny wheels and taller - though possibly also the fact I had the larger official honda screen


build quality of the vanvan was better, both needed looking after, but the honda much more so, I washed my cbf125 at least once a week, and applied acf50 liberally, and was still disappointed by the rust streaks and corrossion that appeared on the cbf. I used fuelly, and logged every ride for the cbf (sad muppet that I am) and got an average 120something mpg, and a best of about 139

[Courier265]

[adam277]

[stinkwheel]

Where have all the CB400/CB1s gone? Jap import one of those will go round the clock and sip fuel.

You'd get a tidy CB500s for that and they can do in the 60's to the gallon if ridden steadily.

With a bigger budget, an NC700 would probably fit the bill.

Or go the other way and get an innova 125.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Courier265]

[stevo as b4]

I don't know very much about anything, but I do know that the CBF/YBR 125 wouldn't be the right 125 for me. Then again I don't commute, but I have on both bikes and scooters in years gone by.

I like Stinkwheel's suggestion of a bigger bike (not burdened by 125 tax) like the CB500 etc as they can really sip the fuel, or they can get a fucking shift on and hustle.

Alternatively if going for a smaller, simpler and lighter bike for just a commute on, then the Innova or any big wheeled scooter would easily do it for me and tick all my box's.

But I wouldn't tick the box that says close to your heart strings or, adrenaline junkie must have like say an Aprilia RX or Cagiva Supercity 125 would do.

[Rogerborg]

Any low tuned single or twin twin ridden at 125 speeds is going to return close to 70mpg. I get 65mpg from my Tractor, 75 from the Ninja and well over 80 from the Enfield on a suburban/urban commute.

Consider CB500, ER5, the early ER6s can be had in budget (eBay selling prices, not dealer asking prices).

But if you want over 100mpg, it'll have to be a 125.

I wouldn't have a CBF125 if you gave it to me. Well, I would, but then I'd sell it on. Every example I've seen in the wild has been shockingly rusted, and not just in a few places, but all over.

YBR125 remains the least risky proposition. Dull, but not as much as a scooter, and probably a bit better than an MSX125 on your NSL stretch.
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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

[adam277]

Tricky.

The problem I have with buying a 20/30 year old bike from eBay is that reliability may be an issue. I know with a naked 125cc if its a dud just by looking at it. e.g. suzuki vanvan is pretty much a seat attached to an engine and some wheels I want that simplistically because in my experience the more complicated the bike the more that can go wrong.


I take your point on the CBF though.
BTW to add more clarity. The entire point of this exercise is to get rid of my 6 pot BMW which can cost like £40+ a week in fuel with a cheap bike that would probably cost £10 a week. So I can save up for a proper bike ^_^''
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Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current

[linuxyeti]

A VanVan could well be fun, but, don't rule out some of the chinese 125's. If you can find a decent AJS JS-125, or one of the better Sinnis /Lexmoto bikes.

They'll need no more looking afther than a CBF125, and, may even hold the corrosion at bay better !!

Whichever you get, chinese/japanese/brazillian ...etc, you're going to need to look after them, and treat them to acf-50.

For your commute though, a 125 is ideal !
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[stinkwheel]

[Rogerborg]

[arry]

10 mile commute? 20 miles each day? 5 days a week?

Honestly - do the maths on the fuel bill. The difference between 70 and 100 mpg is going to be buttons.

[stevo as b4]

Arry makes a good point, as your commute is too short to really care what bike it's done on within reason. Now if your doing 60-80miles a day then the mpg difference and the link with tank size and range would come into play a bit more. Also the insurance difference between say a CBF125 and a CB500 would likely be negligible too.

Roger, I get the YBR is the least risky commuter bike, and the CBF has given itself a run away fuck that reputation too. But yeah strung out at 60mph on a boring Dual carriageway the YBR might be the best bike, most secure or stable etc. But if the commute was more in town the MSX or PCX would be far away better and more fun in traffic. I'd rather prat around looking silly on an MSX than be slightly better off on my YBR with top box and hand muffs etc.

OP with a thirsty 6pot beemer as your alternative transport I guess you won't be interested in a 35-45mpg 125 then?

[flearider]

ok I have a cb125f 2015 it's fine slight rust on external parts mirrors pegs ect .. and I get 220miles to the tank
the old cbf125 are as you say rust buckets even had to take Honda to c.a.b threatening court action .. theres a thread on here about it
now ybr's are ok but lower down but they still rust .not nearly as bad ..
those are both cheap bikes well the best of the cheap ones ..
thinking of getting a Suzuki 125 next hoping by the end of the month as they have £500 off at the moment ..

[adam277]

I'm leaning towards the vanvan now after seeing one and sitting on one.
My only gripe with it atm is the size of the fuel tank. I can't help but buy crap when i stop in fuel stations.

Looked on ebay at bikes near me and there is a ER5 near me that is decent but according to fuelly you only average about 40mpg from them?

There is also several Suzuki GN250 near me.. can anyone recommend them? They all seem quite cheap and rust free.
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Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current

[Courier265]

[Rogerborg]

[flearider]

[quote="Rogerborg"]

[arry]

[adam277]

[arry]

I mean the difference between a 'proper' bike and a 125 - and how you'll really not save that much over the course of a year going for high MPG options. This is even less noticeable a saving when coming from what you're spending on the car.

For example, at £1.30 a litre it'll cost you £492 in fuel to do 5000 miles on a bike that does 60 to the gallon. That number becomes £369 at 80mpg, £295 at 100mpg. That's 200 quid a year difference to have something that's truly fit for purpose and be able to thrash it a bit.

No brainer for me.

[G]

[adam277]

Little update Sold the car so all that is left is to buy the bike.


Here is what is near me that I like: cbf600, ybr125, cb500, er5 and a bandit 600. There is also a CBF 250 but I know very little about them (maybe this will be a good option?)

I really like he cbf but it's on the upper end of my budget.
Only thing putting me off of the YBR is the top end speed.. I can't visualise in my head if it will bother me or not.

Basically I live in Basildon(Essex) and I do a commute 10 miles to work everyday 9-5 so fudged by traffic getting to work and back. The road is sometimes clear but I'm quite happy to plod along at 60-65mph as its a very short distance.

What will bother me is if I quit that job as there is a chance I may work over the river at Swanley ( and thus have to deal with Dartford bridge everyday). Again traffic is a nightmare near the bridge so a motorbike is great but it is technically a motorway so the inability to overtake effectively might annoy me. Also I doubt the wind will be fun on the bridge with a naked 125.

Common sense is telling me to give up the 125 idea but I'd like to hear peoples advice if they are up for sharing. Does anyone go over the bridge regularly on a 125?
Until I buy the bike and commute on it for a bit I just cant tell if they lack of power will bother me lol.. its frustrating.
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Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current