Yamaha YBR125 vs Suzuki Van Van 125cc

[dgeorge11]

I'm looking to purchase either the Yamaha YBR125 or the Suzuki Van Van 125cc as my first bike. I can imagine riding around the city and the odd longer rides at the weekend for a few hours. Perhaps a weekend overnight camping ride etc. I'm 35, have a full car license for years but have never ridden a bike.

Can anyone recommend one over the other for what I need?

Thanks,

[Ayrton]

I've owned a YBR but ridden a Van Van once for a cbt. They are both good bikes but I'd go for the YBR just because Vanvan's seem to fetch a premium because of the style.

[arry]

The YBR is the 'better' bike. The VanVan is the 'cooler' bike.

YBR is probably 5-10mph quicker top speed and is lighter / more agile in handling.

VanVan is softer, comfier, more bimble-bimble with that squishy rear tyre taking up a bit of the roughness of today's roads.

VanVan fit / finish will take more caring for if you want it staying nice.



Counter idea - don't buy a 125. You're 35 and if you end up liking riding bikes then you'll just want a bigger bike. Skip the BS and just get a bigger bike

[Zen Dog]

Wot arry said.
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Current - '94 VFR750FR, '00 VFR800FI Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

counter, counter idea - do actually buy a 125 and make it a vanvan (pref carb'd), and use it for a bit of urb ex stuff.

they are shit for the open road but great for cities and the back of the back lanes
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[A100man]

Birds love Van-Vans* . They come shipped as standard with a shitty stick.

*esp. uber cool 70s 2 stroke ones
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

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

[blamski]

maybe I'm coming in a touch late here, but I've been riding a YBR125 for a few months while going through the painfully slow process of getting my A2 here in Spain. I can only say that I love it. The couple of times I've taken it on the motorway hasn't been so much fun but its bearable for half an hour or so. Around the city its a blast.

The only thing I'd possibly swap it for is a CBR125, but as a general use small bike I reckon its hard to top
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inexperienced but enthusiastic middle aged CB500X owner

[symonh2000]

If I was choosing I would go for the YBR.

The Van Van styling really doesn't do much for me.

the CBR is a good option, not much more to buy than a YBR but better looking if sporty bikes are your thing and slightly faster.
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Four strokes is two strokes too many.

[Ste]

[struan80]

I would go with the Van Van. Had one on hire between doing my CBT and DAS. Nice fun bike. My mate had a YBR 125. I would go for this if you're taller.

[Andy_Pagin]

Doesn't the Van Van have a teenie weenie fuel tank?
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

actually, yeah - that's a good point

range is 100-ish miles iirc
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[grr666]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

and my cbr600f - or at least, it wasn't much over that...i'd be panicking a bit if i was out in the sticks and the trip rolled round to 120
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125