sandhu40
Derestricted Danger
Joined: 21 May 2011
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 Posted: 11:26 - 01 Jun 2011  Post subject: NEW/OLD Honda CG125 v Yamaha YBR125 |
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I started another thread asking for advice on a good scooter to buy but have encountered many issues.
I was recommended the Honda CG125 by many people on many forums. This was because I asked for a recommendation for an ultra reliable scooter. If it breaks down for a day or two it could cost me hundreds on lost work. I have looked on eBay and Autotrader and cant find a very new one. It seems they dont make new ones now? The newest one I could find was an 08 reg. Is it just that they are so good that owners hold on to them?
Whats the difference in reliability and MPG compared to the CBG or CBR? Lots of those available at a higher price.
The price I dont have an issue with. What I dont want is a bike that not been looked after. No oil changes etc etc.
I have also been recommended the Yamaha YBR and these are much cheaper.
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-YBR-125-RED-2010-model-/150606435860?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item2310d7d614#ht_500wt_1156
2010 model for £1500 with 5K on it.
or a another 2010 with 48 miles on clock for £1700
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2010-YAMAHA-YBR-125-CUSTOM-BLACK-/130525275151?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1e63e9a40f#ht_500wt_1156
I just wanted opinions on what to do? Buy new and get insurance free and knowledge that I will be doing the correct servicing or buy an older model and save on the initial cost? Is an older CG ok?
Also what about this one
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-New-Yamaha-Vity-125cc-2011-Excellent-condition-/110686650248?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item19c5703f88#ht_939wt_1139
Yamaha Vity 2011 651 miles on clock for just £1130? Seems a little cheap.
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Really need someones advice on how to get a 125cc scooter thats going to be easy for me to do my own maintenance and will do around 15-20K miles per year without breaking down more than once or twice. Whats too old and what too high a mileage?
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Want to avoid dealers as they have suspiciously low mileage bikes. ie 2008 models with less than 1000 miles.
Thanks again. |
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N cee thirty
Banned
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
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Teflon-Mike
tl;dr
Joined: 01 Jun 2010
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| Posted: 12:56 - 01 Jun 2011 Post subject: |
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The CG125 has a 'Cult' following. It's been around a long time, model was introduced in 1976, and has remained in production pretty much since. (A LOt of the 'legend' is retrospectively 'spun' though, they didn't sell on these shores in any numbers until the early '90's, when learner laws changed demanding full 125 for test, and insurance grops were rationalised, making the bike more attractive than 100ccc machines for cheap wheels)
This Cult status, and the 'Legend' you cant go wrong with a CG is propping up prices an awful lot, hence why you are only finding older bikes...
That and the fact that they were deleted from the UK Catalogues in 2007, so there are no 'newer' bikes, and any later registratuions will be older stock dribbled out after deletion.
YBR is a MUCH newer bike, and has only been around since about 2005 I believe..... in essence, Yamaha jumped in and filled the gap left by the CG when honda made it.
Honda's own substitute for the CG was the CBF125... which does the same job, but is a more sophisticated motorcycle, with more plastics around it, more equipment, and on the latest bikes, fuel injection and 'stuff'.
More atractive to a buyer of a 'new' motorcycle who doesn't ever expect to wave a screwdriver near it, but lacking the virtues of User Serviceability and low tech 'bothability' that made the CG the 'enthusiasts' machine it was.
I dont exactlky know what you are looking for.... YBR is a GREAT little bike, and I oft reccomend it on here, becouse at the moment it REALLY does represent one of the best value for money machines you can get, and offer a lot of reliability and dependability from being that much newer than even the youngest of CG125's....
BUT, 125's live hard lives. They are lightweight little bikes, NOT built with heavy duty engineering, like a bike bike might.
They then sell to either learners, who by defenition, rarely would be expected to know how to ride them properly, and are going to be rather hard on them, making clumsy gear changes, or being brutal on the throttle or ham fisted on the brakes..... even if they aren't out right 'hooligans' riding the thing like an idiot.
Then, they are unlikely to know how 'best' to look after them.... often they simply DONT, and ride them till something breaks... but even where a certain diligence to maintenence might be applied.... newbies often dont have that much experience or dexterity and wont always do it 'well', and will get the rear wheel alignment out and chew chains and sprokets, or they will over tighten brakes and have them binding, or they will get spark plugs cross threaded and strip the cylinder head threads.....
If not Learner Owners... though often as WELL as being Learners, owners of 125's will usually be 'Budget Bikers'... if they weren't concerned with ecconomy, they would buy something bigger.... yeah?
So, even if they aren't hard worn by numptiness, they will be pressed by ecconomics, and many budget owners, will stretch service intervals, or again, ride the wheels off them until something breaks.... and repairs, will as often as not be done 'on the cheap' with gaffer tape and cable ties, rather than buying nuts and bolts.
Buying a 2nd hand 'Learner Legal'... THESE are all factors you have to consider.
NOT impossible to find a decent 125, and looking at teh commuters, you stand a better chance than with more sporty or posey models, BUT end of teh day, they live in the same world of ignorance and ecconomics.
NEWER bike you buy, less chance it will have suffered AS much.... not garantee it WONT have suffered.
But, for whats out there at the moment... my money would go on a three or four year old YBR125.
The bike is what it is, and 'does the job'... as well as anything else, so who cares whether it has a nicer dash panel or an extra mph of speed.... or an extre mpg of ecconomy.... does the job.
Brand New, they are about £2,300, a couple of hundred quid cheaper than the Honda CBF..... which is a nicer bike.... but long term as yet unproven how 'livable' one might be.
As far as I know, they aren't discounting CBF125's, but 'last years' carburated YBR's (I think the latest model has gone Fuel Injected for emmissions) I have heard they ARE... and are flogging as little as £2K dead.....
THAT might be a VERY good long term buy....... and MIGHT convince me to buy brand new, rather than used.
I expect teh carburated model to hold vbalue better on second hand market as its more DIY maintainable, and with the discount taking a large chunk of 'depreciation' off the top.... well worth considering.
Otherwise, three or four year old YBR..... £1500 top book. Saves a grand over 'list' so the big hit of initial depreciation is over, and you can get a year or two's good service out of it, without resale falling significantly.
At three years old, the first MOT test is due..... before that new vehicle exemption applies, so I would wait until a bikes PAST its first MOT to weed out any warranty 'lemmons' that have had nightmare faults and spnt as much time in the service department as on the road, or bikes that have been sorely thrashed and abused and ridden into the ground, before any-one looks them over....
So, old enough to have lost big hit of depreciation, and to have been nicely 'run in'... Fresh MOT to give confidence they HAVE been 'run in' not 'run into'..... yest, still young enough to look pretty tidy, have plenty of life left in them, and NOT have so many owners abusing or neglecting them....
And pottentially BEST VFM motoring, by way of total cost of ownership, if you run for a year or two before shifting on, and getting another.
On pure ecconomics, the YBR makes just SO much sense.
Reliability wise and the 'common faults'.... all bikes have them, they are much of a much, and as much risk either way.... ulitimately, comes down to condition & maintenence.....
Newer YBR's far more likely to get 'lucky' than with an older GC, siimply becouse of their age, and exposure to numptiness and budget ecconomics.
Hence my reccomendation.
Whether that 'fits' and makes one most suitable for you, you have to decide for yourself.
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?' |
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