Where can I buy a 125cc bike from?

[reddeviljp]

There appears to be loads of chinese 125cc bikes all over the internet ( and believe me I've searched!) but a real lack of Yam's, Suzuki's or Honda's. Where is a good place to buy one for a reasonable price? Bastard ad's always seem to want a £1000+.
It seems easier to buy and ride a 500cc bike illegally than a 125cc legally! Why's there such a shortage and is there somewhere with plenty in supply?

[Rogerborg]

125s are always in demand, so good ones go fast and command a premium way in excess of their ability.

They also don't tend to get sold off cheap at the end of summer like more recreational bikes, of both the pointy-plastic and knobbly-tyre varieties.

So, no, sorry, there isn't a secret stash of them, which is one reason why Chinese-branded 125s are selling so well. Lexmoto claim to be the number #6 seller by units now.

tl;dr version - keep cash in hand, keep looking, and get in damn quick when one comes up.

Alternatively, have you considered paying for a training and test course on a school bike, getting your A license, and getting access to a much larger selection of bikes?
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
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

[reddeviljp]

[von1papen]

Gumtree, see plenty of Ybrs and CG's come up on a regular basis, Cg's around 300-600 quid ybrs tend to be closer to 800 being newer

[Kickstart]

Hi

125s are always in demand as so main purchasers are learners without that much money (hence a heavy demand for 2nd hand ones, and less prepared to buy new ones), plus the main users are those with little experience so they get wrecked, plus the cheap Chinese bikes have taken a large part of the new market without lasting to become usable 2nd hand bikes.

Plus point is that if you do spend the money on a reputable 125 and don't wreck it you will have a half decent resale value when you trade up.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[haroman666]

Research like fuck at places like here, talk to garages, and other people in the know.
Choose a bike you like (or 2).
And then look at Ebay, gumtree, local ads etc every day.
CBR125's go for mostly around the £1000 mark. I managed to get mine for £850. It's just a case of persistantly looking and then getting in there at the right time.
Good luck on your hunt!

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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[RePT]

Im selling a CG .. Message me if your interested ;p

[JoeDougieDoug...]

www.biketrader.co.uk?

Always loads of 125s on there. I was previously looking at 125s on there before I got my CBF from the local dealership. Nice mix of private sellers and traders as well

Good luck on your hunt bro!
____________________
CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[Rogerborg]

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[moppy]

I got a Suzuki VL 125 for sale, but am one of those bastards looking for more than £1000 :]

[Teflon-Mike]

Look at your reasoning, and you have the answer.
every one wants a 125 as without a licence thats all they can have.
Demand is high; supply is low; so price reflects supply and demand.

As Keith says; if you want 'cheap' you have to crunch the numbers.

Most cost effective way to a full licence is a three or four year old YBR125, MOT giving confidence its still good and not been thrashed to death while MOT exempt, and having lost bulk of depreciation to second hand value, but still young enough that it promices to be pretty tidy and reliable and useful.

But as most ecconomical way to a good bike and full licence hold prices well, and you are looking in the over a grand bracket, between £100 & £1500 to get one.

BUT get a good one, look after it, you could get nearly if not all your buy price back when you come to sell, making it expensive in the short term, but uber cheap in the longer run.

Its the old double edged sword that to save money, you often have to have money.....

And there is 'cheap' and there is 'ecconomical'.

A Lexmoto, 'Bike in a Box' for £999 brand new may seem 'cheap'; but take a £600 hit on depreciation, to own a sub-standard Learner-Legal, it's not so 'ecconomical'

Advice? Same as to every-one else; up the game; find the money to move into the regions fewer are prepared to; and where people will start thinking that for JUST that bit extra they might as well go brand new and locking themselves into credit agreements...

THERE if you can scrape the cash you will find the bargains, becouse others will baulk at it, but longer term, you'll do better.

OR you join the scrap; get cash; trawl the ads and tool up to act fast and take chances.....

There is no easy option, I'm afraid.
____________________
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?'

[reddeviljp]

Cheers for your help, chaps.Looks like it's cash in hand and get in there quick when I see one.

[Rogerborg]

Chap in the office is looking. I sent him a link to a Local 125 for Local People that had just hit Gumtree at 9am (no MOT or tax, sticking rear brake, dent in the tank), and by the time he called at lunchtime, there were already two other buyers lined up to view it this afternoon. I very much doubt it'll be there by the weekend.

Be quick like a ninja. A ninja made of £20 notes.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
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

[reddeviljp]

[reddeviljp]

Found one with a dealer on a 54-plate (2004) and he wants £950. Looks in good condition with average mileage but the book price says £650. Is £650 realistic in London at the moment?

[Alex_B]

[reddeviljp]

[Alex_B]

Yea, in my stupidity I thought you might have just mentioned what sort of 125cc motorcycle it was.

I'm a fukin idiot.

Just go buy it then.
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My Lane Position is always AWESOME!!

[Cheerfulgrin]

[reddeviljp]

Whoops - Honda CG125 with 20 000 on the clock.

[Cheerfulgrin]

does it have service history, have you seen it yet and is it sparkling or rough around the edges? does it have a current mot and how long for?
after looking on ebay, i think you could expect to pay 950 for a really well looked after and tidy one, but I'd be looking for things to haggle on price wise, he may be expeceting to be brought down a little?

if you have a search on the forum I'm sure there are some 'what to look for when buying' guides, have a google and there are whole lists of what to look for when checking it over, if you dont know much then take a friend or read up as much as you can.

i thought bike prices where a bit low at the moment, buyers market due to winter or is that not the case?

dont rush in, if its not the bike for you another will come along soon, good luck anyhow
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--Current Bike: '98 Hornet CB600F
--Previous Bikes 2012 Hyo GT250R - 2010 YBR125 - Back in '91:Suzuki 50cc moped & Honda CB125T Superdream
--CBT -Feb '11, Theory -Nov '11, Mod 1 -Jan '12, Mod 2 Feb '12

[mickfulton]

I have a ybr125 for a grand. 57 plate 9k miles 1 yr mot n tax. Pm me if ur interested

[Teflon-Mike]

[reddeviljp]

Cheers cheerfulgrin and Mike - very helpful posts.
Mick, I've pm'ed you.