Bike suggestions/advice for 2 years on 125cc

[HarryPalmer]

Hi all, new member here. I will be turning seventeen in January, along with a couple of friends, and am set to be caught out by the 3rd licensing directive

So I'm just asking for general advice on what 125cc bikes are likely to provide a good balance of being exciting and enjoyable, aswell as allowing me to learn and gain proper biking experience as I ride?

Just wondered if general opinion had changed from "get a cg 125 and pass ASAP" because you would have to ride for a full two years, and cannot simply get a bigger bike when you pass. Thanks

[map]

Hang a little while and there will be a full submission by Teflon-Mike.

Or you could just read his words - click here

BTW it has changed, it's get a YBR now.



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[jeddy11]

If your going to keep it for a couple of years then i think its important to get a bike which your going to like.

Good advice would usually be get a YBR, CG etc knowing that your going get bored and do your tests etc, with the new rules your going be stuck for 2 years so getting something your going like is important or your going to get bored really quickly!

Most 125 perform the same or their abouts so if you like big bikes get a Varadero or sporty bikes like cbr 125 etc your choice..
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cbt 06/08/11 mod1 (second go) 01/08/12 mod2 21/09/12
Varadero Viking YBR125>Varadero125>ER6F>Z1000SX !!!

[HarryPalmer]

This is the thing, I think it's more important now to have something enjoyable now, as opposed to just serving a purpose.

And cheers for the link map. Great info on there.

Ah.. so the YBR is the hot new thing?

[TomGT]

I'd thoroughly recommend a Hyosung GT 125 comet, I've had mine since June and it's been a great learner bike, feels like a big bike, great handling, reliable, and hits the 125 average of 65-75mph top speed. You can pick one up for <£1k too

https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j330/mastergallagher/bike.jpg


BTW lot of respect for being stuck on one for a while
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1992 ZXR 400

[Cuchulain]

If you're looking for a sport-styled 125 MCN had a good video comparison.

KTM Duke is supposed to be a lot of fun too.


My first 125 was a Yamaha TDR and that was a blast. It was a 2 stroke so it had nice bursts of acceleraton. It was big too. They were making them well into the noughties so there should still be a few around.

Currently I have a YBR Custom and it's a good bike but ultimately it looks a bit silly and is pretty dull. Totally reliable though and, 100+mpg is easily acheivable and it sounds good too.
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[matto]

[Rogerborg]

A Hyosung is a good choice if you want something with a lot of road presence that will prepare you for riding a bigger bike - it's essentially a 500 with a smaller engine. You really, genuinely would not believe it's a 125 except for the L plates.

But the Flying Spaghetti Monster help you if you need non consumable spare parts and don't get lucky with the one breaker that seems to deal in them. You'll be buying stuff from Korea in Dongs or whatever they use for currency over there. They have some known weaknesses (swinging arm rot, cam chain tensioners) and can be a bit unpleasant to work on.

If you don't need a bike that big, and want something sporty looking, I'd suggest the CBR125. It's the sensible plastic fantastic, holds its value, goes OK, is fun to ride. Small bikes though, be sure that it fits.

And here's something that I don't often suggest. Don't rule out all the Chinese fake-aways. 125s are already relatively expensive, and given the likely rise in demand next year, you may struggle to find a good, cheap used one in budget.

If you find yourself looking at new bikes and finance plans and such, then ponder that 2 years depreciation on a YZF-R125 could buy you (e.g.) a Lexmoto Street or XTR125 outright.

OK, you can't compare them... except that you can. They're all 125s. The YZF will be much better, but only by 125 standards. Any larger bike will wipe the floor with either of them. If the Lexmoto runs for 2 years and then falls apart, you still won't have spent as much on it as the YZF.

I'm not recommending it, I'm just noting that you may want to keep an open mind.
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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

[Ribenapigeon]

Don't get what i've got as everyone will slag you off for having a posh bike hahaa, but seriously the WR125X is a great bike if you're tall and don't want to look like your on a clown bike. Its pricey but good quality and worth looking out for second hand. If your going to be on a 125 for two years then a bigger bike is better as your more noticable on the road. So trailies and supermotos are a good choice. There's also the Honda Varadero which is a good size.

[symonh2000]

If you want something dependable, easy to ride and economical get a 4 stroke commuter like a CG125 or a YBR125

If you only do a few miles at the weekends, like a bit of fun and you are handy with a spanner a 2 stroke like a TZR125, NSR125 or Aprilia RS125 are the way to go. Even in restricted form they are generally faster than a 4 stroke, especially on acceleration.


Things like CBR125 and YZF125's are nice looking bikes but they are hadly faster then the CG or YBR

I prefer 2 strokes, as they suit the use that I give them, plus they can be de-restricted once you have passed your test. 4 stroke 125's are pretty much stuck at the power level they are sold with.
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Four strokes is two strokes too many.

[C1REX]

I like my Suzuki VanVan.
I have A2 but decided to keep the bike for now.
It's cool bike with great dedicated forum. Lots of rides with others.
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[HarryPalmer]

Cheers for all the responses so far!

I do like the fact those Hyosungs are a proper size, as has been said I imagine it'd be good prep for a bigger bike. Is it true they are partnered with Suzuki?

I have always had a soft spot for older bikes though, hence the BSA as my 50cc machine Any 125 gems hidden in the past?

[symonh2000]

Older 125's I like are the TZR125 and RD125 LC, as well as the Suzuki RG125 Gamma.

Back in the late 1980's nearly every learnmer wanted something similar where no one wanted 4 strokes.

The Strokers are getting rare though and good ones are going up in Value.
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Four strokes is two strokes too many.

[Ribenapigeon]

If you want to excercise your spanner skill you could look at MZ 125's the 250 is on my list of bikes I wanted when I was 17 along with air cooled Yamaha RD125 and the liquid cooled RD250. MZ were popular cheap bikes from east germany, they have a sort of underdog cool.

[Teflon-Mike]

Hmmm Yeah... Newb advice will have to be re-considered for the new-year, I suppose.

However: First off, advice about 'Test-Tools' is still applicable to a certain degree. Yeah you might be limited to a 125 for at least two years from 17, but still GOOD reasons to get the tests done and licence in your pocket, as soon as possible.

Why? Well, at 17, on CBT, you could ride around for a couple of years perpetually L-Plating, and taking tests to gain no more than the right to dump the L's, carry a pillion and use motorways is of questionable merit.

But, dumping the provisional licence, and getting a Full-UK Driving licence... starts the clock on the two year New Driver's Act probation period.

By the time you are eligible to upgrade your licence, them two years is over, and they cant bounce you straight back to 'Throw six to start'.

Low performance 125? Seems a good opportunity to count away them months, without being much risk of getting into trouble.... unlike L-Plating a couple of years, and possibly getting half the points to loose your licence before you even get it, JUST for getting stopped after snagging an L on some inconsiderately parked push-bike in college bike shed, or 'something'.

There's also the uncertainty over A2 testing. A1 may yet still be a pre-reuisite to taking A2 tests.Direct Access to A2 is still in debate; so L-Plating two years and doing an A2 test may not be possible, you might still have to do A1 and wait two years to upgrade. Then there is the possibility that if you test for A1, you might 'only' have to do an A2 conversion course to upgrade, rather than re-test.

A1 licence will still be accessible via self booking on your own 125, so it need only cost £121.50, which short term might not get you much, but ability to dump the L's, BUT..... likely to save expensive DAS style course and test later, to upgrade, and get you ahead on the NDA probation.

So WORTH doing still.

On which score, the Learner-Commuter still has merit, being cheap, easy ride, that will help you get a licence with least fuss.

ALSO still has merit, in that they are cheap, easy riding wheels, that during your enforced two-years of tiddling, are emminantly THE most affordable machines to run.

Pocket-Money budget of being a student, this can count for a lot.

More sporty bikes may be visually more appealing, and thier vitals statistics more inspiring.... But? Means little if they are sat in the back-garden needing a new chain, or you are txting your mates saying "Sorry, cant come out; got no petrol"

"Fun" is quantiative, and bike that does 70 may be 'more' fun than a bike that only does 60... but 60 is still 'some' fun, and if you can do it more often, whats 'more' fun?

One thing is for sure; broken down bikes or bikes wobling around on knackered tyres, or limping along with clapped out spark-plugs tend NOT to be such great fun, and more often, frustrating as fuck!

We also have the oft offered addage, that its your first bike; NOT your once and forever bike..... nothing says that if you buy a 'sensible' learner-commuter to get your tests 'done' on, that THAT bike has to be the one you ride for the rest of your two year A1 period.... in that, not a lot has changed, and with Full, all be it 125 only A1 in your pocket.... you could go chop in a YBR125 against, I dont know, NSR125 or YZF-R125, or whatever you really want.... when you dont have to hustle it through test cones or anything... or beinga bit canny? Something like an old two-stroke 100.....

Only NEED a 125 to meet test requirements..... the old 100's before they introduced the 120cc minimum capacity limit were the 'smart' choice of a generation.

Two stoke motor made near as damn it max legal power limit for a Learner-Legal; so they were as quick as the full 125 bikes the 'Lads' all HAD to have..... air-cooled, they were a darn site easier to work on and maintain, as well as often more reliable, but falling into lower capacity bracket, cheaper to insure.

For a modern A1 licence holder..... they still have a LOT to offer, and a GP100, RXS100, H100 or KH100 would be worth hunting out..... they are NOT expensive bikes to get your hands on; and offer a LOT of laughter for not a lota Dolla......

Its a fairly wide remit; at the end of the day; BUT, REALLY not a lot has changed, I think, and the imperative to get a licence is still there, and the 'problems' of going for more aspirational 125's are not REALLY mittigated THAT much....

Yeah. IF you got to be on it two years, might as well get a 'nice' one and try to get full quota of what little performance you can....

BUT.... tiddlers are tiddlers, little bikes and the differences in what they can do are still small. Difference in what you PAY for those small differences though can be ENORMOUSNESS.

So maybe the advice doesn't need changing THAT much!
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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?'

[Rogerborg]

[yaigi]

I really like my YBR Custom, it's been a fab learner bike, if you like the kinda cruiser style look:

https://i.ebayimg.com/t/2010-YAMAHA-YBR-125-CUSTOM-BLACK-Learner-Motorbike-/00/s/NzUwWDEwMDA=/$T2eC16RHJGkE9no8hl0oBQVJj1pb1Q~~60_3.JPG
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[ThoughtContro...]

If you want a 125 that has the size and presence of a big bike and a V twin, then how about a Honda Varadero?

You will pay over the odds for the "Honda build quality" and badge, but they seems to hold their value fairly well.

The Hyos do look great, but the parts availability and some niggles about build quality and corrosion resistance put me off, so I went with Honda, the boring choice.

I kept my 125 because it costs nowt to run (and now insure on a wicked multi-bike policy) and it does for basic town riding and short commutes. If I jump back on it after a good blast on my 650 then it does feel like a gutless, rubber band powered toy, but it can be a fun toy nonetheless.
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"In a world of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

[bikertomm]

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/070920122222.jpg

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/070920122225.jpg


In my opinion the Supermoto / Dualsport style is superior to anything else for a 125.

Good road positioning, looks alright, better than your bog standard ybr commuter bike, can have a bit of fun offroad, probably hold up winter a bit better aswell.

Honda XR 125 / Yamaha xt 125 x gets my vote for a 125.

It's simple, does what it says on the tin, but gives you that itch of a 'proper' bike


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[C1REX]

I would never go for a YBR as a bike for 2 years riding.
Too basic, ugly and boring for me. You can't do much on it apart commuting. No fun.

Bikes like Varadero, VanVan, KTM Duke or XR make way more sense to me.
https://s19.postimage.org/mdpplz40z/DSC_6632_3_4_tonemapped.jpg
My Suzuki VanVan

These bikes are fun and take advantage of small engines. Lots of people with full licence and big bikes have 1 of those as well.

Can't imagine somebody willing to have YBR for fun.
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[symonh2000]

The Van Van is a good bike if you like the styling.

Not too keen myself, I prefer the regular YBR.
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Four strokes is two strokes too many.

[C1REX]

I tested Honda CB125 and was ultra boring to ride.
I can imagine that YBR and CBF are about the same.
Good bikes. Very good. Just boring.

XR was fun. VV is even more fun to ride for me.
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[ThoughtContro...]

[MCW]

I am really happy with my Varadero. I did my CBT on a dinky toy and had a few problems afterwards adjusting to the higher centre of gravity of the Varadero, which knocked my confidence at first, but I'm really glad I persevered.

[Dave70]

I've been riding a YZF R125 since January and have done over 5,000 miles, looked after it well and serviced it regularly. Never had any problems (until it was taken out by a van) with it at all. It's a great little 125 imo and well made, looks cool to.

On the other hand, I have been riding a YBR 125 for a couple of weeks while my YZF's in for repairs (another van incident) and it's a great little bike too but, in different ways. I find it easier and more comfortable to ride and is probably a better bike to get used to riding when you're first starting off. It's also great for your basic commuting to and from work but, it is slower than the YZF R125 and not as exciting to ride for fun. It also doesn't look as cool as the YZF but it is cheaper and won't cost you as much to repair when you drop it and you almost certainly will drop it too

Personally, I would stick with my YZF over the YBR but, I now have some experience of riding and have hopefully learned what not to do (so wont drop it anymore) and you will get bored of the YBR much quicker but, they are both 125s and ultimately you will get bored of the YZF R125 also before the end of your two years but, you'll still have more fun on it overall.