125 for a 6'4" rider?!

[williamstom]

Hello All,

Great forum here already got a few good tips from other topics so thank you!

I am new to riding, have done a taster session and got on really well, an have my cbt. I now need to get a 125 before doing my mods. The problem is, at 6'4" the ones I've been told to look at (cg125 eg) are all a little small, and I look like a clown on a circus bike!!!

Can anyone recommend a good option for someone in my position? Speed is not essential but I'd like it as economical as possible for my commute. Looking to spend around the £1k mark.

Cheers,
Tom

[Knightsy]

Hey man. I'm 6'6'' and I've had CBR125 for few months (wasn't too bad actually).
You can't avoid looking a bit silly on a small bike but that's just the way things are
I've heard that Hyosungs are built physically big (in comparison to other 125's) , but that's about it in terms of physically larger looking bikes.
Best tip is to simply get the cheapest one you can and grab a 250 once you pass your tests.
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[FretGrinder]

Why not give the Honda Varadero 125 a look?

They may be a bit expensive if you are only going to buy one to use for a few months before you do your tests for your licence. But, the resale value on them is very good, you should only lose a couple of hundred pounds over a year.

For a 125, they are MASSIVE. I'd advise going for a look at one and giving it a sit on at least.

They weigh a fair amount, 152KG (dry weight) or there abouts. They are fantastic on fuel, with a 17 litre tank and I used to get 220 to a tank quite frequently.

The best point about the bike is the fact it has road presence, I had a few people pull up in cars and bikes at the lights and say "nice 600" and I used to enjoy the look on their faces when I say it's a 125.

I'm only 5ft 11" and I could just about get my feet flat on the floor, so at 6ft 4", you should have your feet firmly on the ground at a standstill.

Have a good dig around on eBay and see what £1k brings up. I'm sure if you could push your budget a little further you could pick up one in a decent condition.
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Yamaha MT-09

ಠ_ಠ

[Knightsy]

+1 to Vadarero's didn't think of that one
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[Vracktal]

I'm 6'4" and the Yamaha DT125 immediately comes to mind... is a good bike for if you're tall and gets okay-ish economy although it's a 2-stroke...

Also, try the Honda XR125 / Yamaha XT125. Sameish dimensions as the DT but with a 4-stroke so it's less noisy and gets better economy. Might be a stretch finding one for £1000 or less though...

EDIT: Having said that.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-XT125-SUPER-MOTO-/121005199631?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1c2c78d10f

[MCW]

I got my Varadero for £999 in August. It had a couple of minor scuffs, but is in really good nick and I love it.

When I first started riding it I was a bit scared of its height and dropped it a couple of times. It is heavy to pick up. Have now overcome that and am getting on really well.

https://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q709/MCW999/veredero125007_zps5a8ad9f7.jpg

[binge]

[Teflon-Mike]

[MCW]

[Polarbear]

Agree with all above. My brother in law is a tall person and he finds it ok on his Varadero 125.

Of all the restricted 125's I have ridden that is the only one I felt remotely comfortable on. I mean comfortable as in happy to ride it rather than a happy arse.
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Victory Cross Country American tractor.

[Rogerborg]

[C1REX]

+1 to Varadero.

Another bike I could suggest is VanVan. Not because it's big but that it let you choose a comfy position by sliding on the long seat.

I've seen some really tall people looking good on a VV. It also very comfortable to any size riders.

Kris
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MCForum meetup - One of the biggest motorcycle clubs in UK

[biker7]

Honda Varadero is anobvious choice or any trailie with a tall seat height. Takes a while to get used to but so much more comfortable if you are tall. Don't get a seat height less than 800mm - you will regret it! Failing that get a cruiser with forward controls to stretch your feet.
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Swansea area
Fat Bob (2019)

[Lemaru]

Im also 6'4" and got me a Varadero.

Did have a sit on a CBF125 and it didnt feel overly too small, although I may of looked a bit like a frog on a match box. The Varadero does feel so much bigger though.

The Hyosung GT125 is worth a look too, seen a few of them about and threw me leg over one, and that was a decent size too, felt massive infact.

Done me CBT on a CG and it did feel pretty damn small.

[J.M.]

I'm 6ft2 and got myself a CBR125.

Yes it was small. Yes people joked that it looked like a mini-moto when I was on it.

Fact is though, I picked it up for £800, sold it for £900, it was seriously reliable and it got me my full licence. Job done well.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[snikks]

Just concurring with everyone else and the Varadero recommendations.

Have only ridden riding school CG and my own Varadero as far as 125's go, but CG's are, I believe, very similar to YBR's, CBR's and CBF's.

Not only is it a much bigger bike than the CG, leading to not feeling you look like a muppet, but compared to CG's and their ilk it's got a little more oomph. Not a lot, but I'm not a small lad (far from it) and it was the difference between keeping up with traffic reasonably on A-roads at a 70 indicated, and mixing it up with lorries and caravans at a 55-60 that was a struggle to reach on a CG.
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- CBT: 02/01/11 Theory: 26/04/11 Mod 1: 19/05/11 Mod 2: 19/08/11
- 2007 Honda XL125V Varadero (Sold), 1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (Sold), 2001 CBR600F

[Alpha-9]

I'm 6 4 and i'm on a YBR

Fine until I have to actually turn the bars at low speed and get my leg trapped, now I have to flap my leg out to turn slowly like a GP rider corners
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Fzr-600 1999

[Zen Dog]

Also 6'4. I did my 125 time a while ago now, so the following may not be so applicable. Varadero's werent available then (not at a price I could afford anyway). The only bikes I could find that didnt make me look like this -

https://zendog888.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/njsud00z.jpg

...were 125 trailies (DT125, KMX125, MTX125), and the NSR. The trailies are taller, especially the DT, and upright, so it doesnt look too bad, and the NSR is a full sized bike more or less, non-bikers regularly thought it was a 600cc or similar. Both were pretty comfy.

Zen Dog
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Current - '94 VFR750FR (Dead), '00 VFR800FI, '11 600 Hornet - Previous - '11 CBF125, '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[williamstom]

Thank you all so much - have checked out the varadero and do see it as a great option. Agreed on the cg comments - I did struggle at lower speeds to make the simplest of turns with legs and bars!!!

I'll also check out the hyosung recommendation - hadn't even considered looking further than the big Japanese names!!!

I'll keep you posted! Thanks again, Tom

[Ribenapigeon]

Yamaha WR125X, nice tall supermoto lighter than a Varadero with more oomph. Im 6'2" and my WR feels good and i dont look like im on a clown bike. Its expensive new like the Varadero but second hand is in the same price range. Its also very good in the wet with nice fat sticky pirreli tyres.

When i did my CBT iw as on a CG and it was so tight that i couldent do the figure of eights or U-turn as the handlebars would hit my knees. Because I had knee protectors i didnt feel this and could not work out how the hell the bike had such a ridiculously large turning circle! It was only later out on the road ride when we went to do some U-Turns that this became clear.

[Ribenapigeon]

[grant965]

I vote the hyosung gt 125 comet. Frame is shared across the 250 and the 650 so it is more than big enough for a taller person.
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Ex bikes: 05 Suzuki En 125, '98 Yamaha Thundercat, '08 Honda cbr125, '05 Kawasaki z750, '03 Triumph Daytona 600, '91 Kawasaki ex250, '03 Hyosung Comet 125
Current Bike: '02 Suzuki TL1000R

[Teflon-Mike]

[MCW]

^^^^

Teffers, is all well? A few of your recent posts have been particularly grumpy. As my role-model on the forum (it's OK Snowie, it's his mind I admire...), I am worried. In my attempt to learn from the master, should I become grumpy and short too? Or do you need a little break? Dorset is very nice. Bring Snowie and I'll clear out the box room...

[Kawksam]

yamaha wr125s are very tall in either super moto or enduro guises but good engines well made one of the best 125s