Advising a biking noob on their first 125cc

[EDBANGER]

A young lad I know is looking to enter the great biking fraternity and has been asking for my advice on what to get. Being the young scamp that he is he had his heart sent on a sporty looking 125cc effort. I'm trying to convince him to buy a cheap as chips Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha or Honda to ride for 3 months until he is old enough to get his full license at which point I've recommended a sports 400cc.

Thing is as with all lads of this age I think he's looking at me and think "what does this old git know". His impatience in finding the right bike has him coming to me asking about bikes such as Lexmoto's, Hyosung's and other crazy chinese names that I've just not heard of. Has anybody had any experience of these makes?? They're ridiculously cheap but in my mind there's probably good reason for that. I read that the Lexmoto vixen has a top speed of 55mph. I've told him that will be so incredibly pants that despite the fact he'll only have it for a few months it will definitely do his head in.

What do you reckon? Cheap chinese run about or name you can supossedly trust for a bit extra??
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[sabian92]

You can get the odd decent Chinese bike however often they're as shit as you describe. You're giving him some good advice and if he's ignoring it.... Fool on him.

[-Matt-]

Hyosung aren't chinese actually quite decent bikes. Personally, lexmoto and the other chinese ones i'd steer clear of though.

You're right though if he can be encouraged i'd afford splashing out the cash on a sports 125, it will get boring fast and you'll lose when you upgrade.

I learnt this the hard way

[EDBANGER]

Exactly what I've been telling him. I rode a sports 125cc for a mate once after he'd bought one and I thought it was pants in comparison to my very first and beloved Yamaha DT. I've just found a local Yamaha YBR for sale at a reasonable price, 12 months MOT, new sprocket and chain, back tire and brakes. To me, this is the bike he should be buying. Owner selling due to getting his full license. I'm gonna try and convince him to take a look at it tomorrow. Anyone got any experience of these?
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[arry]

I've recently got the wife a little YBR 125 as a run around

Gotta say, it was a nightmare to find one down this way that wasn't trashed. I think it's because of our proximity to London.

But I've found one and generally speaking..... I'm fairly appalled with it. It's got just under 10k on the clock, the cush drive rubbers have failed quite lairily, the clutch cable is snagging big time, the finish of the bike for only 6 years old is atrocious really and the starter button has just packed up too.

Admittedly it set me back less than a grand.

Now I just think all 125's are shit - Chinese, Korean or otherwise.

[-Matt-]

Maybe show him some flashy pictures of 400-600s to encourage him itll be worth the wait

But yes, definately don't spend out on some sporty 125, the nice ones are decent don't get me wrong i had a yzf r125, brilliant bike - but for the cost, and the amount its like to depreciate [not to mention insurance - another point that may sway him if he hasnt done quotes yet ] its just not worth it.

Get a year or two NCB, do your tests, big nice bike - job done

Did one of my CBTs on a YBR [not a clue what year it was] does what it says on the tin really, if its in good condition should be fine for getting the basics for a few months/year.

[MarJay]

Hyosung aren't too bad because they are korean.

Really though if he wants a decent 125 then it has to be something like an NSR125.
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[EDBANGER]

For the 3-4 months that he's going to own though it's not really worth spending the money on something like an NSR. Also trying to find one that is in half decent condition that will make it through 3-4 months without breaking down will be pretty tough. Then there's the fact that it'll be like a beacon to all scrotal scum bags that fancy a bike but don't want to pay for it.
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[MarJay]

[J.M.]

[Andy_Pagin]

Well for the sake of a mere few weeks, go for the usual stuff CG/CB/YBR 125. A chinky will lose money one way or the other, and the plastic fantastics are ridiculously over priced and expensive to fix if dropped.
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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

[MC]

[swampy]

[Teflon-Mike]

[Rogerborg]

YBRs are "Chinese" so you might as well get the Jianshe JS125 or AJS Eco brands for less. Hyosungs still have parts issues - and no, I don't count ordering direct from Korea or hoping you get lucky from a breaker as good parts support.

CBR125 or Varadero.
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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

[sabian92]

[EDBANGER]

He'll be 19 in March next year so I was advising him to go for an import sports 400cc. I appreciate that even most of those are above the 45bhp but can you not get them restricted to meet the critera?

I must admit I'm not totally up on the new licensing. So once he's got his A2 license at 19, how long and what will he have to do to get a full unrestricted license? Sounds like they're really squeezing as much cash out of you as possible now!!!
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[illuminateTHE...]

If your 17 then get a yamaha yzf r125. The looks will help with your depression whilst you wait for two years to take your test.
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Theory: PASSED Module 1: PASSED Module 2: PASSED 12/2012!!!

yzf r125 [SOLD] sv650 [CURRENT]

[Teflon-Mike]

[EDBANGER]

Well we went and looked at the 2007 YBR and he ended up buying it. £950 including jacket, chain and cover. It had two new tyres, new sprocket and chain and new brakes. 12 months tax and MOT. It started first time from cold in the rain (checked the engine temp before trying) and rode nicely. Other than a tiny bit of surface rust on the bit where the pillion peg folds down I couldn't really fault it. I reckon he's done the right thing for a bike he'll only have for 3 months.
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[-Matt-]

Sounds good. If hes keeping outside i'd tell him to chain it to something and maybe get a better chain as i'd imagine they've thrown in their most budget end chain Nothing worse than a new bike getting nabbed a week later

Might even get to ride in the dry for a couple of days before the endless winter starts again

[Ollie1995]

I'm bored of my XR125 now, I'll be getting a NSR125 soon.
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XR 125, DT125 LC, Greeves Scottish, RS200, XS400, GPX600r

Theory Passed - 18/7/13 MOD1 Booked - 24/9/13

[Carvel]

Fireblade.
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Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.