(Help) - Buying Advice for my first 125cc L Plate Motorbike.

[EvBxx]

I've been looking around and come across a few popular bikes for a beginner.... The YBR 125, CBR 125, and CBF 125. The YBR 125 comes highly recommended however due to lack of experience and knowledge I wouldn't know which to go for... I've been drawn toward the YBR 125 however I can't seem to make my mind up. Could you please list the advantage and disadvantages of each bike, or maybe suggest a few other bikes that's worth looking at for my first motorbike, thank-you Help would be much appreciated.

[Rogerborg]

How old and at what budget?

The older CBRs are small bikes. Plastics cost a bit if you drop it. They're fun but not really that quick even by 125 standards. I found the seat uncomfortable, but some people like them.

CBF 125 quality control seems to be all over the place. Indian made, some (not all) of them rust up a treat when exposed to UK road salt or salty air.

YBR 125 can get rusty on the stanchions, that's really the only issue I've heard about or seen on them. If I were in the market, that'd be my default choice.

A good example of a CBF will be better than a lemon of a YBR though, you'll have to judge on individual 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

[J.M.]

There are really only a few key points.

- Stay with the main brands. It's always a gamble if you go to other brands
- Pick a bike that you like the look of and find comfortable
- Pick a bike that has been well looked after and not abused too much

With the 125s, they're all pretty similar in terms of performance. So the main things to look at really are the style and condition.

I'd hesitate that you're more likely to find the CBRs and such in a more abused state, as people buy them because they want to rag them and go as fast as they can.

That said, if your budget stretched to it, I'd grab a Varadero 125. No question.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[stuarthouston]

I'd be inclined to go for the YBR out of those three. CBR has a lot of expensive plastics to break if you have a tumble and, as Roger says, CBF seems to be more hit-and-miss than you'd expect from Honda - have a look here: https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3691713 for a bad example.

If you're looking to save a bit of money, the CG is a reasonable contender as well, if slightly less refined/slower. They are renowned for going on for ever and a day though, and more modern ones come with front disc brakes rather than drums and more up to date electrical gadgetry.
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'96 Honda CG125 BR-T

[dydey90]

A front fairing for my CBR cost about £250 as far as I can remember, and I did shop around quite a bit.

Certain parts are only mild steel so they don't last long. Exhaust downpipe and starter motor are the ones that stick in my mind.

It'd have been quicker and cheaper for me to just start off with direct access, but you need to be at least 19 for that to be worth doing.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[David072]

I had a YBR125 for the 6 months or so before passing my test.

Absolutely fantastic bike. Completely reliable, brilliant MPG and VERY easy to work on (coming from a complete non-mechanic).

If I were going back to a 125 I'd be looking for another one. I wouldn't have sold it were it not for the fact that I now take the motorway to work.

Oh, and I sold it for slightly more than I paid for it. They hold their value, which is great when you're hoping to move up to a bigger bike quickly.

[EvBxx]

[GeorgeB.]

I'd go with either a CBF or a YBR, depending on which you like the look of more. Pretty much identicle in terms of performance and stuff.
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Current: '99 Fazer 600 | '99 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE
Previous: Keeway TX125 | CBF 125 | CB400SF Project Big One
CBT 04/12/12 | Theory 03/12/13 | MOD 1 06/01/14 | MOD 2 13/01/14

[retrobiker]

I was in same boat last month was looking at ybrs, Honda cg's good bikes but I plumped for a vanvan because not much else like it

something different to consider

[stuarthouston]

[thepuma]

Youre thinking too much into it. ..just get a YBR. You probably wont keep it long so no point fretting over it too much. Learn the ropes on it......hone youre skills and then pass your test and get a bigger bike.
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[Rogerborg]

[Teflon-Mike]

Recommend Me a Learner-Bike!
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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?'

[rhys1005]

I would never ever ride a ybr 125 again, they are so fu*king boring and cheaply made I really don't see why people reccomend them.. Slow, expensive, basic.. Why?? Only thing good about mine was how easy it was to maintain but I'm my case that was more of a plus point then it should of been, always something bloody breaking.

Shitty chinese tyres, no switch for cut out or turning lights on/off, no screen, weak engine, no side stand, crappy wiring/ gear box, spongey suspension.. What is the appeal to people? It's not exactly a cheap alternative to better bikes either..

My dt125r was twice the age, same price, 10 times better build quality, better handling, very low maintanence/ simple engine, liquid cooled, good for light off road, fairly quick for a 125, more comfortable imo (better/taller seat), insurance suprisingly good, 2 stroke so as fun as it gets on a 125 and I sold it a year after purchase for £100 more then i paid.. Didn't need to do anything to it apart from full with 2 stroke and change oil.. Oh and the throttle cable needed replacing.

Ybr.. I won't even go into detail about what has went wrong or how i lost £300 on what i paid for it..


Ybr125.. Never again

[Quornholio]

If you like the RV125VanVan stylee, also consider the Yamaha TW125, or the Hyosung RT125 Karion. I have a Karion in the shed at the moment, and have ridden a mates TW125. Not the fastest bikes in the world, but they're a bit different.

[Pigeon]

There is a Chinese rip-off of the VanVan. My local bike shop is selling the 250cc version. GDBrown have been around for years, would be surprised if they would sell something if they weren't confident it was ok. But that's just guesswork.

250cc

125cc version

Not really suggesting them though, as the 125cc falls outside the budget and may well fall to bits as well.

I'd like to try the 250, just to see what they are like. What is that rear tyre all about. Does it add suspension for a better ride, or are there other benefits.

[Quornholio]

[mivster]

If you like the trailie type bike go for a dtr kmx rm xlr
these are 2t bikes but alot more fun than any 4t of the same kind.
very reliable 125s despite what some people say if you dont redline them everywhere and use decent 2t oil they wont cause problems.
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"I'd rather be riding my motorcycle thinking about God than sitting in church thinking about my motorcycle."

[retrobiker]

[quote

A 250VanVan would be an awesome bike, but I don't think they make them. [/quote

I think there is something called the Grasstracker looks great in my opinion

[G30]

YBR'sking this?
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KTM RC390 -- Kawa ER6f -- Yam YZF R125 -- Yam YBR 125

[Spamalittle]

[Rogerborg]

Note that that "250" is a 223cc kicking out a mighty 10.5kW (about 14 bhp). It's got a little bit more torque than the 125 but you'll be lucky to see a real 70 out of it.
____________________
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

[CBFcarl]

I am on my second bike (passed my CBT in January).

The first was an AJS JS125 which was fun to ride, cheap to run and is essentially a YBR (same factory, same parts from what I understand) but that got nicked in April. As I am a larger lad, I bought a CBF125 as a replacement and I prefer it. I know there are finish quality problems with some, but I got mine on an 11 plate, 13k miles and other than slightly faded fairing (was stood on a forecourt) it is the better experience. I think it has a bit more response to it, bigger bike in size and still cheap to run.

Good luck though.