Returning to a 125 after 3 years out

[Albigularis]

This is my first post, so "Hi everyone!".

I used to ride a 1997 Aprilia RS125 to uni and work about three years ago and after I quit uni I decided to not keep it. Since then I've been spending a lot of time on the roads cycling.

I'm now going back to uni (25 mile commute) and am currently 22. I'm planning to buy a brand new 125 bike, mainly due to things like the warranty and assurance that it hasn't been crashed/broken/repaired and so on, and do my DAS in summer of 2016. My decision at the moment is between the YZF-R125 and the MT125. I have considered the CBR, but compared to those two it looks almost "toyish", plus I'm put off after that whole Victor Devine debacle on here!

I would prefer to buy a Duke 125 than either of the two mentioned above, but due to the reliability issues I've read, I'll be avoiding like the plague, unless anyone knows if they've got that locked down at all?

Basically I want to know if there are any other alternatives, or to see what sort of experiences other members have had of the bikes I've mentioned as commuting and occasional fun-ride machines?
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Biking history so far-
Aprilia RS125 - Kawasaki ZXR400 - Triumph Street Triple R - Suzuki GSXR1000 L3 - BMW R1200GS - Kawasaki Z1000 - Kawasaki ZX10R C1H - Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring - Suzuki Hayabusa

[Rogerborg]

[Albigularis]

The problem is that I need the bike by August 14th for the commute as the cost of the train each month is crazy for the journey I'm planning to make (it works out about 2.5 times the cost of the bike being paid monthly, plus insurance and fuel!). In that sense I don't really have time to get the licence before I need the bike.

I did try my A2 when I was younger but I didn't manage it, just now I just want something for the commute that's reliable and I don't have to worry about for the next few years. Because of the time it takes to get there on the train I do need the reliability. If the bike didn't start, the whole day would be a write off sorta thing.

I know about the benefits of the A2 licence but I'm honestly not that fussed. It'll get me a faster bike that won't be new and not warranty covered and so on. I'm aiming for the parts of the transport that I want, which is warranty, reliability and decent economy. I won't have hundreds sitting spare in case the bike breaks, time to wait for garages to fix it and such.

I do appreciate the advice, don't get me wrong, but I was more after what people thought of the specific bikes that I mentioned .

If there was any way I was able to get the A2 before starting college then I'd do it, but I'm working crazy hours just now to afford the course fees so unfortunately I can't make it in time.
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Biking history so far-
Aprilia RS125 - Kawasaki ZXR400 - Triumph Street Triple R - Suzuki GSXR1000 L3 - BMW R1200GS - Kawasaki Z1000 - Kawasaki ZX10R C1H - Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring - Suzuki Hayabusa

[Dave70]

Don't listen to Roger, he has a secret, deep seated love for the YZF-R125.

Tbf, he does speak some sense about getting your A2 licence but, due to your circumstances, that's not feasible.

I've ridden the R125 for a couple of years now and all in all it's a great bike for a 4 stroke 125, albeit expensive.

I still manage to have some fun on it as well as using it for commuting and it can hold 70+ quite well and does okay on motorways. It's cheap as anything to run (approx 100 mpg) but, depending on your area and where it's kept overnight, insurance might bite you, so get some quotes first (avoid MCE as their quotes are laughable at around £1,500 compulsory excess ).

Generally, it is a very reliable bike too, if looked after with regular servicing and oil changes. Although, I've been experiencing overheating problems on mine lately, this is not a common issue with the bike.

They also hold their value pretty well too.

The biggest downside (apart from the price) is if you drop it, those fairings are going to be expensive to replace.

At the end of the day, I'd say go for it but, maybe shop around and see if you can get a decent one with low mileage second hand, they do exist. Anything brand new will depreciate immediately anyway, so the R125 is not unique in that. Plus, they are often 0% finance when new, which you won't get second hand.

And get some decent security for it as well. They are a favourite for scrotes to rob. I use two alarmed disc locks and a very big chain.

HTH

[Dave70]

Oh and one other thing. Before the wet weather comes, get rid of the stock Michelin tyres, if you want to stay rubber side down. I use Bridgestone BT45's and they are a vast improvement on the stock tyres, which slide everywhere in the wet, especially on bends. (some use Pirelli sport demons but, I've not tried them myself).

[Teflon-Mike]

OK, eggs and baskets.. what about a two prong approach.
First prong; get you on the road, ASAP and solve immediate transport problem; buy a 'cheap' regulation 125cc Learner-Commuter, CG or YBR or similar. Least cost, least risk, least depreciation, least, well everything. Not fancy, but does the job.
Second prong; Get some lessons, work towards your licence. You can spread the cost and help minimise lessons using your 125 to practice what you are taught for the price of petrol between lessons.
Get licence... you have a bike that's an asset that can be flogged on, probably for near what you paid for it, and can go get an A2 bike, which probably 4x the displacement of a 125 is likely to be a damn site more reliable than a little 125 that you have to thrash every where to cover the miles you suggest; is faster, more comfortable and barely any more to run.
Two years time, you are already on a 'big-bike', and yup, you'll have to test over to get full unrestricted licence; BUT, you are half way there, and all you 'need' to is turn up to test center on your A2 bike, tell any-one who asks when you tape on the L-Plates that you have removed the restrictors for test... and do over, for test fees only; you dont necesserily need more lessons, you done them once, and had benefit of the learning from them, and the bigger comfier more reliable bike, for the interim.

There is absolutely NO merit to 'plan' on pissing about on L's. If you can ride competently, you can pass a test, if you cant, then you probably ought not be on the road.

Your 'plan' as stands is to piss a shit load of money up the wall on a n over priced bike that lets you play at bikes, and holds you back from actually getting serious. Get serious; get a licence. Get all you can from your biking, and the money you chuck at it.
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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?'

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Rogerborg]

OK, I get your point. Jam today.

50 miles a day, 250 a week. It looks like the YZF has a 3,000 mile service interval (eff that, I'd change the oil twice as often), so budget for a garage service every 12 weeks if you do nothing but ride to and from work.

That's 9 garage services in the two year warranty period, some of them being valve clearance checks. That's another £1K at an independent, more like £1500 at a Yamaha dealer, just to maintain the warranty.

Contrast with a 3 year old YBR125 that's just passed its first MOT. You could get for less than the turn-key depreciation on the YZF. Self-service for pennies.

If it's a total shed, you could literally throw it in a ditch and buy another. You've still only sunk half what you would in the YZF, and lost exactly the same.

You're a student, you're saying that money is tight, you're thinkink about economy, but are considering sinking £4K into a tiddler?

Every week folk come on here saying "Tell me about the ZXRZYF" when what they really mean is "Validate the decision that I've already made to buy a ZXRZYF."

It's your choice to make, but I'd make a different one.
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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

[R_Josh]

I think you have already decided what you like on the looks so just got with what you like the look of.

If you want to be a bit more sensible than look at buying a second hand bike.

[sabian92]

Buy a cheap shitter 125, do your A2, get a bigger bike.

Honestly, do not sink any amount of money into a new 125. It's a total arseraping.

[R_Josh]

If no-one buys a new bike there will be no second hand bikes so I say buy a new bike
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Current Bike: Honda CBR 125R R-C SUPER sports (SOLD)
Excuse my brevity

[recman]

I spent 3k on a brand new 125 and got it all back when I traded in for the Triple.
My thinking was that if I was going to get what I really wanted, I'd have to invest the wedge at some point.

[Baffler186]

+1 for used tiddler. No-one is saying you need to buy a rust bucket that you don't like, but there are good bikes to be had for £1500, which will only be perhaps 1 second slower to 60mph than the R125! If you need finance, could you get a bank loan and buy private? Lower %APR than finance I would guess?
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[notbike]

I ride a YZF-R125, they're stylish and fun to play with and the mpg is great. The only problem is they'll be much slower than your Aprilia RS125 was because they're 4 stroke and can hit about 80mph down a hill with the wind behind you on a long stretch of road

Get your tests out of the way asap and get something bigger imo.

I booked my A2 course just recently just so I can do my unrestricted license 2 years earlier than I otherwise would (I'm 20 atm)

Don't think I'm getting a bike in-between when I get my A2 license, gonna probably keep the R125 until I get my full license (I say this now..)

Before I go off on a tangent

tl;dr Do your A2, if not don't spend too much on a slow 125.

Edit: Do not buy a new 125 dafuq?!

[P.addy]

For your 4k, you'll get a bike that tops out at 80mph, is dog shit slow and is only really useful if you are <19 years old.

For 4k, I just got this...

https://spotonmotorcycles.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/P7172535.jpg

I know which one I would prefer. All the 125s in the world are unlikely to feel anywhere near as good as that.

[wr6133]

You have over a month to get your A2 unless you are a potato or your local theory place is booked out that's loads of time.

Theory - Non potato should pass 1st time
A2 course and the mods - 3 or 4 days again non potato should get through it.
Buy decent reliable 2nd hand bike - However long it takes you to put the cash in someones hand

That doesn't take a month and will cost in all less than some childs toy 125 that will make you want to claw your eyes out on any NSL road and then cry when you sell it on and lose a fat wad of cash.

[Rogerborg]

[Dave70]

[Albigularis]

Taking into the account the severity of the reaction I decided to enquire today with a local training centre about prices and time scales during my breaks in work. The availability of the tests is actually a lot better than I thought! A few days as opposed to a few weeks. The main benefit of the A2 if I do decide to do it is the fact that it will save me at least 30 minutes in the commute.

So going by the time I have off work, I 'might' just have time to do it.

I also saw that the Yamaha MT-07 is only £800 more brand new than the YZF-R125, so that's pretty good. And here's the kicker... The insurance is actually cheaper by about £200. That would also satisfy my desire for warranty, reliability and having a brand new bike.

Looks like the A2 will be the way to go. I'll know tomorrow if I'm able to do so.

Paddy - nice triple!
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Biking history so far-
Aprilia RS125 - Kawasaki ZXR400 - Triumph Street Triple R - Suzuki GSXR1000 L3 - BMW R1200GS - Kawasaki Z1000 - Kawasaki ZX10R C1H - Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring - Suzuki Hayabusa

[P.addy]

[arry]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

https://thatgirlkate.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/picard1.gif
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Rogerborg]

[Commuter_Tim]