need help, looking for a new 125

[welshwillis]

Hi, im looking for some advice, im looking to buy a 125cc supermoto, im 6'3 so i will need quite a tall bike so i dont look like to silly, Can anyone recommend a tall bike, (no chinese bikes pls). thx

[sidewinder]

Hi

The Honda varadero or a xt125 should suit your needs


Edit: whereabouts in Wales are you?

[bikertomm]

You want to buy new? Usual advice applies; don't

Bikes,

Yamaha WR 125.

2 Stroke gives you loads more options, the DT 125 probably the best.

Aprillia MX 125 if your lucky,


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Northern Monkey]

[Teflon-Mike]

If you were really worried about not looking 'silly', you wouldn't be buying a motorbike, least of all one of just 125cc you are presumably going to have to hag an L-Plate off, which never really adds credibility to the overall aesthetic, does it? I mean helmet hair, saggy arse leathers or water proofs, day-go wally-bibs and the like all look 'pretty silly' when walking round town.. form following function, they fit in a bit better when you're on the bike.. B-U-T.... who's gong to give a shit? We're lucky f the fuckers even SEE us and more lucky if they don't drive to us when we're riding.. I don't think they are going to be critiquing your fashion sense from behind the steering wheel, or not runnig you off the road 'cos you look so prweddie!

Meanwhile, small tip for you about buyng a 'tall' off-roader to suit your tall legs... again, presume you are buying it to actually RIDE rather than sit on to look pretty, but, that seat is so far off the ground for two reasons; first is that the bike, being a off-roader is sat on very soft long travel suspension.. wont be anywhere NEAR as far fro the floor once you have parked your bum on it. Second, that long travel suspension is holding everything high above the ground for 'clearance' so it doesn't bash rocks and stuff... which means the bit you put your feet on is ALSO a long way from the floor... so when you are sat on the bike, feet on the pegs they are as likely to be as or closer to your arse, cramping your presumeably longer legs to loft you over six foot from terra-firma, possibly as much or more, than a regulation learner commuter, that has a lower seat to start with, but also lower, more neutrally places pegs....

Its a question of the erganomics as a whole, not just seat height; meanwhile at 6'2" myself with 35" inside leg, much as I love my off-roaders, with skiny saddle, cramped up over the headstock and high foreward footpegs... I dot fnd them particularly comfy for any great length of time.. more covetional learner/commuter isn'tmuch more comodiouse, but, I do find them slghtly more tolerable, and can put up with one for maybe an hour at a stretch, aprox three time my tolerence for an off-roader...

So, how important is this 'not lookig silly' to you? Given nature hasn't given you any advatage, sticking you head and shoulders above the crowd so people will take notice before you start, then choosing to ride a motorcycle, where silly clothing, perpetually runing noses and cant do a thing with it hair is all par for the course.... How much is it worth, to look, possibly only to you, a bit less silly, rather than accepting that most folk wont pay a blind bit of notice to how you look, EVEN if the bother to look at you and not run you over; so you might as well face facts, look silly and be done with it for all it matters, at least be comfy while you look silly, and worry not about how fashionable your bike and gear is, but them idiots that WONT be looking at you, and trying to knock you of the damn thing?

SMIDSY'd bikes and riders tend NOT to look too pretty.. so sod the looks, worry about the riding; you're not there to check your self out in the shop windows, there's enough other fuckers not looking where they are going to be another one, and ride into the back of that lorry parked on the double yellows unloading in front of the shop three doors down...

Suggestions? YBR125 is the benchmark utility 125 and hard to beat on all round costs vs function. But, theres a lot more folk want 125's than have decent ones for sale, and 9 times out of ten comes down to what any-one actually has to sell you, you have money in your pocket to actually buy, NOT what looks apealing in the magazines..

And THEN make and model start to become even less important compared to whether the thing has tax and test, tread on its tyres, meat on its brake pads and how many bits are missing or fixed with gaffer tape, coat-hanger wire and bits of old shelf bracket!

Condition is ALL... and you will ALWAYS look a bit silly... may as well get used to it from the start, and put some priorities in more sensible order.

Dont ask us what your 'ideal' bike would be.. there probably isn't one... get out and about, and look for REAL bikes in the REAL world, sit them, put feet on pegs decide for yourself what's comfy or not, looks good or not, and whether its worth, if you have it, the cash i your pocket.

Need advice with ACTUAL real bikes you have seen in the real world and want to know whether they have a reputation of anything you spotted that looks a bit 'iffy' we might be able to explain or advice over, come back with questions about...

No one here can tell make your choices for you, and find you your perfect bike that ticks all boxes, makes you look and feel great, goes real fast, costs no more than you have to spend to buy, insure, maintain and stick petrol in.... YOU have to go do the leg work and try and avoid buying a lemon.

And that's hard enough without constraining your choices with shit that's not really all that important, like what you think it looks like, or what you think you'll look like sat on the damn thing.
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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?'

[MC]

I believe the XT has a YBR engine.

WR125 mentioned above is the best (and most expensive) of the 4-stroke options.

Might also want to consider the Suzuki DR125SM, bit down on power like the XT (we're only talking a few bhp though), and not the best build quality being a Suz...

However if you found one cheap enough, and being less popular they do sometimes go cheap, it might be a good purchase.

Now 2-strokes

As above the DT125 is probably the best, but they're quite expensive.

If you're also looking at adventure style bikes like the Varadero, consider the (2-stroke) TDR125, although they're quite rare bikes.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Tamsin]

I'm 6'2 with long legs and my CG is perfectly comfortable. Just cos you are tall doesn't mean you need a "big" bike...

If my legs start to get a little cramped I just move my bum further back on the saddle

[welshwillis]

Thanks for the advice everyone, ive decided to go for a Honda Varadero,
looks like a nice bike,
ive read some reviews and they all seem to be good