125 Runabout

[martin734]

I am considering getting a 125 runabout for use in town and short rides. My regular ride is an ST1100 which I love, but riding it around town can be a little awkward at times. I have been looking at two bikes, the Aprilia Tuono 125 and the Yamaha MT-125, Has anyone any experience of these bikes? Many thanks.

[ThunderGuts]

Probably not quite the answer you're looking for, but I went through exactly the same thought process and ended up concluding a lightweight commuter bike (in my case, a 500) isn't really any more cumbersome than a 125, doesn't cost any more, if anything is less of a theft target and yet as a bit more about it. I'd agree that small scooters will probably squeeze through tighter gaps, but I reckon there's little in in between a 125 and a commuter 500.

If you're insisting on a 125, I'd favour the Yam though.
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TG.

[martin734]

[-]

Or get yourself a 90's DTR125 for around £1500. Easy to de-restrict if not already and a right laugh with around 22-25bhp when full power. Also quite capable of green laning.

"Unit 5 Motos", aka "Gibson", aka "Stinkwheels" brings back batches of them from France every other week.
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Jaguar S Type 3.0 V6 Sport R, VW Transporter T5 GP LWB Shuttle 140ps DSG.

[linuxyeti]

I'd recoomend a FB Mondial HPS 125, I've got 1, and even went on a 230ish mile ride out on on Sunday, it will do 70, realtively comfortably, i was quite pleasantly surprised.

https://cdn.bcf.44bytes.net/files/fb_mondial_hps_125_2018_20190901_03_waddington_1.jpg
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[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[Easy-X]

How about an old 250? Neigh-on the same weight and size as a 125 but with a bit more poke.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[kgm]

I used a 125 as a runabout for a few years with two larger machines as well. Recently replaced it with a 250 and, for all the 250 isn't quick, it's a definite improvement over the 125 all around and the fuel costs aren't much different. Fuel cost is only going to matter if doing s lot of miles though.

[linuxyeti]

[stevo as b4]

[ThunderGuts]

[martin734]

Thanks guys. lots to think about. I agree with stevo about some 250's being heavy and slow, I used to have an XS250 which would be left standing by most modern 125's. There is a dealer near me that has a few chinese bikes of 125-300cc that I may go have a look at and sit on. They even have a couple of Benelli 500s that look as bike as my Pan-European.
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Current bike: ST1100 "Big Red"

[stevo as b4]

It's for OP to decide on if said runabout bike is to be a new or nearly new keeper bike that they want the best possible long term value from, or if they are just looking for a small/cheap/locally available hack at a given moment and are not after too much expectation from whatever they can find at sort notice in the classifieds.

Also the CBF500 is 183kg dry, but some 125's and 250's are closer to 100kg. I'm no bike design expert, but I can guarantee that an 83kg weight difference which is a massive percentage increase, will not result in a bike that rides or handles in anything like the same way.

The CB500 isn't a huge heavy bike by any means, and it's low seat height and simple design means it carries its mass well. But there's no fucking way on earth that it turns, and handles the same as a 100ish kg bike.
Maybe you meant to say you want no part in this overpriced 125 game, and you regard your CBF as a light weight town commuter and have no need for less weight or less engine capacity?

But trying to say that in every possible situation that a 180kg simply designed no frills 500 out shines and out rides or out values the virtues of a little light bike is not quite correct or universal opinion.

[Boxing]