125 for the lad

[limmy01]

Good day all,

My lads 19 and just started work after college and could do with transport until he sorts his car licence out. So I'm thinking cbt and a ok 125 that will see him good for a couple of years.

So after any advice on what to get as it's been 25 years since I had a 125.. only thing I don't want is a Chinese bike..

Jamie

[itcaptainslow]

I echo that…Honda 125’s in my experience have always been built well and decent to ride.

Talking of which - a mate is going to be selling a low mileage 2017 CBR125 soon if it’s of interest?

[Master Bean]

Honda CB125F won't be the cool sporty choice but will be solid.

[Bryanwww]

Naked or sport and then the pick would be between Honda or Yamaha for me (but on a 125 an uncomfortable sporty position isn't gonna get you anywhere much faster).

Wife and I started on Honda groms, really fun to ride, nothing went wrong in 3 years of having them and dirt cheap to maintain and fuel. Handling around town is great too (honestly prefer this for city riding over a bigger bike as it's just so light, easy and comfortable). Lots of mods available to customize them too if he is interested in learning to work on a bike.

Stock tyres in the wet were terrible and the stock chain needed adjusting all the time so those are two early upgrades.

• If he will be spending much time on 50mph+ roads it won't be a good choice though.

Also I sold mine after around 7k miles and 3.5 years for a little bit more than I paid for it (had some mods and was serviced every year).

[Justatwist]

Honda XR125 would be my choice, ride it for a couple of years then, get your money back when you sell it.

[limmy01]

Cheers so far all!

I forgot to mention a vital point, he's 6ft 4, I guess that will steer to certain bikes only?

[Bryanwww]

limmy01 said:

Cheers so far all!

I forgot to mention a vital point, he's 6ft 4, I guess that will steer to certain bikes only?

Probably be a bit squished on the sporty 125s and look like a gorilla on a Grom lol

This site is really useful for checking bike fit:
https://cycle-ergo.com/

[carinaman]

I learnt so much roadcraft from riding around on L-plates before I started to learn to drive. My driving Instructor used to cover the rear view mirror and ask me the colour of the car behind. I'd reply with the make and colour.

I knew a young tall man a few years ago who rode a Honda XL-125 Varadero.

I think there may be a Chinese type bike using the same engine now. I think the rider I saw next to one was 6 foot plus.

[nute]

I spent a few months on a 125 before my DAS, really helped with muscle memory in general on controlling the bike. When I went onto the DAS I could then concentrate on what they were teaching me rather than titting about with the basic controls.

Kept the 125 in the hope that my wife would do hers but she’s not interested so will be selling it in the next few weeks. CBR125R in orange Repsol, actually went out on it over the w/e, just for the fun of it.

[SAS Tom]

I had a CBF125 and it was a great bike. Did 30k on it in under 3 years and it never went wrong. It was slow and not the best looking thing but a great cheap bike.

[Pete-mojsh]

I'm 6ft and ended up getting an MT125 while learning, it was one of the bigger 125's so could be worth looking at.

[Master Bean]

limmy01 said:

Cheers so far all!

I forgot to mention a vital point, he's 6ft 4, I guess that will steer to certain bikes only?

I'm the same height and had a Cbf125. It was too small tbh. A Varadero would have been a better fit.

[ChocolateFrog]

CG125 did me well for a year or so.

About as undesirable as its possible to get but it was still stolen at the third attempt.

[LuS1fer]

Most smaller Hondas are all built in Thailand and are not the solid Hondas of yesteryear.

[black-k1]

Master Bean said:

Honda CB125F won't be the cool sporty choice but will be solid.

What my son had and it was a perfect starting point.

My son is 6'1"

[Rod200SX]

I had a KTM duke 125 for a while. Got it dirt cheap (£1300ish) and whilst it was a bit rough round the edges it was a fun solid bike. I'm 6ft depending on the weather and was comfy on it. Friend who is 6ft 4 or 5 had a YZF-R125 at the same time and we swapped, he found the KTM far comfier but prefered the R125. I liked the R125 but super buzzy and the position isn't exactly a worthwhile sacrifice for the performance unlike a R6/R1 would be.

My KTM had obviously lived a very hard life but never let me down, including a trip through the highlands (got a bit hot going over the Lecht pass on the uphill sections, though). I'd say anything from the household names would do fine, even though the chinese ones are getting better and better.