Honda C90....should I?
Discussion
Hi all,
I've recently been hankering after a 125cc bike to pootle about on occasionally for trips to the gym, sunday hooning etc. Would like it to be fuel efficent and fairly low seat height as I'm a shortarse at 5ft 5". Had my car license for 6 years and looking to venture onto two wheels.
I've looked at prices of getting my CBT and riding around for two years, which gives me plenty of time to get my full license should I want to. I've had a quick (slow) ride on private land on my friend's Gilera Runner which was a bit terrifying to say the least, but only as I was going over bumpy ground.
Anyway, to cut to the chase, I've seen loads of C90's/Cubs for around £300-500. I like the fact they are easy to maintain, fuel efficient and not fast enough to kill myself on. I know they aren't 125cc but it's the best I've found for my budget which would be around £800. Have also had a quick look at CG 125s, Innova's and GN 125's but nothing has caught my eye as much as the C90.
Question is, shall I go for it?
Appreciate your help in advance.
I've recently been hankering after a 125cc bike to pootle about on occasionally for trips to the gym, sunday hooning etc. Would like it to be fuel efficent and fairly low seat height as I'm a shortarse at 5ft 5". Had my car license for 6 years and looking to venture onto two wheels.
I've looked at prices of getting my CBT and riding around for two years, which gives me plenty of time to get my full license should I want to. I've had a quick (slow) ride on private land on my friend's Gilera Runner which was a bit terrifying to say the least, but only as I was going over bumpy ground.
Anyway, to cut to the chase, I've seen loads of C90's/Cubs for around £300-500. I like the fact they are easy to maintain, fuel efficient and not fast enough to kill myself on. I know they aren't 125cc but it's the best I've found for my budget which would be around £800. Have also had a quick look at CG 125s, Innova's and GN 125's but nothing has caught my eye as much as the C90.
Question is, shall I go for it?
Appreciate your help in advance.
Yeh--gaw orn.
You know you want to.
Actually they're dead right as a fun easy to ride & maintain jobbie. I had both the 50 & 90 cc models as a kid. Almost (!) went forever ( after big end got replaced
)
Rode it 2 up with 2 lots of fishing tackle over about 25-30 miles each way.
But wait for 3Doorpete-as said he's yerfanatic"expert"
You know you want to.
Actually they're dead right as a fun easy to ride & maintain jobbie. I had both the 50 & 90 cc models as a kid. Almost (!) went forever ( after big end got replaced
)Rode it 2 up with 2 lots of fishing tackle over about 25-30 miles each way.
But wait for 3Doorpete-as said he's yer
Edited by sprinter1050 on Monday 15th November 15:21
In a word - yes. If you have a lot of fast open roads, though, you are probably better off with a 125.
I've had a few and have 2 at the moment - (check my profile for pics)- I love them and they are literally bullet proof as well as silly cheap to do up.
Realistic top speed is around 45-50mph, but they will pull taller gearing if want to sacrifice some of the savage acceleration.
I'll paste this in from an e-mail I sent to a guy off here who was interested in them.
"£400 gets you a decent runner with good MoT, but tatty. £500-£600 gets a pretty mint one. Like new concours are about £700-£900. For this, I am talking 12 volt models (that have square headlight and are post 1984) - the only models you want to entertain for everyday use. Older 6 volt models in concours pull silly money!
Register for http://www.c90club.co.uk/
It's about the best UK forum, with a lot of stuff coming up at reasonable money and loads of good advice. I've bought most of mine off e-bay, generally looking for poorly listed, or badly end timed ones. www.gumtree.co.uk is also a good resource for them, but watch out for nicked ones and retard sellers.
C90's have a pressed steel chassis and the only real thing that kills them terminally (beyond economic repair unless you are a welder), is rust in the rear guard, arches and around the rear shock mounts. It's easy to prevent by stripping off the plastic rear guard, scrubbing down with a wire brush and painting the whole thing in car wheel arch paint (rubbery thick waterproof stuff)or hammerite. As long as the engine doesn't knock or smoke and there is no rust, you have a good one. Anything else is cheap as chips to fix, from tyres, rims to bodywork etc.
Keep the valve clearances spot on, change the oil regularly (every 500 - 1000 miles depending on how much time it spends at max revs), a good coating of ACF50 and GT85 and they go on forever!!
Here's an example of a rusted rear arch. http://www.therevcounter.com/uk-motorbike-forum/51... Behind the shock is all plastic which is why they don't rust there - page 2 of that thread shows a maroon one without the rear end fitted and you'll see the metal arch and guard stop at about 12o'clock as you look at the wheel side on."
Oh - and mine does ok in the snow/ice, although I've crashed a few times. They do crash very well too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olnix_duFsQ
I've had a few and have 2 at the moment - (check my profile for pics)- I love them and they are literally bullet proof as well as silly cheap to do up.
Realistic top speed is around 45-50mph, but they will pull taller gearing if want to sacrifice some of the savage acceleration.
I'll paste this in from an e-mail I sent to a guy off here who was interested in them.
"£400 gets you a decent runner with good MoT, but tatty. £500-£600 gets a pretty mint one. Like new concours are about £700-£900. For this, I am talking 12 volt models (that have square headlight and are post 1984) - the only models you want to entertain for everyday use. Older 6 volt models in concours pull silly money!
Register for http://www.c90club.co.uk/
It's about the best UK forum, with a lot of stuff coming up at reasonable money and loads of good advice. I've bought most of mine off e-bay, generally looking for poorly listed, or badly end timed ones. www.gumtree.co.uk is also a good resource for them, but watch out for nicked ones and retard sellers.
C90's have a pressed steel chassis and the only real thing that kills them terminally (beyond economic repair unless you are a welder), is rust in the rear guard, arches and around the rear shock mounts. It's easy to prevent by stripping off the plastic rear guard, scrubbing down with a wire brush and painting the whole thing in car wheel arch paint (rubbery thick waterproof stuff)or hammerite. As long as the engine doesn't knock or smoke and there is no rust, you have a good one. Anything else is cheap as chips to fix, from tyres, rims to bodywork etc.
Keep the valve clearances spot on, change the oil regularly (every 500 - 1000 miles depending on how much time it spends at max revs), a good coating of ACF50 and GT85 and they go on forever!!
Here's an example of a rusted rear arch. http://www.therevcounter.com/uk-motorbike-forum/51... Behind the shock is all plastic which is why they don't rust there - page 2 of that thread shows a maroon one without the rear end fitted and you'll see the metal arch and guard stop at about 12o'clock as you look at the wheel side on."
Oh - and mine does ok in the snow/ice, although I've crashed a few times. They do crash very well too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olnix_duFsQ
Edited by 3doorPete on Monday 15th November 16:01
Skienzy said:
I've looked at prices of getting my CBT and riding around for two years, which gives me plenty of time to get my full license should I want to. Have also had a quick look at CG 125s, Innova's and GN 125's but nothing has caught my eye as much as the C90.
If you're even remotely tempted to do a full licence in those 2 years, I would have thought that a proper geared 125 like the CG125 would be a better bet. I think the C90 is ace, and would have one like a shot if I had the room for 2 bikes, but I would have thought you'd be better off learning the ropes on something more like what you'd ride for the actual test, with standard clutch / gears etc.
Thanks alot for all your responses/help guys, particularly 3doorpete.
I'm torn between getting a C90 and a CG125 now, particularly, as some of you have pointed out, I'd need to take my test on a 125cc bike as a minimum requirement. How much would I be able to pick up a decent CG125 for? I've seen them go upwards of £1000 which is a little out of my budget. I've checked a couple of websites but can't seem to get a comparison of MPG between the C90 and CG125. I'm guessing they will both do about 90-100mpg?
I'm torn between getting a C90 and a CG125 now, particularly, as some of you have pointed out, I'd need to take my test on a 125cc bike as a minimum requirement. How much would I be able to pick up a decent CG125 for? I've seen them go upwards of £1000 which is a little out of my budget. I've checked a couple of websites but can't seem to get a comparison of MPG between the C90 and CG125. I'm guessing they will both do about 90-100mpg?
Skienzy said:
Thanks alot for all your responses/help guys, particularly 3doorpete.
I'm torn between getting a C90 and a CG125 now, particularly, as some of you have pointed out, I'd need to take my test on a 125cc bike as a minimum requirement. How much would I be able to pick up a decent CG125 for? I've seen them go upwards of £1000 which is a little out of my budget. I've checked a couple of websites but can't seem to get a comparison of MPG between the C90 and CG125. I'm guessing they will both do about 90-100mpg?
C90's will get up to 200mpg, but realistically, you'll see about 100 - 120mpg.I'm torn between getting a C90 and a CG125 now, particularly, as some of you have pointed out, I'd need to take my test on a 125cc bike as a minimum requirement. How much would I be able to pick up a decent CG125 for? I've seen them go upwards of £1000 which is a little out of my budget. I've checked a couple of websites but can't seem to get a comparison of MPG between the C90 and CG125. I'm guessing they will both do about 90-100mpg?
It might also be worth looking at Honda Innova's if you like the C90 concept. They are a 125 with a 4 speed semi-auto design. They are the spiritual C90 successor, have the same layout and give similar weather protection.
Don't know too much about the CG125's unfortunately. I really like the new CBF125's, but they are probably a bit out of the price range unless you find one that's been down the road.
3doorPete said:
Skienzy said:
Thanks alot for all your responses/help guys, particularly 3doorpete.
I'm torn between getting a C90 and a CG125 now, particularly, as some of you have pointed out, I'd need to take my test on a 125cc bike as a minimum requirement. How much would I be able to pick up a decent CG125 for? I've seen them go upwards of £1000 which is a little out of my budget. I've checked a couple of websites but can't seem to get a comparison of MPG between the C90 and CG125. I'm guessing they will both do about 90-100mpg?
C90's will get up to 200mpg, but realistically, you'll see about 100 - 120mpg.I'm torn between getting a C90 and a CG125 now, particularly, as some of you have pointed out, I'd need to take my test on a 125cc bike as a minimum requirement. How much would I be able to pick up a decent CG125 for? I've seen them go upwards of £1000 which is a little out of my budget. I've checked a couple of websites but can't seem to get a comparison of MPG between the C90 and CG125. I'm guessing they will both do about 90-100mpg?
It might also be worth looking at Honda Innova's if you like the C90 concept. They are a 125 with a 4 speed semi-auto design. They are the spiritual C90 successor, have the same layout and give similar weather protection.
Don't know too much about the CG125's unfortunately. I really like the new CBF125's, but they are probably a bit out of the price range unless you find one that's been down the road.
Skienzy said:
Thanks alot for all your responses/help guys, particularly 3doorpete.
I'm torn between getting a C90 and a CG125 now, particularly, as some of you have pointed out, I'd need to take my test on a 125cc bike as a minimum requirement. How much would I be able to pick up a decent CG125 for? I've seen them go upwards of £1000 which is a little out of my budget. I've checked a couple of websites but can't seem to get a comparison of MPG between the C90 and CG125. I'm guessing they will both do about 90-100mpg?
CG125 will do 100-120 mpgI'm torn between getting a C90 and a CG125 now, particularly, as some of you have pointed out, I'd need to take my test on a 125cc bike as a minimum requirement. How much would I be able to pick up a decent CG125 for? I've seen them go upwards of £1000 which is a little out of my budget. I've checked a couple of websites but can't seem to get a comparison of MPG between the C90 and CG125. I'm guessing they will both do about 90-100mpg?
Easy to find older CG's for £400 upwards - only the very newest will break £1k. £600 will get you one with no problems, in reasonable condition. Don't worry too much about age: try to find one that hasn't been thrown into hedges by a different 17 year old every change of ownership, and has at least had its oil changed once in its life.
Gumtree or your local free ads paper will be more use than Ebay.
If this is as described and looks as good close up as it's pics and mileage suggest, it's a great price, even at the Buy it now level.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I passed my test on a CG125 in 1993 - they've never really done it for me in the same way as C90's though. I definitely don't need convincing that there is something about C90's though!
If you did want the full geared bike experience, there are cheap and easy manual clutch conversions for the C90's, but if you don't have your test and want to move up, a geared 125 may be the way forward.
I really like these CBF's and I reckon they are better value than the CG's that pull big money for their age. It's still a Honda and will be bullet proof, if a bit more plasticky.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2010-HONDA-CBF-125-M-A-BLACK...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I passed my test on a CG125 in 1993 - they've never really done it for me in the same way as C90's though. I definitely don't need convincing that there is something about C90's though!
If you did want the full geared bike experience, there are cheap and easy manual clutch conversions for the C90's, but if you don't have your test and want to move up, a geared 125 may be the way forward.
I really like these CBF's and I reckon they are better value than the CG's that pull big money for their age. It's still a Honda and will be bullet proof, if a bit more plasticky.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2010-HONDA-CBF-125-M-A-BLACK...
you have 3 mins lol http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-NSR125-NEW-MOT-RARE-CO...
this i want to buy it tbh for winter but cant afford even that measyl price atm.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-HONDA-CG125-RED-/220695...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2001-HONDA-CG125-RED-/220695...
Edited by FeatherZ on Tuesday 16th November 19:02
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff