125 recommendations?

Freelanc3r · 11 Mar 2017 at 17:57

Hi there all,

I have just passed my CBT and I have acquired adequate safety clothing for riding so i'm looking to get my own first geared bike.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I am a tall guy of 6ft3 so I am conscious of that when picking the right motorcycle. I have a budget of around £3k.

I will be using it for mainly leisure and occasional commuting during the summer, and as a stopgap before building confidence to do my full Bike license.

Thanks!

Diddums · 11 Mar 2017 at 18:45

Similar boat to me, but I've done TONS of research on this subject. Firstly, don't spend more than £1.8k-ish on a 125. The lower the better provided you don't end up with a shed. I'd say £1.5k is a decent budget and put the rest towards your full license. 125s lose a ridiculous amount of value the second they leave the showroom but used ones tend to hold their value very well. For bikes, a 125 Varadero is the best bike for taller folks. It's discontinued but there are some minters out there. People know they're rare and wanted and the prices reflect this. Basic commuters are the YBR and CBF. Much of a muchness, the only advantage one has over the other is that the YBR has a little rack on the back, whereas the CBF looks a bit better (imo). The next step up is a CBR 125. This is the first "sporty" 125 (use that term loosely, as all 4 stroke 125s are effectively lawnmowers on 2 wheels). Sits a bit more upright than the others (R125, RS4, RC125, etc). An oddball is a Juke 125, extremely popular for good reason, it's very well equipped and looks the business. The "sporty" 125s engines can't cash the cheques that the looks write, so don't waste your time, they're all slow as hell and will top out at 60-ish, 70 on a downhill, tucked in with a tailwind and looking like an idiot.

Or just do what I would do and get a CBF125 for £1.3k and spend £1.7k on an Aprilia RS125 for that screaming 2 stroke goodness.

This video, which is also a very good vid to watch, highlights the difference between a 2 stroke and a 4 stroke:

Good luck

AndyCr15 · 11 Mar 2017 at 18:49

I'm 6'3 too and rode a Varadero for 3 months. Great bike. Didn't realise they'd stopped making them

RyanF · 11 Mar 2017 at 19:45

At your height and budget you should be looking at a decent knick Varadero.

Diddums · 11 Mar 2017 at 20:13

AndyCr15 said:
I'm 6'3 too and rode a Varadero for 3 months. Great bike. Didn't realise they'd stopped making them

Real shame, they'd sell like hotcakes now I reckon.

Craig321 · 11 Mar 2017 at 21:40

Or just get a CBF for now and upgrade? Are you old enough to get your full A licence?

Varadero is a good idea if you want to keep it for a few years, but they can be expensive and quite rare for a decent one.

misterjingo · 12 Mar 2017 at 00:31

I'm 6'2" and found a wr125x to be a fantastic 125. They can be picked up at a decent price second hand too.

IC3 · 12 Mar 2017 at 01:31

misterjingo said:
I'm 6'2" and found a wr125x to be a fantastic 125. They can be picked up at a decent price second hand too.

This, get a Supermoto, its the only way to go with a 125. Nothing will come close to the fun factor.

Freelanc3r · 12 Mar 2017 at 09:26

IC3 said:
This, get a Supermoto, its the only way to go with a 125. Nothing will come close to the fun factor.

I've had my eye on the WR 125 for a long time now, think it's gonna be the way to go and the upright riding position will suit me just fine.

LoopyOrc · 12 Mar 2017 at 11:43

I'm 6"3 and my CBF125 has been serving me well for a month or so now. Will be selling it in the next couple of months once i've done my DAS.

Diddums · 12 Mar 2017 at 14:44

Curveball: Derbi Senda 125

There's on on Gumtree which looks fairly cheap.

I suspect, given that it's the same parent company as Aprilia, that parts availability might be an issue.

TallPaul_S · 12 Mar 2017 at 22:49

Varadero all the way.

This was mine, did 7k miles on it commuting, I even changed the gearing and it would sit at 70-75mph no problem.

Diddums · 13 Mar 2017 at 07:17

Is it right that the plastics don't match the tank? I've seen a fair few for sale where they don't match and always assumed they'd been binned and the plastics replaced. Kind of put me off tbh.

tom_e · 13 Mar 2017 at 08:48

Don't forget if you go for a supermoto 125 you'll need to spend more on chains and padlocks than the bikes worth because they are a scrotes dream.

mattcrane · 13 Mar 2017 at 09:04

Diddums said:
Is it right that the plastics don't match the tank? I've seen a fair few for sale where they don't match and always assumed they'd been binned and the plastics replaced. Kind of put me off tbh.

Nah thats the way they were made with contrasting plastics even its bigger brother is the same

I always thought it looked nicer that way rather than everything the same.

Diddums · 13 Mar 2017 at 12:06

Ah wow, I wasn't aware of that! The amount I've looked at and thought they looked dodgy. I probably should've clicked that it was a bit odd that almost all of them look like that but then I'm a bit thick at the best of times so who knows.

the_r_sole · 13 Mar 2017 at 15:32

was sitting on an MT 125 at the weekend, felt like a much bigger bike and looks cracking imo

Teabag_Terry2 · 14 Mar 2017 at 23:01

Spend a s little as poss on your 125. My 125, which I bought about 15 years ago cost £500, I passed my test then sold it for £500. I suggest you try and do the same!

Sin_Chase · 19 Mar 2017 at 02:32

Varadero....engine is like a sewing machine but it's a 125!

Excellent bike for the larger rider and has the presence of a much larger CC bike on the road.

Akagi · 19 Mar 2017 at 02:36

Groms* are pretty cool little things. Look great with a tail tidy too... Quite cheap second hand, nifty little things for filtering etc.

Watch a few of Royaljordanian's videos on the Grom on Youtube.

*(MSX125)

e; Just saw that you're 6'3", might look a bit strange on a Grom.