Considering getting a 125...

Freelanc3r

Freelanc3r

Freelanc3r

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Joined
10 Dec 2005
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1,540
Hi all,

I'm considering putting in for my CBT and getting a 125, I'm 17 and currently working part time at OcUK whilst studying at college. Just wanting to hear off some bikers with proper knowledge and passion for motor biking! haha. I'm liking the look and style of bikes such as the RS125, and Yamaha Yzf 125, however these are pretty expensive!

Any recommendations for a fun recreational bike used for short commutes (less than 10miles)? What kind of bikes are worth avoiding and what's best to look out for?
Budget would be around the £1000 mark. I have no idea where to start but having a quick look on ebay/pistonheads and they seem abundant with cheap nasty chinese bikes, which seem like more of a money pit than a reliable investment. What kind of bikes are worth avoiding and what's best to look out for etc?

Is insurance ridiculous for learners like car insurance is? What's the best policy to get for a learner? 3rd party FAT or fully comp, is there much of a price difference?

Any other general advice for a potential learner? :)

Many thanks
 
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Insurance isn't that bad if you look around, especially for the age group. Does that £1000 cover just the bike, or the bike, safety gear, road tax etc.?

Still, as knowledgeable as i am about bikes (all of which stems from about a week spent researching 'peds on the eve of my 16th then realizing i'm skint anyway ;) ) i'm going to go ahead and say... BSA Bantam :p
 
PermaBanned said:
Insurance isn't that bad if you look around, especially for the age group. Does that £1000 cover just the bike, or the bike, safety gear, road tax etc.?

Still, as knowledgeable as i am about bikes (all of which stems from about a week spent researching 'peds on the eve of my 16th then realizing i'm skint anyway ;) ) i'm going to go ahead and say... BSA Bantam :p
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Well I'm looking for the most affordable option atm but £1000 will probably be Bike + Tax, how much is tax on average? I really am a massive noob so but I'm doing my research as we speak.

(sounds like a similiar situation I'm finding myself in right now ;) )

Bantams seem a little bit too old :p

EDIT: Lol just seen a 'Monster Energy' YZF 125 on an auction site, ideal! Shame about the £2k price tag
 
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Look around for a CG125, get a good 'un and it'll run forever and do eleventymillionmiles to a gallon...avoid anything Chinese like the plague. Tax is £16 a year for a 125 at the moment it seems...
:)
 
Or a CB125... or a MZ125.. or a CZ125... or a YB100... or a RD125... or a GT125. Just keep an eye out on the bay and gumtree and you can often come out with a great deal.

And the Bantam may be old and technically rubbish, but just look at the thing man! :p

WYEFYl.jpg
 
Freelanc3r said:
Any recommendations for a fun recreational bike used for short commutes (less than 10miles)? What kind of bikes are worth avoiding and what's best to look out for?
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If my commute was less than 10 miles I'd be tempted to buy my 125 back! :D

My advice would be to get a Honda CG125 or a Yamaha YBR125. They're basic but you can still have lots of fun on them. They're also very forgiving so you can learn a lot while riding them. They'll have a more comfortable riding position than a sportier 125 and the insurance will be cheaper too. My YBR125 was getting over 90mpg on dual carriageways so that sort of bike is cheap as chips to run. Also, the bike will be a good deal cheaper to start off with compared to its sportier cousins, as well as having a ready market to sell it to when you decide to upgrade.

I would suggest avoiding a two stroke bike. That type of engine burns oil with the fuel so it needs oil to be added on a regular basis. Many two strokes have been poorly kept, especially 125cc two strokes. The chances of mechanical woes would almost certainly be higher.
 
jon.bda said:
Look around for a CG125, get a good 'un and it'll run forever and do eleventymillionmiles to a gallon...avoid anything Chinese like the plague. Tax is £16 a year for a 125 at the moment it seems...
:)
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i second that with over 10 million people using them worldwide its a good reliable bike. Cheap insurance only group 3 and getting spares and servicing for it will be cheap as chips too. Don't get one of those sport ones imo when i see one i think plonker, overpriced, got the looks but nothing else going for it imo.. Have a check on the mcn website though. here you go filtered for 125's http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/b...ts/?N=60+189&Rpp=50&Ns=P-SORT_:SITE:_Rating|1 cg125 the way to go though. :)
 
First bit of advice, don't spend over £1500 on your first bike you will scratch it, drop it or have it damaged by a chavette putting her binged up toddler on it and scratch the full tank to hell.
The next consideration is your height, im 6'3 and had major issues with most 125cc bikes mainly lower back pain.
If you want a supersports looking bike you can easily get:
  • Aprilia Rs125 old shape
  • Honda NSR125 if your lucky
theirs lots more some id never heard of i assume their Chinese crap but its only a 125 soo easy enough to repair.
You could also go down the more traditional first bike route and buy a dirt bike.


Are planning to get your full licence, if so might be worth getting a slighly bigger bike and restricting it down to 33bhp, kits are available easily and it means when you come out of your time you don't have to buy a bigger bike.
 
CG 125's are looking like a good idea, not the sporty look I was after but if it's gonna be reliable then it's worth it, having a quick look they seem to be the right side of £1000/

A 33bhp restriction kit sounds like a bit of a faf and more money.

Who are the most popular and recommended bike insurers? Or is best to shop around?
 
Freelanc3r said:
CG 125's are looking like a good idea, not the sporty look I was after but if it's gonna be reliable then it's worth it, having a quick look they seem to be the right side of £1000/
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To be honest mate, save wanting the sporty look until you've passed your test...for the price of a new YZF-R125 :eek: you could get a bloody nice bigger bike. Get some miles under your belt for bugger all cash, and then when you pass you will have no probs getting rid of that little CG...
:)
 
jon.bda said:
To be honest mate, save wanting the sporty look until you've passed your test...for the price of a new YZF-R125 :eek: you could get a bloody nice bigger bike. Get some miles under your belt for bugger all cash, and then when you pass you will have no probs getting rid of that little CG...
:)
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Thanks for the advice mate.

The only thing looming over me is that I'm actually learning to drive at the moment, so getting a bike is seeming pointless, but I've always wanted to do it and it's just one of those things you want to do regardless if it's a good idea or not :p
 
PermaBanned said:
Insurance isn't that bad if you look around, especially for the age group. Does that £1000 cover just the bike, or the bike, safety gear, road tax etc.?

Still, as knowledgeable as i am about bikes (all of which stems from about a week spent researching 'peds on the eve of my 16th then realizing i'm skint anyway ;) ) i'm going to go ahead and say... BSA Bantam :p
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A few things:

The only 125 Bantam is the D1: the most sought after and now fetch well over a thousands pounds if they are in mist green.

It's a two stroke.

It's very slow,you're looking at 40 max maybe 45ish downhill.

My first ever bike was a BSA Bantam D1 and it was the funnest thing ever. I only like old bikes so this was probably the best starting point.

I now have an AJS which is almost ready for the road.
 
If you go for a CG125 try and get one with disc brakes (2004 onwards according to the internet). I had one as my first bike (many years ago), but riding with drum brakes was horrible. If you left the gap to a car in front that you felt you needed to stop, another car would try and overtake you to fill the gap. If you closed the gap, you felt like if the guy in front stopped quickly you'd be picking yourself out of his rear bumper.

Swapping it for a bike with discs when I passed made life a lot more pleasant!
 
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