performace levels of 125cc bikes

Soldato
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I am thinking of getting a bike for commuting into work, so thinking of sitting the CBT and then getting a 125cc bike. Does anyone know what the best performance levels are of 125cc bikes. Whats the fastest 125cc bike that you can get?
Thanks in advance guys :)
 
You don't need the fastest you can get for London commuting, you need a relatively high bike so you can see over the cars and down the traffic and somethign short so you can get it round the cars. And you'll soon get fed up with it going NYYINNNNNNNNN N N N every time you want to edge forwards a bit.

It's that off-the-line speed that counts, any auto 125 is best at that and will do 0-20 in the click of a finger. It makes sure you get a good gap between you and the cars when you pull away from lights.

You also want a bike that isn't desirable by the kids because it'll get stolen. So avoid bikes like Peugeot Streetfights, Gilera Runners, Gilera DNAs and Piaggio Typhoons because they are the number one stolen bikes. You'll find if you ride one of them you'll have gangs of kids looking at you when you ride about, it's unwanted attention and they'll notice where you park it and eventually it'll be gone one morning.
 
thanks guys, i was thinking of something like the honda cbr125 but older, can't afford a new bike
 
The RS125 can be had very cheaply decent ones from £1000 upwards, and is far far faster than the other 125's. Mine would just touch 110 on the flat (on the clock). So probably just about a genuine 100mph. Contry to popular beleif this is not tuned, they are 33bhp out of the box, and can be restricted to 16bhp for L plates at 17. They are designed to be 33bhp!

But its the accelaration and handling that counts, and they have plenty.
It is a race bike for the road though, so make sure you are prepared for that, a slow wooley scooter or CB125 will be more reliable (not that RS125's are bad at all when properly maintained) and easy to use, but these are proper race bikes with lights and need to be trated as such.
 
thanks guys. What could i pickup for about £500. I already have a car and just want the bike for commuting into work on dry days?
 
wijcc said:
thanks guys. What could i pickup for about £500. I already have a car and just want the bike for commuting into work on dry days?

not much thats going to be much fun to be honest. CB125 definetly but they are dire and only really any good for getting from A to B. Possibly a very ropey old NSR 125 or a TZR would be a bit of a laugh.

you can't go into bikeing with a £500 budget, there is a lot of safety equipment to buy etc....
 
Oakesy2001uk said:
they are 33bhp out of the box, and can be restricted to 16bhp for L plates at 17. They are designed to be 33bhp!

I was under the impression they would need to be restricted for anybody using a CBT, regardless of age?
 
alexisonfire said:
I was under the impression they would need to be restricted for anybody using a CBT, regardless of age?
#

they do, what I meant was you cant have them at 16,

I.e CBT at 16 - 50cc 37mph
CBT at 17 - 16bhp (I think, around that number anyway).

for the full 33bhp you have to pass your test, which at 17 you can do (like I did) but you are limited to 33bhp for 2 years.
 
I do have to wonder why they dont do the same as this for cars? It seems to work for bikes pretty well, so surely there cant be a technical reason why kids couldnt be restricted to say 75bhp cars for 2 years after passing.

Boring for them i know, but i am long out of this so i now think its a good idea :p
 
Jez said:
I do have to wonder why they dont do the same as this for cars? It seems to work for bikes pretty well, so surely there cant be a technical reason why kids couldnt be restricted to say 75bhp cars for 2 years after passing.

Boring for them i know, but i am long out of this so i now think its a good idea :p

Hmmm dont think that would work, i think there are quite a lot of really good young drivers out there but a lot that i wonder how they even passed the theory, i think the examiners should be tougher on dithery drivers as sooner or later their going to cause an accident imo. and as for bikes i think the system works well, but i think all chavs should be banned from any vehicle lol
 
Oakesy2001uk said:
you can't go into bikeing with a £500 budget, there is a lot of safety equipment to buy etc....

Hence only £500 for the bike, have additional money for bike wear (helmet, jackets etc), insurance etc
 
Oakesy2001uk said:
#

they do, what I meant was you cant have them at 16,

I.e CBT at 16 - 50cc 37mph
CBT at 17 - 16bhp (I think, around that number anyway).

for the full 33bhp you have to pass your test, which at 17 you can do (like I did) but you are limited to 33bhp for 2 years.

So if i take my cbt now (im 21) i will have to wait until im 23 to take my full test? Or is the two year restriction only below 21?
 
How much have you put a side for gear then? You'd be amazed at what the average rider spends on gear. In a recent RIDE mag article (well last year some time) they reckon the average person spends...damn...I cant remember but it was over a grand I thought. Amazing.

Anyway I vote RS125 as well in that I just owned one for a year and then sold it. Amazingly fun bike for the money. They are very powerful for the bhp they have due to their high state of tune at standard and being a 2 stroke machine. You want to know a 0-60 time for them I see.....is this to kind of get a feel as to how fast we are talking? I think they hit 0-60 in around 6-7 seconds so are basically on par with the faster kind of hot hatch GTI cars, such as Saxo VTS, Civic Type R etc. I hope this does not prevoke a typical slagging match over how fast one is compared to car X or whatever. Just gives a rough idea. Will do about 60mph restricted ? ? And between 85 - 100mph de-restricted depending on setup. Mine did 90mph but had different sprocket for better acceleration.
They handle very well and are very light. Good bikes really. Again on a £500 budget this is not nearly enough. You need to aim to spend a grand on an rs125 second hand if you can. I spent £800 on mine a year ago though and just sold for £900! It had only a minor niggle throughout the year and never let me down.
 
wijcc said:
i am 28, if i do my cbt i can ride 125cc bikes right???

Yes. For two years then you can either do your CBT again (nother £100) and have a further two years, or do your DAS test. CBT is basically provisional liscence to ride 125cc machines max (or 15bhp-ish max) for two years. However, majority of people on CBT de-restrict their 125cc machines such as the RS125 increasing horsepower to 33bhp (standard form that it was designed for) < this is technically illegal.
 
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