125 cc motorbike advice, one for the bikers.

[Stu160]

Hi all

My son is looking at buying a 125cc bike, more than likely new, as there are good 0% finance deals.

He likes the Yamaha ybr, but there are also some nice, cheaper ons available.
Any experia nice of the KSR grx ? Austrian company, but built I China. ...as I am sure many of the others are as well. They seem to get a good write up, and are £800 less that the Yamaha.

All advice welcome, as are any offers of good second hand 125,s as well

Cheers

Stu

[douglasgdmw]

Try Saltire motorcycles for a good 125.

My wife was looking to get back on a bike years ago after her accident. Calum offered her a 125 which he would buy back (at nearly full whack) if she got comfortable again and then chopped it in for a bigger bike.

That was years ago when there was a bit of a slump so something like this may not be on the table but possibly a good way of trying to get a bike as he will likely want to get onto something faster when he does pass.

Not driven the chinese bikes but can imagine they are a little bit brittle compared to the Japanese bikes and although they have improved considerably you want to make sure the quality is up to scratch.

George

[Corranga]

Made in China isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm pretty sure the Honda CG125 is made in China for example. I guess it's all down to the quality standards applied.

I'm sure there are a LOT of cheap Chinese bikes that are cheap for a reason mind!

[graeme]

I had a 125cc Honda Varadero. Loved it because it's big and doesn't feel like a 125 to ride, apart from the obvious lack of go.

[Shug]

The only current reason to advise against Chinese (apart from there still being some shonkers about - albeit much fewer than even five years ago) is they plummet in value as soon as you've bought them.

Something from one of the recognised Japanese manufacturers is likely to hold its value better and therefore end up likely costing you less in your ownership - the balance point obviously changes the longer you own it, but most 125s only get used for a year or two then sold on. There's a solid market for good, used, 125s - esp Hondas and the "safe" bets (the Yam would fit in that category).

So you'll save £800 initially, but likely lose a chunk more when selling on. Depends if it's a bike for many years or just a couple.

[mwmackenzie]

My son is 16 so can't go a 125 yet, he's just bought himself a 50cc Reiju RS3, they do them in a 125 and they're made in Spain, not sure if that's a good or bad thing? Looks the part though.. we were out buying a jacket back protector and gloves at the weekend... Not a cheap pass time lol

[greyrigg]

Shug is correct, one of the established manufacturers won't cost much, if any, more over the duration.

I would go for the best you can get and would be happier with something with abs for a learner.

Of course my youngest son ignored all this and bought a Cagiva Raptor because he wanted a 2 stroke and heard outrageous claims of how much power it is possible to get from it when derestricted .

Malcolm

[mckeann]

For the extra £800 you spend, it's bound to hold that value come resale time. The Chinese quality can be shocking in some cases, although I know nothing about the model you mentioned.

[douglasgdmw]

Also make sure that you put on some crash bungs onto the bike as unfortunately he is bound to drop it a couple of times, that will save the fairing from being cracked.

No matter how much he is tempted to, do not use the bike in his CBT as it means he can easily drop the schools bikes without damaging his pride/joy. Also the School bikes with a better turning circle rather than trying to turn a sports bike (if he goes down that route).

George

[Stu160]

Thanks for all the advice guys, all taken in. Think we are looking tomorrow, at the 3 choices, and see what he wants to go for after that.

Stu

[pete]

My brother in law boght a 175cc Chinese dirt bike a (good) few years ago.

It was amazing.

It looked quite good (super moto style) provided you didn't get too close. The electrics were OK once we had spent an afternoon bending contacts and reconnecting bits.


The noise was strangely reminiscnet of my 1950s ATCO Balmoral cylinder mower, the power from the 175 was akin to that you'd get from maybe a 80cc Jap bike.

Still, VERY economical (100+) and only 800 quid, new.

[ed]

Had a YBR125 prior to passing my test. Think I was getting 120mpg + Kept its value well and sold with very little loss. I think lots of bikes are made in Thailand now.

I would also avoid Chinese bikes.

As above Honda 125 varadero holds its value well and seems the most sought after 125 to get.

[graeme]

Also make sure that you put on some crash bungs onto the bike as unfortunately he is bound to drop it a couple of times, that will save the fairing from being cracked.

No matter how much he is tempted to, do not use the bike in his CBT as it means he can easily drop the schools bikes without damaging his pride/joy. Also the School bikes with a better turning circle rather than trying to turn a sports bike (if he goes down that route).

George

I'd got one step further. No bike purchase until the CBT is passed. And maybe a few extra lessons as well. And a bloody good grilling on the highway code, lane discipline, shoulder checks and general attitude. The CBT is a joke. A total farce.
It might be the legal minimum requirement to get you on the road, but it's nowhere near the SAFE minimum in my opinion.

I'd budget as much for gear and lessons as for a bike. A 1 day CBT (where you don't even leave the classroom/carpark till the afternoon) is nowhere near enough to safely let a teenager on the road on their own. For the sake of a few hundred quid, I'd be booking a few extra days with a riding school and make it a condition. No lessons, no bike.

/2p

[pete]

Also make sure that you put on some crash bungs onto the bike as unfortunately he is bound to drop it a couple of times, that will save the fairing from being cracked.

No matter how much he is tempted to, do not use the bike in his CBT as it means he can easily drop the schools bikes without damaging his pride/joy. Also the School bikes with a better turning circle rather than trying to turn a sports bike (if he goes down that route).

George

I'd got one step further. No bike purchase until the CBT is passed. And maybe a few extra lessons as well. And a bloody good grilling on the highway code, lane discipline, shoulder checks and general attitude. The CBT is a joke. A total farce.
It might be the legal minimum requirement to get you on the road, but it's nowhere near the SAFE minimum in my opinion.

I'd budget as much for gear and lessons as for a bike. A 1 day CBT (where you don't even leave the classroom/carpark till the afternoon) is nowhere near enough to safely let a teenager on the road on their own. For the sake of a few hundred quid, I'd be booking a few extra days with a riding school and make it a condition. No lessons, no bike.

/2p

Ah remember the time when you didn't need to do anything, that you could walk into a dealer and ride out on a bike?

Bloody Nanny state, OK there were some deaths but what price freedom?

(Friend of a friend bought a new Harley after decades of non riding. Dropped it 3 times on his first journey...)

[tut]

I bought a Moto Guzzi Le Mans when I returned from Oman in '77. I was killing time at the Earls Court Bike Show waiting for Verian to fly in and saw this red and black bike in an alcove high on the wall. It looked fantastic so went and bought it for collection from Manchester.

No licence needed then as you could use your car one, but as I discovered after a year that only covered you up to 250cc not 850. Verian then made me apply for a test, turned up on the Guzzi and the Examiner accused me of taking the piss. Fortunately there was a young lad behind me on a 250 Honda, so we swapped bikes and I took my test on his. Once around the block, Examiner leaps out from around a corner and you have to stop (preferably), and that was it. Nostalgia.

tut