FAILED AGAIN

[matthewmosse]

honda ca 125 is what I'm riding for the sheer convinience of something light reliable and econmical, did I mention reliable? Craking little bike, cost me

[florence]

I owned a few 125 bikes when I was younger.  I must say that of all of them the CG125, although not the most interesting, was by far the best.  Ultra-reliable, simple to maintain and great fun to ride, if you can find a reasonable one that isn't worn out they are definitely worth having.

However, of all the bikes I have owned the newest bike was made in 1979 so there could be a number of really good models out there, made more recently of which I know nothing about.  Presumably though, the newer models all have restricted BHP.

[matthewmosse]

I know by the time you reach modern the emitions gumph wrecks preformance in a big way, chap I know with a Suzuki Van Van 125 traily kind of bike with what looks to be a direct decendant of the gs/dr125 engine in it has a meagre top speed of 55mph, my old gs used to be good for 70(ish) the exhaust is half the diameter and features really tight curves on the modern machine so there are more benefits to buying an old un than just the cheap insurance.

[florence]

Agreed, my CB125T, when thrashed to the extreme, would rev to 11,000 RPM and on a good day and with no prevailing wing would just about get to 80MPH on the speedo. (probably somwhere between 70 and 80MPH in reality but pretty fast for a 125).  Great fun that bike was.

[MIKE550/4]

CG seems to be the one to go for then, will stay away from modern ones however tempting

Price to pay ?

[MIKE550/4]

gs model is what i was learning on, suzuki think they are 500 cc

[rigwit]

onw thing to try  toaim for slow speed/balance/co-ordination is to do the opposate at start of your sessions  , what i would suggest is pick a big store car park on a sun after  or if not barriered up at night use that  start by standing up  on footpegs  and contolong the bike at a slow but moderate speed  in a straight line  then introduse some right/left turns  do this for 1/2 hour  then sit down as normal and all being well you should be able to control the bike at a snails pace...