My other SOHC

[LesterPiglet]

This is what I'm using over winter. Surprisingly well put together.

[Green1]

Nothing wrong with with that.
My sister had one good little bike much better than the Chinese thing she had before it.

Mick

[tom400f]

Interesting. My son (will be 24 then) would like to take up motorcycles in the summer. Any 125 recommendations welcome, no idea myself...

[matthewmosse]

Honda 125 twins seem to have a pretty decent ammout of poke for the size, I had a suzuki gs125, again very tough and available as a custom (gz) or trail (dr) and the trail version is really rather capable - where I sometimes do guided trail bike tours has one for L plate customers to hire, it goes everywhere the big bikes do, and ridden right keeps up with the 400cc trail bikes. 2strokes are faster and lighter, but since road legal 2 stokes are kind of a thing of the past I rather think they will genrally be well thrashed and used up by now as a rule, so getting a decent one is going to be lucky or need money spending. Cg 125 hondas have a solid reputation. My honda ca125 (twin) has proved both cheap to buy and run and bombproof despite shocking neglect and abuse. Ones to avoid - Hong dou clone of the ca125 called the rebel, whilst the engine appears well made the rest of it is truly awful, I aquired a 250 one of these, suffice it to say I was the second person to literally be given the thing, I will save almost any wreck and broke the thing up as being unfit for use the moment I saw the quality of the welding and machine work on the frame and swing arm. I think a lot of chineese built bikes may be poor by reputation, though older ones likely to be worse than newer ones. Still likely to be seeing a fair failure rate if my mates Lifan 125 he bought new was anything to go by, not as bad as the hong dou, not as good as a 15 year old jap bike.

[hairygit]

Hold on guys, if that's a CG125 clone, it's NOT SOHC, they are OHV pushrod engines!

[MikeM]

I had some fun with a Suzuki vanvan

chunky tyres, revy, certainly not quick but a fun ride

[matthewmosse]

Hold on guys, if that's a CG125 clone, it's NOT SOHC, they are OHV pushrod engines!

burn the heretic?
still a decent little commuter bike.

[MCTID]

From my Grandsons recent experience.......I advised him to check what trade in the local Dealer would offer him a year or so down the line when he had passed his Test and wanter a bigger bike. The Dealer quoted a fair price on a Yamaha YBR125 (as long as it was in good nick and properly serviced - by the Dealer). When asked the same question about various Chinese/Korean/ Indian bikes he sold........he was reluctant to predict what they might be worth later on.....which we took as him not really wanting to take one in P/X. Grandson bought the Yamaha and was happy when he sold it on.

The other thing to note is that I regularly use a Car Park in Shoreham and there are two Chinese bikes always parked there (I assume the owners live in adjacent flats - as the Car Park is free for bikes). Although both bikes are only a couple of years old, the chrome is in a terrible state - I admit they are left uncovered, but it would probably cost more to replace/ replate parts than the bikes are worth.

'The initial sweet taste of saving money soon fades when the reality of just what poor quality costs in the long term comes home to roost'.

[mike the bike]

Suzuki Gs125S. Parts are cheap and plentiful (exhaust system £49 from MandP)   they're also very easy to work on and very reliable.

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Mike
Wont knock that
Cheers
Bitsa

[matthewmosse]

The saving grace of the chineese bikes is the price, forget re chroming, just dispose and replace, but yes the chome is poor. The kymco such as started this thread seem a far better bet, but personally speaking, for my money a classic Jap 125cc 4 stroke would take some beating, especially come insurance time. The most I have ever paid for any form of insurance is £400, and when I started out on bikes my mates were paying 4 figures for their car insurance. I got right through all the expensive years on classic bikes and eventually did car test last year by which time I was able to get cover for a 2.0hdi berlingo for £170, pretty well the day I passed my test. Very often insurance will cost the same as a pro engine overhaul or more so don't overlook that.
agreed on the gs, mine was the only bike I ever got more for selling than I paid.

[Green1]

Gs125's seem to be a better buy secondhand compered to the CG they seem to have been forgotten.
I had a GS125 when I was 17 brilliant little bike it would hold 70mph were as the cg125 I have now struggles above 55mph.
The little CG is brilliant at the moment I'm driving to Cambridge with it in the back of the truck dropping my gear off than parking for free just on the border and riding in..Its saving me a fortune as parking is £25 a day.    

Mick

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

And this is England land of hope and glory.When my date is due not sure now damn shame
Cheers
Bitsa

[Norniron]

Interesting. My son (will be 24 then) would like to take up motorcycles in the summer. Any 125 recommendations welcome, no idea myself...

My son has started off with a honda varadero 125.
Great wee (big) bike and good handler.

[tom400f]

Interesting. My son (will be 24 then) would like to take up motorcycles in the summer. Any 125 recommendations welcome, no idea myself...

My son has started off with a honda varadero 125.
Great wee (big) bike and good handler.

Thanks for all the advice gents. Agree about the Varadero but they look a bit pricey