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First rides & tests
23 August 2010 13:02
More than 12,000 MCN readers have responded to our Biking Britain survey this year, and your combined scores on the bikes you own and love (or hate) have allowed us to put together this definitive list of your top 10 125cc motorcycles.
Here are the machines that topped your list of 125s:
10 - Suzuki RV125 Van Van (03-on) £460-£2695Overall rating: 80%Info: 60mph + 124cc + 12bhp + 7ftlb + Insurance group 5
9 - Honda CBR125R (04-on) £795-£2995Overall rating: 81%Info: 70mph + 125cc + 13bhp + 7ftlb + Insurance group 6
8 - Yamaha YBR125 (05-on) £999-£1999Overall rating: 81%Info: 70mph + 124cc + 10bhp + 7ftlb + Insurance group 4
7 - Honda XL125V Varadero (01-on)£815-£3299Overall rating: 82%Info: 72mph + 125cc + 15bhp + 8ftlb + Insurance group 6
6 - Aprilia RS125 (95-on) £590-£3799Overall rating: 84%Info: 93mph + 125cc + 15bhp + 14ftlb + Insurance group 12
5 - Suzuki GN125 (94-01) £250-£1050Overall rating: 84% Info: 70mph + 124cc + 12bhp + 7ftlb + Insurance group 4
4 - Honda CG125 (75-on) £140-£1999Overall rating: 84%Info: 65mph + 124cc + 11bhp + 7ftlb + Insurance group 3
3 - Honda CBF125 (09-on) £2200-£2850Overall rating: 86%Info: 70mph + 125cc + 11bhp + 8ftlb + Insurance group 6
2 - Honda VT125 Shadow (99-on) £595-£3299Overall rating: 87%Info: 70mph + 125cc + 15bhp + 8ftlb + Insurance group 4
1 - Yamaha YZF-R125 (2008-on) £1999-£2999Overall rating: 88%Info: 75mph + 124cc + 15bhp + 9ftlb + Insurance group 6
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Add your comment – Top ten 125cc motorcycles
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CBRJGWRR says
Well...
You think a YZF R125 would beat a RS 125?
Have you ridden either?
A RS does sitting normally on part throttle what these new four strokes do flat on tank, downhill, drafting a taxi.
That was with my younger, smaller, lighter brother on the CBR !!
And it goes round corners quicker, although that is mainly cause it is faster, rather than any deficiency on the CBR's part...
The only problem the RS has is its so much better, more grip, more power, more fuel consumption, oil is really expensive, and according to my brother, it looks too much like a GP bike.
(He still hasn't quite clocked what a RS 125 is yet.)
The RS doesn't deserve its reputation, neither does the Mito. They just aren't looked after by 17 year olds who think maintenance is wiping a cloth over it once a year, and thats where the problems are.
The oil NEEDS to be Race grade fully sythetic oil. Less than that is asking for trouble, for a start. And let it warm up for crying out loud. put your gear on after you start the engine, then it has a chance if you must ride straight away.
That said, Aprilia reckon that the markets going four stroke anyway, and you can't exactly say what do they know...
Anyone with a brain cell wants a two stroke.
An RS will leave a GSX-R 600 behind on a twisty road. I know that from experience - The GSX-R rider was not happy.
The only real problems the 2T's had was emissions, that is what really killed them - not just silly 17 year old thinking new is better, which didn't help.
Most 17 year olds would rather a '11 plate YZF R125 than a S plate TZR, purely cause its newer, and therefore more impressive. The fact it is some 30+ mph slower doesn't come into it...
02 December 2011 11:30
dtnuttersays
dt 125
i have noticed since the new dt has come out no one rates it i have a 06 with the scram wheels on it and got 110mph out of it they are good starter bikes and have very little problems
02 December 2011 11:04
boybilly1967 says
25 August 2010 18:36
madrider1961says
CG125cc
This by far has got to be the best 125cc ever made , Honda replaced it with the cbf , well 2009 I rode the new model on Landsend to john o'groats run n would have return to , the bike on the whole wasnt to bad but not made for long distances very uncomfateble ,ok on fuel but thats bout all I can say on it , were as the CG is reliable , comfortable to ride & also good on fuel n oil . I actually did JOHN o'GROATS to LANDSEND 17hrs riding time A/B roads only & totaly SOLO . .
Honda should have kept building the CG & launched the CBF just as new model .
I carnt comment on the other bikes as never ridden them
madrider1961
24 August 2010 20:25
JustBe says
RS 125 is the best.
24 August 2010 20:09
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