Learner-friendly fun: it's the best 125cc motorbikes in 2023

If you’re looking for the best 125cc motorbikes money can buy, you need to come to the title that tests the most bikes – MCN. Our expert team of road testers are among the best in the world, and can offer you all the insight you need to buy a new 125 or a learner-legal used bike.

Case study: Finding a bike for our learner

MCN tests all kind of machines, but you could argue 125s are the most important. They offer an affordable and practical means of transport for the masses, but for many they’re also a gateway to a lifetime on bigger bikes.

The latter is true for 22-year-old Joseph Wright, MCN’s new videographer (and the reason the quality of our YouTube videos has stepped up a gear). He’s at the beginning of his biking journey and closer to the world of 125s than crusty old road testers like me.

He says: “Before working at MCN bikes hadn’t crossed my mind and I never knew anybody with a bike. But being surrounded by them I got the bug, so went off and did my CBT. It was surprisingly easy and took just four hours. I scanned the classifieds for a couple of weeks, until I found a lovely 2012 Yamaha YBR125 with 17,000 miles on the clock.

“I chose it because it was cheap and reliable. I was looking at a few Chinese bikes that looked nice, but a lot of people warned me against them, saying I’d have problems; so I took their advice and went for a bigger named brand. The Yamaha was a good starting point: low, light, manageable and easy. 

“I’ve loved riding it for the last year. There’s a massive stigma that comes with L-plates. People don’t want to be labelled as not as good as someone else, but if you can get past that it’s fine. My longest ride was around eight hours and the bike did 70mph, which is the speed limit, anyway.

I think it’s good to learn to ride in stages. If you jump straight to a big capacity bike it’ll be a massive shock. The 125 was a surprise because it was still fast and as I hadn’t experienced a bigger bike at that point, it was brilliant. It was cheaper to run than my car, better on fuel, accelerated faster, was quicker from A to B, and a lot more interesting. I used it every day for commuting and did 4000 miles, before recently taking my full test and buying a Kawasaki ZXR400.”

So, who better then Joseph to put a bunch of new 125s to the test? We asked him to choose the three bikes he’d buy if we gave him a budget of up to four, five or six grand. We gave him the keys for two weeks and told him to go off and do what he wanted with them, which turned out to be around 150-200 miles on each, commuting and doing whatever 22-year-olds get up to…

Interestingly, the 125s he chose are retro/scrambler, style, as he explains: “As I move up through, I’ll enjoy sportsbikes, but I think things bikes the Yamaha R125, are trying to be something they’re never going to be with sub-15bhp. That’s why these appeal. They’re not super focused, just comfortable, manageable and could do anything from a little light off road to touring. They’re Jack of all Trades, and I like the trendy looks.”

Zontes G1 Scrambler 125

125cc / 14bhp / 160kg / 795mm seat height | £3499 +OTR

Before: “I want to try a budget Chinese bike, just to see what one is actually like. The Zontes looks really good and I wish I could have tested it when I bought my YBR.”

After: “It’s been mechanically flawless and the biggest surprise of the test. It’s super-easy to ride and performance is on par with the others, although you’re stuck at 60mph until the engine really warms up, then it gets to 70mph. The gearbox is slightly lazy and not as accurate as the others.

“I like its low seat, which is what you want when you’re learning and it’s easy to both feet flat on the floor at the lights. The riding position is relaxed, neutral and it’s heavier than the others, but it’s a 125, so still light and it’s the most fun in the corners. The bars are narrow and you’re low to the ground, so you can lean it over more and feel like a hero.

“The Zontes would’ve been my first choice when I took my CBT, but now I’ve got more experience it feels soft and not as rewarding as the others when you push it hard. But nothing about the fact it’s Chinese puts me off and it feels very much like my old Yamaha YBR125. I haven’t ridden it for long enough to test its reliability, but you get a lot for your money: crash protection, adjustable levers and a 20-litre tank that gives it the feel of a big bike.”

Read our full Zontes G1 Scrambler review here.

Honda CB125R

125cc / 13bhp / 126kg (dry) / 816mm seat height | £4599

Before: “I really like the Honda CB range and this has big bike proportions and a lot of presence. Those were my two biggest things when I chose my 125. I think scooters and delivery riders get pushed around and no one really cares about them. Being upright with wide flat handlebars appeals to me and I’d hope I’d be treated the same as I would on a bigger bike.”

After: “I wasn’t blown away by the Honda at first and thought it was very middle-of-the-road, but by the end it grew on me and became my favourite. It’s the bike I had the most compliments on, which surprised me – I thought the Fantic would attract more attention.

“Although it is a naked, the riding position is sporty, which I like and it’s super-accurate going through the gears. The suspension is brilliant, the brakes are the best here and with road tyres instead of knobblies, you can go a lot faster through the corners.

“But the throttle and steering are very light, which I know should be a good thing, but I like having a bit of resistance to push against. It’s very comfortable and quite tall, but about right for me. If you were less than 5ft 6in and a new rider you might struggle.”

Read our full Honda CB125R review here.

Fantic Caballero Scrambler 125

125cc / 15bhp / 130kg (dry) / 820mm seat height | £5569

Before: “This is the holy grail for me – really cool, but ridiculously priced. The performance shouldn’t be different to the others, so it’ll be interesting to see if it’s worth it for the styling and all the extra bits”

After: “It feels bigger than a 125, which surprised me and isn’t new rider-friendly or forgiving as the others. It’s immediate and accurate on the throttle, sounds great and has the best acceleration, although top speed is around the same.

“It’s by far the lightest bike I’ve ever ridden and one of the biggest, too. The bars are high and wide and the seat is tall. I’m 5ft 8in and can’t get my feet flat on the floor, just a toe on one side. If you were smaller than me that would make your decision for you. It’s not great for turning in the road, either, but the grab handles make it easy to manoeuvre around the garage.

“I like the styling, apart from the yellow number board, which looks a bit childish. The switchgear buttons have a nice firm action too, unlike those on the Zontes, which feel loose and the Honda’s horn switch sticks out too much and is too easy to press by mistake.

“It looks stunning, sounds the best and, money-no-object, would be a lovely thing to have. Fantic have spared no expense by taking the 500 version and just replacing the engine with a 125cc, which you could view as a good thing, or lazy.

“But it’s not pitched at someone like me. It’s too much of a nice thing to drop, especially off-road, which would make me enjoy it less. I’d be gutted if it went over. It’s hard to place, as it’s just so nice to look at.”

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Which are the best 125s available right now?

Today there are more learner-legal 125s than ever to choose from, ranging from nakeds to sportsbikes, adventurers to cruisers and everything in between – not to mention 125-equivalent electrics motorbikes!

To help you narrow it down, here is a list of 125 motorbikes that MCN have given 4 stars or above in our reviews. If a new bike is currently out of reach, head to MCN Bikes for Sale to find thousands of used 125 options, too.

In this article we’ve only chosen geared bikes, which are ideal to get your ready for life on two wheels. If you’re looking for a scooter, check out our 125cc twist-and-go scooter reviews.

Best 125cc motorbikes for 2023:

• Husqvarna Svartpilen 125
• Aprilia Tuono 125
• Kawasaki Ninja 125
• KTM 125 Duke
• KTM RC125
• Suzuki GSX-R125
• Yamaha MT-125
• Yamaha YZF-R125
• Kawasaki Z125
• Super Soco TC Max

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Husqvarna Svartpilen 125

125cc / 15bhp / 146kg / 835mm seat height | £4799

Based on the KTM Duke 125, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 125 is a grown-up take on the naked learner-legal category. The new baby Svartpilen sits below the 401 and 701 versions and has the same distinctive styling.

Unlike the KTM, the Husqvarna forgoes a flash TFT dash in lieu of a more modest, round LCD unit more inkeeping with the style of the bike.

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Aprilia Tuono 125

124cc / 14.8bhp / 120kg / 810mm seat height | £4650

How’s this for a sporty-looking 125? It’s styled to look just like its bigger brother, the Tuono V4 1100 and features lots of modern kit to back up the looks. Big bike cred is backed up by peppy performance and some of the hottest handling in the sector.

Read full Aprilia Tuono 125 review here

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Kawasaki Ninja 125

125cc / 14.7bhp / 148kg / 785mm seat height | £4299

All-new for 2019, Kawasaki have returned to the 125cc A1 class for the first time in 25 years with not just one, but two new learner lightweights. There’s the Z125 naked roadster and this, a fully-faired, sports-styled machine based on the same engine and chassis. The result is eye-catching, attractive, sporty and instantly identifiable as being part of the Ninja family. Performance is on par with the competition.

Read full Kawasaki Ninja 125 review here.

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KTM 125 Duke

124cc / 14.8bhp / 128kg / 785mm seat height | £4799

Classy, simple and fun supermoto-style single delivers the double act of being an easy to ride learner bike with bags of street cred. It was updated in 2017 when it received a new TFT dash plus a revised frame and styling, and now even has the option of integrating a smartphone with the dash, allowing the rider to access incoming calls and listen to music via a Bluetooth headset. Smaller learner roadsters don’t get any cooler than this naked Austrian headbanger-in-the-making.

Read full KTM 125 Duke review here.

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KTM RC125

124cc / 15bhp / 135kg / 820mm seat height | £5199

This faired, sports version of the 125 Duke features a lovely free-revving engine, handles well and boasts some neat touches like the side-mounted exhaust and bellypan combo. Sadly, the 2017 model wasn’t updated in the same way as the Duke, so if you plump for this sportier option you’ll have to make do without the full-colour TFT dash. Plus, the WP suspension isn’t properly sorted, so it does tend to protest and chatter a little when used hard.

Read full KTM RC125 review here.

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Suzuki GSX-R125

124cc / 14.8bhp / 134kg / 785mm seat height | £4999

With a very sporty riding position (as you’d expect from a GSX-R) and, in true Suzuki tradition, it’s priced very attractively, too. The GSX-R125 is another bike that’s built in the Far East (Jakarta, this time), to keep costs down but, unlike other Far Eastern 125s, its aimed more at the European market so has an excellent power-to-weight ratio and is very economical. It looks super, especially in the slightly pricier MotoGP colours and has remote keyless ignition, as well.

From 2023 onwards and with the demise of the Suzuki GSX-R1000, the GSX-R125 stands alone as the only sportsbike in Suzuki’s range, too.

Read full Suzuki GSX-R125 review here.

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Yamaha MT-125

125cc | 14.8bhp | 140kg | 810mm seat height | £5100

Essentially a naked, roadster version of Yamaha’s all-conquering YZF-R125, the MT-125’s ‘Dark Side’ styling, taking its cues from Yamaha’s MT-07 and MT-09, won’t appeal to everyone but its engine has a surprising amount of grunt for a 125, making it more useable on faster roads. It’s also light and agile in traffic and, while not being very high-tech, is a solid 125 with proven mechanicals and decent features.

Read full Yamaha MT-125 review here.

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Yamaha YZF-R125

124cc / 14.6bhp / 127kg / 818mm seat height | £5300

Introduced in 2008, the R125 took over as the sports 125 to appeal to every red-blooded teenager thanks to its full-size proportions, full-quota performance and R6 looks.

Yamaha saved cash by employing a steel frame and basic non-adjustable suspension, but its digital dash, underslung exhaust and Brembo brakes made up for that. For 2017, it got a new fuel injection system, revised engine internals, updated styling and new instruments, and for 2019 it’s had yet another makeover that’s sure to keep it at the top of the tree in this sector. Yamaha have a rich history of building great 125s, like the YBR 125 from 2005, which was on sale until 2016.

Read full Yamaha YZF-R125 review here.

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Kawasaki Z125

125cc / 15bhp / 146kg / 815mm seat height | £3999

The Kawasaki Z125 naked roadster was launched alongside its also all-new faired Ninja 125 sportster in 2019 and marked a return to the 125cc A1 licence class for Japanese firm after a 25-year absence, apparently after an ‘extensive’ market research program by its R&D team revealed a hunger for bikes in this segment.

Read our full Kawasaki Z125 review here.

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Super Soco TCMax

Electric | 6.7bhp | 100kg | 770mm seat height | £3699

The Super Soco TC Max is the odd one out on this list as it’s the only electric option. It may be down on power compared to the others but with its high torque electric motor and incredibly low weight, you’d be hard pushed to notice. The TC Max feels more like a very fast push bike to ride and zips up to over 60mph no problem. Best of all, you get a built in tracker (through a smartphone app) keyless ignition and a motion-activated alarm as standard and if you try to wheel it away without unlocking it, the motor fights against you.

Read our full Super Soco TC Max review here.

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Who can ride a 125 motorbike in the UK?

If you’re learning to ride and aged 17 or older, after passing your CBT certificate (Compulsory Basic Training) you can gain your provisional A1 bike licence, which allows you to ride up to 125cc motorcycle on the road, producing a maximum of 11kW (15bhp) power output with a power-to-weight ratio of not more than 0.1kW per kg.

• Related: Best motorcycle training aids

You’ll have to wear L-plates, avoid motorways and won’t be allowed a pillion, but it’s a great gateway into bigger bikes and the joy of road riding.

Next steps in learning to ride a motorcycle:

• Motorcycle theory test and hazard perception exam
• Pass module 1 riding test
• Pass module 2 riding test
• Get 125cc bike insurance
• Enjoy your full motorcycle licence and move on to your first big bikes

Watch 125cc video reviews on MCN

There are some incredibly popular used 125cc motorbikes including the Yamaha DT 125 X supermoto and the Gilera Runner 125.

In terms of new models, the Honda PCX125 is among the most popular bikes currently on sale in the UK.