What is the best 125cc or 150cc sports bike? [Archive]

View Full Version : What is the best 125cc or 150cc sports bike?

Nevilleef12

23rd July 2015, 20:45

so i have been wanting a bike for my whole life and ride dirt bikes and have a moped so i know my stuff and how they handle. but my mum has recently seen a bad motor bike accident and doesn't want me to get one. however she will settle with me getting a 125cc and i might be able to push a 150cc.

i am very good with motors and am able to rebuild a 2 stroke so i think 2 strokes is the way to go because of their power (would prefer four stroke if it had the power though). i am also 16 so comfort isn't a big problem and im currently on a scooter that feels like a ridable toilet so i don't think it can get any worse haha.

my question is what would be the most enjoyable bike that meet my specifications.

my main specification is power (of course). im wanting to do short road trips around 5 hours tops a day and need the power to cruse at 100 km/hand be able to over take if necessary. will also be going up hills so need a bit of torque to but not that necessary. not looking to go over 120 though.

my second need is handling as i will be going on twisty roads up the port hills of christchurch as well as road trips through all the passes.

my last need is looks which is still a vital part of the bike for me and i would like to have a sports style like a yzf-r125

sorry about my grammar it isn't that good.

haydes55

23rd July 2015, 22:03

RG150 RGV or what ever it's called. KR150 (good luck finding one).

Ender EnZed

23rd July 2015, 22:23

Aprilia RS125.

Moi

23rd July 2015, 22:29

Aprilia RS125.

Look for Baron von Grumble on youtube - he did a good review of this bike and another 125...

also, if your budget allows - Honda 125 GROM - have a look through Royal Jordanian's channel for him on his Grom...

Akzle

24th July 2015, 07:13

this

Aprilia RS125.

/thread

Nevilleef12

24th July 2015, 08:22

My budget is also around 3 grand can stretch a grand if it's worth

EJK

24th July 2015, 08:54

McWild

24th July 2015, 09:40

Get an FXR150 for cheap, you'll enjoy the hell out of it and when you drop it it won't be the end of the world.

EJK

24th July 2015, 10:18

Get an FXR150 for cheap, you'll enjoy the hell out of it and when you drop it it won't be the end of the world.

This too.

Put some good tyres (e.g. Bridgestone BT39, Pirelli Sport Demons) and have heaps of fun around twisties and roundabouts.

TheDemonLord

24th July 2015, 11:09

Get a GSX1250FA, Remove the '0' - Tell her you got a GSX125FA

Job Done.

Oakie

25th July 2015, 09:44

This too. (FXR150)

Put some good tyres (e.g. Bridgestone BT39, Pirelli Sport Demons) and have heaps of fun around twisties and roundabouts.

Been there, done that. Also a larger jet makes it run rather nicely (and will drop fuel consumption from low 30s (km/l) to a bit above mid 20s)

Milts

25th July 2015, 21:11

Done and done IMO - 150cc, 2 stroke, in your budget, and in the south island. I had an earlier model of one of these, great little bikes but make sure you get sticky tyres.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-920314147.htm

Nevilleef12

27th July 2015, 17:52

hello i have asked this question in the forum a few days ago and just ended up with two strokes that aren't very reliable so i have changed a few things in my question.

so i have been wanting a bike for my whole life and ride dirt bikes and have a moped so i know my stuff and how they handle. but my mum has recently seen a bad motor bike accident and doesn't want me to get one. however she will settle with me getting a 150cc.

i am very good with motors and am able to rebuild a 2 stroke but wouldn't want to more than once every 2 to 4 years so would prefer a powerful four stroke.

my question is what would be the most enjoyable bike that meets my specifications.

my main specification is power (of course). im wanting to do short road trips around 5 hours tops a day and need the power to go 100 km/h with head winds and also be able to over take if necessary. i also do find the power of a four stroke more enjoyable over a two stroke with similar hp ratios.

my second need is handling as i will be going on twisty roads up the port hills of Christchurch as well as road trips through all the passes of nz.

my third specification is looks which is a vital part of the bike for me and i would like to have a sports style like the 2004 krr 150. i am also quite small only 5 foot 7 but don't really want to look like a giant on the bike. (but if it has lots of hp and looks sick i want complain)

my fourth specification is reliability. now i know the higher in performance you go the more unreliable they get, so i need the in between. so im prepared to do basic repairs/services often but not really anything to do with taking off the top end more than once every 2 to 3 years. i am also likely to have this bike for about four years.

this bike want often get pushed to its potential maybe 3 times every two months so will last a lot longer than most would.

sorry about my grammar it isn't that good.

mossy1200

27th July 2015, 17:55

I think you should tell mom that you need shop in a wider cc range to find a good bike in todays market.

pete-blen

27th July 2015, 17:58

just buy a KTM 200 Duke..put 150 stickers on it.... mummy will never know.....

haydes55

27th July 2015, 17:59

Fxr150, R15... A 150 4 stroke won't be capable of cruising at 100km/h for too long. It would be safer to get a 250.... Not even kidding.

mossy1200

27th July 2015, 18:04

I still don't know what the budget is. Did that come up in the last thread?

mossy1200

27th July 2015, 18:07

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-923361702.htm

These look cool but not sure its going to do 100 for long periods or if it will last many years.

Tazz

27th July 2015, 18:15

Buy the bike that best suits your needs (and a little of the want factor too :laugh:), not your mums.

Or just move out and buy a busa.

clint640

28th July 2015, 15:44

Sub 150cc. Powerful. Low maintenance. Four stroke. Pick any 3 :msn-wink:

That KRR someone posted is probably a great bike for someone restricted to 150cc that wants enough boogie for it to be useful on the open road. Since you are able to work on 2 strokes reliability shouldn't be too much of a concern, it's simple to check/replace the piston which is about the only thing that will wear out. A mate put a new piston in his KR150 at about 20K km but he reckoned it would have gone a heap further on the original one.

Cheers
Clint

Ender EnZed

28th July 2015, 16:38

hello i have asked this question in the forum a few days ago and just ended up with two strokes that aren't very reliable so i have changed a few things in my question.

A Honda CBR125 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-889271220.htm) or Yamaha R15 (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-923229467.htm) is probably what you're after. 4 stroke, cheap to run, plenty of fairings to pretend to be a sports bike and they're physically tiny enough to not scare your mum. They'll do over 100km/h but they could only be described as "powerful" in comparison to a GN125.

Swivel

29th July 2015, 02:46

You couldnt squeeze a few more cc's out of your mum, if you're allowed, at least a 250cc it increases your options.

Nevilleef12

29th July 2015, 08:19

Haha nope was a Mish to get 125 out of her let alone 150

Nevilleef12

29th July 2015, 08:50

So after listening to you guys I have decided to get a two stroke. Can I please have a list of all the good two strokes on the market that are reliable enough, look cool and handle well with enough power.

Thanks guys for the advice, definitely most useful fourm i've used

Scubbo

29th July 2015, 08:51

just get a moped, 125 costs the same as a 600 to reg a year <_<

nelubian

29th July 2015, 09:11

Fxr150, R15... A 150 4 stroke won't be capable of cruising at 100km/h for too long. It would be safer to get a 250.... Not even kidding.

Agree. On a 250cc bike at 100kmh I feel like on a neutral gear, engine doesn't influence a situation at all. I can imagine what is it like on a 150cc.

babysteps

29th July 2015, 10:48

KTM 200 Duke...

I have one of these if you and your Mum want to have a look. (Not gonna hit on your Mum either...Well maybe....Just a little)

Oakie

29th July 2015, 19:09

two strokes on the market that are reliable enough, I would have thought 'two strokes' and 'reliable' as being mutually exclusive. Or perhaps I'm confusing reliable with 'not requiring much maintenance'.

Nevilleef12

29th July 2015, 22:29

well reliability for a 2 stroke a rebuild every 2 years

mossy1200

29th July 2015, 22:48

well reliability for a 2 stroke a rebuild every 2 years

How long you planning on living at home?
Every 2 years makes it sound like until your 30ish.

You should get your licence under way. Get little bike to last until the day your ready to leave home or do without until then but get the licence under way.
You wont do the touring thing on a 150 2 smoke and you would be better off and safer on a bigger bike if your doing 100.

Nevilleef12

30th July 2015, 14:20

Probably another 4 to 5 years 16 at the moment and uni is across the roaday so not gonna go flatting

Yow Ling

30th July 2015, 14:40

Keep your scooter, buy an FXR150 and go bucket racing, no tickets , no bullshit , bring your mum she will understand how good this would be for you.
PM Buddha#81 he is the junior race co-ordinator. When you rich buy a flash bike

mr bucketracer

30th July 2015, 15:14

314232get one of these (-: can't be a 550 officer its to small

jasonu

30th July 2015, 15:33

well reliability for a 2 stroke a rebuild every 2 years

You can easily rebuild a single cylinder 2 stroke top end on a Saturday morning and it costs fuck all.

babysteps

30th July 2015, 19:03

CB ARGH

13th August 2015, 02:02

I had the same problem with my mum with my first bike.

I know it'll be a struggle but you need to try convince her to let you ride a 250cc. Excellent learners bike. Honestly mate.

Some may be pissed off but let's go for the Honda CBR250RR (MC22), for 4K you'd expect a well maintained bike, near new tyres, 60-80,000KM plus a few scratches.

And let her know it's only 43hp! Her car would have triple that (make something up if not)!

Honestly mate the inline 4 cylinder 4 strokes are the best bikes to learn on (SCRATCH THE FZR's). Low power at low revs (GREAT for learning), but when you want to go for a hoon, get it at the 13-16K mark and it'll put that smile on your dial! Plus the MC22'S 13L tank will go up to 280km (personal best 285km town+open road), average tank is 230-250km.

Overall, I would never bother with anything under a 250cc if you want to do the cruises at 100km/h and overtake easily. It'll never happen. Never.

And bro - Dodge the GN's.

That's my two cents from experience anyway.