Forum whore
Hornets are excellent bikes. Don't think you can go wrong with one!
The CBR 125 is pretty expensive for what it is.
Figure out what sort of bike you want first.
Sports
Sports - Tourer
Naked
Cruiser
something else?
$5000 to spend on a bike (assuming you have gear) gives you a lot of choice!
Hardcore Biker
Does look very similar to magna, no had not seen them as wanted to stick to the name brands as really needed something that was sure would hang together as use every day. Got my ride now, will keep till full & maybe beyond if ACC has their way.Originally Posted by mattian
3825 67 944779 (oh yeah)
Main brands will have better resell at the other end when selling. If the bikes make isnt known a lot of people will discount it as an option.
Odds are that you will probally move up to a larger bike once you have your full (although many new riders beleive that they will remain on the 250 longer).
My suggestion is buy a well known all rounder and use it to get exp on.
Then when you have time under the wheels you will have a better idea of the type of bikes you like and can look at options when you have your full - resale value helps a lot there.
Hardcore Biker
Try/ test ride everything you can then make your decision !
Hardcore Biker
indeed, dam good excuse to take out every bike the shop has also
Mormon Few Stunt Crew©
CBR125R
“Be careful on that thing, its got more power than your GSXR” said Grant from Honda as I walked over to the CBR125R
I laughed, looked the bike over, and rode off.
About a hour late I was dragging my knee around tight corners laughing at how fun the 125 was.
I thought to myself, this is where it is at, a bike you can ride to its limits legally on the road.
It also brought me back to the years when I was a student, riding my pride and joy, a FXR150 around Hamilton city.
The CBR125R had a few advantages over the old FXR though, like a speedo that worked accurately, fuel injection, and a water cooled engine
I loved the styling of the 125, like it is the CBR600RR's little brother, and the nice touch is the way one headlight is the low beam, and the other is the high beam
The fairing is all made out of that flexible feeling ABS plastic, which is good news for learners.
Another good point for learners, is the the addition of storage space in the rear of the bike, which should come in handy for the student wanting to carry a 1 piece wet weather suit or similar.
This shows the excellent level of thought and design work put into the 125.
The ten litre tank coupled to the 125's frugal engine means that the CBR has a pretty good range, even when thrashed.
The only downside to the 125 was the gearbox.
It got better the more I rode it, but I found it had a tendency to drop out of gear when I first gt it, but with a few KM's on it, the feel had improved and it seemed to shift easier.
I must say, riding tight back county roads was great fun, the CBR is just so light and agile, and the suspension is a lot better than expected.
The brakes were also a standout feature of this bike, they are of two piston type on a single disc, man do they work!
The light weight of the CBR with the great feel of the brakes mean they give you supreme confidence when exploring both your and the bikes limits.
I had no problems doing a downhill left hander at 110 with my knee on the road all the way around.
This aspect made the CBR a bit of a giggle to ride on the open road, as was the GP style riding position you have to take to keep it going at speed.
Speaking of speed, it should top out at 145 kph (indicated), which is quite good for a little 125 four stroke engine.
Sure, its doing about 8,000rpm at 100kph, but its still not too bad to ride on the open road, headwinds will take their toll though.
Another good point is the upright seating position, which is quite relaxed, and gives you a good amount of feel and balance.
I found that it did not feel too small for me either, but on occasion the bar and my knee would connect.
Even the engine is quite smooth until you put it into the top quarter of its rev range, and most of the buzzing comes through the bars, as to be expected with such a small engine working so hard.
The CBR125R was a lot of fun to ride, even for a more experienced rider like myself.
The fact that it was just so stable at pace, the wet weight for the CBR125R is at 127kg, and this makes it extremely agile and easy to throw around.
I found myself giggling a madman on helium, while chasing a GSX1200Y on a narrow back country road.
The GSX was just about decking its pegs around the tighter corners that the CBR just flew through.
The lack of power was not that much of a disadvantage, as it gave me more room to focus on the road ahead and the obstacles around me.
The sun was shining through the cloudless sky, and there I was on a 125 four stroke having a great time, away from all the stressful elements of modern life, in my own little world if you like, and all at legal speeds too.
The only other bike that comes close to the CBR is Yamaha's YZF125R, but at almost twice the price, and only offering a alloy frame over the CBR, its hard to see why anyone would choose the Yamaha.
At $5,000 the Honda is great value, especially with the features it has, and lets face it, who want to loose a heap of money on their first bike through depreciation?
GN125
I will be honest here, I did own one of these bikes once.
So when the GN125H was brought out in NZ again, I was more than keen to have a ride on the new one.
I still have photos on my wall of a 17 year old with long hair standing beside his pride and joy.
But how would I find it now, after all those years?
“its quite cold blooded” said Glenn.
He was right, it took about five minutes to warm up, I got impatient after five, and just rode it.
The engine is a SOHC two valve 125cc, with a 5 speed gearbox.
It delivers pretty good power for its size too, I found it to be pretty fun in the traffic, giving enough power to get a good run at the lights.
The transmission is wonderfully slick, and very light, the gear shift indicator would be very useful for a learner, but more on that later.
I have no doubt that the standard tires will be rubbish in the wet, however, it is hard to find good tires for a bike of this size, and it also misses the point of what the GN is.
The GN is aimed squarely at commuters and learners, and for that job, it hits the mark dead on.
If you rode something like a GSXR1000 and wanted to keep the KM’s off it, and still get to work on two wheels, thereby beating the traffic and saving money, this could be very much your bike.
Because for some, a scooter may be too small, and a bit too “girly” or “gay”.
Even mail delivery companies and couriers may find favour with its big wheels and comfy seat.
The GN has a very retro look about it, and to be honest, I like that.
The cast wheels give a 80’s look, maybe a touch like triumph’s new Bonneville SE.
The chrome mudguards are a nice touch, along with the nice soft seat.
The chrome covered headlight works well, as does the instruments above it.
The only real grizzle I have with this bike is the indicator switch is not push to cancel, and it is integrated with the high/low beam switch. That part should have stayed in the 80’s.
On the open road it will do 120kph, but that’s about it, usually it will do 90-110kph if you are trying hard enough, its not bad in the corners, because its so light.
Its easy to change your line and pull it in if it needs it.
Man it is light, compared to a bigger bike, its very easy to throw around on the road.
One reason its so good for a learner, is because its so non threatening to ride.
I took my girlfriend out on it, and taught her the basics of riding in 15 minutes, the gearshift indicator helps a lot.
She really like the GN125H, re-enforcing my views of it being a ideal learner bike.
It would also be a ideal bike for your partner if you are considering teaching them how to ride, or want them to come along with you.
The brakes work well, because this bike weighs very little, the single piston calliper up front is up to the job.
I must confess to taking this bike down old mountain road too, and it took the loose metal surprisingly well.
The lack of power made getting on the gas on the uphill corners a bit tricky, but the narrow tires cut in well, and the light weight and low seat height combine to make it a very simple bike to ride on the loose stuff.
The carrier on the back is a welcome addition, as is the soft wide seat.
Trying to ride this bike fast is very entertaining, all the while being totally ridiculous too.
It is a harmless by the fact that you can go flat out and not break the open road speed limit, and still throw it into a corner late with ease due to its light weight.
What this bikes does, is combine two of motorcyclings most important aspects.
I manages two make itself both fun and practical, whist not being too intimidating to a learner.
The GN125H is undoubtably a step up bike for a learner, after overcoming the basic skills such as the gearshift and clutch use, a bigger bike would be more managable.
L-Plate Rider
I'm keen on a CBR125R or a Hornet.
GN125 also looks like an excellent bike to learn on and they are seem an excellent price from the dealer.
L-Plate Rider
I picked up a Suzuki GZ250 (aka Marauder) for $3500 on TradeMe with 745 miles on it, so almost as new. It was great for learning, very low seat, good stability, did 100ks (except into strong Wellington headwind!), and its quite a cool looking cruiser style bike. Best of all got about 300ks on a tank of gas that, at its worst, cost about $20 to fill - sweet!
L-Plate Rider
I'm a learner and I've been on a VTR 250 for 4 months now. Initially I intended to get a Magna but then oneday I saw a shiny red VTR for sale and fell in love. I think it's pretty easy to ride in general and the seating position seems pretty comfortable for short or longer rides.
L-Plate Rider
I commute to work on a 08 250 Intruder, Its nice and light and easy to ride through the traffic.
Does about 9ltrs per 250km, Pretty nice looking bike
Picked it up from a dealer second hand for 5K with under 5000kms on the clock,
Its good power plenty enough to learn on. go to a dealer and ride one see if its your thing.
Magnas pretty good too but getting old now.
I did go look at a Venox 250 at a dealer the other day nice looking bike,
Havn't ridden one yet...
gee wizzz
Im thinking the cb250 is actually a bloody great first bike
To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?
black cat
the hornet every time! best 250cc i ever rode, and looks bigger with that fat rear tyre,
the hyosungs are also well worth considering as they are a full size bike rather than the usual 3/4 size 250's
u might want to look at bandits too, variable valve timing after about '94 i think produce great performance for a 250.
black cat
thats the best advice u r gonna get because there is just so much choice out there.
ie/ sporty/cruisy, 1,2 or 4 cyls, road or dual purpose (yam xt250 practically will ride itself and is a v good compromise), is power/performance important etc etc
black cat
pretty sure u can get a brand new virago for about the same money
stick to the jappas or hyosungs (all suzuki r&d) if u can for reliability and resales sake
would hate to know wot the kymco is worth on the 2nd hand market now
Hardcore Biker
I reckon the Venox looks better than all the 250 cruisers out there...... re-sale value.... who cares, as long as you look good.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks