I bought one in March 2023 - posting Sep. I put 5,800 miles on it over that short period and it has been a fabulous bike to learn on. I agree about the mirrors - anyone buying this for a kid with only developing road sense should think about extending. It’s very basic so not much to worry about. The chain tension needs to be monitored frequently over the first 4,000 miles (but I have no idea how this compares with other bikes of course). In addition to the two garage services I’ve tensioned at home three times myself so far. It only takes about 800cc oil, but is very frugal on it. I’ve only topped up twice over the above distance (obviously it’s been completely changed twice also). Lights are great as mentioned in the video. Tyres are rubbish though, swapped both out for Conticities fairly early on and these have been great over the wet July / August this year. I will miss her when I graduate - even my first day’s lesson on a Yamaha parallel twin 700 did nothing to diminish my enthusiasm for this bike. Awesomely nimble, forgiving for a learner and great for town riding and filtering. So happy I bought this bike. Thanks for the video man. I agree with everything (albeit as a new rider myself with nothing to compare to).
Cheers for the comprehensive report on your experiences Bob. It is some bike to be commended on its approach to two wheeled motoring. My son who owned this has progressed to a 2nd hand 250cc now which has been a nightmare in comparison! 😬😮
Thank you for sharing your height and weight. Gives me hope that I could be comfortable too. Excellent multi-camera production with very good audio. Great job on both M/C content and crafting the video. Thanks again --
Cost are Chinese budget tyres but there's not much wrong with them. I've run them on my zontes 250 for over 5 years now and never had a problem. Excellent review and thank you.
Been riding for more than 60 years, licensed for more than 55, ridden the gamut of sizes, covering more than 700,000 km in at least a dozen countries...... and have found the simple little CB125F to be all the bike I need for the gravel roads and byways I often ride, commuting, and even the odd spin on the motorway when there is no other option. Have travelled over 400 km comfortably in a day several times. Averaging about 145 mpg (UK). Have had it up to an indicated 110 km/hr, feels unstressed at 90 on the motorway. All in all a step up from the 1997 Honda Dream 100 I owned for 16 years in SE Asia.... and sold with 295,000 km on the clock.
Coming from a man that has "done it all" that is great praise for this fantastic little machine. After WWIII finishes 🙄this will be the type of machine we all wished we had!😬
@@stevewilson8752 Been there, done that with big bikes. Good for highways and motorways...... that are better travelled in cars. Twenty years living in SE Asia (mostly in Thailand, where motorcycles outnumber cars by two to one, and 87% of households have at least one), I learned that 1/8th litre is all I needed then, and now, for getting around day to day. And have done quite a bit of touring too, exploring back roads and byways slowly enough to take in the sights and smells of countryside. I ride to get around, not for the love of motorcycling and honing my skills.
Excellent review and video. With petrol costs going up, I'm thinking about one of these. Commuting 48kms on regional roads (80kmph). Riding a NT700V at the moment that gets 79mpg. A CB125F means cheaper insurance, cheaper & easier servicing, less tyre wear. Huge mpg improvement.
Excellent video. Great production value and even greater to see somebody actually testing it out on the motorway and pushing the engine to see how it well it fairs in a realistic scenario. Thanks!
What a great video! Very enjoyable to just sit back and watch, your mic is crystal clear, you definitely got it set up well. Lovely little bike the CB125F, i'm picking one up in a couple of days and have a 70 mile ride back home lol. Full licence for over 25years but still love the 125's.
i tested out how far i could go and still feel comfortable in a day last week, as i'm planning some long tours like the nc500 next year, and did 175 miles pretty easy starting around 7am finishing before 3pm with 3 decent stops, and now know i can do 200+ miles in a day easy if i wanted to. the only thing is i need to take a break every hour or two and stretch my legs as my bum goes to sleep, but i am now in my 60's lol and my back aint what it used to be !!
Thanks for the review! On my commute, there's no dual-carriageway, no hills to get up, and the speed limit is 80 km/h (France). Waiting to find a buyer for my Honda Deauville before switching to a CB125F. Hope to save money while still enjoying being out and about. Honda dealer says I'm mad to downsize from 700 cc to 125 cc.
It is going to be a big change and a significant difference to you but when you know what your goal is and why it means something to you it makes perfect sense. This bike will need an occasional oil/ filter change (it’s only 1Ltr) and a bit of chain maintenance and it will run forever. Putting commute mileage up on bigger bikes makes no sense. That speed limit you have there is perfect, enjoy!
I down sized from a pan European 1300 honda , if a 125 is all you need , don't let anyone tell you different. Been using mine for months now , instead of keep pouring expensive petrol into my beloved convertible 👍
Hi. I got one of these in September, not long after I completed my Compulsory Basic Training. Since then, I've clocked 1089 miles on it. Its absolutely brilliant, in my opinion. Great first bike. Cheap to run and insure. I use it for leisure and the occasional commute from Liverpool to Manchester. Very comfortable to ride and great fun. Its very forgiving as well, which is a bonus. So nice to hear an experienced biker like yourself Terry, singing its praises and having fun. I loved watching your vid and will check out others you have uploaded. Thanks very much and take care.
Kind words Frank, thanks. Liverpool to Manchester is an ideal route for this bike, I take it you avoid the M62 and have a nice road sorted out? I'm totally with you on the comfort, I was surprised how well the suspension copes on this budget based quality bike.
@@soundwaveshadlow This is my son's bike, as a first time rider, in Ireland, he pays €1250 or so, pretty eye watering. I am paying about €36 for my 2nd and third bikes on a Carole Nash multi bike policy and they are 1000cc plus.
Thinking about getting one of these when I pass my test I travel the nass road for work every day and it's killing me filling the car every week with diesel great video.
Cheers. Summer months commuting on one of these would be just the ticket. Great bit of fun and ultra satisfying fuel savings. A couple of 1 gallon containers in the shed for a spare 700km reserve will save some petrol stations trips too.
Cracking review, thanks. I'm comfortable with 70km/hr in third gear, 80km/hr in fourth & a sustained 90km/hr in fifth. Any more than that (except for quick bursts) I feel is mechanically unsympathetic considering the 1000ml engine oil capacity. The economy and practicality of this bike is astounding. I don't need one, but may have to have one!
It is an amazing bike and I think it has just been named no2 in the "Top 10 Most Popular Motorbikes In The UK This Year". Yes, the little 1 litre sump is tiny, I did keep an eye on it but it never budged in 1000's of km.
Thanks Terry, it looked like great fun. I'm currently driving a Honda sh125. Belt drive, abs, traction control etc. Good fuel economy, but not as good as the cb. I'm considering the cb, just weighing up my options. In my sixties now, i haven't tensioned or oiled a chain in years. 👴
Sounds great, that SH125 is very popular, I like the idea of a belt drive too. The chain is quite a wee one so not too hard to manage but it does have to be done. You might have better brakes on the SH mind?
Just found your great channel. I was thinking of getting back to biking. have been on a bike for over 30years 1979 my bike was a Honda cb100n only got a car licence
I like your film Terry and useful to see for a mature (54 years young) learner. I've just order one and waiting delivery. Trying to book leave and link in to trainers availability is proving difficult so having done CBT and Theory I'm going to potter to work for a few months until I can do DAS. It looks like I'm going to save a ton of fuel compared to the my Freelander! Thanks, again.
Well I'm "maturer" than you! :-) Oh your'e going to love that MPG and the ease with which this bike can be ridden, it is absolutely brilliant. Enjoy when you get delivery.
Hi Richard, how are you getting on with this bike? I’m about to do my CBT at age 55, and I think this might be my experience gaining commute bike.have you ridden it much? Thx🙏
Nice review, Buying one shortly for commuting to save the miles on my NT 1100 and will have a stretch on the motorway so nice to see how it performs on the motorways in 5th gear of course, we have all been there. Was thinking of electric and economics doesnt make sence. Ideal for the TH-cam vids along the country roadsThanks for you thoughts. Cheers
Good stuff, yes, no point in piling the miles on an NT1100 for a work commute. As long as you have no steep hills you're good to go with the CB. I considered electric too for my commute, made zero financial sense. Good luck!
56 and the wife finally gave up on Mr having a bike , yeah maybe because the Corsa VXR costs a lot to commute I guess. Seriously looks like a great bike for a 1st time rider like myself and its going to save me a fortune in fuel by the looks of it .
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff ill check that , I'm 56 with full no claims on my car and drive for a living so hopefully this helps on my insurance eh
I've got the 2020 model, super economy bikes, comfort on riding position and seat! Great starter! Best Commuter ever! (the 2020 looks sligthly better than the 2021-22) ;))
Just wanted to make a post you may be interested in re the MPG. On sunday i did a long almost 200 mile trip around the north york moors/vale of york/dalby forest/whitby/castleton/helmsley and although i didnt thrash it everywhere, rode quite a bit faster than normal, and hit it best i could going up hills, and when i worked out the mpg upon filling up it was quite awful from what im used to, somewhere around the 125mpg mark based on my calcs, so on tuesday did a 100miles on the yorks/lancs border, and wednesday did 100 miles in the dales, both pretty hilly, and rode with economy soley in mind, not over revving, keeping it smooth, changing up gears as soon as poss, putting it in 5th and rolling downhill with little throttle, and taking it steady in the lanes, just to see how economical i could make it without feeling like i was crawling everywhere for the sake of it, and when i got home the reading was 192.7mpg over both days combined (it was up to 193.6 but i live at the top of a hill). i was gobsmacked at this and although i got stuck behind an old dear all the way from kettlewell to bolton bridge doing about 30 max which helped economy lol, i enjoyed both days out. I have found that whatever i do, my 19st frame coupled with tail bag and heavy clothing just aint going to do anything uphill (especially once it gets above 15%), so i just accept it and tootle up rather than working the gears, revving and trying to squeeze a pointless few more mph out. In essence ive changed my mind a bit about the claimed 188mpg to say that it's well achievable (if you want it), and i've made the point before that i find theres a great attraction when you have all day to enjoy the scenery taking it a bit easy with no speed related stress & If someone really wants to get past i just pull over. When i come to fill her up again i will do a calculation based on the amount of litres to fill back up and the milage both on the odometer and sat-nav to get a more accurate picture rather than just taking the display figure, but dont expect it to be too far out. I know if you ride a lot on main roads and need to keep up with traffic you wont get anywhere near the figures i got, but it's still a remarkable engine. Anyhoo GL all.
Brilliant and comprehensive feedback Bob, showing what are possibly the two extremes of the consumption scale. Your attitude to riding is admirable and just what the doctor ordered for a stress free day out. Thanks for the great write up 👍. Enjoy and stay safe.
Just recently purchased one of these as a first bike. love it so far, waiting for the fuel to go down so I can get above the minimum fuel spend at the pumps and fill it up, see the mileage I can get out of it. At the moment I'm getting 177mpg average around town and that's a bit of start n stops with some 30mph roads. Would love to see some matinance videos on this bike, as most 125 owners like myself are new riders and are clueless (I am anyway lol) about doing minor services on the bike like adjusting chains and oil changes. Great video, very informative keep the good work up, just subscribed :0)
Cheers Ashok. So you already know how good this bike is and how little petrol it uses! There are a few Maintenence videos on this bike already but there would be two main everyday tips I would give to new riders. 1) keep the chain lubed, at least every 100-200 miles in winter with a simple aerosol can and 2) keep a very keen eye on the oil level, the sump capacity is very small on this bike and air cooled engines can use a little more oil than their water cooled counterparts.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff thanks for the tips Terry, and yes definitely very fuel efficient, exactly what I needed for my 5mile commute to work.
Owned the previous model, 2017. As you say, you can't get any more frugal if you just want a geared motorbike. I've now gone back to a 600cc hornet and although it's great. I do miss the simplicity of the cb125f.
Yes, my regular ride is a 1200 Tiger but every now and then I rob this one for the commute to work, just for the hoot of it, its simplicity is its strength.
Cheers John. It is a fun and comfortable bike for a runaround. I can’t imagine cheaper two wheeled motoring which still provides that thrill. It is a very low powered machine of course but when you accept its limitations and understand them it’s a little blast. Financially it’s a safe bet too, you’ll always find a buyer for one of these.
Did my CBT on one of these, picked one up from the shop yesterday and put 50 miles on it pretty much right away. My only real complaint (if you can call it that) is that the LED headlight is a bit dim, but then again it's probably not a great idea to ride at night before putting some more miles on it.
I didn’t think the light was too bad at dusk amongst traffic but alone on a dark road I’ll agree it doesn’t light up the horizon. On balance, good enough for the bike it is though. Enjoy yours 👍.
Great review, I’m a 40 year old virgin to motorbikes. I’m thinking of getting either this bike or the Yamaha ybr. I’m leaning toward this one though. Thanks 🙏
Hi Terry, I'm at 157 mpg as an average with 'normal' ridestyle around town and close-by areas. With a very low C02 emission, its the ideal bike if you wanna do something for the CLIMATE and environment. Not fitted for motorways of course because the bike misses the necessary power for it. At 50 Mph, it already starts having a hard time, top is at 65 mph (ONLY when no wind in front!).
Brilliant MPG Peter. Yes this bike has its limitations from a speed/power perspective but if you know that and use it within those it makes perfect sense. Thanks for watching 👍.
Dunno, I feel fine about motorways in Germany. Little Hondas reach the speed trucks are limited to and can stay in their windshadow and people have at least one other lane to overtake me safely.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Are you sure? I tried to look things up and found a 90km/h limit for HGVs in Ireland which seems technically enforced EU wide?
@@jochenschrey2909 sorry, you are right Jochen 👍.Unfortunately HGV’s are happy to ignore that rule on our dual carriageways ( normal 100kmh) and Motorways ( normal 120kmh) and go with the flow.
There are bikes here in India 110/100cc that can give u real world figures of upto 75-80kmpl/210-225mpg imperial This thing is called the Honda Shine here...n yes is a simple yet reliable bike I sure would love to ride that in Ireland someday 🤘
Joking aside (I've done that myself), really enjoyed your review, best I've seen so far in TH-cam. I have a full license and had bigger bikes but I chose this for commuting and weekend trips out around the Sussex countryside, love it, perfect for what I need to do. Agree with all your assessments. Thank you. Ride safe.
@@tobias13100 Cheers Paul. These sort of bikes do have obvious limitations but are perfectly suited to exactly what you are using it for. I was genuinely amazed at the comfort of the suspension and seat, you could drive around all day on the CB. Enjoy and thanks for watching. 👍
It is the perfect antidote to rising fuel prices and it saves miles on that fantastic CBR650R, there is no point rushing to an expensive valve service on that with commute mileage.
Excellent review, clear video and sound with all the useful info. What I'd like to know is what makes the CB-R so different apart from the obvious styling? Aren't they the same engine? I like both your CB-F in the video and the CB-R but don't understand enough of the real differences to choose between them. I'm on a small bike now, in my mid 50's and want to treat myself to a new machine. Thanks.
The R completely different engine and is water cooled and altogether more stylish if that is important to you. The R also offers a little more oomph in that it has 9.8Kw Vs the 7.8Kw of the CB125F. It also has a rear disk brake instead of the F's drum. I like the absolute simplicity of the CB125F and its amazing fuel consumption. It really is pay your money and take your choice. If you want to hit the country roads at 50 MPH at minimal cost the F is the ticket.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Thankyou for your reply. I knew it you would give a clear and simple explanation of the differences. I was thinking it was all just about styling but obviously with the engine, brakes and cooling upgrades, it explains the price difference. Keep up the great work on this channel, I've learnt quite a bit from it today. 👍
Looking at getting this soon, very simple bike but from what i have seen it looks very good and simple. Only issue is cheapest i can get insurance is £1500 🤢
Insurance for first time riders is madly excessive but I can’t imagine any other bike being cheaper to insure. After a year of no claims hopefully it will come down sharply.
I have the previous model and i love it From the look it seems that previous model is more stable But i like the fuel consumption on this I don't know wich is faster Mine goes 105 all the time and in good condition i have seen 120 plus
120kph would be good motoring! My size does not do this bike any favors but it has enough to move along with the traffic in most conditions. It is the fuel consumption that is the most amazing thing about this bike.
Hi Terry, Best review I've seen on the wonderful CB125F. Had no idea it was so fuel efficient!!!! 😃 I thought my NC750X was good 🤭...... This may be a candidate as my second fun bike or the wife's entry level bike 🤔🤔. Not that far from you. I live in Trim and know those roads you were on well 👍. I travel to Blessington alot.....
Good stuff Goose. It is a brilliant bike for 70-80kmh country roads such as those. Once you understand you are riding it for “extreme economy” and will take the large power hit it’s a great bit of kit. Honda Ireland have hiked the price back up but it faces stiff competition price wise from the equivalent Yamaha which is not quite so frugal. NC750X a fairly frugal bike in itself I believe?
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Yes Terry, The NC is best in it's class for fuel. Great bike all round 👍 Will be heading to Spain 2up on it in Sept for a coast to coast adventure. My previous bike was a CBF1000F. Now I'm nearly 60!! the NC is perfect for me 😁😁😁
Hi Terence, great video there! Looking at buying this bike as an all year round commuter, due to the cost of everything going through the roof a little frugal bike like this makes sense. I have a Triumph Street Triple that I love and like to keep clean so don’t like using it in the winter. This little Honda ticks the box I think. Do you still have it?
It was my lads and like all young men he wanted a larger bike after passing his test. He now rides a giddying 250cc! This bike was a revelation, it is not super premium quality (reflected in the price) but will keep its looks if kept clean and dry overnight. The bodywork paintwork was excellent and the technology was satisfyingly simple. If you have any 70MPH dual carriageway/motorway this bike is not good enough power wise but all other roads its a breeze to ride, so comfortable too.
Just to give you some more feedback and hopefully to answer a few questions that i wondered about on accuracy, i did another ride yesterday to the peak district, and with one bar left on the fuel guage i filled up so i knew exactly how much petrol i used, which took 8.88 litres to fill back up & cover a total distance of 335 miles on the bike odometer, and 327 miles on the beeline app. The mpg guage on the bike recorded 187 mpg, however using an average of the 2 actual milages gives me a real world figure around 169mpg, quite a difference to the reported 187, which backs up the low mpg i got a week ago when i rode harder. my conclusion is not to take the figure on the display too seriously, it's just a guideline, and if you really want to know what you actually get, do as i did, but still, 169mpg is quite fantastic, so i wont lose any sleep !!.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff u r welcome - the accuracy of the mpg claims were of interest to me, so hope sharing my experience it is of use to others too.
:D The good old rev the nuts off the 125 days. Cant beat a good old back road either where the car in front is doing 50 on the back roads and you cant pass it without 10 seconds and a prayer
Had mine from new for 7 weeks now with over 8oo miles done, most of my commute is done at 55 to 60 mph I have averaged 143 mpg. I weigh 78kg. I think you need to be going a lot slower than my commute to achieve anything near 188mpg.
Yes, these are perfect figures and the route has a big impact too. The rider of this bike is heavier than you but getting a little better mileage. That is down to his relatively flat and flowing route which allows him to maintain speed and avoid hard acceleration all the time. Either way, not much out there to beat it.
I am beyond 100kg and got maybe 156mpg until first refil, being admittedly gentle on the throttle, with that consumption gauge in front of my nose. Still great that something that feels like a bike can keep up with an Innova.
Holy mackerel, I pay about$150.00 for insurance on my CB100. I'd love to replace it with CB125F but Honda doesn't offer it in the U.S.. I started with a Whizzer Pacemaker many moons ago, about same size as the CB100, top speed about 40mph, but there weren't many cars on the road.
Hi, have you filled the tank to the maximum and manually counted the km until the reserve light comes on? The official figure is 67 km/l and it seems absolutely incredible to me.
Didn’t actually do that but I can confirm that that fuel consumption is achievable. They went to great pains to reduce the friction within several engine components on the 2021 models onwards. When riding it with a heavy hand it still hits 63km/l.
I just bought 2023 honda cb125f I like to know if each bar in the fuel bars give you same milage because the top one is wide and the look narrower as they go to E
Like many bike gauges they are more of an "indication" and I rely more on the range feature which I found much more useful. I find the gauge goes down slowly to start and speeds up towards the end. This may be something to do with the linear output of the float sensor combined with a lower petrol volume in the lower half of the tank (due to the frame design having a larger impact on the tank volume at its base).
Hi Terry. Thanks for the video. I'm 170lbs/77kg. I'm a solar salesman and I only have to go to around 3 houses a day which can be anywhere from 4m/6.4km to 9 miles/14km 1 way trip from my home. I have to ride a daily average of 24m/22km and then every Tuesday I have to go to the office which is 22m/35km one way trip. So Tuesday has an average of 32m/51km ride time considering going to the office and then going to 2 houses. If I have to take the motorway every Tuesday for a 44m/70km, should I get this bike? I live in the U.S by the way. Thanks again for the video. I only have an electric bike and am thinking of replacing it since I can't keep up with the motorway traffic.
Im in LA at the moment, this is not a bike for the Freeway! Secondly it is not for sale in North America so you’ll have no option to buy it there. I think your going to have to go at least modern 300cc if your going to use the freeway. Good luck 👍.
I reckon we can stay with a 125cc, the likes of the Yamaha MT-125 11kw or Honda CB125R 9.8kw compared to the CB125F's 7.8kw engine. There are bound to be a good few more examples.
i wonder if sprocket swap would give it extra 10-20km/h also will look up to get this bike too.. will try fitting my sh125 windscreen for wind resisstance and top box fore some small shopping boot space.
I don’t think those sprockets will suite the bike as the power output is quite low. Windscreen might be handy in the wet but will sap some power at speed. It’s a great bike though and a top box makes sense.
Upgrade to 15 teeth sprocket will decrease your rpm about 450 and at increase your max speed on flat road about 5 km/h Thats it The best thing is reuducing the rpm's
3 200 € ? I bought mine 2 months ago for 2 800 € and with 5 years warranty (2 from Honda International and 3 from Honda France). And it remains at the same price today (2 799 € with 5 years warranty). Check moto point honda point fr. Where do you live ? I average 170 mpg (between 1.6 and 1.7 l/100km) . But I can do 200 if I ride economically. Very pleasant bike for town and a little around. And cheap to buy and use.
Vehicle Tax and VAT is very high in Ireland making all motorcycles and cars expensive compared to many other parts of Europe. Great to see you experience with fuel economy.
Hi there great video thank you😊I am very interested in buying one of these (also in my mid 50s) thing is I’m 6ft 1 and weigh 15 stone I’ve been told buy a local bike shop that I would dwarf this bike? I would very much appreciate your thoughts on this? Thanks again!
You might look a little big on it but you can judge for yourself from my video, I’m 6ft and 18 stone. 🤭 and I still thought it was a great bike for getting around on. As long as 60mph (100kmh) is good enough for you and you are talking about a commuter or just a little runaround it will be fine. The current rider of this bike is 6’4”. Not really suited to longer/faster journeys though but I don’t think Honda had that in mind.
Great to see sn easy access oil filter. The filter gauze hidden behind the clutch cover is just asking for a job thats gonna be neglected. Itll be interesting to see your mpg once its run in and youre ragging it through the gears.
Yes, I bet the earlier models gauze was neglected a lot. After run in this thing easy hit 150MPG and that with a heavy rider pinning it to the end. Ala, it was replaced with a 2004 Ninja 250cc which DRINKS petrol! :-)
Not sure if 2021 or 2022 version, Honda claims 156mpg / 66km/L / 1,5 L/100km. Pretty damm slow for going into highway at 50mph cruise, but gas mileage is insane. Tried 55-60mph cruise on my MT07, wont reach more than 80mpg 😅
Great video, thank you but even after the "oops moment" on the motorway you still seemed to be in 4th all the time, would it simply not pull 5th reasonably well? Thanks!
I did use fifth a lot after that and it was fine for the open road and able to accelerate albeit quite moderately. I do use lower gears on curved roads quite a bit too, as you noticed, and this is just for extra speed control and a better acceleration out of the bend. Cheers.
This bike doesn't do anything like 188mpg . My new one can average around 130mpg which is good but nothing like Honda's claim . If you'd be happy with that this bikes great , but 188mpg is just crap . Ride safe . Ed Update= I kept mine for 11 months during which it was completely reliable ( apart from engine management light issues) and consistently gave 130 mpg , no more however I rode it . I now ride a royal Enfield 350 meteor, after 5 fill ups I've averaged just over 90 mpg , less mpg but so comfortable and easier cruising . If the seat on the Honda hadn't been so agonizing after 30 mins I would not have parted with it 👍
Yes, 187mpg is in perfectly ideal conditions and gently rode, measured in the same way all of the other manufacturers do. This particular bike is readily achieving 150MPG. It is a 25% improvement on the 2020 model and significantly better than most other 125’s.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff that's good mpg , maybe you are lighter than me ? Also I do ride mine on a motorways on part of my journey to work as it's happy at 60 . I also rode it from Hatfield to Wellingborough last week which it handled just fine . It has a " big bike " feel ( my last bike was a st1300 honda) , I'm guessing if I did shorter town road trips I may get more mpg . Also after a few tank refills I regeared it back to last year's ratio ( removed the 15 front sprocket and put a 16 like last year's back on ) this makes the bike easier at higher speeds as I won't rev high for long periods it's just being a bully. All the best. Ed
agree for most of us, but i did see one review where the guy said it was his wifes bike and she crawled everywhere. he showed she was getting 200+mpg lol. I just repled to a post above showing what i was getting and i feel ride plenty fast enough keeping to the speed limits or just below. I never 'red line' it & only once have i had the trottle fully open, and averaged 171mpg all day yesterday. GL
I couldn’t tell you really because this is not a bike designed to spend all day at that sort of speed. As an occasion as part of any journey yes but not on a sustained basis. If I needed to do that sort of speed all day long I think I would go up to a 250cc, especially in a hilly environment.
i initially thought the same but it's more than adequate, and the combined braking when using the front lever helps. It's euro5 so must be up to the job. GL
It has a combined starter motor and alternator to save weight, excellent idea. But it turns over and starts so easily you really would have to have a completely dud battery for this thing not to start. As BikingChap says, in an emergency it will bump start in a couple of yards.
Yes, current rider is 6'4" and ~90kg. You will find it comfortable too, good for 80-90km/hr. The acceleration won't tear your arms off, so it takes a little bit to get to those speeds but not overly laborious. If the terrain is very hilly it will suffer on inclines of course and you will need to keep the engine revs up with a lower gear to cope. The engine oil capacity is only one litre, but Honda reckon it's good for 6,000km but I would keep an eye on the level regularly as it is such a small quantity. Because it is such a small amount of oil, I think I would replace it annually or every 3,000 km just to give the engine some love!
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff I got it..😜 I sleep on it🤗 Very nice bike! I want to ask you if you have adjust the cluch freeplay🤔,manual says 10-20mm..
@@manos_recovery Congratulations! I have not adjusted it and it is currently at about 8mm. The clutch adjustment locknut was a little loose a month ago and I did need to tighten it against the adjustment nut. It was probably nearer the 10mm mark before it loosened. I like it nearer this 10mm mark and 20mm might make it just a little too sloppy for me. But the adjustment is there to be had so 20mm might suit some who want a bite point close to the grips.
Some bikes costing 5 times more aren't terrifying until u are going 3 times faster. That makes the thrill per bill much better on this 125. Not to mention the cops will wave at u rather than waving u over.
You’re getting the Grom and you’ll like it! 😁. It would make a great bike as a local city bike and a super fuel miserly countryside bike where the terrain is fairly flat.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff I'm getting the Grom ? Ah ?? No... Ick I definitely want the CB125F. I think it'll fit me better than the super cub. I desperately hope the CB125F comes to the USA.. I'll buy it.
I'm watching and you're flat out in 4th gear, saying it doesn't want to go quicker, well use the 5th gear? Did you forget it has 5 gears? Edit; you finally realised you were in 4th.
I did not realise that 125cc was allowed on the motorways. I thought when you were on the motorway that the motorbike was reaching the rev limiter, if there is one. It has to top +100 kmph with a normal 13 stone person on it.
It is allowed on the motorway but not as a learner. I was actually on a three lane carriageway but not an actual motorway. I did hit the rev limiter, I was in fourth thinking I was in fifth in the first section - stupid me!
Your first run was stuck in 4th gear! Your poor little engine was on the limiter being thrashed to death and there was another gear to go. Once you found 5th you should easily have achieved 66 mph and without much headwind just about 70 mph. Perfectly ok for motorways but obviously you need to get your positioning right when you join so as not to get stuck behind or in front of a massive lorry. Actually I find it is the coaches that have the worst drivers - permanently tail gating you.
I know, I acknowledge that I was in 4th in the video. I was idiotically looking at the clock rather than the gear indicator! It was much better on the way back 😬. Yes, I have been on the end of some aggressive coach drivers too. Quite how they think driving up your arse helps is beyond me, maybe they are slipstreaming? 😬
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Sorry I missed your comment about being in 4th. I'd be very interested in a further review when you've had more miles on this remarkable bike. It's the first small bike that I feel might compete with current 125 scooters, but of course you have to buy luggage gear. I miss gear changing but in other respects I enjoy scooters more. Honda have taken a lead here. I wish manufacturers would stop making ever more powerful bikes. Making more eco friendly machines like the little Honda would make a viable case against those who wish to ban motorcycles altogether.
i have a sh 150 i honda 2016 model with 52.000 km and 2009 model cbf 125 with 205.000 km with no problems only i change the fuel pump nothing else and this new bike has two things from sh scooter. i only do not like the 18 intch weels and the footsteps for your leg
That’s great mileage for these small bikes, congrats. The 18” wheels work better than the 17” for poor roads I think so that’s a plus. Thanks for watching 👍.
It's hard to tell, it must be a bit here and there but I believe around 7kg was off the engine. One of the big savers was the combined alternator/starter instead of two separate items.
I have it down at 100km/h in reality. You might be able to get more out of it with favourable conditions but a regularly achievable speed of 100km/h would be realistic.
Im from Middle German (Sachsen- Anhalt) and this Very nice and Economy Bike is my First Motorcycle in my live. I ❤IT.😊
Thank u for your Video.
Congratulations on the the new bike! It is a great value comfortable machine, enjoy!
Just picked one up for my son today, he has his CBT on Saturday. I did about 20 miles and I was really impressed. Great bike.
That is exactly what it is being used for here too, good luck to him.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff cheers 🍻
I bought one in March 2023 - posting Sep. I put 5,800 miles on it over that short period and it has been a fabulous bike to learn on. I agree about the mirrors - anyone buying this for a kid with only developing road sense should think about extending. It’s very basic so not much to worry about. The chain tension needs to be monitored frequently over the first 4,000 miles (but I have no idea how this compares with other bikes of course). In addition to the two garage services I’ve tensioned at home three times myself so far. It only takes about 800cc oil, but is very frugal on it. I’ve only topped up twice over the above distance (obviously it’s been completely changed twice also). Lights are great as mentioned in the video. Tyres are rubbish though, swapped both out for Conticities fairly early on and these have been great over the wet July / August this year. I will miss her when I graduate - even my first day’s lesson on a Yamaha parallel twin 700 did nothing to diminish my enthusiasm for this bike. Awesomely nimble, forgiving for a learner and great for town riding and filtering. So happy I bought this bike. Thanks for the video man. I agree with everything (albeit as a new rider myself with nothing to compare to).
Cheers for the comprehensive report on your experiences Bob. It is some bike to be commended on its approach to two wheeled motoring. My son who owned this has progressed to a 2nd hand 250cc now which has been a nightmare in comparison! 😬😮
Best review I saw on this Honda so far! Buying it soon!
Great, it’s a great proposition, enjoy!
Thank you for sharing your height and weight. Gives me hope that I could be comfortable too. Excellent multi-camera production with very good audio. Great job on both M/C content and crafting the video. Thanks again --
Thankyou, much appreciated.
As a fellow tall bloke, I’m glad to hear you can comfortably ride this at 6’4”!
It’s very comfortable for a 6’4” lad. Obviously not perfectly ideal but needs must as a learner.
@terenceokeeffim 5'8tall & 100kg & i thought id be to heavy for a 125cc bike .esmotorcyclestuff
Cost are Chinese budget tyres but there's not much wrong with them. I've run them on my zontes 250 for over 5 years now and never had a problem. Excellent review and thank you.
Cheers Phil, good to know. 👍
Been riding for more than 60 years, licensed for more than 55, ridden the gamut of sizes, covering more than 700,000 km in at least a dozen countries...... and have found the simple little CB125F to be all the bike I need for the gravel roads and byways I often ride, commuting, and even the odd spin on the motorway when there is no other option. Have travelled over 400 km comfortably in a day several times. Averaging about 145 mpg (UK). Have had it up to an indicated 110 km/hr, feels unstressed at 90 on the motorway. All in all a step up from the 1997 Honda Dream 100 I owned for 16 years in SE Asia.... and sold with 295,000 km on the clock.
Coming from a man that has "done it all" that is great praise for this fantastic little machine. After WWIII finishes 🙄this will be the type of machine we all wished we had!😬
10hp great for new learners & entry level bike 🏍 before stepping up to 500cc / 650 in first year of riding 😊👍🕺
@@stevewilson8752 Been there, done that with big bikes. Good for highways and motorways...... that are better travelled in cars. Twenty years living in SE Asia (mostly in Thailand, where motorcycles outnumber cars by two to one, and 87% of households have at least one), I learned that 1/8th litre is all I needed then, and now, for getting around day to day. And have done quite a bit of touring too, exploring back roads and byways slowly enough to take in the sights and smells of countryside. I ride to get around, not for the love of motorcycling and honing my skills.
Excellent review and video. With petrol costs going up, I'm thinking about one of these. Commuting 48kms on regional roads (80kmph). Riding a NT700V at the moment that gets 79mpg. A CB125F means cheaper insurance, cheaper & easier servicing, less tyre wear. Huge mpg improvement.
48km commute would suit this bike just fine. It is a comfortable commuter too. As long as the route is not super hilly it will cope just fine.
188mpg on my first refill. I'm impressed. This bike is so easy to ride and great fun in the lanes. Thanks for the video.
it sure is.
Excellent video. Great production value and even greater to see somebody actually testing it out on the motorway and pushing the engine to see how it well it fairs in a realistic scenario. Thanks!
Cheers and thanks 🙏
What a great video! Very enjoyable to just sit back and watch, your mic is crystal clear, you definitely got it set up well. Lovely little bike the CB125F, i'm picking one up in a couple of days and have a 70 mile ride back home lol. Full licence for over 25years but still love the 125's.
Ah it’s a brilliant little machine, unassuming presence and just gets on with the job. Enjoy the 70 miles! 👍
i tested out how far i could go and still feel comfortable in a day last week, as i'm planning some long tours like the nc500 next year, and did 175 miles pretty easy starting around 7am finishing before 3pm with 3 decent stops, and now know i can do 200+ miles in a day easy if i wanted to. the only thing is i need to take a break every hour or two and stretch my legs as my bum goes to sleep, but i am now in my 60's lol and my back aint what it used to be !!
The united States is going to need about 100 million of these very soon.
Yes. The whole of the west me thinks, getting poorer and less relevant every year.
Thanks for the review! On my commute, there's no dual-carriageway, no hills to get up, and the speed limit is 80 km/h (France). Waiting to find a buyer for my Honda Deauville before switching to a CB125F. Hope to save money while still enjoying being out and about. Honda dealer says I'm mad to downsize from 700 cc to 125 cc.
It is going to be a big change and a significant difference to you but when you know what your goal is and why it means something to you it makes perfect sense. This bike will need an occasional oil/ filter change (it’s only 1Ltr) and a bit of chain maintenance and it will run forever. Putting commute mileage up on bigger bikes makes no sense. That speed limit you have there is perfect, enjoy!
I down sized from a pan European 1300 honda , if a 125 is all you need , don't let anyone tell you different. Been using mine for months now , instead of keep pouring expensive petrol into my beloved convertible 👍
2:12 your dog is saying “ fuck sake, he’s talking about the bike again” 😆
I know, it's like "its not very complicated you know, making a bit of a meal of it!" 🙂
Hi. I got one of these in September, not long after I completed my Compulsory Basic Training. Since then, I've clocked 1089 miles on it. Its absolutely brilliant, in my opinion. Great first bike. Cheap to run and insure. I use it for leisure and the occasional commute from Liverpool to Manchester. Very comfortable to ride and great fun. Its very forgiving as well, which is a bonus. So nice to hear an experienced biker like yourself Terry, singing its praises and having fun. I loved watching your vid and will check out others you have uploaded. Thanks very much and take care.
Kind words Frank, thanks. Liverpool to Manchester is an ideal route for this bike, I take it you avoid the M62 and have a nice road sorted out? I'm totally with you on the comfort, I was surprised how well the suspension copes on this budget based quality bike.
How much was your insurance on this bike.
@@soundwaveshadlow This is my son's bike, as a first time rider, in Ireland, he pays €1250 or so, pretty eye watering. I am paying about €36 for my 2nd and third bikes on a Carole Nash multi bike policy and they are 1000cc plus.
Thinking about getting one of these when I pass my test I travel the nass road for work every day and it's killing me filling the car every week with diesel great video.
Cheers. Summer months commuting on one of these would be just the ticket. Great bit of fun and ultra satisfying fuel savings. A couple of 1 gallon containers in the shed for a spare 700km reserve will save some petrol stations trips too.
Cracking review, thanks. I'm comfortable with 70km/hr in third gear, 80km/hr in fourth & a sustained 90km/hr in fifth.
Any more than that (except for quick bursts) I feel is mechanically unsympathetic considering the 1000ml engine oil capacity.
The economy and practicality of this bike is astounding. I don't need one, but may have to have one!
It is an amazing bike and I think it has just been named no2 in the "Top 10 Most Popular Motorbikes In The UK This Year". Yes, the little 1 litre sump is tiny, I did keep an eye on it but it never budged in 1000's of km.
I love ther start of this bike, it's so quiet, just rotates and starts.
It is a whisper isn’t it?
Nice little review Terry. Its not always about the big bikes.
Yes, this was a delight to ride for the right type of journey.
Thanks Terry, it looked like great fun. I'm currently driving a Honda sh125. Belt drive, abs, traction control etc. Good fuel economy, but not as good as the cb. I'm considering the cb, just weighing up my options. In my sixties now, i haven't tensioned or oiled a chain in years. 👴
Sounds great, that SH125 is very popular, I like the idea of a belt drive too. The chain is quite a wee one so not too hard to manage but it does have to be done. You might have better brakes on the SH mind?
Just found your great channel. I was thinking of getting back to biking.
have been on a bike for over 30years 1979 my
bike was a Honda cb100n
only got a car licence
The CB125F would be a great reintroduction, it is also the UK’s 2nd best selling bike 😲! Good luck Richard👍.
I like your film Terry and useful to see for a mature (54 years young) learner. I've just order one and waiting delivery. Trying to book leave and link in to trainers availability is proving difficult so having done CBT and Theory I'm going to potter to work for a few months until I can do DAS. It looks like I'm going to save a ton of fuel compared to the my Freelander! Thanks, again.
Well I'm "maturer" than you! :-) Oh your'e going to love that MPG and the ease with which this bike can be ridden, it is absolutely brilliant. Enjoy when you get delivery.
Hi Richard, how are you getting on with this bike? I’m about to do my CBT at age 55, and I think this might be my experience gaining commute bike.have you ridden it much? Thx🙏
Nice review, Buying one shortly for commuting to save the miles on my NT 1100 and will have a stretch on the motorway so nice to see how it performs on the motorways in 5th gear of course, we have all been there. Was thinking of electric and economics doesnt make sence. Ideal for the TH-cam vids along the country roadsThanks for you thoughts. Cheers
Good stuff, yes, no point in piling the miles on an NT1100 for a work commute. As long as you have no steep hills you're good to go with the CB. I considered electric too for my commute, made zero financial sense. Good luck!
56 and the wife finally gave up on Mr having a bike , yeah maybe because the Corsa VXR costs a lot to commute I guess. Seriously looks like a great bike for a 1st time rider like myself and its going to save me a fortune in fuel by the looks of it .
Enjoy if you pick one up, peanuts to run, absolute peanuts.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff cheers I've seen the cb125R now and that one looks even better , choices eh 😀
@@BarFlyBrewing it’s a looker but insurance was a good bit more for the young rider of the bike.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff ill check that , I'm 56 with full no claims on my car and drive for a living so hopefully this helps on my insurance eh
I've got the 2020 model, super economy bikes, comfort on riding position and seat! Great starter! Best Commuter ever! (the 2020 looks sligthly better than the 2021-22) ;))
Oh no it doesn’t! 😁🤣😆. But you’re right on all other counts. 👍
Just wanted to make a post you may be interested in re the MPG. On sunday i did a long almost 200 mile trip around the north york moors/vale of york/dalby forest/whitby/castleton/helmsley and although i didnt thrash it everywhere, rode quite a bit faster than normal, and hit it best i could going up hills, and when i worked out the mpg upon filling up it was quite awful from what im used to, somewhere around the 125mpg mark based on my calcs, so on tuesday did a 100miles on the yorks/lancs border, and wednesday did 100 miles in the dales, both pretty hilly, and rode with economy soley in mind, not over revving, keeping it smooth, changing up gears as soon as poss, putting it in 5th and rolling downhill with little throttle, and taking it steady in the lanes, just to see how economical i could make it without feeling like i was crawling everywhere for the sake of it, and when i got home the reading was 192.7mpg over both days combined (it was up to 193.6 but i live at the top of a hill). i was gobsmacked at this and although i got stuck behind an old dear all the way from kettlewell to bolton bridge doing about 30 max which helped economy lol, i enjoyed both days out. I have found that whatever i do, my 19st frame coupled with tail bag and heavy clothing just aint going to do anything uphill (especially once it gets above 15%), so i just accept it and tootle up rather than working the gears, revving and trying to squeeze a pointless few more mph out. In essence ive changed my mind a bit about the claimed 188mpg to say that it's well achievable (if you want it), and i've made the point before that i find theres a great attraction when you have all day to enjoy the scenery taking it a bit easy with no speed related stress & If someone really wants to get past i just pull over. When i come to fill her up again i will do a calculation based on the amount of litres to fill back up and the milage both on the odometer and sat-nav to get a more accurate picture rather than just taking the display figure, but dont expect it to be too far out. I know if you ride a lot on main roads and need to keep up with traffic you wont get anywhere near the figures i got, but it's still a remarkable engine. Anyhoo GL all.
Brilliant and comprehensive feedback Bob, showing what are possibly the two extremes of the consumption scale. Your attitude to riding is admirable and just what the doctor ordered for a stress free day out. Thanks for the great write up 👍. Enjoy and stay safe.
Just recently purchased one of these as a first bike. love it so far, waiting for the fuel to go down so I can get above the minimum fuel spend at the pumps and fill it up, see the mileage I can get out of it. At the moment I'm getting 177mpg average around town and that's a bit of start n stops with some 30mph roads.
Would love to see some matinance videos on this bike, as most 125 owners like myself are new riders and are clueless (I am anyway lol) about doing minor services on the bike like adjusting chains and oil changes.
Great video, very informative keep the good work up, just subscribed :0)
Cheers Ashok. So you already know how good this bike is and how little petrol it uses! There are a few Maintenence videos on this bike already but there would be two main everyday tips I would give to new riders. 1) keep the chain lubed, at least every 100-200 miles in winter with a simple aerosol can and 2) keep a very keen eye on the oil level, the sump capacity is very small on this bike and air cooled engines can use a little more oil than their water cooled counterparts.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff thanks for the tips Terry, and yes definitely very fuel efficient, exactly what I needed for my 5mile commute to work.
Owned the previous model, 2017. As you say, you can't get any more frugal if you just want a geared motorbike. I've now gone back to a 600cc hornet and although it's great. I do miss the simplicity of the cb125f.
Yes, my regular ride is a 1200 Tiger but every now and then I rob this one for the commute to work, just for the hoot of it, its simplicity is its strength.
Really enjoyed your review. Thinking of stepping down from larger bike for a while following surgery. Might take a look at one of these :)
Cheers John. It is a fun and comfortable bike for a runaround. I can’t imagine cheaper two wheeled motoring which still provides that thrill. It is a very low powered machine of course but when you accept its limitations and understand them it’s a little blast. Financially it’s a safe bet too, you’ll always find a buyer for one of these.
Did my CBT on one of these, picked one up from the shop yesterday and put 50 miles on it pretty much right away. My only real complaint (if you can call it that) is that the LED headlight is a bit dim, but then again it's probably not a great idea to ride at night before putting some more miles on it.
I didn’t think the light was too bad at dusk amongst traffic but alone on a dark road I’ll agree it doesn’t light up the horizon. On balance, good enough for the bike it is though. Enjoy yours 👍.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff I absolutely will!
I don't know if there's any better commuter than this bike, if you treat it as intended you can't go wrong with a basic Honda.
Dead right Jeremy, this bike has nothing extra than what is needed. With basic maintenance it will. Be a trouble free bike.
got this for my new job that I have to be mobile in. cant wait to get to work and back with cheap fueling
Brilliant, it is some bike, enjoy.
Great review, I’m a 40 year old virgin to motorbikes.
I’m thinking of getting either this bike or the Yamaha ybr.
I’m leaning toward this one though.
Thanks 🙏
No problem. Hope you have it by now. This has much better MPG than the ybr.
Thanks for that mate I felt I was on the bike with you👍👍👍
Great stuff Mick👍
Hi Terry, I'm at 157 mpg as an average with 'normal' ridestyle around town and close-by areas. With a very low C02 emission, its the ideal bike if you wanna do something for the CLIMATE and environment. Not fitted for motorways of course because the bike misses the necessary power for it. At 50 Mph, it already starts having a hard time, top is at 65 mph (ONLY when no wind in front!).
Brilliant MPG Peter. Yes this bike has its limitations from a speed/power perspective but if you know that and use it within those it makes perfect sense. Thanks for watching 👍.
Dunno, I feel fine about motorways in Germany. Little Hondas reach the speed trucks are limited to and can stay in their windshadow and people have at least one other lane to overtake me safely.
@@jochenschrey2909 we don’t have a lower motorway seed for trucks here and I suspect drivers in Germany are better disciplined than elsewhere. 👍
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Are you sure? I tried to look things up and found a 90km/h limit for HGVs in Ireland which seems technically enforced EU wide?
@@jochenschrey2909 sorry, you are right Jochen 👍.Unfortunately HGV’s are happy to ignore that rule on our dual carriageways ( normal 100kmh) and Motorways ( normal 120kmh) and go with the flow.
There are bikes here in India 110/100cc that can give u real world figures of upto 75-80kmpl/210-225mpg imperial
This thing is called the Honda Shine here...n yes is a simple yet reliable bike
I sure would love to ride that in Ireland someday 🤘
That is some MPG. With the price of fuel going through the roof these bikes are going to get a lot more popular here!
Nice vid.
I use 5th gear on the dual carriageway on mine. 🙂
😬
Joking aside (I've done that myself), really enjoyed your review, best I've seen so far in TH-cam.
I have a full license and had bigger bikes but I chose this for commuting and weekend trips out around the Sussex countryside, love it, perfect for what I need to do.
Agree with all your assessments.
Thank you.
Ride safe.
@@tobias13100 Cheers Paul. These sort of bikes do have obvious limitations but are perfectly suited to exactly what you are using it for. I was genuinely amazed at the comfort of the suspension and seat, you could drive around all day on the CB. Enjoy and thanks for watching. 👍
Good review. I'm picking up my new one in November.
Excellent, you won't be disappointed. I really enjoyed riding this bike, there is nothing not to like about it.
God a car and a cbr650r still I bought this bike do to the rising fuel prices. Such a lovely bike
It is the perfect antidote to rising fuel prices and it saves miles on that fantastic CBR650R, there is no point rushing to an expensive valve service on that with commute mileage.
Watching from Sweden! Used to live in Kill and managed to roll my car at 12:09, when there was a crest on that bend!
@@concpat Excellent 🤣. The chances of watching a CB125F video in the same place 😂. You survived anyways! 👍
Excellent review, clear video and sound with all the useful info. What I'd like to know is what makes the CB-R so different apart from the obvious styling? Aren't they the same engine? I like both your CB-F in the video and the CB-R but don't understand enough of the real differences to choose between them. I'm on a small bike now, in my mid 50's and want to treat myself to a new machine. Thanks.
The R completely different engine and is water cooled and altogether more stylish if that is important to you. The R also offers a little more oomph in that it has 9.8Kw Vs the 7.8Kw of the CB125F. It also has a rear disk brake instead of the F's drum. I like the absolute simplicity of the CB125F and its amazing fuel consumption. It really is pay your money and take your choice. If you want to hit the country roads at 50 MPH at minimal cost the F is the ticket.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Thankyou for your reply. I knew it you would give a clear and simple explanation of the differences. I was thinking it was all just about styling but obviously with the engine, brakes and cooling upgrades, it explains the price difference. Keep up the great work on this channel, I've learnt quite a bit from it today. 👍
Yes this milega is right
I tested
Personally it give 79.4 km in 1 liter
Fule
Excellent review. Real world rest.
Thanking you.
Looking at getting this soon, very simple bike but from what i have seen it looks very good and simple. Only issue is cheapest i can get insurance is £1500 🤢
Insurance for first time riders is madly excessive but I can’t imagine any other bike being cheaper to insure. After a year of no claims hopefully it will come down sharply.
I have the previous model and i love it
From the look it seems that previous model is more stable
But i like the fuel consumption on this
I don't know wich is faster
Mine goes 105 all the time and in good condition i have seen 120 plus
120kph would be good motoring! My size does not do this bike any favors but it has enough to move along with the traffic in most conditions. It is the fuel consumption that is the most amazing thing about this bike.
Mine is blocked on 115 km/h
Hi Terry,
Best review I've seen on the wonderful CB125F. Had no idea it was so fuel efficient!!!! 😃 I thought my NC750X was good 🤭...... This may be a candidate as my second fun bike or the wife's entry level bike 🤔🤔. Not that far from you. I live in Trim and know those roads you were on well 👍. I travel to Blessington alot.....
Good stuff Goose. It is a brilliant bike for 70-80kmh country roads such as those. Once you understand you are riding it for “extreme economy” and will take the large power hit it’s a great bit of kit. Honda Ireland have hiked the price back up but it faces stiff competition price wise from the equivalent Yamaha which is not quite so frugal. NC750X a fairly frugal bike in itself I believe?
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff
Yes Terry,
The NC is best in it's class for fuel. Great bike all round 👍 Will be heading to Spain 2up on it in Sept for a coast to coast adventure. My previous bike was a CBF1000F. Now I'm nearly 60!! the NC is perfect for me 😁😁😁
@@goose3973 great stuff, enjoy Spain!
@@goose3973 another NC owner here. Got well over 90mpg pottering round France. Seat is a killer though. 😬
@@BikingChap
Modified my seat to take the slope out. All day comfortable now 👍😊
Top notch review
Cheers James 👍
Hi Terence, great video there! Looking at buying this bike as an all year round commuter, due to the cost of everything going through the roof a little frugal bike like this makes sense. I have a Triumph Street Triple that I love and like to keep clean so don’t like using it in the winter. This little Honda ticks the box I think. Do you still have it?
It was my lads and like all young men he wanted a larger bike after passing his test. He now rides a giddying 250cc! This bike was a revelation, it is not super premium quality (reflected in the price) but will keep its looks if kept clean and dry overnight. The bodywork paintwork was excellent and the technology was satisfyingly simple. If you have any 70MPH dual carriageway/motorway this bike is not good enough power wise but all other roads its a breeze to ride, so comfortable too.
Just to give you some more feedback and hopefully to answer a few questions that i wondered about on accuracy, i did another ride yesterday to the peak district, and with one bar left on the fuel guage i filled up so i knew exactly how much petrol i used, which took 8.88 litres to fill back up & cover a total distance of 335 miles on the bike odometer, and 327 miles on the beeline app. The mpg guage on the bike recorded 187 mpg, however using an average of the 2 actual milages gives me a real world figure around 169mpg, quite a difference to the reported 187, which backs up the low mpg i got a week ago when i rode harder. my conclusion is not to take the figure on the display too seriously, it's just a guideline, and if you really want to know what you actually get, do as i did, but still, 169mpg is quite fantastic, so i wont lose any sleep !!.
Good feedback again Bob, thankyou. As you say, we can live with 169MPG! 😆
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff u r welcome - the accuracy of the mpg claims were of interest to me, so hope sharing my experience it is of use to others too.
@@Bob-ts2tu it is, thanks Bob 👍
@@Bob-ts2tu it is, thanks Bob 👍
This bike is largest selling bike in India now, but this bike has a competitor and it is TVS Raider 125, lets check out once please
TVS Raider not available in this region.
:D The good old rev the nuts off the 125 days. Cant beat a good old back road either where the car in front is doing 50 on the back roads and you cant pass it without 10 seconds and a prayer
Ha ha, yes. It makes you take life at a certain pace alright!
Had mine from new for 7 weeks now with over 8oo miles done, most of my commute is done at 55 to 60 mph I have averaged 143 mpg. I weigh 78kg. I think you need to be going a lot slower than my commute to achieve anything near 188mpg.
Yes, these are perfect figures and the route has a big impact too. The rider of this bike is heavier than you but getting a little better mileage. That is down to his relatively flat and flowing route which allows him to maintain speed and avoid hard acceleration all the time. Either way, not much out there to beat it.
Your getting more than me , I'm averaging around 130 , ( I weigh 82kg) nice bike but 188mph is not possible. Kind regards. Ed 👍
I am beyond 100kg and got maybe 156mpg until first refil, being admittedly gentle on the throttle, with that consumption gauge in front of my nose. Still great that something that feels like a bike can keep up with an Innova.
Holy mackerel, I pay about$150.00 for insurance on my CB100. I'd love to replace it with CB125F but Honda doesn't offer it in the U.S.. I started with a Whizzer Pacemaker many moons ago, about same size as the CB100, top speed about 40mph, but there weren't many cars on the road.
Insurance is insane in Ireland for young riders, cars and bikes. I would say the CB100 and Whizzer were great little back roads bikes.
Hi, have you filled the tank to the maximum and manually counted the km until the reserve light comes on? The official figure is 67 km/l and it seems absolutely incredible to me.
Didn’t actually do that but I can confirm that that fuel consumption is achievable. They went to great pains to reduce the friction within several engine components on the 2021 models onwards. When riding it with a heavy hand it still hits 63km/l.
I just bought 2023 honda cb125f I like to know if each bar in the fuel bars give you same milage because the top one is wide and the look narrower as they go to E
Like many bike gauges they are more of an "indication" and I rely more on the range feature which I found much more useful. I find the gauge goes down slowly to start and speeds up towards the end. This may be something to do with the linear output of the float sensor combined with a lower petrol volume in the lower half of the tank (due to the frame design having a larger impact on the tank volume at its base).
Get 200 mpg out of mine easily. Found tyres that come with bike to be excellent
That is truly brilliant 👍
Hi Terry. Thanks for the video. I'm 170lbs/77kg. I'm a solar salesman and I only have to go to around 3 houses a day which can be anywhere from 4m/6.4km to 9 miles/14km 1 way trip from my home. I have to ride a daily average of 24m/22km and then every Tuesday I have to go to the office which is 22m/35km one way trip. So Tuesday has an average of 32m/51km ride time considering going to the office and then going to 2 houses. If I have to take the motorway every Tuesday for a 44m/70km, should I get this bike? I live in the U.S by the way.
Thanks again for the video. I only have an electric bike and am thinking of replacing it since I can't keep up with the motorway traffic.
Im in LA at the moment, this is not a bike for the Freeway! Secondly it is not for sale in North America so you’ll have no option to buy it there. I think your going to have to go at least modern 300cc if your going to use the freeway. Good luck 👍.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Thanks. Really appreciate you taking the time to answer.
@@forest7013 no problem 👍
I like your review. What Shark helmet model is that?
Sorry missed your post. Helmet is Shark D-Skwal 2. I like it a lot and they are very reasonably priced.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff No problem. Thank you mate.
Just wondering what's the most fuel efficient bike that will do 70 MPH?
I reckon we can stay with a 125cc, the likes of the Yamaha MT-125 11kw or Honda CB125R 9.8kw compared to the CB125F's 7.8kw engine. There are bound to be a good few more examples.
i wonder if sprocket swap would give it extra 10-20km/h
also will look up to get this bike too..
will try fitting my sh125 windscreen for wind resisstance and top box fore some small shopping boot space.
I don’t think those sprockets will suite the bike as the power output is quite low. Windscreen might be handy in the wet but will sap some power at speed. It’s a great bike though and a top box makes sense.
Upgrade to 15 teeth sprocket will decrease your rpm about 450 and at increase your max speed on flat road about 5 km/h
Thats it
The best thing is reuducing the rpm's
3 200 € ?
I bought mine 2 months ago for 2 800 € and with 5 years warranty (2 from Honda International and 3 from Honda France).
And it remains at the same price today (2 799 € with 5 years warranty). Check moto point honda point fr.
Where do you live ?
I average 170 mpg (between 1.6 and 1.7 l/100km) . But I can do 200 if I ride economically.
Very pleasant bike for town and a little around. And cheap to buy and use.
Vehicle Tax and VAT is very high in Ireland making all motorcycles and cars expensive compared to many other parts of Europe. Great to see you experience with fuel economy.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff I forgot the vehicle tax. But we have other taxes ;-)
very helpful!
Glad you found it so, cheers.
Hi there great video thank you😊I am very interested in buying one of these (also in my mid 50s) thing is I’m 6ft 1 and weigh 15 stone I’ve been told buy a local bike shop that I would dwarf this bike? I would very much appreciate your thoughts on this? Thanks again!
You might look a little big on it but you can judge for yourself from my video, I’m 6ft and 18 stone. 🤭 and I still thought it was a great bike for getting around on. As long as 60mph (100kmh) is good enough for you and you are talking about a commuter or just a little runaround it will be fine. The current rider of this bike is 6’4”. Not really suited to longer/faster journeys though but I don’t think Honda had that in mind.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff thanks mate
Great to see sn easy access oil filter. The filter gauze hidden behind the clutch cover is just asking for a job thats gonna be neglected. Itll be interesting to see your mpg once its run in and youre ragging it through the gears.
Yes, I bet the earlier models gauze was neglected a lot. After run in this thing easy hit 150MPG and that with a heavy rider pinning it to the end. Ala, it was replaced with a 2004 Ninja 250cc which DRINKS petrol! :-)
Not sure if 2021 or 2022 version, Honda claims 156mpg / 66km/L / 1,5 L/100km. Pretty damm slow for going into highway at 50mph cruise, but gas mileage is insane. Tried 55-60mph cruise on my MT07, wont reach more than 80mpg 😅
Yes, Gas mileage is unreal but it's not for the Highway. This one is the 2021/22 model and its official figure is 186MPG imperial!
i have a 2014 suzuki dl 1000 v-strom..... i get 94 mpg (imperial)...
Great video, thank you but even after the "oops moment" on the motorway you still seemed to be in 4th all the time, would it simply not pull 5th reasonably well? Thanks!
I did use fifth a lot after that and it was fine for the open road and able to accelerate albeit quite moderately. I do use lower gears on curved roads quite a bit too, as you noticed, and this is just for extra speed control and a better acceleration out of the bend. Cheers.
I can’t find this vehicle anywhere in the US. Can someone please help?
I don’t think Honda USA import it into North America. 🙁
This bike doesn't do anything like 188mpg . My new one can average around 130mpg which is good but nothing like Honda's claim . If you'd be happy with that this bikes great , but 188mpg is just crap . Ride safe . Ed
Update= I kept mine for 11 months during which it was completely reliable ( apart from engine management light issues) and consistently gave 130 mpg , no more however I rode it . I now ride a royal Enfield 350 meteor, after 5 fill ups I've averaged just over 90 mpg , less mpg but so comfortable and easier cruising . If the seat on the Honda hadn't been so agonizing after 30 mins I would not have parted with it 👍
Yes, 187mpg is in perfectly ideal conditions and gently rode, measured in the same way all of the other manufacturers do. This particular bike is readily achieving 150MPG. It is a 25% improvement on the 2020 model and significantly better than most other 125’s.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff that's good mpg , maybe you are lighter than me ? Also I do ride mine on a motorways on part of my journey to work as it's happy at 60 . I also rode it from Hatfield to Wellingborough last week which it handled just fine . It has a " big bike " feel ( my last bike was a st1300 honda) , I'm guessing if I did shorter town road trips I may get more mpg . Also after a few tank refills I regeared it back to last year's ratio ( removed the 15 front sprocket and put a 16 like last year's back on ) this makes the bike easier at higher speeds as I won't rev high for long periods it's just being a bully. All the best. Ed
@@edwardwilliammorris1340 cheers Ed, good feedback. It definitely has a bigger bike feel than a 125cc yes, so comfy too.
agree for most of us, but i did see one review where the guy said it was his wifes bike and she crawled everywhere. he showed she was getting 200+mpg lol. I just repled to a post above showing what i was getting and i feel ride plenty fast enough keeping to the speed limits or just below. I never 'red line' it & only once have i had the trottle fully open, and averaged 171mpg all day yesterday. GL
@@Bob-ts2tu excellent mileage Bob!
hello bro is your motorcycle a CB 125 twister 2021?
They just call it the CB125F here.
Fuel consumption @ 95km/h?
I couldn’t tell you really because this is not a bike designed to spend all day at that sort of speed. As an occasion as part of any journey yes but not on a sustained basis. If I needed to do that sort of speed all day long I think I would go up to a 250cc, especially in a hilly environment.
Hey mate im thinking to turn eco of but not sure in full performance with it on or off
Pretty sure you can’t turn it off. It is only an indication that you are using a light throttle rather than limiting your available power.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff yeah if i hold both buttons allows you to turn on or off :)
@@MrSpud245 I would say that’s just the light?
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff on ny dash when hold them both in says eco mode then on and press right side can turn off
3 grand and its still running a drum break on a 2021 model that's horrendous. My 04 cbr125r has disk on the rear.
That’s because you got two R’s in your model name! 😁
i initially thought the same but it's more than adequate, and the combined braking when using the front lever helps. It's euro5 so must be up to the job. GL
I wish it would have a kickstarter,..in case the battery goes flat,..in winter for example,…and then what???🤷♂️😅
Just bump it, it doesn’t weigh very much at all.
It has a combined starter motor and alternator to save weight, excellent idea. But it turns over and starts so easily you really would have to have a completely dud battery for this thing not to start. As BikingChap says, in an emergency it will bump start in a couple of yards.
How much is its horse power.?
A tiny little 10.7HP 😀
This Bike Available in INDIA.Bike name is HONDA SP125..Same Look, Same Engine,5 Gear and Stylish Look, just Name Change "HONDA SP125"..#hondasp125
Yes, I thought so. A big seller with that fuel consumption no doubt.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Yup..India 125cc top most selling bike in year 2020 to 2021
I would opt for the Honda.
Honda is usually not as fast as the Honda because the Honda has generally heavier stronger frame and components that last.
at 8'50'' were you going in 4th gear??? just 4 gears in it!?
Yes, I was. There are five gears and I thought I was in fifth. I realised at 10.02!
Are these bike really getting 150mpg plus ?
Yes, 25% improvement in MPG over the 2020 model. 150 MPG real world achievable.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff thanks for the reply back think I’ll have to get one with these fuel prices.
Hey there!
1:I want this bike for 10+10klm every day distance.
2:I'm 6,2 and 95kg
I want it for a 80-90kph speed.
Am I good?🤔
Yes, current rider is 6'4" and ~90kg. You will find it comfortable too, good for 80-90km/hr. The acceleration won't tear your arms off, so it takes a little bit to get to those speeds but not overly laborious. If the terrain is very hilly it will suffer on inclines of course and you will need to keep the engine revs up with a lower gear to cope. The engine oil capacity is only one litre, but Honda reckon it's good for 6,000km but I would keep an eye on the level regularly as it is such a small quantity. Because it is such a small amount of oil, I think I would replace it annually or every 3,000 km just to give the engine some love!
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff thank you for replay
and "always upright"!(greek wish for bikers😉)
@@manos_recovery Thanks for the good wishes, "always upright".
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff I got it..😜
I sleep on it🤗
Very nice bike!
I want to ask you if you have adjust the cluch freeplay🤔,manual says 10-20mm..
@@manos_recovery Congratulations! I have not adjusted it and it is currently at about 8mm. The clutch adjustment locknut was a little loose a month ago and I did need to tighten it against the adjustment nut. It was probably nearer the 10mm mark before it loosened. I like it nearer this 10mm mark and 20mm might make it just a little too sloppy for me. But the adjustment is there to be had so 20mm might suit some who want a bite point close to the grips.
Mine is terrifying at anything faster than 40 mph.
:-0 I'm heavy, 115kg, I was OK. Tyre pressures OK?
Some bikes costing 5 times more aren't terrifying until u are going 3 times faster. That makes the thrill per bill much better on this 125. Not to mention the cops will wave at u rather than waving u over.
cheng shin tire is cst
thanks David!
Is it fuel injected?
Sure is
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff that is why it's pretty good on fuel
Travel the world
why do you tire the engine so much in this 4th gear 😐
Watch it all, I made a boo boo!
Why can't the USA get this bike ????
You’re getting the Grom and you’ll like it! 😁. It would make a great bike as a local city bike and a super fuel miserly countryside bike where the terrain is fairly flat.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff I'm getting the Grom ?
Ah ?? No... Ick
I definitely want the CB125F.
I think it'll fit me better than the super cub.
I desperately hope the CB125F comes to the USA.. I'll buy it.
This bike make in europe?
I doubt it but I don’t know for sure.
Terry needs to test the Honda Monkey 125cc
I guess it would be the same engine.
Now I really could join the circus riding that at my size!
Can i get one in the usa 🇺🇸 or can it be shipped here
I don’t believe Honda USA import them and it would be too time consuming and costly to self import. It’s a no for USA I am afraid. 😞
I'm watching and you're flat out in 4th gear, saying it doesn't want to go quicker, well use the 5th gear? Did you forget it has 5 gears?
Edit; you finally realised you were in 4th.
If you had watched another 30 seconds of the video 🙂
I did not realise that 125cc was allowed on the motorways.
I thought when you were on the motorway that the motorbike was reaching the rev limiter, if there is one.
It has to top +100 kmph with a normal 13 stone person on it.
It is allowed on the motorway but not as a learner. I was actually on a three lane carriageway but not an actual motorway. I did hit the rev limiter, I was in fourth thinking I was in fifth in the first section - stupid me!
Your first run was stuck in 4th gear! Your poor little engine was on the limiter being thrashed to death and there was another gear to go. Once you found 5th you should easily have achieved 66 mph and without much headwind just about 70 mph. Perfectly ok for motorways but obviously you need to get your positioning right when you join so as not to get stuck behind or in front of a massive lorry. Actually I find it is the coaches that have the worst drivers - permanently tail gating you.
I know, I acknowledge that I was in 4th in the video. I was idiotically looking at the clock rather than the gear indicator! It was much better on the way back 😬. Yes, I have been on the end of some aggressive coach drivers too. Quite how they think driving up your arse helps is beyond me, maybe they are slipstreaming? 😬
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Sorry I missed your comment about being in 4th. I'd be very interested in a further review when you've had more miles on this remarkable bike. It's the first small bike that I feel might compete with current 125 scooters, but of course you have to buy luggage gear. I miss gear changing but in other respects I enjoy scooters more. Honda have taken a lead here. I wish manufacturers would stop making ever more powerful bikes. Making more eco friendly machines like the little Honda would make a viable case against those who wish to ban motorcycles altogether.
There not led indicators just normal bulbs as is tail light
I didn’t say the indicators were LED but I did think the tail light was but you’re right it isn’t.
i have a sh 150 i honda 2016 model with 52.000 km and 2009 model cbf 125 with 205.000 km with no problems only i change the fuel pump nothing else and this new bike has two things from sh scooter. i only do not like the 18 intch weels and the footsteps for your leg
That’s great mileage for these small bikes, congrats. The 18” wheels work better than the 17” for poor roads I think so that’s a plus. Thanks for watching 👍.
Where the heck did they shave off 11kg 😳
It's hard to tell, it must be a bit here and there but I believe around 7kg was off the engine. One of the big savers was the combined alternator/starter instead of two separate items.
Hi, max speed?
I have it down at 100km/h in reality. You might be able to get more out of it with favourable conditions but a regularly achievable speed of 100km/h would be realistic.
I lower my head a little, and the speed goes to 110 km without any problems.
In which country
Ireland
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Thanks
You're on the rev limiter in 4th........
I know, I realise on the off ramp !
You are in 4th gear for Christ's sake! :D
I know, I realised and mention it in the video! I was an idiot that day. 😬
some contribution, though. now we know the top speed in 4th. a test probably nobody else did :)
@@momchilyordanov8190 😬 I aim to push boundaries!
And if you were using the 5th gear from time to time, you would have an even greater fuel economy ….😂
I know I know 😳😵💫!