Just bought the ‘24 big wheel for myself to learn on so I can ride with my boys. Absolutely love it! At only 5”1, I wanted something low to the ground and I still can’t flat foot but it’s comfortable. Super smooth shifting and throttle
I have a CRF300L and I just bought one of these little 125FB's to gain some confidence on slow wheelies and (small) log crossings. It's a really fun bike and like you said, it's so user friendly my kids can use it to ride along w/ me. Great video!
Haven’t road since I was a kid when I would ride with my cousins at the hunting property and I’m wanting to get into it again. Seriously considering this bike just because I know from riding quads Hondas won’t break!! Thanks for this review it was a massive help! Best one I’ve seen so far on the 125 b
Just bought a 2023 model today. Love it so far. I’ve always rode atvs but wanted to start getting into riding dirt bikes. Figured it’d be a good way to start out and my teenage kids can ride it too. Thanks for the great review. Already ordered a few of your recommended upgrades! Thanks!!!
I would advise to check out the 250f. The 125FB is great, can do 40+ mph, but it can be a bit small. I wish they made a 150FB that was 1-2 in taller than this 125 and that had a 5-speed. The 250f is still only a 7/8ths size bike, lugs really low and slow, still can go fast (for when the kids get faster), and has a much better rear brake. If I was shorter, say 5'8" and about 150lbs, I think the 125FB might be fine to rip around on with the kids - but at 6' 190, it just needs a smidge more. Just a few more thoughts for your consideration.
Great video. This is exactly the info I needed as an adult looking at this bike. Another benefit of this bike at least for me is its size. Small enough to fit in my crowded garage. Thanks again!
Thanks for the excellent and thorough review -- I'm am adult looking for a play bike, but the current popular pit bikes are too small for my "robust" size, but a full sized bike is too much for the small property I'll be riding on (only a few acres), so the info in your review was excellent and alternating between features and riding examples really provides a great overview for this bike. My racing days are behind me, and I feel there is a missing niche for a small adult play bike with big bike features like proper suspension and brakes... it seems like there is always a trade off... full disk brakes with Kawasaki, but carbed, then antiquated drum brakes on the Honda with fuel injection... would like the features of a small MX bike, but ultra quiet and great low-end like a trail bike. Thanks for the great video!
I recently got a 2022 fb and have done a similar build to what you've done. Your video actually convinced me to install a linkage guard. I finally got a hold of a bbr shock spring and that made a huge difference for an adult rider. I've rode some single track on it and it can definitely get around, great little bike.
Right on man. I just rode mine on some trails this past weekend and the BBR springs front and rear make a huge difference. It's a great little play bike.
I have a crf150f 2008, it has survived everything it still is 98% stock, it survived a head on collision with a golf cart at 35mph it broke its axel in half ,but the bike only had a slight bent on the suspension, honda reliability indeed.
@@ThomperBeThompin I now have the crf and although it is a great little bike, I prefer the klx as an adult play bike. Like you mentioned as well the transmission being 4 speed and the fact the bike is tuned down so much, just makes the klx a better play bike. Still a great little machine though
@@ThomperBeThompin It would be very interesting, and useful, to know why you finally choose the Honda. I will be doing the same decision in a few months and any advice will be appreciated. What is your opinion about the points mentioned by DirtRider22?
@@cilami I wanted the Honda because of the fuel injection. But in hindsight, I'd get the klx instead. You have more power, a fifth gear, a disc rear brake, and options for bigger tires.
I bought a 22 125 fb also! Get a dyno jet flash tuner and a comps that has tunes! Opens it up! And out a exhaust system on it! Ride mine on trails and pit bike tracks! And also get heavier springs! Then it’s bomb proof!
The ssr 150s and a ssr 189s are actually extremely good bikes for the money. Very well built. A ssr 150 has more power than the Honda, better suspension and just a better bike for the money. However! The Honda is gonna be kicking forever and resale value is definitely there. Also parts are readily available
@ThomperBeThompin they are good budget bikes that are gaining decent traction in my opinion. I think they are great for just cheap fun and trashing around. Obviously you can't go wrong with the honda though, that's a bike that your kids could be riding one day. Not sure about the ssr's though lol. The smaller ssr pit bikes are way cheaper made and are a big downgrade compared to the ssr dirt bikes but can also be a ton of fun to ride. I actually bought a ssr 189 myself as I wanted something with electric start and didn't want to buy a big bike because I'm done getting injured so this 189 is pretty good for me. I paid 2k and it had only 3 hrs of use so I gave it a try and was actually super impressed. The 150 looks like a great bike too.
I have a 22 125fb and it's worth it, it has surprised me for sure I used to ride 250s but I'm short asf so I hopped on 125 fuel injected and it is just perfect lol
Im going to pick up a 24 crf125fb or klx140r. We just sold her 2004 crf 150f. I want the electric start for her now. Im leaning toward the honda for the efi, but i hate that it's so outdated. I wish the kawasaki had efi. Check out the big wheel kit for the honda crf125f from BVC. It's pretty cool and may go that route. It upgrades the rear break to disc and has new pegs.
Perfect little drill bike. I got the 110 the 125 and the 250f line up and about to throw on the bbr springs onto the 125 and 250f to make them a little more adult friendly and give them some air time hahaha
@@ThomperBeThompin my race bike line up is even better but nothing like drilling techniques on air cooled bikes instead of slamming hours onto the expensive race bikes. Ktm 125sx Ktm 250sx Ktm 450sxf
@@ThomperBeThompin It is a dream but my wife would call it a nightmare because they all stay in the basement lol it practically a dealership showroom in there lol
Great vid and just getting into the mods myself. Just ordered the tusk tires …quick question…on the stock wheels the front doesn’t have a rim lock and looking at the valve it appears that the tire is slipping on the rim …did you install rim locks on the front wheel or is it not a problem with the tusks
Hmmm, I wonder if the vent mechanism malfunctioned. That can be scary taking a cap off of a highly pressurized tank. I 've seen vids of tanks spouting like old faithful.
My daughter just got a 2023. Her first dirtbike…. Funny that she wants to improve on a few things like the seat and bars without even knowing anything about them…. She dumped it bent the bars and misaligned the front tire a bit, but she’s been riding equestrian since she was four. So that doesn’t even phase her. Getting thrown ten feet in the air by a 1000 lb horse doesn’t bother her, so she’s not afraid to get back on immediately after wiping out. Tho she has all high quality safety gear, boots, helmet, chest protector, ect. I think safety is the most important thing for a kid on a bike. I know she’s driven it Atleast 10 hours and it still has gas. It’s crazy how fuel efficient it is. We’re in Canada so a lot of the aftermarket stuff, like the seat, ect is almost double the price with the shipping, dollar exchange…. It kinda sucks, but it is what is is…. I appreciate your video!
My kid has been doing a bit of track riding and she’s saying it’s too low. The rider on the track that’s teaching her said it’s a bit small. and hers is the big wheel. I don’t know if I can put the 21” tire on the front and the 17” in the rear ( crf 250) wheels…. I don’t think the clearance is there. I just bought this bike as a gift for her and she doesn’t like it. Her friend has a newer 125 2 stroke Yamaha and apparently it’s taller. I feel like a pos now. I think it’s awesome bike.
First off, you are NOT a P.O.S., quite the opposite, in fact. You actually bought your daughter a dirt bike which automatically makes you cooler than 99.95% of dads out there. Also, this IS an awesome bike, but it sounds like it's just not the "right" bike, which I can totally understand. This is a great bike for trails and especially for learning, but it sounds like she needs something bigger and with more power. Maybe consider cutting your losses, selling this on FB marketplace, and getting her into a more suitable bike? You can likely get almost all your money back for the Honda on the used market. This is the route I would take before trying to sink money into bigger wheels for the Honda. A Yamaha 125 2-stroke is a completely different animal than these air-cooled Honda 125 4-strokes. They are bigger, waaay more powerful, and have the chassis, suspension, etc, etc to better handle motocross and track riding. Again, you bought her a dirtbike, and that's about the coolest thing ever. You can always get her onto a different bike to better suit her needs and riding style!
I'm pretty bad at wheelies but yeah, somebody who knows what they're doing can probably wheelie this thing at least on a pretty smooth surface in lower gears
did you get it? Yeah I think 3k is a good deal IF it is in really good shape and has very low hours. A brand new one is about 3,400 before taxes and any other nonsense fees.
But it really does not have big wheels? Big wheels are 21/18. I do wish Honda would put the CRF150 engine in an actual full size wheel frame like the KLX140G.
nice seat you have there/ great review/ i have a 2021 big wheel, love it. i am 6ft 190 with my gear on/ i dont jump it but i sure beat on it and i love it... also good for my lady who is very short and a novice, she's learning... i have bent my brake and shifter pedals/ agree about the pros and Cons/ great tip about the tires thanks! // first gear comes in handy when you are larger and going up a near vertical hill, it does have its uses/ on the flats it is not very useful. awesome review thanks for sharing, this bike is great for people who want a smaller bike but still want to be able to really make use of it // for me it is off road transportation in the desert and it is great for it. a little slow but will get me anywhere/ deep sand, steep hills, even through a foot of water or more..like you said, more than a pit bike.
@@ThomperBeThompin and when it cant carry me up the hill, when it gets near vertical, it is small enough i can "walk it". Also Nice to have a bike small enough you can self rescue and get it out of mud etc no problem
Question- did you have to replace your stock throttle/ break cables ? Just got a set of these bars for my wife’s 125 big wheel and seems like it’s really tight on the cables … not sure if I should trim bars down a it or replace all the cables n such
@@ThomperBeThompin Got the bars and it’s working fine. The throttle cable is tight when turning to the left but not overly tight. She’s still using the small grips and throttle tube so if I switch it up to something like you did on your that help. Thanks.
You should have her do a pushup,and measure her hands outside to outside of hands,in a position where she feels the most comfortable for her to hold herself up.thats how wide her handlebars need to be,end to end
Great review. From what I’m reading it looks like I need to either go for the crf250f or the klx140. I’m 5’10” and 220-230 lbs. I just want something to tool around trails with kids and I feel like a 250 is way overkill but I also don’t want to be a ogre on a peanut. I’m getting my 8 yr old a CRF110 as his first bike and want to ride with him. Any experience on the klx140?
Yeah, my buddy has the KLX 140 with the 21-in front and 18-in rear. I honestly would still go for the 250f. It's smaller than a full size bike and very detuned. The crf250f makes approximately 22 horsepower, whereas a Yamaha yz250f makes approximately 38 but that's a full-blown race bike. All to say the 250f is still a gentle cruiser but has a little bit more power for hills and stuff. Plus it's fuel injected so no worries about changing out jets in the carb for elevation. If you do get the 140, absolutely get the big wheel version. Best of luck in your decision!
More gears means more shifting,Hondas motor will pull a wider spread,I agree with their decision on that.youre correct about the disc brakes,,and tires.foot pegs,Honda should know better than to put those weenie pegs on anything
I have a 99 xr100r and I was thinking of getting a 250f as my next bike but this video kind of changed my mind. I will mostly be riding on a farm which this thing is perfect for, and will very rarely going to trails in Indiana. So I don't see it worth it to spend 2k more on a 250.
Both bikes are a lot of fun. I have a full sized KTM I like to ride for more serious trails. Can't go wrong with either the 125FB or the 250F - both are great bikes. The 250f will be more comfortable, a bit more powerful, etc, etc, but yes it costs a bit more.
Get the 250F! You will want more eventually and for 2k more you do not have to repeat the same process of upgrading to a new bike. Just practice safety first and you can handle it...
I am 6’1 and 160lbs looking to get this bike. Would it be a good fit? Ive never rode dirt bikes before let alone any kind of motorcycle I know 250cc would be better sized but something smaller and slower I think would be good to learn on.
I would honestly go for the 250F instead of this. This one is a little bit cramped to be honest. I only use it as a play bike. I owned it the 250 f before and it has plenty of power to cruise any trail but not enough power where you'd get yourself in any trouble as a beginner. And it would argueably be easier to learn how to ride on that sized bike over this one.
Could you tell me exactly what you use, i like your setup but dont want to miss something, im looking on the tusk website and found the bars and grips, did you need anything else?
Im thinking about maybe buing this bike, or the 150r. Wich do you think would be better? Im thinking about bying this, because the 150 is maybe a bit too powerful, but that would last longer.. i probably wouldnt get so bored of that. I dont really want to upgrade from one bike to another...
The 150r is an entirely different bike than the 125f. It is more closely related to the 250f in power. If you're truly a beginner, maybe consider the 250f, but the 150r is an amazing bike that you can have a ton of fun on too. It's a full race bike compared to the 125 f and 250f.
@@ThomperBeThompin thanks for confirming! Ive got a '22 125fb and plan to do similar bars. Could not find extended throttle cable for this model, so i will try it with stock cable as well. Did you have to reroute the cable at all?
@@unfboy51 I don't remember having to reroute the cable. I did put on different grips and a separate throttle cam. The grips are slightly longer than stock which technically makes the cable shorter than it would with the stock grips which are shorter than the aftermarket grips. It's probably negligible though
How does your crf125 and 250F dirt bike compare in acceleration/power to a utility 400-500cc atv ? Looking to get a 125 or 230/250 dirt bike but I've always ridden atv's. I'm the same size as you going to use it on trails/forest service roads.
Hey, I'm also looking into doing some trail riding, not racing. But I want to take the bike to the limit, feel some power and try new and wild stuff. Since on the dirt I'm a beginner, not on the road. I'm 5'8 160 lbs, would you think this bike suits me better, or the 150R EXPERT? with big wheels, which is good for trail riding, but being an R and more powerful, it might be not so good for trail riding and more for race. What do you think should be the best option for me? Thanks!!! You have a new subscriber!
Hey man, thanks for subscribing! It's honestly really tough to make that determination without knowing exactly how aggressive you plan to ride. The CRF250f is an absolute tank and can take a beating so you can ride it pretty hard. It will also be way more forgiving when you want to be leisurely and just cruise. That said, as you can see from my videos, I felt the need to upgrade to an actual race bike. It's pretty crazy how quickly you get used to the power. In a perfect world I would have the CRF 250f and a race bike
@@ThomperBeThompin Did you mean the 125F? But do you think the 150R would be the best of both worlds? More powerful but still a bit forgiving? Comparing for example with yours now
@@bernardomvp sorry man, I used to have the 250 f and now have a 125f. The 250 f and the 150R both have almost the same exact amount of horsepower. The 150R however is much lighter so wi'll feel faster. I would highly recommend checking out a used CRF250F. It's a great bike to begin on and is not quite full size either. The power is adequate but forgiving, and it's pretty hard to stall that thing. Once you feel you're ready to move on, you could always jump up to a 250R or something like that. That's the way I would do it.
The manual advises against installing any additional power consuming items. Has anyone tried hand warmers to stock battery, my kid is complaining that hands get cold.
For what it's worth, I've had no issues with the extra consumption this little light pulls. I like to ride in the winter a lot (just rode in WV when it was between 15 - 25 F outside) and the handguards help a ton with blocking the wind. That and a quality set of gloves, I was good to go for some trail riding.
@@ThomperBeThompin thank you I just ordered them I wanted to make sure they would fit lol your the only person that I could find that has upgraded your foot pegs
@@erikostmark3327 Just a heads up, once mounted the new footpegs do not sit perfectly flat. They are angled up by a couple degrees, but this mimics my KTM stock footpegs and I actually prefer it compared to the "flat" stock pegs on the Honda. I did a several-hour trail ride through some sloppy, muddy trails and the new pegs performed WAY better than stock. I'm really happy with them. Just mentioning this so you aren't caught off guard by how they mount on a slightly different angle.
Looking at a bike for my 14yr old son but obviously I'd be wanting a go too occasionally. He's around 5ft 8 and 150lbs and I'm around 5ft 9 and nearer 200lbs, would it handle this
I would consider two other options first depending on you and your son's riding style. First there's the Kawasaki KLX 140RF (21in front tire, 18in rear). It's got a 5 speed trans, rear disc brake, bigger tires, plus more power than the Honda, but it's still a tiny bike. The Honda CRF 250F is probably a much better bike to grow into. For the 125, you run the risk of growing out of it quickly.
I know it's not very "uncommon". I think their 150cc dual sport bike also has no filter. I also had a 300cc ATV with no oil filter. It was never an issue. Just change the oil at regular intervals and keep the filter clean, should be good to go.
I'm not sure. There are a few slip ons and a couple complete exhausts. They are not cheap though. Looking at 500-1000+ dollars. Fmf has a power core slip on that is more affordable and probably sounds great. That's what I would go with.
My husband is 5'11 he has never gone riding before. Is this too small? I'm 5'7" and we'd kinda like to share one bike for now and see how we like it. Before buying 2 as we will have a Quad as well.
It's actually extremely simple once you have all the correct parts. Did you also purchase the ODI lock on grips like I have here? As I said in the video the stock throttle tube is really short. Just pay extremely close attention to the orientation of the stock cam and throttle cables as you disassemble the stock setup. Have your new throttle tube and cam ready to go and you'll see how the retaining pins on the throttle cables slip into the new cam. Once you figure out the correct orientation it's really easy.
@@iansgarage8603 no you don't need to get those as any aftermarket regular sized throttle tube should work. I just like the ODI's cuz they're so simple to install.
Correct, it says "Made in China" on the VIN sticker now instead of Japan. That said, it is still designed, engineered, and quality controlled by Honda. They ensure (and source) the quality of the metals, plastics, hardware, electronics, etc, etc, are all still top notch and meet Honda's strict standards. Much like how some Japanese vehicles are "built" in other countries, those manufacturers still dictate the quality of the end product. In fact, if I took the sticker off this, I bet nobody could tell it was made in China. Not trying to rant or anything, I've just noticed that the fact it is assembled in China probably turns a lot of people off, but I trust Honda that they are building a solid bike still. Could never tell aside from the sticker...
I think you are right! Especially given my size and riding style. I just wish they were fuel injected. My buddy has a KLX140 big wheeled version and it's a great bike. If I ever get another small bike to mess around on, the 140 might be it. Cheers.
Tall guys, Im 6.05 ft, long legs, I know Ill need to shrink to fit this one but really want that cause I want to learn to weelie and light jumping, should I get as my first dirt bike?
I'm 6 ft even, this is definitely just a play bike. At that height. I would look at the CRF250f. You can very easily flat foot that thing while sitting on it and it's a much more capable bike.
@@ThomperBeThompin those are exactly my 2 options. Thanks for the review and response. WIll have this year to think about it. The 125 is lighter to jump though...
I definitely prefer European dirtbikes (KTM, GasGas, TM) they are superior to ANY japanese offerings ..but for a simple 125cc 4-stroke dirtbike..this lil Honda is the way to go. -NY
@@BigA... Fire it up and let it idle for 3-5 min. Maybe longer in colder weather. And/or just start riding it gently for a few minutes. Then grip it and rip it. This is a farm bike, pretty indestructible.
I don't, but most lights come with diagrams to help out. If you buy a full kit, it will have just about everything you need including instructions. That's a better, but more expensive, way to do it.
Looking for a bike for my wife (5'3 @ 100 lbs) or when my buddies (ranging anywhere from 5'3-6'2 lol) visit, as well as for me for slow wheelies, pivot practice, etc. Would you vote this or crf250f?
I would definitely just go for the 250F. If your wife is even somewhat of a decent rider she will likely get bored of the 125 pretty quickly. I mostly use it for playing around on our property on larger group rides where we have wide ranges of experience levels. It's pretty great at that, but I could tool around all day on a 250F whereas I could only do maybe a few hours on this 125
@@ModularMuscle it's really hard to answer that without really knowing the person. I've got friends who've never ridden a dirt bike before that I would put on the 125 first, and then some others that I would feel comfortable putting on the 250. I will say that the 250F does not have anywhere near enough power to loop out. If your friends are somewhat coordinated and you think they might catch on quick then I would definitely go for the $250. At the end of the day,if you choose the 125 and decide to upgrade later, you'll still get plenty of money and resale value so it won't be much of a loss. That's something to consider
Rocking this and a KTM 300 now. Long story, but I sold the 250f to get the KTM 300 a while back. Now I have this as a play around bike for camping and stuff.
I’m 5’8 250 never rode a dirt bike. Owned plenty crouch rockets from 600 to 1000RR harley street glide can am Ryker. I’m thinking of getting me and son a 125f just to cruise around country neighborhood and back yard. Do you think that’s a good size for that. My son 14 and have never ridden anything but 3 wheel ryker
the big wheel version of the 125 would be okay for just cruising around. That is about as small as I would go, though. Also, the you might get bored of the power real quick. The 250f gives you much more power and height, though it is still much smaller than a full size bike.
@@bobk2799 yeah, but it's not a Chinese bike. Still designed and engineered by a Japanese company, including making all the materials selections. I mean 1/2 the crap in all our trucks are made in China and elsewhere too. It ain't no thang, still good quality.
$3,400 and $3,800, depending on the model year and any additional features. The price may vary based on the location and dealership, as well as any current promotions.
