Honda CB125R Review, Can this 125cc Really be Worth £4500!? Neo Sports Cafe Learner Legal 

How about this scenario: you want to travel around the Europe on motobike. It needs to be reliable, but also as cheap as possible. Your budget is very tight. What do you do? The answer: you get A1 driving licence and buy a Honda CB125R. So I've done exactly that last summer with my wife. We had a Honda CB125R (few years older than the one in this review) and a Yamaha MT-125. In 3 month we went to Gibraltar, Barcelona, Venice, Krakow and than back to UK. Extremally hot southern Spain or high Alps or some terrible roads in Eastern Europe, both bikes took everything. No problems, no brake downs, no services needed, just maintenance. We changed oil 3 times, we adjusted chains, oiled them, cleaned them. Besides that bikes like that don't need much attention. There are cases when it makes perfect sense to choose a 125 bike instead of a big machine. Even for long journeys it is a good choice, because those light bikes tend to be just as reliable while being much cheaper. Also remember that you don't need full cat A license for such bike, so you can save 500 pounds if you go for A1 instead. And you can cross borders and use highways in Europe with A1 category just as good as with A. A 125 bike is cheaper to insure, cheaper to service, petrol is cheaper, parts are cheaper. Most of parts of Honda CB125R are the same as in 500 model and engine size is the only real difference. Still it is powerful enough to keep with the traffic and climb anything. So consider my scenario. Isn't it a good reasons to choose a 125 premium Honda or Yamaha as the best possible option? Honda CB125R is labeled "learner" or "commuter" bike, but it is neither. It is just a bike. Use it as you will, go as far as you want. Engine too small? I beg to differ, it tested is in high Alps and it did splendidly. I'm pretty sure it can take hills in Peak District too. I rode it in the heat on Spanish autovias for hours every day, so I'm confident commuting to Ipswitch would be no issue either. Unless all you care is speed, it is an outstanding bike for anything you can think of: short trip, long trip, super long trip, flat road, steep road. Good when you're 17 and awesome when you're 77. So I disagree it is expensive "for a 125". You pay for more than an engine after all, and with that said, Honda CB125R might be overkill for just commuting. Assuming you want to do a bit more than short trips, I say it is quite a bargain for how awesome this machine is. I still like the video though!

This could suit a 'late starter' who has a bit of dosh and wants the best quality experience possible from a 125 before getting a full licence. Stunning location you have for riding!

The smell of two stroke engines are the best it takes me back to the times when I had two stroke bikes as a kid

I own a 2019 CB125R and I absolutely love it, had it for 8 months and have actually started my motovlogging journey on it. Completely agree with everything you say, fortunately Honda holds its value beautifully so fingers crossed the price of it can somewhat be returned when I sell it and upgrade . Great video!

My first ever bike was a Honda CB125. I got it as soon as I was 17 back in the 70s....loved that bike! It took me everywhere. I now ride the latest shape Goldwing. The 125 was the start of my motorcycle journey that is now several decades old! That new 125 from Honda looks a peach!

I had one of these for 9 months before passing my test. Cracking wee thing. Regularly did 100+ miles on it in one go, even did a couple of longer trips. Averaged about 110mpg overall. It's expensive, but does feel like a 'proper' bike. Ended up buying a CBR650R, but would definitely get one again for the commute!

I remember watching this vid over and over again along with every other cb125r related vids on youtube. Now I have had my bike for one sezon. Its in mint condition stored in my shed. I absolutely love it and it breaks my heart a bit that next seson I will have to sell it in order to afford new, bigger bike

Remember that as it's a class leading HONDA motorcycle the resale value will be very high when the owner has finished with it and moved up and as always YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, might be expensive to start but will be cheaper in the long run! Thanks for another great review

Utterly amazing video! I bought mine at the beginning lockdown. It took nine months to get to me but Oh my god! Its perfect. I had a Varadero 125 twin before this which was ridiculously good for touring hotels and camping, (that was a mindblowingly good concept for an adventure bike...a 125 twin. It would do anything). But the cb125r single can do all the Varadero does with just as much grace and comfort........but it can also melt your mind with its poise, handling and delivery of power. What a torquey, quick handling, short wheelbased, agile and very sticky tyred animal it really is.

Owned one for 9Mo whilst learning for the A tests and it was a cracking bike. perfect to dial in slow control, easy to service and comfortable for my 6ft height.

Great video. I'm a late starter. Bike looks great! Agreed it's a bit pricey, but should hold some residual when I eventually trade in for a bigger bike. Arranged a test ride for next week. Wish me luck!

Personally I think the 125s from Husky, KTM and Honda are special because they're built like serious bikes.

I recently bought one brand new. I am a very late starter at nearly 59. Wish i had started earlier. I have nothing to compare it to but i love it. Probably won't have in 6 months as i will hopefully have a full license . I looked at getting a 2nd hand one as i know i wont have it for more then a year but they old there price and 3 year old ones still command £3500 or more Hopefully get a good trade in price when i trade up and i know its not been trashed and miss treated.

I currently own a 2018 model and have ridden it since I got it new in 2018. So far I've put 30.000km on it and I'm really happy with it. I'll be upgrading to a big bike this year, as I'm about to start with my A license. I decided against getting an A2 compliant bike, because I didn't want to restrict my choice. There's lots of bikes with something like 98hp and since A2 bikes can only have 95 unrestricted I decided to wait. And I personally don't regret it. Even the older 13,3hp engine in the 2018 model can keep up with the other bikes in it's class. Even managed to outrun a friends Aprilia RS125 to 60mph. It's super easy to handle, good build quality and very reliable. Only one unplanned visit to the dealership, because some idiot in a van backed up into it and drove off without telling me. (I was sitting at a bus stop maybe 3m away, because of a pretty heavy downpour with my helmet on and back turned towards the bike, so I didn't hear the crash and he just drove off...) Ended up breaking the side stand in half and cost ~400€ to fix. It handles great and can easily outrun traffic on curvier roads. I had some transmission "problems" at the beginning though. It would sometimes jump out of 5th and 6th gear or shift into a sort of phantom gear that the gear indicator just showed as "-" but those issues went away and now it it actually rides smoother than it did in the beginning. The only other issue I've noticed are the electrics. The indicator relais is apparently not very watertight and can mess with your indicators if gets wet. This might just be an issue with the first generation though and goes away as soon as it's dried out again.

Ordered one of these yesterday, can't wait!

Darcy very good review of Honda CB125R.Thank you very much for your suggestions👍

Looking at one of these thats 5 years and 10k miles into its life for 3 grand tomorrow, very excited.

I have one for 2 years. I use it for commute to work an visiting nearby cities. it is very nimble in city traffic rush hours, I absolutely love it. I do have a permit for A but I plan to ride it for a few more years and maybe get a REBEL at some point.

Honda definitely make some solid reliable Motorcycles. My 1st was the CB500 and was amazing at absolutely everything. I totally agree with you on the licensing though…taking the A2 is a little pointless when you might as well do the A1 (age permitting of course). 👊

i watched reviews before getting a 125 and a youtuber said about the cb125r "this bike its of a superior quality" and i loved the style \m/ so i got mine from 2018 for 2790GBP second hand*. i'm grateful, such a well put together naked, having the same body as the 300 it stands well around other bikes, and every head nod i get from other riders its a tap on my shoulder "i did well" =)))

I own the 300 (because we do not have the same graduated system in Canada) and it is a great beginner bike all around. Super light, peppy and the gearing means you can rip around like some of the slightly larger bikes and will do a hefty (for it's size) 140kmh on the motorway when you feel like it.

Honda Monkey 125cc is £3,800, £700 cheaper and makes more sense as a learner motorbike and brings a smile to your face when you ride it.

Thanks for the review! Is this the 2021 model? I’m looking at getting one of these following my CBT to get some miles in before moving up.

I started out on the Honda CBF125 (replacement for the CG125) and it was a great learning tool. Crap bike incidentally, but taught me how to ride well and with caution. Gear box would throw the odd false nutual going from 4th to 5th, she had a single disc with a two piston caliper up front and a mechanical drum in the rear. Very skinny wheels with not a lot of tyre options and the body work was all scuffed from the previous owner. But it taught me the fundamentals of riding. And for that it's was the best bike for me to start on.

I'm 50yrs old and bought one of these in April 2022 new. I'm just waiting for a date on my Mod 2 to move upto a grown up bike (Yam Xsr700, RE interceptor 650 or a Cb650R). Yes £4500 for it is high but I wanted a new bike with these looks, I also had a tail tidy and a 300mm black widow tri oval exhaust fitted before delivery. I weigh around 94kg and it will do 73mph on the flats but seems more happy at 55mph. I'm really enjoying the bike but as I have to do a 66 mile round trip commute on A roads, 1hr each way, it wears me out, you have to work it (75% of the journey is 50mph plus roads). I now use my car and it takes me 37 mins on the motorway. I now use it for shopping and shorter trips. Also I got the metallic red one as that was the last bike the Honda dealership had at the time. (Doble Motorcycles, Coulsdon, Surrey). I really wanted the satin black but hey ho. If you can afford it, then get one.

Everyone's different but if i was starting out again and liked this bike, i'd buy a s/h CB125F, pass my test and flog it for what i paid for it then for just £500 more than this 125 I could have the CB300R with more than double the torque / power. Sorted.

I'm 5'4 and it's almost to big for me but I don't have any problems. I love it and wouldn't want anything else.

Cracking little bike bud cheers 👍🏻

will be getting mine in a couple months and i am insanely excited, been on a moped for far too long and im bored 😭

i can't belive I've just seen this I managed to buy the exact same model in 2021 for 3500e with 4k on the clock grate deal for an amazing bike.

kind, smooth, friendly, high-quality and stylish... best beginner's city bike i rode cb125r for 1 year. really really good bike. (except chain sound) from S. Korea

Great video mr darcy, just to let you know there is a Welsh classic motorcycle show in anglesey on the 28th of May at the trac in ty croes, just thought it would be a great opportunity to promote the channel and to see your subscribers

If you have full license get the 300 version for a extra £500

Amazing bike for only 125cc. But since I already have a Grom, my next bike will most likely be a 300cc. Great review. 👍

I know 15bhp is the most you can have on a 125, it was technically the same when I started learning. I say technically the same because you derestrict most two strokes with a fuse and a screwdriver 😉 That said my littler Derbi GPR was nearly £4k twenty years ago but is could scare R6's on the right road.

Gotta say as 125's go that looks very nice good size good pace like it ,but love the two strokes smell always had two strokes back in the days and they were great it's a true shame they kinda all but disappeared although if I could I would have one in my garage the trouble is now they are just to expensive to buy having said that never say never who knows .👍good one

The BOYS!!

I brought a 2018 one for 2000 and what a charm it is lovely to ride good looking and quick for me it is good as I’m a starter and 17

You should do a bike review on the Indian scout rogue for size comparison for tall guys

I have a 2021 cb125F. Smoothest thing ive ever ridden. 11kg's lighter than the previous model. I do nearly 200 miles a week on it and flat out for most of the journey n costs me between£10 n £15 per week. Will do over 300 mpg at 40 mph.Tops out at 72 wen the rev limiter hits.80 mpg flat out. And only £3000 new. Its a great little bike.

Seems to go at a good pace for a 125cc . Good learners bike. Sounds good for a 125cc. Usual Honda reliability. Looks good. Good overall package except as you say the price is a bit high.

In my area theyre about 3 grand second hand and theres a lot of them with only a few thousand miles on the clock so that takes a chunk out of the price

It's amazing how similar it looks to the Irish countryside, you wouldn't really notice the difference at times.

It is expensive but buy from a Honda dealer and when you are ready to upgrade he will give you a good price in part exchange. Big demand for these bikes.

Hi love your reviews ,looking forward to seeing more soon ,hope you have more bikes to show very soon

Nice bike, good video

Absoluely love my 2021 CB125R. Late starter to riding (mid 30s) having driven a car since 17, and this bike has been exceptional both in terms of being forgiving and very capable for what it is. Only thing I've changed on mine is the tail tidy as the stock one is a monstrosity. Other than that it's a beautiful bike to look at and ride, and fell in love as soon as I saw it. Enjoying this bike so much will likely give me brand loyalty and will probably upgrade to the CB650R or CBR650R once I pass my DAS A licence course/tests. It is pricey for a 125, but build quality is excellent and service intervals are great. You have to bear in mind that a lot of Chinese branded 125's are now pushing the £3.5k mark, and even though they have come a long way, their service intervals are generally still pathetic. So when you factor that cost in, you will probably end up paying close to or over £4k if you keep the bike for 2 years on a CBT.

Nice video ✌️🍀

This one is great as a beginner bike for those who aspire to ride a big bike in the future. Just learn all the basics including fast cornering on mountain pass and you can easily progress to 500/700 in a few years with no problem.

Great video, I’ve recently passed my cbt again after years of being off the bikes . I’d be interested to know how well it would “sit” at 70mph

Can you put a box at the back and a windshield at the front on this bike?

I’m 21 and personally thinking of getting one of these with L plates for commuting to work so I can also gain experience however when it comes to doing my test I will do the A2 test as that makes more sense and I could then upgrade to a cb500f for example which will be plenty for me although I would love a Ducati 797 monster one day haha.

Yeah, I like that blue matte, but ... if you find yourself wanting to buy a Honda or fighting lions, write to: The League for Fighting Chartered Accountancy, and boring Hondas 55 Lincoln House, Basil Street, London, SW3. Good vid as always, thanks, S

I did consider one of these as an upgrade from my 125F, but then I trained on an MT-07 for my test so I just had to have the CB650R. Thoroughly disappointed in myself 🤣

I love a small capacity bike, there are some great ones out there now, and all around the hsame price as this, or cheaper

Thank you for reviewing a small bike

What are the service intervals for this bike?

A really nice bike,but a little too expensive... In general a love those small cc bikes.... I own 2 2stroke scooters and one 250cc enduro (adventure) bike...honda xr250. Love all of them!! Waiting forward to be riding again after the war ends. Greetings from us to UK!!! 🇬🇧🇺🇦❤️😉

I love this bikes.

45.5km per litre is 129mpg (uk gal) . You said 107mpg. Great review, cheers.

Imagine riding a BMW R18 and then taking this out for a spin.

Similar to my KTM Duke 125, these 15 horsepower 125s are so much better to ride than the Cheaper variants, seeing how much the cheaper Euro 5 bikes have increased in price, I would say, on a like for like, basis this Honda will be worth the money.

Have you guys reviewed an MT 125? Love your reviews on everything! Planning a bike myself which will be passed onto my daughter once she's 17 amd ive completed DAS, shhhh don't tell her mum! 🤣

Hi! Excellent video!! I am 38, without bike experience and I am looking for something top in 125 (with real 15cv/hp - A1 in EU). Also I have doubts between CB125R and XSR125. I am 6,3 (5cm more than you). Do you still think can be suitable for me?I tried the bike in an Honda dealer and I felt good, but again, I do not have experience at all. Regards from Spain. Thanks a lot

Seeing as your reviews made me buy a Hyosung Aquila. Have you tried the Yammie XSR-125? I think that’s ever so slightly better and would be perfect for my partner

Wouldnt let a 17year old near it at that price!, would make a trendy runaround for me at 37 though, sometimes you have more fun wringing the neck of a small bike than one that can lose your licence in first gear.

Was looking at the Yamaha XSR 125. Will you be getting one of those in to review?

Roads like this used to be 60 mph here in Ireland but when we changed to Kms to keep the E.U happy the limits went down to 80 on these roads. What's the limit on roads like this there in England ? I miss MPH and MPG !

Gonna be my first bike pretty soon, I want my first bike to be for life, it's or mine's and so it can only be a Honda.

I think manufacturers are waking up to building full size 125's. I live in France now and can ride a 125 with no L plates, on my car licence. I bought a Shadow back on 2006 and its perfect for all the country lanes and yet can do 115kph when I need to jump on the motorway for a quick trip home. I'm now thinking of trading it for a Yamaha XSR. If its well made its worth the money.

You know brother with the cost of fuel going up like it is many people may pay make this investment to get a rock solid fun Commuter and not simply a learner bike🤷‍♂️

Just picked up a brand new one on special offer at my local dealer for 4k, limited stock and colours but i think its due to the new model coming soon.

There's a great selection of 125s available for the new rider these days, but in my opinion they don't compare to the 125s of my era like the RG125, the RS125 or the NSR125. You missed out out on those ones kid!

I’m 41 YO and bought a new one 2023 model for the city, it’s plenty good, but on the motorways it’s very underpowered and leaves you wanting more.

In Thailand we have the Honda CB150R 150cc (same bike but with 150cc engine) for 102,500 baht = £2,440 on the road. Seat is too high for most Thais.

Ideally it should be 200 cc engine. Sweet spot of power and efficiency

I'd love to see some stats on the screen whilst you talk about it.

I like it 60 mile an hour cruising is brill on a 125 . 4500 u only get what u pay for brill bike brill review

I had one, brand new, but had issues with the gears and other little annoyances. So I sold it for a Yamaha XSR125: so much better!

Yet another cool Honda we don't get in the U.S.

Can you do a video of the new honda CB125F I am think of getting it cheers

I work at a Honda dealership in the USA and I would love one but way to expensive I would have a hard time paying over $4k for it. To bad it’s not over here

currently 125cc market is full of amazing propositions and it's very hard to throw so much money on 125cc bike... (I'm talking about new bike not used)

I have a pet hatred of the latter day 125cc restricted.. One of my friends sons bought a Kawasaki eliminator BN ... 125cc and was a good looking bike bar the fact, it could NOT climb hills !! I kid you NOT it was quicker to get off the bike and drag it up the hill.. 👀 I would NEVER have anyone buy a 125cc (in the UK). 👀

After all, the price is a problem with this motorcycle. If you can buy something with a larger displacement at the same price, I can understand why you want to buy that one. I think it depends on your sense of values, but in the end, I think it's whether or not fun and value are balanced.

I think it's a hell of a lot of money for the bike you get, but then that seems to be the case for pretty much anything in the world today. I'm not currently having a great experience with XL Moto unfortunately, been waiting over two weeks for an item to ship that was supposed to ship in 4 days, and customer services are unapologetic for the delay.

I’m 6ft7 and want to get into riding bikes but am struggling to find a bike that would be comfortable and not look silly on me! Do you guys have any recommendations?

How tall are you? I'm 6.2 feet do you recommend this bike?

Here in Greece we have the Honda GTR 150 too. The GTR 150 price is 3,500 euros. And yes the price of the CB 125 is too much

Thinking of doing a CBT and getting a 125 as a cheap commuter / learner bike. Just can't decide between this or the Yamaha MT125

What’s the top speed

Great! Did you ever test the Yamaha XSR125, which I believe also is in the upper price range?

This is a 150 in Thailand. And the CB300R only costs about 3,500 pounds. So to answer your question: no it isn't. I almost bought a 300R here in Chinag Rai, but bought a friend's 390 Duke instead. Good decision. I'm sure this 125 is a good bike at about 3,500 pounds, maybe.

Guys that’s one gorgeous bike could u make one on cb300r

i like it .

am i only one that thinks these bikes are cheap? considering that decent e-mountain bike or even normal full suspension bike are roughly same cost. and for comuting to work they cant really compare. this cb125r is no brainer for me. perfect bike

2 stroke smell 👌🏼

I bought today, 3600, that sound good price, 6 months old, almost no miles on it, I call it a good deal.

How does it compare to the mt125 though

Can you get 300 Miles out of it if you were to use it on the Motorway only (@70mph)?