Adventure Bike Rider Forum

My seventeen year old girl and nineteen year old boy both just passed their CBTs on Saturday and my question is what do you all reckon is a good first 125?

I started on a God-awful Puch (Puke) 50 years back and regretted it after about three days.
I want something that they can both learn on now for a few months, that they won't get too bored with too quickly. It must be geared; I want them to learn to juggle everything at once.

Depends what you're after, but for teenagers street cred has to be high on the priority list.

KTM Duke 125 is super cool.

Aprilia Tuono 125 is pretty cool too.

Suzuki Van Van great fun and quite cool in a different way (or also look at the Hyosung RT125).

A left field choice for some really cool looking bikes, look at the range from Spanish manufacturer Rieju.

Yamaha YZF-R125/Mito SP525/Aprilia RS125/Derbi GPR125/Hyosung GT125R if they like the sports bike look.

Adventure bikes, Honda Varadero looks like a proper grown up, as does the Derbi Terra.

Off road bikes or supermotos there's loads of choice from Aprilia and the Japanese four, all much the same DT/XT, etc, etc.

Loved my Yamaha SR125 as a learner bike, would still have it if could am obviously very biased :whistle: but think it is a good little reliable learner bike, I loved how it looked and also was not too pricey.

It really depends on how much money your wanting to spend.The sensible choice would be a four stroke like a Yamaha YBR125 or Honda CB125.The Honda Varadero is a good looking full sized bike.If your after a bit more excitement I'd be looking for a Derbi GPR or Reiju,powered by a two stroke Yamaha engine but cheaper than a similar performing Aprilia RS.

What you say about being cool is of course dead on. The choice will have nothing to do with ride. It'll all be chosen on looks.

The daughter likes racer-like bikes whereas the boy quite likes something like my GS800.

The Van Van used to be a Yamaha T something didn't it? I like that a lot but it might be a bit retro for the kids.

Thanks; lots to think about.

I just hope to Hell neither wants a Harley lookalike with tassels and back rest!

I looked up your SR 125 but I've just found my 'T something'.

It's the Yamaha TW 125 and I have to say it's cooler.

From what I have seen at work (bike tech') I would say that depending on the size of "bank of dad" I would avoid a 2 stroke race rep most have been abused and if you cant fix it your self it gets exspensive.

The newer reiju's have Yamaha engines (for liquid cooled) or piaggio engines (air cooled) I have rode a rs3 and the new and old cbr 125 they all ride ok but rs3 feels bigger (im 6' 1") not had many issues with any of them really (other than a cow "nudging" the guy on the rs3....yeh it nudged him...apparently.

I have sold a vanvan at work and have ridden it I like it funky looks nice riding position (lets face it 125 so the will on it for a while) generally really nice bike! We have forsale (on be half of customer) at the moment a derbi terra adventure (not trying to advertise it but if you want it I will pass details on to customer so don't have to pay my boss but shhhh) that's a nice little bike it a piaggio group engine in it if I remember correctly, it rides nice not bad ridding position but a bit low seat height for me (and the guy who owns it) good adventure looks but not massively fast (four stroke 125 so...)

My friend has had a Varadero, a tw125 and a tdr125 he loves the Varadero only thing he didn't like (other than engine size) is the tyre choice, he said the tdr was fastest and fun but a horrid to start especially in winter plus rings etc, he (and me) loved the style of the tw125 had no major issues (apart from killing the engine from not checking the oil in a very long time!) all three of these bikes he brought nearly new and kept for a couple of years.

I had a rxs100 which I loved and was brill bike not to slow good on fuel no one wanted to knick it, but I could still wheelie it, wear the peg rubbers down, and ride is on dirt chasing my friend cost bogger all to buy, run, insure and fix and was a funny. I then got a mk1 RD125LC....this was amazing....but 2 stroke so I spent a bit of time spannering but was great a real street sleeper and a dam sight faster than crb125's.

I have ridden a few 125 Harley type things ermmm well I hated the proper Harleys I have ridden so lets just avoid that one

A cb,cg,en etc. cant go wrong run for ever but bit "plane jane" but do what they need to think like Tesco value shower gel

Hope this helps a little.

Ben

Thanks Ben, that helps a lot.

I don't know half of those but I'll refer to your post as I look at what's around.

As to the Bank of Mum and Dad, I think they'll pretty much have to get to like what I choose if I pay.

The Honda XR125 is a great bike both on and off road, very comfortable and bigger than most 125's

gbags wrote: As to the Bank of Mum and Dad, I think they'll pretty much have to get to like what I choose if I pay.

Cant go wrong with a couple of Honda c90's then

Ben