The Legend Gets a Makeover
Red ones are faster...
The 125cc class has always been regarded as a somewhat ‘uncool’ one. The size of the engine dictates that it’s associated with learning to ride a bike and an entry class that holds the rider back until the licencing regulations allow them to break free and ride a ‘real’ bike.
Some brands such as KTM and Yamaha with their R125 have broken through this perception and now Honda have added a new CB125R to the mix.
Rather interestingly they’ve started out with an all new 5in full colour TFT set of ‘clocks’ that come directly from the bikes older sibling, the CB1000R. It displays a choice of three different types of speed and rpm displays. There is also a fuel gauge and consumption metre. The gear selected is also shown. What’s very interesting for a 125 is that there is a customisable shift-up point on the rev-counter. All of this is managed via the all new switchgear on the left hand side of the bars.
The bikes 10.1 litre fuel tank has a cool new filler cap and is mounted within the bikes body work. Rather wonderfully it offers the rider a range of up to 460km.
Powering the machine is a EURO5+ DOHC 4V engine. The single puts out a shade under 15 bhp. It also produces 11.6Nm of torque. All of this sits on quite a clever chassis.
Surprisingly high specification
It tips the scales at only 130 kilos wet. The shape of the bars added to a tight turning circle make it perfect to ride in city traffic.
All of this is sprung on a clever new pair of 41mm Showa USD forks. To save weight they use a spring mechanism in one leg and a pressure separation damper in the other tube. This makes for a highly effective system. Down the back is much less exciting with a non-adjustable monoshock.
Stopping the CB comes compliments of a Nissin radially mounted calliper and a 296mm floating front disc. It even has twin channel ABS which is managed by an IMU.
Fondly regarded by generations of first time riders