2019 Honda CB125F from Norway
Summary:
The Honda CB 125 F seems excellent, but time will show if it's powerful enough for my daily commute
Faults:
Nothing has gone wrong, but I decided to buy it before I had tested it. I'm surprised to experience how little power the 10.6 bhp engine has. The roads that I travel for my daily commute have maximum speed limits of 90 km/h, or about 55 mph.
This bike struggles to achieve an indicated speed of just above 100 km/h, which might be around 90 km/h + in true speed. It can probably not keep up with the regular traffic when going uphill, unless it's pushed towards its limits and/or being redlined.
Since it has just 1750 km, or just above 1000 miles on the odometer, I hope it may loosen up and unleash a little bit more power, later on.
General Comments:
It's probably the usual "Honda quality", meaning that it's very reliable. Time will show how our relationship develops.
I liked the instrumentation and gear indicator, and the excellent lights.
That the motor has little power for the main roads around here, is probably something I should not use against the bike. I used to have a CR 250 R, that felt several times as powerful as the CB 125 R, not just twice, as the displacement might indicate.
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th October, 2020
19th Oct 2020, 18:26
Today I downloaded a speedometer app (by Jens Peterson) using the GPS in my android phone. I found that when the speedometer indicates for example 70, 80, 90 and 100 km/h, about 10 km/h should be subtracted to get the true speed.
I weigh 100+ kilos, and was able to reach a max speed of about 95 km/h. (Downhill, I could go a little bit faster, but would then redline the little Honda.) 60 mph seems to be the true top speed, with the original gearing, until it enters the red zone on the rev counter.
I really have to push the bike when going uphill.
I measured gas consumption. It might not be very precise, but I used about 2.91 litres in 74.9 kilometers, which equals about 0.39 litres / 10 km, or about 60 mpg (US gallon), or 72.2 mpg (Imperial / UK).
My Kawasaki Ninja 250R usually uses 0.38 - 0.40 litres / 10 km for my daily commute.
October 25th: measured 0.275 litres / 10 km today, when filling 7.49 litres. This means about 85 mpg (US gallon), or about 102 mpg (Imperial gallon).