2007 Honda FES125 Pantheon from United Kingdom

Summary:

A fine commuting scooter in the Honda tradition

Faults:

Damaged (weak) sump drain plug prevented home oil change.

General Comments:

This is my first bike in 30 years, and is effective as cheap transport and to avoid parking problems. The onboard storage capacity is good, performance as good as I need, and nothing has actually failed on me. Fuel consumption (not measured in detail) appears to be close to 100 MPG on mixed lengths of journey. The engine burns a little oil, but nothing that seems excessive. The absence of a kick start once caused some embarrassment.

I cruise at 55 mph, can keep up on 60 mph roads, but motorways at 70 mph are asking a lot of the engine. The transmission offers impressive engine braking, keeping brake usage light. Brakes are powerful, and surprised the MoT engineer.

In our district, road surfaces cannot be seen as bike-friendly and my FES125 hates potholes, repair lines in the tarmac, white lines, and any kind of surface discontinuity on roundabouts, which leave me feeling very uncertain. I may have more to learn about handling a CVT bike through roundabouts, where changes in effective gear ratio seem to upset a chosen line.

This machine is not comfortable or powerful enough to be a long-distance cruiser, although decent road surfaces make a dramatic difference to both comfort and safety.

If I had one complaint, it would be that the main beam warning light is far too bright: I fixed this with a piece of gaffer tape.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th January, 2016

1999 Honda FES125 Pantheon from United Kingdom

Summary:

Excellent

Faults:

Starter motor has died twice.

Throttle cable snapped 4 times (not the best quality in my opinion).

General Comments:

Real happy with it. There are a couple of faults with this scooter (mine being the 2 stroke one), but I have done 50,000 miles on it, and it's still running strong!!

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th January, 2015

1999 Honda FES125 Pantheon from United Kingdom

Summary:

Honda forever

Faults:

NOTHING!

General Comments:

My bike is the 250cc foresight with the CVT transmission; smooth acceleration, 80mph, and 95mpg if ridden at a steady 60.

I service it myself; very easy. Don't believe the dealers; I got done once; they told me all the plastic panels had to be removed to service it.

Change the oil every 3000 miles, the belt at 15000 miles, and the thing will go on forever.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th December, 2007

2004 Honda FES125 Pantheon from United Kingdom

Summary:

All you'll ever need for urban riding

Faults:

Nothing whatsoever.

General Comments:

This really is the very best of all worlds. A 125cc two seater commuter scooter with enough power and storage space to be used for the odd longer run and shopping. Lovely.

For a 125 it's really very quick, accelerating from 0-60 in just under 7 seconds and a top speed of almost 80. It's not flyaway light though (140kg) and bullet-proof Honda build quality gives it perfect poise and handling on the roads. Comfortable and big as it is, though, you can still hustle it through the same gaps in traffic that the mopeds use if you want.

Fuel economy on the four stroke is incredible, better than the little 50 I once had, indeed if I counted it I think it would actually be over 100mpg.

Lovely spec too, cigar socket, boot light and windscreen are all standard - and while we're on boot space, stick a box on a back and you're looking at 5 bags of shopping (or 15kg) no trouble.

Brakes are prompt, linked and safe.

A very nice bike.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th December, 2004

5th Dec 2009, 09:57

0-60 in less than 7 seconds is not true at all.

21st Mar 2010, 19:25

I agree that 0-60 in 7 seconds is not right. When I read that, I was starting to think there was something the matter with my one, as it feels kinda slow to me; turns out that's pretty normal for upward of 200KG propelled by 13bhp.