Are 125cc Enough for ADV Riding / Malaguti Dune 125 Review

[@dweight1990]

Hey! Paweł, owner of the bike here. I didn't do a good job explaining my reasons for buying the bike so here is some further clarification: - I don't have a motorcycle driving license (yet!), as @Bald_Fat_Igor already explained we have couple of tiers of driving licenses and motorcycle one is called A (like a motorcycle :D), car license is B (as car, duh!) and so on. Having a car license for 3+ years grants you right to drive any motorcycle up to 125cc/11kW (~15Hp). Unlike other parts of the world, you can't take a weekend course to get motorcycle license. Our courses tend to be 1-3 months long (including waiting for the official exam), so simply putting - I didn't want to wait that long to ride :D - I went with a new bike because I wanted an adventure one and this was the only model I could find (big brands offering in the 125 segment is non existent, at least in Poland). Used market dunes are not much cheaper to buy (if any available at all!), so it was an easy choice :) - I had close to 15 years gap in motorcycle riding so I wanted to start easy (also try to convince your wife you want to start riding on a 1000cc bike and let me know how it goes :D). This ~14Hp is forgiving, but is enough to get you a comfortable start/refresher on riding technique. - Lastly, Dune is a backroad beast - agile, light, and very economic (steady 2.6L/100km, which gives you ~400km range!). It can handle main roads too, even with bigger trucks. I can easily overtake them :) btw it was 5 °C when we recorded the video - great respect to Miles for enduring it :D I had a blast day with him!

[@Bald_Fat_Igor]

So those that dont know - Paweł, the owner of this bike said that he doesnt have "A license" not "a license" - In Poland there are few driving licenses for bikes depending from power and engine size. "A" is the "biggest" one, it allows you to drive every type of bike with any engine size and power and you have to be 24yo to have it. Edit: you can Drive 125cc bikes if you have "B license" which is for cars up to 3.5t weight longer that 3 years.

[@FreeMilesMC]

@@Bald_Fat_Igor thank you for this addition ☺️

[@Bald_Fat_Igor]

@FreeMilesMC No problem. If there will be any chance for this, can you record a video about bikes with sidecars? I know that there are some chinese produced bikes beside CJ750 sold in Western Europe that are sold with them, for example Mash 500. I was wondering how they compare to Old Soviet bikes like my Dnepr 650.

[@RollWithSoul317]

Thank you for enlightening us on the different motorcycle license classifications. Awesome. 😎

[@FreeMilesMC]

Actually I worked in a dealership of mash motorcycles.Sadly I did not get the chance to make a video on those. But sadly there are some bad news. Mash uses honda licensed rebuild engines. Problem is something is wrong with them with the timing chain so a lot of them blow up early like less then 2000 kilometers on the clock early. Then you usually get a warranty engine replaced but that ofcourse has the same issue and by then usually the warranty has run out. But for the amount of money you save you could put a different engine in it.

[@Bald_Fat_Igor]

@@FreeMilesMC Okay thanks for info. Sad to see that sidecars overall are not popular over the world as much as they were before. Different driving experience, especially 2wd versions. Check them out someday, there is a lot info online, they are also popular in Germany as far as I know so video about history and overall bikes as a whole shouldnt be very difficult to make. At least from "get the bike" perspective.

[@Hibbicon]

Personally it reminds me of the BMW F650 GS, the Dakar especially.

[@Morkindie]

First bike was a 1973 Yamaha 125. It took me over the hills and through the woods. No problems.

[@pacopetepnw3434]

..same here. I bought mine in 1980 for $300😁

[@BillyBadass-f2f]

Thanks for showing us these bikes which those of us outside Europe would, otherwise probably, never see. Very interesting to learn about the licencing standards are as well.

[@gerardomusano6919]

Malaguti was made in Bologna Italy untill the owner sold it to KSR an Austrian firm that gets things from Cina and then sell them with different Brands like Malaguti .Brixton .Niu and many more

[@chrispsa1]

We wish someday watch a youtuber go around the world with a motorbike like this...its more romantic than witching youtubers traveling with big bikes...

[@abominacja47]

Check out c90adventures on YT. Guy's done some pretty insane things on even smaller capacities.

[@BillyBadass-f2f]

@abominacja47 beat me to it with the c90 adventures. There is also "some guy rides" on KZbin. He did the Trans America Trail on a Honda CT125.

[@peterhutter7865]

Nice Bike , nice Test Thank you! 👍

[@Kingsoupturbo]

Its a great starter bike as it will probably retain its value well when moving up too a larger bike. Doesn't hurt to have something brand new as your first bike either, nothing like some old bike breakdowns to sour you on the whole motorcycle thing when starting out. 14hp is pretty good output from a 125, the listed weight is only 130kg, 11L tank with 3l/100km, thats a huge range!

[@firbolg]

I agree smaller motorcycles are often overlooked. But in my case, I bought a A2 restricted used Ducati (Approved) Scrambler 800 for about the same price that Pawel bought his 125. I think A1 and A2 licenses have made smaller bikes too expensive. And unfortunately, here in Switzerland, going offroad is mostly illegal as well, hence why I didn't get a full fledged adventure bike... that and I couldn't afford one! :D

[@FoundingStockNZ]

That's actually quite a cool looking bike, and you can do a lot with a 125

[@MotoXplor]

You can, if you only want to ride around town.

[@devonbikefilms]

To answer the thumbnail, yes a 125 is plenty for touring long distances, it’s a state of mind thing to slow down and see the scenery rather than fly through it. Not ideal for everyone, but back roads and small routes can be more interesting than autoroutes😁

[@RaoulDln]

Just did 10h 2 days through autoroutes. I didn’t enjoy the travel as much

[@abominacja47]

Well, I owned two 125cc before my 'proper' bike. I can confirm, that I recall it ONLY romantically. 125's are good only for short trips, you can do some touring on these but it's extremely fatiguing with time. Both for you and the machine. In my eyes these bikes are only temporary solution to find out do you really wanna ride and what you wanna ride. As for adventuring, the main issue with these is: as a beginner you lack power with this motorcycle to ride comfortable and also you lack experience to ride 125's efficiently offroad. Unless it's a 125cc two-stroke I would stay away from these in general, since almost discouraged me from riding.

[@pedropinheiroaugusto3220]

There's a 21" front wheel version of this bike, the Dune X. It's incredibly capable.

[@clivecartey]

This bike was not designed for "..serious off-roading..." (re. your ABS fuse comment). The fact that there is a Centre-Stand indicates, again, the design parameters of the bike. A good attempt at a review but please think about the target market that 'Malagutti' are aiming for and, without being rude, the average rider height and weight that are part of the design specs. I am in my sixties, I live in the Abruzzo region of Italy and the 'Dune' would be the ideal bike for me to ride the back roads of this region that often have very poor road surfaces including a mix of gravel and tarmac tracks. The Centre Stand is absolutely essential for chain maintenance and ,really, I am not about to lean over at 45 Deg to try and get my face in the non-existent mud. Manufacturers like Malagutti (KSR Group) don't suddenly slap together an idea and a few parts and hope for the best. (Ref: " Aprilia engine", PIAGGIO has a joint Design & Manufacturing Agreement with the innovative, massive, Chinese engine manufacturer - 'ZONGSHEN' ).

[@RollWithSoul317]

I’m sure that KTM would have been very happy to sell him a 2024 KTM 125 Duke for a bargain price, being that they have a large inventory of unsold units available!?! 🤔😎✌️

[@FreeMilesMC]

I am really curious how the Ktm situation is going to continue in general

[@RollWithSoul317]

@ As of now they (KTM) are over 3 Billion Euros in debt!!! They are strongly considering selling off all of their recent acquisitions like MV Agusta , Husqvarna and cutting ties with GasGas. The KTM 2023-24 inventory is steadily piling up! They are in “serious” trouble my friend!!! Actually, if I may suggest!?! This would be a great story for you to follow up on! I am not 100% certain but I think it was in Der Spiegel (English translation) that I read a story about this. However, this is “Big News” in the motorcycle industry, and the investment (stocks etc) world. 🤔😎✌️

[@RollWithSoul317]

@@FreeMilesMC They are over 3 billion Euros in debt!!

[@RollWithSoul317]

@@FreeMilesMC Maybe you can make some content about the KTM Situation. 🤔

[@DrCRAZYde]

B196 hat wirklich ein neuen Kapitel in meinem Leben eröffnet. Leider sind die überwiegende Zahl der Bikes nicht für große Leute (196cm) geeignet. Ich fahre eine Hyosung Chopper mit Vorverlegten Fussrasten. ES wird Zeit, dass der B196 auf Europa ausgeweitet wird. English Below. B196 really opened a new chapter in my life. Unfortunately, the majority of bikes are not suitable for tall people (196cm). I ride a Hyosung Chopper with forward footrests.

[@FreeMilesMC]

@@DrCRAZYde ich bin ähnlich groß das bike passt da ganz gut

[@Hibbicon]

Jeglicher Aufstieg auf A1/A2/A ist leider verwehrt, daher ist B196 meiner Meinung nach eine ziemliche Geldverschwendung.

[@DrCRAZYde]

@@Hibbicon Meine Fahrschule rechnet das an. Was ich nett finde.

[@Hibbicon]

@@DrCRAZYde Inwieweit?

[@DrCRAZYde]

@@Hibbicon Preis und Theorie wird angerechnet, wenn innerhalb 2Jahren der A gemacht wird :)

[@dantelossantos7562]

In the past this bike was done be Derbi (Old spanish brand) and the bikes had some problems with the electric part. They are really beutifull and confortable with nice ground clearance (250 cm + -). I ownt one of these Derbi terra 125 and i really love it but it came with many issues (It was second hand). I fixed them andright now the only issue i have is the started (It does not start in hot. Some times it starts but is not reliable and it's really dificult to start it in hot me and my mechanic do not know why.) I do not know if malaguti did some upgrades probably yes becose is an old model. If any one buy it i hope you have a better time cose diving it is really cool sadly in my case it lack reliability.

[@cacavati]

Its great 125 is enough but not highway friendly..when large haul trucks get mear by its scary

[@hiebrantsify]

In europe trucks are limited to driving at 80-90km/h (50-55mph). These motorcycles. Can easily keep up with trucks in europe. In america... thats is a different story.

[@cacavati]

True , but sometimes at least in Easter Europe where I live sometimes rules are ...rules. my old 125 2stroker made only 80-85 with a little wind as it was a all-rounder soviet p.o.shaite that I loved.​@@hiebrantsify

[@hiebrantsify]

@@cacavati not all eastern europe is the same. If the trucks are relatively new its hardware limited not limited by law. But if the trucks are older. Well... then it is only limited by the mans honesty.

[@motormikeb1047]

Visited Poland and other eastern countries two years ago and recently... 2 months ago.... 16 day WWII tour... I noticed the bike of choice seems to be the big BMW adventure bike... find for that environment. but if I was going to find adventures ... as in Africa... the America's... I wouldn't go with anything over a 450.... a 125 would be a bit small for but people have done it... I' find a 441 Royal Enfield or 350 Honda 😎

[@rodneyhull9764]

when you think back to the Yam DT125,or any 2 stroke 125's,you realize how normalized crap bikes are today

[@VSS63]

Why would anyone choose the Malaguti Dune 125 when it weighs as much as an AJP PR7 or Husqvarna 701, yet is vastly inferior in performance and capability? Even if budget is the concern, there are plenty of other bikes that offer far better value and performance for the price.

[@hiebrantsify]

My question why would you buy this over honda cb125f or royal enfield 350 for that money? Maybe the models did not exist in poland at the time of purchasing... 🤷‍♂️

[@gypsymonk8229]

In my opinion, this bike can be ok for travelling, you could go on dirty road maybe easier than on bigger ones because it's lighter, doesn't spend much petrol and doesn't look small. I also think that it doesn't need 130 rear tyre, 120 would be a better choice, and definitely heavy-duty chain would improve performance. But it's overpriced and central stand is not really well designed. Anyway it is excellent bike for beginners. 🙋

[@chrishart8548]

130 tyre is probably because it's more road biased. Even the aprilia SX50 has a 130 rear tyre

[@WildlifeAustralia-w9e]

Dear Mr MC please use the correct terms: We drive cars, buses, vans, carts, trucks, f1 cars, cranes etc... And, We do ride bicycles, scooters, E-bikes, E-rollers, Motorcycles, and even a one wheeler😅 Everything that needs balancing we ride, just like a horse haha.. I know in German, "Auto fahren und Motorrad fahren" is correct and normal. However in English it sounds weird..

[@ivolearn]

Benelli BKX 125 might be a competitor in 2025

[@Eaglefly0]

Die Speichenfelgen sehen 1:1 aus und haben die selbe Größe wie von der ersten F650GS

[@T34master]

yes they look just like my aprilia pegaso 650

[@Mental_Illboy]

Fake mic, real news!

[@rodneyhull9764]

Derbi Terra knock off

[@Gabriel.Leni100]

Its the same motorcycle. Just rebranded. I owned the Derbi Terra Adventure. But that was with carburated Aprilia engine with full 15hp. Enjoyed it a lot. Swapped it later for 1150GS and Transalp 600 😊