The Problem With 125cc Motorcycles...

[@dbx1233]

Everything is relative. Moving up to a 125cc bike, from walking, was absolutely astonishing.

[@danswizzle4113]

meanwhile, we in the US are watching people whove never ridden before buy litre bikes as their first bike, scaring themselves, then never riding again.....or worse....

[@Murv]

Here in germany you ride on your driving school's bike and you get a teacher that drives in a car behind you and talks to you via radio. You do that for many many hours over many days and weeks before you get tested on your knowledge and skills for an entire hour by an independent tester.

[@fstras5223]

@@Murv Same in France, one theorical exam, 20 hours minimum driving, 2 practical exam (one on track and other on road). Power limited on your first motorbike during 2 years.

[@zimot]

​@@fstras5223 It's the same in every EU country

[@thejoshuaarzu3159]

Imo as an American, the people stupid enough to start on a liter bike and get scared out of riding are better off away from the bikes anyways. If you couldn’t reason with yourself enough to get it through your head that you shouldn’t start on a 1000 than you will not be able to control yourself on it or make smart decisions.

[@hirdy161]

I spent a cpuple of years on a 125, then left bikes alone for years. Id had a couple of rides on a Sprint 1050 and an SV650, couple more years went by without riding, then i bought a 1600 Harley street bob and rode it fairly easily before having passed my test. You couldnt do that if 125s didnt teach you how to ride a motorbike. They have 5 gears, a throttle, clutch, front and rear brakes. They're proper motorbikes.

[@MS-yq9uh]

I have an old 50cc with a top Speed of 50 kph (Hercules KX-5 in case you want to Look it up) to which all of the criteria you mentioned Apply too. Is it also a real Motorbike Then? 🤔 I don‘t really Think so.

[@syafiqrenaissance6490]

you're still young, dude.. Once you hit 30 or 40 years old, you'll realized that you don't need more than 250cc just to enjoy riding bike..

[@catfishclay5552]

hi im 38 ride 125 wk scrambler love it

[@stevieridesscotland7031]

100 percent this, power matters less with age and time riding although My son is 16 and rides a wk 50 scrambler so when he gets to 17 he's going to love his 125 and will likely go through the same as rest of us. Start with 3bhp, years later end up with 200, more years again settle anywhere from 20-120.

[@pauln6803]

I disagree. My KTM RC8R makes a tested 156hp at the rear wheel with 90lb/ft of torque. I still want more power. I also have a Honda Africa twin 1100. For that I just want less weight!

[@mazdamaniac4643]

Yep, 41 and on a Honda Varadero 125...which I'm greatly enjoying to my surprise. When you get a bit older and wiser, you really do start to realise that monster bhp is just a scam. 99% of riders might never use their big bike's actual full power in the real world. Some folks just don't grow out of the Top Trumps card game stage of life though. For the rest of us, going to work for two weeks on £20's worth of petrol is winning at life.

[@CMDR_Hadion]

I disagree with this, but only to a point. I'd say the "you don't need more than X to enjoy" depends mostly on what I'll call the "road topology" of your country and the motorist behavior of your local area. For example, I'm a Yank who lives in the Midwest of the United States. The average speed of traffic is 10 - 15 mph over the posted speed limit, mainly due to the incredibly sparse population density. (You can dive 2 hours away at 70mph from a urbanized area of 75,000 people and still be closer to that urbanized area than any other urbanized area of a similar or greater size). A 125cc bike won't keep up with traffic outside city roads and it will back up undivided two lane highways here. Single Cylinder 250s are *terrifying* on divided Motorways, since the speed of traffic on a very slow day is faster than your top speed of 70-75 mph. I daily a Royal Enfield Scram 411 (Not remotely a paragon of speed, I know) with a long stroke, air cooled 400cc engine, and that's the minimum performance that I feel comfortable with on our Motorways. I'd prefer closer to 50 hp for any trips on the big 6+ lane Motorways around the bigger cities in my State or a trip on a 4 lane that lasts more than an hour. Power does matter less with age though, but your local riding conditions set the baseline for how much power matters.

[@lordseptomus441]

as someone learning on a 125cc, I have mixed feelings. the idea I think is that you can learn road etiquette and the controls of the bike without killing yourself or other people as easily, but if you're pinned at a max speed of 60mph, the bike has no room to nip out of the way of danger, and you're so very vulnerable on a tiny bike with the other drivers on our roads. (also I never realised how bad road surfaces were on the B roads until I was doing 50/60 on 2 wheels on them)

[@mrpantur7280]

its the main reason i don't have a fast sporty bike because all these so called biker roads are rough as hell. just imagine hitting a pot hole at 90-100mph on a sports bike. you would have to pull over and do a 100 point check to see if anything is broken lol.

[@yuritruci8207]

​​​When you get a motorcycle that goes beyond 150cc, they will often be safer than a 125cc on the road. The bike wont go to 150km/h unless you start going for that. Specially if you drive often on roads, its better to have powerr to use in case you need, bigger bikes will have thicker tires, better brakes, weight balance, etc. Personally i got into a accident on a 50cc but never on my 300cc

[@espectral9969]

60mph? my 125cc can get 78

[@lordseptomus441]

@ yeah okay, mine has done 74 but that was on a long downhill stretch of A road with the wind behind me. point is for all intents and purposes it's not going that speed. not to mention there's no way you're getting out of danger because it's not gonna accellerate for shit at 60

[@espectral9969]

​@@lordseptomus441 if u get a 125cc naked yeah, u wont do shit, but 2 strokes R will do pretty easily

[@iceninja46]

The old 125 2 strokes were fun. RG125 or a TZR were rapid wee bikes...

[@letmeoffthisplanet6208]

So were the DT's.

[@bencollins5098]

And RD's

[@MegaNayton]

Some of the modern 125cc bikes can be in my opinion rapid, obviously not as fast as 2 strokes as they was on another level if tuned correctly. My Honda forza 125cc can get 80mph on the clock which is more realistically low to mid 70s. yet a lot of 125 bikes seem to struggle getting up to 60mph and I've heard some can barely do 50.

[@Bow-to-the-absurd]

Exactly! My rs125 was restricted to 90 mph. Would hit 110 without the limiters.

[@phiillzzz807]

Dude.. there was a late 90s or early 2000s aprilia 125cc 2T that could do 200kmh screaming at 14 or 16k rpms.. bollocks..

[@Casey_E]

Bro I've been riding over 35 years and the funnest bike I've EVER owned were my 2 Groms..You saying a 125cc isn't a real motorcycle shows just how little you actually know about riding 💯

[@capricousfort]

This whole talk of "real" bikes is silly. Find the amount of horsepower needed for the kind of riding you do, and that's it. I've gone fairly far two up with a 50cc two stroke for goodness sake, and although a little slower compared to larger bikes, it's fine honestly.

[@PRSer]

Heres my experience from owning this exact bike from the other side of the world. I live in Singapore. I just did a ride all the way from Singapore - Malaysia - Phuket in one night. 16.5hrs. 1300km. I've owned this 125cc for 4 years and it's not given me any problems at all. Just regular engine oil and filter changes. 13000km+ of mileage on the dash. I pretty much just full throttled this bike all the way to Phuket. I don't know what the top speed is but it didn't matter. I always felt in control and because of that, I felt comfortable enough to not think about it and actually was able to be aware more on the roads and still enjoyed the sights and ride. Once you got into that state of being present in the ride. You kinda forget about the buzzy handle bars and engine at max throttle. I'm still in the beautiful island of Phuket, Thailand as of writing this now. This little bike absolutely handles the traffic filtering, tight winding roads and general riding around here with ease. It feels so cool to be just zipping around on a small cc sports bike. What I can ultimately say is that there's so many different motorcycles that can suit anyone's taste. The 125 Ninja for me has well been worth the cost of ownership. It's taught me that being on 2 wheels should be something you can enjoy no matter what. To always have that sense of appreciation is something all riders need to instill in themselves.

[@minhtrietquach1519]

I have a 150cc bike. More than enough for majority of the time.

[@Chenon2wheels]

I think the lack of torque makes 125 very dangerous in city traffic when lane splitting or filtering

[@pauln6803]

I kinda agree. Although the lack of grunt might have saved some inexperienced riders when the roads are cold and greasy.

[@AMan-JCIL]

125's are still pretty quick. My Gixxer 125 has an official top speed of 70mph but the other day I reached 88mph before I had to slow down because I wasn't comfortable going around the bend ahead at that speed, but it still had more juice and wanted to give more, and this was in less than optimal conditions, road was wet, it was windy too, and my Gixxer is fully stock. Don't care what anyone says, I think I can just about touch 100mph on it. I shall try when the weather is better.

[@gwynethpaltrow6896]

gixers in general are all quick and infact i do wish i got one i my 5 year 125 period but i do agree with what hes saying in this video, i feel like you instantly learn alot more from a 400 to a 125

[@lancejones3884]

🧢 🧢 🧢

[@braapgamezz5584]

When’s you ride a 600 you’ll never say that about a 125 again

[@joecaljapan]

Even a 400 is so different than a 125. A 125cc is like a 50cc scooter with a supercharger. I ride a 250cc right now and it's like the lowest limit of what a motorcycle is.

[@AMan-JCIL]

I'm not saying other cc motorcycles are not much different, i'm pretty sure it is, I guess i'm just defending my 125cc because it's my first bike and so will always have a place in my heart. I'm pretty sure that when I move up to a bigger motorcycle I will probably be less inclined to defend the 125cc 😆 but as it stands right now, I ride a 125 and so I have to defend my bikes honour lol. Tbh though, you should be allowed to at the very least ride a 250cc as a beginner. It's always good to have that extra bit of power, 125cc can be quite dangerous sometimes when trying to overtake. Us Brits always get treated like children by our Government.

[@LarsaXL]

That's because motorcycle laws are written by people who don't ride motorcycles. I agree with you. 125cc bikes are fine city vehicles, but they feel like they have more in common with 50cc scooters than 400cc Motorcycles. They're great fun, can be very practical, and a cheaper alternative to driving. But they're not great vehicles for learning how to ride a big bike. I can see the logic in taking it slow while you learn, but you can do that on a 400cc too. It isn't that 125cc are incapable of highway speeds so much as a bigger bike is perfectly capable of being ridden slowly and sensibly. You can kill yourself going 90kph, and at that point it doesn't matter what size your engine is. But I'd feel a lot safer going 90kph in a vehicle that is designed for it, that doesn't have the cheapest and lightest brakes, frame and tires. Where I don't have to push it to its limit to get there. And I had a real racing 125cc. It was a liquid cooled two stroke that had more than twice the power it was allowed to for an A1 license. I still felt like it didn't function properly on bigger roads. I'd have it reved like hell, in 7:th gear, keeping up with traffic just fine... until we get to a hill, and then I'd start to fall behind. Upgraded to a 400cc when I got my A2 license and what a difference that made. I no longer had to watch the rev counter to make sure I was always in the optimal gear, I didn't need to go full throttle 90% of the time. I didn't feel like I had to lean down over the tank to keep up with traffic. Overall, it just felt a lot calmer, less hectic and allowed me to pay more attention to the traffic around me, and keep up with it in a safer way. I'm currently back on a small scooter, and I'm thinking of maybe getting a 125 again, definitely something like a Monkey that I can have fun with, but that's me as an experienced rider. I like 125 machines for what they are. As teaching tools, they teach you some pretty wrong lessons for what it is to be a motorcyclist. Giving teenagers a vehicle that only works when it is on full throttle all the time, then don't be surprised when they ride like maniacs as soon as they get old enough to ride something more powerful.

[@MrMigas7]

In 5 years of 125cc riding i have never needed to look at my revcounter. The sound change is so obvious that only a deaf giraffe wouldn't hear it and if you have to give all throttle 90% of the time either the bike is total trash or you are the problem. I have a 125cc dirtbike 4 stroke weighs almost 150 kg with only 8 hp. 1st gear she can go way up in the air and it tops out at 130 kmh and with 58000km full stock just good maintenance and if you really want to learn to drive just put on skinny tires like they did in motogp way back then

[@LarsaXL]

@MrMigas7 Good for you. It was my first motorbike, and I was not a good rider back then. I just looked it up, and apparently it had 25hp, which sounds like it'd be more than enough to get around with as it's more than twice wjat most modern 125cc has. It had 6 gears, what felt like a very narrow power band, which meant a lot of shifting. I do not recommend it as a first bike for anyone. A more experienced rider than I was back then can probably have tons of fun with it. Hell I'd have fun with it now as well. Shouldn't have sold it. Edit: I misremembered the power and number of gears, looked them up and fixed it.

[@originironwolf514]

My 125cc Was aweful only able to get to 55mph! Just got my full licence and now sold my 125cc (9.9hp) in favour of a 03 blackbird (156hp) and the thing scares me, good kind of scary though.

[@originironwolf514]

And DAC Is 24

[@d4vef81]

I disagree personally. A 125 teaches you bike control without the danger of getting into too much trouble. I bought my wife her CBT for Christmas and will getting her a CBF125 for her first bike. She’s 40 years old but I’d be nervous putting her on something bigger than a 125 to start with.

[@Rycka1]

Every engine size, weight, type of motorcycle gives you different experiences, 125 will gently learn the basics of motorcycle riding. Sure overtaking and highway roads kinda not often possible, but on the other hand you can do little roads and enjoy it of urban communting is fine as well. At the end it is a mater of what you are exepting from your ride. But the only thing for, 125 are proper motorcycles.

[@Juxze]

I'm from germany, here you can ride these things when you are 16 years old. And I think for that purpose nothing more than a 125cc should be allowed, because most people are simply not mature enough at that age to handle big bikes. And even though I recently moved from a Ninja 125, like in the video, to a Z900 which is insanely quick in comparison, the 117 kph (around 70 mph) the Ninja 125 goes is still enough to wrap yourself around a tree. It's simply easier. Being able to learn proper lines, braking, body position, etc. and actually using the smaller bike to its potential really sets you up for a fun time on the bigger ones. TL:DR 125s do have their place, they are still really fun!

[@Gabor-y3h]

bback in the day when the 125cc super sport 2 stroke bikes were hitting 40 hourse powers but even the avg ones were around 30ish.... Honda NSR 125, Cagiva Mito, Suzuki Gamma and the list goes on.... those were the nice times when 16 years old you could get an A1 licence and smash it on a Mito ( Ducati 748 replica ) it could hit on Highway 100mph ! a 125 CC street bike 1999 ;)

[@MegaNayton]

yep it also learned most teens that maintenance is key and if your broke you best learn to to fix it as they wasn't the most reliable bikes

[@Gabor-y3h]

@@MegaNayton we were replacing crankshaft bearings and piston rings quite often xD we reved the shit out of those japanese rice rocekts xD luckily at that time somehow those 125cc bikes were size like 500cc bikes today and there was plenty of space and access to everything and we were small also xD

[@yuritruci8207]

In Brazil we use 160cc as "standard city bike", idk why there is not much good 150/250cc in Europe, they are perfect for European cities, specially if you live on the outskirts and need to take mixed roads often

[@haymush69]

I have always been envious of the US where they can do a safety course and buy a turbo Hayabusa right away, but its a double edged sword. It sounds both amazing and a terrible idea at the same time. I rode a YZF-R125 for 5 years, crashed it loads trying to be a hero ofc. I imagine that i wouldn't be here to write this comment if i had been let loose on a R6 instead. I done alot of growing up and learned lots, both moral and mechanical. Ultimately id say its a good think we are restricted to smaller CC bikes but 125cc does feel abit TOO restricted. A modern day 300 with ABS, TC, rider modes ETC, would keep you safe enough and give you more ability to grow into it.

[@MrChriss000]

When I was a boy we had 2 strokes, and 21hp was not really a problem. Yes, you were supposed to pass a test first but even restricted they would do 78mph.

[@miracle7539]

It’s a nightmare to ride anything higher than 600cc in my city here in Macau, the highest speed limit is 80km/h and there are heavy traffic everywhere. I can barely get out 3rd gear on my r6. However, my 250 did a great job because it’s very Manoeuverable on the narrow street, and I can lane split very easily.

[@MikozeeK]

Have been riding on 50cc moped during my high school years and, after 16 years passed, in my 30s, decided to go for big moto license straight away. Learned on SV650 and CB650R and got the plastic (EU Country). Then I've test ridden 125s, 313s (BMWs), 400s (Husky) and... ended up buying Yamaha XJ6 Diversion (so 600cc) as my first motorcycle. Could not be happier with my purchase. A bit of power that is being delivered in linear way, steers like a bicycle and lands exactly in the family of bikes I have le-learned on.

[@bottletree33]

I ride a 125 ktm to work and have a vfr800 to play with. Love both of them. Bigger bikes are better balanced, efficient braking and instant speed. 125’s are fun, that’s all.

[@pauln6803]

I had a 390 loaner when my RC8R was in for a valve check. Scared the shit out of me. These little machines are fine in isolation, but when you're used to the torque and chassis refinements of some of the bigger bikes...

[@Stumpy-42]

I’m 42 and after 20 yrs of driving, finally took the plunge and passed my CBT on a 125cc. I passed 👌 And am now the proud owner of my little slice of freedom! I have been riding just short of a week and have just under 100 miles under my belt. At this stage a 125cc is all the riding experience I need! In a straight line I’m good , but it’s in the grey area i still have much to learn. I would definatley enjoy more power in a straight line, but in turn would only lead to putting me in sticky situations!

[@JohnnyLee8355]

My friend and I got our motorcycle licenses at 16. We learned riding on our Honda 100cc for 8 years. Now my friend recently upgraded to a Yamaha 150cc. And I'm in the process of upgrading too.

[@StratfordWingRider]

I rode 250s for years, twins, fours and a single. I had a 750 V-Twin briefly and then went to a 1100cc Blackbird. It was a hell of a difference. The only good thing was that I had spent time on a heavier cruiser and had a good feel for weight. (But speed, handling and brakes were a lot better) That’s going from around 25-45hp to 160. Quite the change!

[@brentcollins9727]

I’m loving my 2025 Grom ABS. 50 mph is plenty fast for me.

[@nft1693]

Most of the beginners crash at speeds around 30-40mph (50-60kmh). They get comfortable on the throttle but still don't have any knowledge about the traffic and obstacles on twisties (dust, rocks, water). So when the car cuts you or your rear wheel slips it's much better going slow on 125 than going double the speed on a larger bike. When you become aware of those dangers you can ride what ever you want.. I seen so many people crashing on 50cc scooter just becouse of that

[@shardlake]

I was luck enough to get into riding when the learner bikes were 250cc 2 strokes, and they were not restricted as the newer 125cc bikes are. My learner bike was a 250 that had 30hp without modification. The test back then was riding round a fixed route, the examiner was not on a bike, they would drive to various points to observe your riding...

[@kamudankemter]

You're right, with a small motorcycle the main object is still the rider and it feels like rider dragging the bike, trying to force it somewhere. At the same time the rider's weight becomes a significant proportion of the total weight and this changes the feeling of riding and momentum a lot.

[@glennhughes226]

just came across this i understand what you are saying but when i was 17 along time ago i had an rd125 lc and it was the best experience for a 17 year old then i get a car license sell the bike have a family and 40 years later having a mid life crisis and go and complete a CBT and bought a yamaha yzf r 125 its good but not as good as the 2 stroke lc but i love riding the bike it has given me hours of pleasure riding it and it given me the freedom plus its cheap to run and insure the laws in the uk are draconian but we are stuck with it

[@robfallon6346]

I love 125,s cuz you can pin it constantly in every gear. If you want an even better 125 experience go for a 2 stroke. My 80,s Suzuki gamma would hit 110 no problem.

[@Marius-s6o]

true, its the fun of driving a slow bike fast!!

[@komanguy]

The first bike I ever rode was a Yamaha tracer 7, I was 43. People told me that it was too powerful as a first bike. But at that age you’re wiser and careful. I learned how to hold the throttle and roll it gently (never whiskey throttle), how to keep balance, braking, counter steering, slow speed maneuvers etc. I chose that bike because I’m 6’1 and it was the perfect size for me at that time. 125cc are slow and I wanted being able to drag myself out of dangerous situations when needed and the 690cc was the perfect choice. I rode the r1250gsa a couple of months later without any issues, it was even easier than the tracer 7. Imho, it isn’t necessary to begin with a 125cc, unless you’re very young. With that kind of bikes, you’ll be surprised by the torque of bigger cc bikes! The kawa z650 is a very good bike to begin with: real bike, good clutch, throttle by wire, not too powerful,..

[@joselitobrigante]

Started on a 350cc supermoto, my next bike was the Torquey Yamaha FZX750, then moved to my current XT 600 & my commuter, a little 250cc Vtwin. Don't think I'll ever ride something bigger than my XT. And to be honest I'm having so much fun pushing my little vtwin to its limits, rather than using only 30% of the power of my FZX.

[@kostadinpantev]

A 125 can produce more, it is A1-licence regulations that stop them.

[@realadammason]

I just brought a v2 as my first bike and I’m talking to you from heaven

[@dannyshows]

I started on an ebike with 2000w max, top speed about 32mph, so even less power than a 125. On a 300cc R3 right now and will likely move to a 700 this year. Live in the USA and agree on allowing choice for the rider. 300 is more accurate representation of what a bike will feel like.

[@TheGospelofKenneth]

I've never been on a 125 but it looks like it would be fun throwing it around! Also your helmet camera needs to come up a bit imo. See more of the road, otherwise I feel like I'm just watching your speedometer and gas tank 😅🤷. The side camera on your bike is 🔥 though.

[@kevinnolan4384]

I felt the same about the 250 I started on. Once the initial thrill of being on a bike wore off I could see it's limitations very soon, and wanted a bigger bike. That said it was a good bike to learn on as it was very forgiving compared to larger machines.

[@Bow-to-the-absurd]

My first bike was a 2 stroke aprilia rs125. It was fast. New 4 strokes are painfully slow.

[@whitygoose]

4 strokes is a horrible engine design. 140KG with 25HP felt clunky.

[@saltysvaults]

I think fundamentally people are uncomfortable with the idea of a CBT granting access to 250-300cc bikes, even with the motorway and pillion restrictions. However, this position isnt really supported by the data, it actually isnt CBT riders that are getting into accidents and that being Intoxicated or Speeding reguardless of license class are much greater predictors of road accidents. Looking at global data there doesnt actually seem to be a strong correlation either way between difficulty of driving test vs road vehicle accident rate, and that other safety standards to do with the physical design of vehicles play a much larger role than license restrictions. I think smarter people than me should probably redesign our entire way we go about authorizing people to use vehicles on an evidence based basis, unfortunatley Im not sure I trust the current lot to not just use the opportunity to clamp down on drivers/riders.

[@mrpantur7280]

i think safety is a personal thing. ive seen loads of bad riders who have a (proper bike) and loads of bad riders on 125cc. a licence change wont do anything the idiots who race around will still end up dead or in hospital.

[@matt8530]

We don't have a system to "build you up" here in the USA. I started on a 45hp bike and then went to an 85hp bike once I had a decent grasp of riding. I still have my 85hp bike that I use as a commuter but use a 175hp bike for playing out in the mountains. I think a 40-50hp bike is a pretty good place to start, enough power to teach you proper throttle management. As you said, too little power and you could easily develop bad habits such as "aggressive throttle handling".

[@SmallAndSoft]

first bike i got less than a year ago is a KTM Duke 250 2024 model 😊 NO regrets! was almost talked into getting a 390 when i know im not ready. i just WANT to ride idc about being super fast or whatever

[@FinlayDaG33k]

Personally, I always think that 250cc is "the best" for a beginner because it's generally not too heavy nor powerful but still has plenty of headroom to get you out of the way and learn your limits better. I always just say 125cc just is an "oversized moped".

[@kasper-jw2441]

i dont see the problem. The most guys i see on there 1000 are still riding 30 in 6th gear (90%) So the real question is, why is everyone buying bikes they dont use...?

[@cosmodewit]

Exactly right, it's the same as buying a giant pickup truck to maybe pick up a few sheets of plywood once a year, and then driving to an office job the rest of the time. If you're not going to actually use it for its purpose, it's just kind of a waste. 30mph is way more fun on a 125cc bike anyway, heck even 50cc. But then again, my joy comes from the act of riding itself, and not from going highway speed and beyond.

[@kasper-jw2441]

@@cosmodewit The reason behind why you own a certain bike is the most important. What i am really aiming at are the 30 year old guys with there track weapons. Ive met them 15 years ago at the track on my 125. Thinking its cute to see a teenage boy on his 125.. Then they get smoked by half the man, with 1/4 of the bike... lapped even.. if you are the guy that says, i got a 1000rr-rr-rr-rrr luftwaffe edition, because i like to comute and i saw the luftwaffe edition as a kid, thats why i have this bike. Cheers mate, ride safe! :)

[@MPKtuning]

The 125 versions arent really a motorcycle a person with a final driving licence in europe buys, they are made for 16 year olds for an example in poland

[@Tajemni3]

Hello! I'm first time viewer, so I don't know much about your editing style, but I think that you've unintentionally turned many viewers against you in the first minute of your video. If you had put statements about 125's not being proper bikes as a conclusion of video i think that you'd have a better reception. So I too was tempted to turn off this video right away, but as I continued watching it, I realized how much I needed to hear what you've said. I am currently selling my chinese 125 after two years of quite adventurous ownership and bought myself a mint Suzuki GS 500E. I can't wait to try it out, but without hearing about the class difference between two of my motorcycles I'd probably end up in a ditch. Thank you so much for this video, keep up the good work!

[@smarter_solutions]

It is all about legislation. Here from 16 to 18 you can drive 50cc (license required), at 18 till 20 a 125, then A2. From 22 or 24 you can start A

[@pawnix4122]

We all have different experiences with smaller CC bikes. My Honda Shadow (VT125) is one heavy bike compared to even big bikes. Going from my 125 shadow cruiser to the VT750 Phantom, there isn't a difference. The weight feels the exact same but you now have a lot more power and speed. I quite enjoy my 125 Shadow. It's a very nice bike. I mastered slow speed maneuvers and everything on that cruiser and I feel like it translated perfectly to bigger bikes. All a bigger CC bike is, is just more power. There is a reason why the biggest bikes on the market like the Honda Goldwing feel nimble at speed. I agree with you that big bikes are heavy to ride but only during slow speed stuff where you're crawling in traffic. That's the only time a top heavy bike becomes annoying to ride. Cruisers have the benefit of a low centre of mass so you don't really feel the difference in the same way. As someone who learned to do slow speeds on the hardest type of bike out of them all, I can confirm that the most you really need to have fun is a 250. 250 has more power, is easy on fuel and doesn't weight more than a 125 for the most part. If you need a bike to ride long distances then of course get a big 750cc+ bike that has all the power in the world to cruise along on the highway

[@carlmarkwyatt]

I love 125's, I once rode one from the midlands to Shetland and another from the UK to Norway and back. I ran 125's alongside much larger bikes because of the high MPG and because how easy they are to ride in snow/ice. I don't currently have one though, just have a Moto Guzzi V7 which is a brilliant binge and not a great deal heavier or less frugal

[@Mistermadman69]

late 20's and wondering whether it's worth just doing the full das course and getting a bigger bike, just taking into consideration insurance as new rider

[@Learn-A-Thing]

I've just gone through it, I deffo recommend skipping the 125 tbh. Insurance is crazy and topping that with dealing with buying and selling a bike you won't own for long, may as well just not have a bike to motivate yourself to complete the training much quicker. The 125 was fun for like the first 500 miles, but it quickly begins to be depressingly slow! You can still try to end yourself on downhill mountains, but equally, you'll want to end yourself when going uphill on mountain routes

[@pauln6803]

I would say spending some time on a 125 is essential for gaining experience of riding a motorcycle. But once you've got that under your belt it's better to go straight for the big boy's licence as it will allow far more choice when moving up. Booking a place in the novice group on a couple of track days will also teach you about handling your bike at speed - especially if you can get an instructor to follow you for a session and give feedback.

[@mauku1270]

In finland most teens have 50cc and we just modify them to go faster, you can get a license for anything under 50cc at 15years, when you turn 16 you can get a max 125cc.

[@TriggerRidesEverything]

Many lack road sense post-CBT. No shame in moving up slowly as you gain experience.

[@fallingwater]

Agreed, but only up to a point. It doesn't make a lot of sense to compare these tiny 125ccs to 300-400ccs; rather, they should be compared to entry-level 250ccs, which to me are the minimum amount of power and torque where it makes sense to put the engine into a motorcycle. 125cc is good for scooters and maaaybe tiny bikes like the Grom, though even that one I'd love to see with a 250cc instead. And even for scooters I like 150cc engines better - 125cc is a legal size rather than a logical one; if you have a motorcycle license it makes very little sense to stick to something _that_ tiny.

[@mauricemotoman3305]

I've been riding my 2019 yamaha my125 for 4.5 years and the one thing that bothers me is that you have to go max revs to just drive on the highway in order to keep up Next week or that week after my new tracer 700gt arrives wich greatly goed over 120kph

[@soybi592]

This does not apply to South East Asian countries where the roads are narrower and 125cc bikes reign supreme.

[@mkultrakill1385]

Went from a Grom to am '05 Fazer 1000. Was fine tbh, but then I was into Downhill, Dirtjump and skateparks etc so I'm sure that has some effect on worrying less. I can imagine for the majority it would be concerning, but you do have plenty of time on the 600s or whatever in training. Had a full year of the big boy license, 3 tyres and still breathing. Also, the inline 4 was an unexpected addiction. Grom would do 70 and 80 downhill, fully luge'd

[@mmistermusic]

Tip: If you have an A1 driver license, you better buy an electric A1 motorbike. The rules about maximum power are different. The result is that many A1 electric motorbikes have peak power that are 4 times higher. And a higher top speed. For example a Zero S. (Fuel bikes are limited by peak power. Electric bikes are limited by continious maximum power. Not by peak power) That makes an electric A1 bike much more usable on the highway than a 125cc.

[@mrpantur7280]

i was on a 125 for 7 years and just recently got a licence and from my personal experience is if you commute from A - B then a 125cc is all you really need. A 125 can easily cruise at 40/55mph and you get excellent fuel economy, my old Honda scooter would average 135mpg. The only time you need more power is if you use the motorway and then you upgrade to a 300cc lol.

[@deathwormse4988]

I went from an aprilia rs4 125 gp replica 2019 to a yamaha yzf-r125 2017 now I ride a yamaha fz6 fazer s2 and I love it, doesn't do power wheelies unless I want it to, and insurance wasn't too bad being a 20 y/o but it's brilliant, I'm careful but I also really like the adrenaline going fast, i had to get used to the turns as it's a different style bike but it's taken like 2 months for me to go around a roundabout at a good speed and not under 15mph but I think it was a good step up from my 125 it's surprising but the 600 just suits me better

[@ramblingimbecile2295]

Is there a case for 150cc-200cc bikes as a CBT capable learner bike for older riders? Say someone over the age of 24 wants to start riding and instead of them getting a 125cc which generally has smaller proportions, they can have a slightly bigger bike. Especially if they already have a driving licence for another vehicle which shows they're at least not an absolute novice on the road.

[@EinIota]

i have to drive a 50cc

[@BaffledRider]

I will admit as someone who rides a 125 when I rode my mates 2022 Yamaha xsr700 it was significantly different and I had to quickly learn how to handle the power, weight and also the size of it but once I got the hang of it and then jumped off to get back on my 125 I very quickly missed hitting 60 in under 4s to now sometimes not hitting 60 😂

[@mloclam6917]

Took my test on a 125 then was unleashed on an 800 , was an experience

[@fireborn2nn]

I went from a Derbi senda X-race 50cc (albeit a heavily modified one) to a Triumph 900 rally pro. Honestly didn't see any issues with handling a bigger bike. In fact, i would say it's much easier to handle and safer to ride since you don't have to keep risky speeds where you shouldn't worrying you can't catch back up in time.

[@pauln6803]

It's mainly down to the rider. But the machine certainly plays a part. I went straight from a 2 stroke 125 to a Suzuki TL1000S... And got hurt. Not only did I make some mistakes, but they were made on a bike with pretty much zero forgiveness. It was only after moving on to an aprilia RSV Mille, that I realised how bad the Suzuki was, as the Mille had pretty similar specs on paper but the handling was a world apart, allowing me to escape situations that the TL's chassis and brakes just wouldn't. Would I have still come a cropper on an RSV instead of a TL? Absolutely. But I probably wouldn't have accumulated as many bruises. At least the Suzuki fairings were cheaper than aprilia!

[@fireborn2nn]

@@pauln6803 The TL is without a doubt a much harder bike to ride and newer modern bikes have come a long way with all it's driver aides that i think this plays a big role too. Do you still ride the Aprilia today?

[@pauln6803]

@@fireborn2nn I actually had 3 base model Milles and one R in succession, all 2003 models. Only the RSV-R survived to be sold when I bought the KTM RC8R you see pictured, although it has less orange and more carbon (wheels and side panels) these days. There is such a thing as too much orange.

[@mikebest634]

Well the laws changed around 1983 I think when you could jump on a 250cc at 17 ,trouble was bikes were getting too quick especially with the introduction of the Yamaha lc250 ,so change’s were made .i think the biggest problem is riders under 24 having to do all the bike bike training again just to ride an A1 bike when they’ve probably been riding around on say a ninja 400 for 3 years or so .Once a rider has done a year or 18 months with proof on A2 bikes they should be allowed a full licence automatically.A lot of DAS riders are older and have road sense driving cars for years ,totally different to someone 17 or 18 with no road experience getting on a big bike .50cc mopeds are the biggest problem ,these days they can’t even keep up with traffic in a 30 zone ,it’s pretty much a push bike or electric cycle ,these need kicking off the roads or need de restricting so can at least do 40pmh . Don’t agree with the American MSF style training it’s too easy to just get on a fast bike ,two sides of the coin ,maybe something in between the two style exams would be better .

[@ramblingimbecile2295]

The government doesn't seem to consider motorcycles a legitimate form of transport. It appears they want everyone out of cars not to save the environment but to juts have them dependant on public transport.

[@MegaNayton]

@@ramblingimbecile2295 i agree on this government is coming down hard on cars and you can tell with all the tax hikes. Eventually they will come after bikers i mean insurance is already attacking young riders getting on a 125cc so it don't help with getting more people riding when the industry is against them. My 125cc bike my insurance quotes are coming back at £2500+ and i got lucky as 1 company (lexham) happened to be the cheapest at £1100 but that was only third party fire and theft wouldn't be bad but the bike was only £3300 new. renewal quotes this year are looking to be at a similar price but this time its fully comp and 1 year ncb but excess is still about £400 oh and the same companies that wanted over 2.5k still want over 2.5k

[@theodavies8754]

The jumps are huge. Peak HP is a sales pitch. Torque is what makes the difference. 45hp with 50+ ft lbs of torque should get along just fine. I tried a tuned rd350lc, getting back on my FS1E was a little disappointing and noticeably gutless.

[@sebbekartellen6493]

You can learn quite a lot on a 125cc but damn are they slow. It's like riding a slightly heavier tuned 50cc moped.

[@sebbekartellen6493]

I recently tried out a ktm duke 125 and omg was it slow. It could barely break 80kmh or 50mph. but then i'm used to riding my z750 with 110hp. Maybe for a beginner they feel fast

[@DarkShowdownn]

I disagree with the video, saying a 125 isn't a real bike is like saying a 1.2 litre car isn't a car because you drive a 3 litre landcruiser

[@dudleyedge1374]

Is not the cbt and 125 to teach potential riders of the dangers of riding, full stop, then you learn to actually RIDE a bike and are taught on 500's because of the weight and power difference ?

[@fartproductions9593]

Me stuck with a 50

[@mpa568]

You can compare the step to 500cc like the step from 50cc to 125cc. Most beginners can relate to that i believe :)

[@waynegoldpig2220]

The problem with 125's is that the bars are too narrow, as if they've been made for tiny schoolboys....

[@kevinportilla9320]

it all depends where you live i think, i use my 150cc for urban riding in a city with a lot of traffic when im hitting 60 kph max, it's cheap in gas, and so light, i use the 600cc when im going to the valleys where i have a full highway to have fun, but i cant picture myself going in a 600c or a 400cc in the traffic, i dont want to fry my eggs ;)

[@idsami0361]

Hi! I have been riding a 50 cc scooter for the past year, the scooter is 98 kg and it feels just like a 125 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I went with a speed around 59 miles per hour or 95 km/h of course it has a 80 cc kit :)))

[@bearwolffish]

Yea 125's are peds with gears. Even coming from dirtbike/sumo, had a very unrealistic idea of what riding bigger bikes would be like. The level of control and maneuverability with small bikes, is so much higher that it doesn't really prepare you or give a good frame of reference. But they are so fun and chill to ride, never feel unmanageable or overly fatiguing, so makes sense as a starter cc in that regard. That car in the ditch tho

[@user-ot1dv6ri4f]

The transition between 125 > 700 or 125 to 400 is not the most dangerous transition, it is the transition from 'not riding a motorcycle' to 'riding a motorcycle' so that is why it is so underpowered. even after that they have the A2 lic transition for younger riders to cover what you are talking about. newer motorists are highest risk for accidents and dangerous driving - case in point - the car you passed parked in a bush was probably parked by a new driver DESPITE being an underpowered beginner car. also, to go from 125 to even 250cc you have to demonstrate that you can ride a 700cc (or whatever the hp is), pass the test including theory etc... the real issue with 125's is that people spend so much money new models and expensive features, when the real way to enjoy them is to get a cheap carbed ebay bike from early 2000's and enjoy the freedom of it being no real loss if anything should happen to it. motorcycling is about freedom and 125's add extra freedom from worries of financial risk.

[@davidroche7685]

They beat the crap out of of a poxy pushbike if you have no other form of transport and that's for sure . They are very cheap on fuel, easy to work on and maintain. 125s are fine for regular commuteing distances if your travelling in a 25 mile radius. But long distances on the big open roads particularly motorways they run out breath. They don't have the grunt, acelaration or the speed for long distances. You can do it, but it feels so slow, drawn out and boring and kind of dangerous as you don't have the acelaration and speed to get you out of trouble. For biger distances you need a bike that can atleast cruse at 80 or 90 mile a hour with no stress and atleast a 14 or 13 second quarter Mile time acelaration. This is the minimum a bike should have for longer distances.

[@martinskarsaune8335]

In Europe 125cc is supposed to be a safer alternative to a 50cc 45km/h bike, not a serious contender for A2 bikes. In south east Asia it is the primary means of transportation for millions of people 🏍️

[@elrondsch]

I disagree with you on most points. I think 125cc is plenty to learn at least 90% of what riding is about. And most of it translates to any other bike pretty easily. And I totally agree with government control over the power limitations for beginners(especially for the younger ones).

[@inferno7181]

"cant park there mate" will never not be funny.

[@andrewsullivan1736]

You're not thinking about experience. You give a 300cc bike to someone who's rides a 125cc, and someone who just passed the CBT, the 125cc Rider will pick it up quicker it's the old racing thing you don't start racing in a f1 car you start in a go-kart 🤔

[@CorentinHarbelot]

I love my svartpilen 125!!

[@Black_Heart_Defense]

If you can’t start on whatever size bike you want after getting your motorcycle license, your countries laws are wrong.

[@TheChris3940]

the problem i have witrh 125´s is not the engine size. but hte building size. i´m 1.96m tall, and i have the feeling that the 125´s are like shrunken version from "propper" bikes

[@Marius-s6o]

I have to say, I don‘t quite agree. I do agree with every point that a big bike is a huge different to a 125cc and that is a so much bigger gap then from a 300cc bike to an a2 or a liter bike. And yet, in germany you can only ride a 125cc when youre 16, that was the best decision I could have made and it honestly tought me the crutial points, aspecially behaving. Thats something that could have get me killed if I would have started on a like 300. I drove like a fucking mor***n. So to learn to hold my self back on a 125cc is a huge advantage compared to like a 300cc bike.

[@mr2_mira]

honestly id say a 250 or 300 at most would be nice

[@grogboggoth]

Seems like a bit of a load of old nonsense to me. In Australia, the LAMS standard means that learners and provisional (lasts for three years after passing the test) riders can ride any bike

[@alivekicking6247]

Over 24, when you don't have to do A2, you should be able to learn on a 400

[@mohammedadeed4278]

My duke 125 has whooping 125 top speed😂

[@m0rafic1]

At least a modern 125 is safer than a modern moped wobbling along at 28mph! Though I agree they are under powered by 1970's standards let alone by modern ones. You could keep the capacity, restore performance back to the late 1970's which would give brisker (but not overwhelming ) performance 70mph motorway cruising etc and a better overall feel no doubt at the cost of worse fuel economy but the the current options could remain for those who wanted them. This wouldn't need a huge change just upping the power limit by 30-40 percent.

[@Vedran.]

You just discovered power to weight ratio, good for you. But, 125ccm do have something in common even with 1000+ccm: Turn signal switch.

[@bearwolffish]

What's that gotta do with how transferrable the skills are from a 125, to a 500?

[@raise-project]

I'm planning to get a 50cc as getting into 125cc is around 2k more initially. Going bsckcand fourth between these two paths for more thsn a year. Can't decide really. I def had fun even with a 50cc scoot on remote streets and 125 would be a dead end (b196).

[@empe3332]

Hmm. And how much for going into 50cc costs? You might get bored of 50cc after one day. And speed is only good for the city limits. You will soon think of getting a bigger cylinder. And it's illegal. If you want to go that route go for a cheap, two stroke 50cc. It's more exciting and easy to tune up. Big bore kits available. If the police catch you going faster than 45kmh you're in trouble.

[@raise-project]

@empe3332 Its just the motorcycle itself like a bullit hero fifty. I see I had this feeling with the scooter quite a few times on the long and straight roads. I spend more time watching in the mirror than actually driving. I want to go to the legal route so probably its better getting the license first and then find a somewhat working used 125 instead? Honda cb125r was my first love in this range (for later maybe).

[@empe3332]

@@raise-project I could go into 50cc without any training so I bought an old honda sh50. It was really cheap 400 and knackered and noisy. It was dangerous to ride, the suspension was dead, and the brakes didn't work properly. So it was exciting to ride for a bit, but for the wrong reasons. Anyway it was stolen from my garden after a month. Then I went for training (about 800€) and got myself 125 for 1400€. In my opinion there's no point in buying 50cc for more than a couple hundred. 125cc is still limiting and I look in the mirrors all the time. But speeds like 60-80 kmh are perfect for 125.

[@raise-project]

@@empe3332 Ah a pity it got stolen. I enjoyed the borrowed scooter but this artificial 45km/h limit is really like a brickwall. Most could go at least 60 to max 80 and that would be at the edge of being ok. It maks sense for very young riders but after 20 + years on the street this should be opened up like in the uk. Nevertheless I think 50cc would be wrong from the feedback here. Especially with the 20 to 60km in mind. I probably tended towards the fifty again because of the immediancy of not needing the extra license and cost savings. The non upgradeable license for 1100 eur here feels like a rip off though.

[@empe3332]

@@raise-project I'm in Ireland right now so I paid about 800 for the theory test, training and I got a provisional license for A2 bike (I can ride in Ireland on learners permit) I need to pass the exam and after another 2 years of having full A2 licence I can upgrade to full A category for another 300€. What country are you in? In Germany I think you can get moped from eastern Germany and these can go legally 60kmh on grandpa right. So it's kind of ok. In Holland they have the whole system of narrow roads for push bikes and mopeds so 50cc makes sense there to own a moped.

[@girthquake1190]

400cc is perfect, you wont use that bike to its limits

[@shuru8525]

MY r125 dose 80mph thats more then i need in the uk but i understand what u saying

[@danisdervisevic3601]

I want to start on a yamaha125r 2008 after i get my A1 license and maybe upgrade to a faster bike in the future what do other people thing about this? I live in a small town so i think i wont change the 125cc bike in the short time still great content i love the videos keep it up man ❤

[@Marius-s6o]

I started on a yamaha yzf r125. It was so much fun, I still miss it. Just make sure its properly maintained, 125cc have to be ridden on high reves, with an older bike when it wasn‘t maintained and warmed up properly it wan‘t last for much longer

[@someguy9520]

They have their place in the motorcycle market. Personally i don't think that they are good beginner bikes, given the very limited power, price and very large jump to like a 400 or 500 They are excellent for penny pinching commuters that just need "a bike".

[@goingwildagain]

No it's not they want us slower it's the fact that they want to take as much money off you whilst learning they know you'll buy a 600 ASAP.

[@specc_s1452]

I went for a Sinnis Hoodlum. I know it's chinese, but it should be fine if it's being taken care of. I figured that if i'm gonna be slow, I'll atleast have fun with it😂

[@mazdamaniac4643]

Yeah...sorry I completely disagree. They teach you how to ride a bike by removing your ego from the equation. There's a lot to be said for a 125, because as a first bike they demand good riding technique above all else right from the start...because they do not easily forgive any foolishness. You don't have loads of torque to get you out of a whoopsie, they're so light that they respond to your every thought so you need full attention. You have got to plan out every maneuver, every overtake, every junction because you simply do not have the power available to get out of trouble. All of these things are invaluable lessons that are easily forgotten on big bikes. From a practicality standpoint, how many other bikes can do 85mpg or better? Or how about 300 miles or more per tank? Cheap road tax, insurance and maintainence costs?..think hard... Nearly everyone that I know that has a so-called 'proper' bike keeps it in the garage if the sun goes behind a cloud. Mine is out there in all weathers, no problem, it gets respected for that alone. It gets me to work and back, it takes me on holiday with all of my gear (yes, panniers, topbox, luggage etc.) but every ride out feels like an accomplishment and an adventure in itself. 'Proper' bikers can look down on me and maybe sneer at my 125, I don't really care, because at the end of the day that tells me more about their bad attitudes than they'd like to admit.

[@Jamesulchip]

You're churning these out. Great content