Anyone had experience with NSR125's or similar

[Stormspiel]

I've managed to convince one of my mates that he needs transport and that a bike is a far better choice than a bike for him.
We had a long drawn out talk about his choices i.e. CBT, buy & ride 125cc for year/2 year, Take full test....CBT, Full Test (he's 22) Buy Hairnet, Sv or Blandit 6. He's decided that he wants to go down the 125cc route but doesn't really want a 2-stroke screamer ( lots of town riding will be a bugger on a rev happy stroker :roll: ) so .....what are his choices ??

NSR were changed to 4-stroke at some point methinks
Sach XTC do a 4-stroke

He wants a "proper bike" not a yam DT or similar, not adverse to a naked but would prefer with fairings and his budgets abotu £2500 for insurance and bike.

Advice please people :D

[mysteryjimbo]

Sach's bikes look good but from what i know they lose a lot of value and tend to disintegrate after a couple of years.

The NSR's arent a bad first time bike but may be a little small for some people

Those cagivia - ducati knock offs look good but scream as a 2 stroke.

[richwill68]

Try a Honda CBR 125. It's a four stroke, looks OK and are quite a nice machine to ride. :wink: Also falls within your mates budget. :D

Regards

Rich :wink:

[fizzwheel]

What about a Honda CG 125

Not the prettiest bike, but it'll be cheap to buy and insurance and cost peanuts to run, no plastics or anything like that if hes unlucky enough to drop it.

TBH as long as you look after a two stroke properly it'll be fine and give you no problems, you wanna make sure that the previous owner looked after it properly though. Something like an Aprillia RS125 is a tasty piece of kit, but needs lots of TLC to keep it trouble free

I rode an Aprillia ETX 125 two stroke for 10 months before I got my SV, had a few problems with cold starting which was cured by a new spark plug but apart from that it gave me no problems what so ever

Oh and I moved this to Bikes - Talk & Issues, you might get a bit more advice in there than idle banter :wink:

[Stormspiel]

Try a Honda CBR 125. It's a four stroke, looks OK and are quite a nice machine to ride. :wink: Also falls within your mates budget. :D

Regards

Rich :wink:

We've had him sat on one and to be honest they're far too slim. The NSR/Mito/Planet/RS125 seem to be a fair bit chunkier and hence more comfortable for him. Cheers anyway.

What about a Honda CG 125

I suggested it but he's too much of a tart to ride one :roll: "I want one that looks bigger than it is, and could keep up on a ride"


We're going to look at a few Rs125's and NSR's this week, Prices ranging from £950 - £1800

[Scoobs]

My first bike was an Aprilia RS125. Great bike all the time it is working. I brought it brand new and blew it up at 3000 miles. It always had the best fully synth 2 stroke oil, was always thoroughly warmed before riding etc and it still went ping. It handles brilliantly and goes like stink for a 125 (upto 90 - 95mph), but is too brittle. Any second hand bike will have been thrashed. If you really, REALLY want one, buy the best you can afford, with history and from a dealer with a warranty.

[fizzwheel]

:lol:

OK good luck, when looking at the RS125's ask the owner what two stroke oil they used.

If they've used cheap oil, TBH I would walk away, My brother had one for about 3 years and always used the expensive castrol TTS oil and never had a problem with it. I think Scoobs had an RS125 before he got his SV, might be worth dropping him a PM for some advice before you go looking at one

[localhost]

The cg125 is quite reliable.

They don't really look that nice, i aggree, but if you want a proper bike, buy a proper bike (imho).

When i first passed my cbt i wanted a cbr125, but one of my mates pointed out this to me: you are spending lots of money for a bike you won't have for very long, and it's a small bike trying to look big...

cg is ugly but does the trick! 8)

[JakeRS]

I had an Aprilia RS125 for a while, and at that time it was so fantastic.

Handling like a 600 sports bike, quick acceleration (0-60 in about 6 secs) and when derestricted did about 100mph.

All I can say is that they are a bit tricky to ride if its your first bike, cos of the erratic 2 stroke-ness.

But I have to say, in ways, its as fun as the SV!

[Jase22]

What about that Honda 125 Valdereo (or whatever it's called). If he's a big lad, he'll probably suit that?

Plus at first glance it's difficult to tell it's a 125.

[bobbydazzler]

had a spankin new rs125 before the SV. never had any probs with 6000miles. castrol tts is the only oil i'd use and she'd get warmed up propreley (most of the time). the RS was sooo much fun and it killed me to get rid. if i could've afforded it id've kept it for a lifetime. now i lust after the 250..

[bobbydazzler]

BTW i found it a doddle to ride and it was always deresricted. then again i am 6ft 4

[pepe]

How about a Hyousung Comet 125 ( sv type style ) . My mate had one and he's just over 6 ft and around 16 stone ( on a good day ! ) and he had no trouble with his. He came with us to Donnington a couple off years ago on it and it was fine for the A roads ( even though we had to slow down for him a lot ). He also came with us to Poole a few times ( as well as other places ) and the bike was fine. Good comfy seating/riding position, good on fuel etc.

I had a mito for a couple off years and was a great bike but very temperamental and tight riding position ( unliess your small like me ). Was great fun but also ver stealable to young hoodie type yobs !!

[northwind]

Cagiva Mito... MMMMM. How about the new Derbis, are they just 50cc or do they do 125s? He could do worse than a GIlera DNA 125, halfway between a scooter and a bike.

Trailway's a nice 125 too- part trailie, part naked road bike. I like 'em... I should've got one but I'm an idiot. Then again, if I had I'd probably never have bought the SV, since I'd not have been so desperate to ditch my rubbish Virago 125.

[$i]

Derbi's - Awesome lil bikes (i used to have one :D ) and yes they do 125's now like the gpr and senda sm. (below)

http://www.motoplanete.com/125/derbi-gpr.jpg
http://www.yamaha-hebart.at/Bilder/CPI-Derbi/Senda%20SM125.jpg

Depends what sort of 125 he wants but it sounds like a sports so here's my list and thought's:

Aprilia RS125 - great little screamer (33bhp derestricted so dead on the ball with a1 licence). Quite expensive brand new and a dodgy buy second hand. unless your going to let this warm up for five mins in the morning, used quality synthetic oil, and be tinkering with it every day it wont last that long.
Honda NSR 125 - 27bhp derestricted and a bit more reliable than the RS/Cagiva. It was the one i was looking for when i was into 125's. says it all really :lol: .
Honda CBR 125 - Not much info on this but i would say it definately has to be the most reliable bike out of all of these also with very little maintenance. sounds great with a micron can too :lol: . drawbacks would be you'd be lucky to get 80-85 mph out of it.
Sachs XTC - Handles well and look pretty nice too. Performance lacks a bit but i have heard they can be a reliable bike.
Derbi GPR 125 - If its anything like my derbi senda sm (50cc version) it'll be a screamer. Had no problems with the bike and go's like stink.
Cagiva Mito - Looks the muts nuts. the duc of all 125's. definately the fastest 125 but the least reliable. and be prepared to wait quite a long time for parts.

Thats my say/experience on 125's, hope it helps :thumbsup:

[Saint Matt]

Handling like a 600 sports bike, quick acceleration (0-60 in about 6 secs) and when derestricted did about 100mph.

No it doesn't, imo it handles awful! 125 race reps are too light to go chucking into bends on normal troads, they hop and skip over every jump. Tracks and fresh tarmac yes, realistically, no, and nothing like a 600 sports bike. 0-60 in 6 seconds? Mate, that is very optimistic. About 8-9 seconds normally, 7 seconds if you have sod all fuel, annorexic rider and mucho clutch slippage at 11k rpm, on a full power bike running spot on. 100 mph yes, it does. 1 out of 3, not bad. I enjoyed My RS125, but the SV is much better. It seized after a month though, wouldn't recommend a second hand one unless it has less than a couple of thousand miles on it, as you never know how it has been treated. Nsrs were always 2 stroke, replaced with the insult to the Fireblade that is the CBR125 :P . Mitos are worse than Aprilias, the look prettier, but they dont have as good electrics (thought neither of them are particularly reliable), and they also don't have the temp guage thing that's as accurate as the Rs's. Nothing between them speed wise at all. I would reccomend an NSR, as the Mito and RS are both tuned to make about 26-27 bhp, and the NSR is about 22 hp, much less strain on the engine, while not losing too much speed. I have ridden all of them, RS was the best cos it was the biggest, but there isn't much in between them. Derbis are stil new so no point getting one, no one wants them and they are far too much new, as are all 125 race reps.

[Saint Matt]

Ah yeah, forgot about the sachs. Cheap tat, crap build quality, look nice, but they do fall apart!

[thegibdog]

Wants soemthing that looks bigger than it actually is? Varadero
Wants something that could possibly keep up on rides? Stroker

Tell him to do his Direct Access, then he can ride something thats big and can also keep up!

[$i]

i do agree the derbi's are a bit pricey. but the sach's aint that bad :roll: . :lol:

[bobbydazzler]

http://www.aprilia.com/dati//317/foto_mag_1_1000_1131986593.jpg

oh yea forgot they updated the prilia. just to make it even harder
:love:

[$i]

Thats one nice looking 125. looks like the new blade a bit @ the front.

[Stormspiel]

Thanks for all the info people :thumbsup: I shall pass it on to my mate. We've got a few lined up to have a gander at and he'll have £1500 cash so we should be able to haggle prices down a bit if they're round that mark.

I liked the varadero 125cc, a kid at work has one and he's never had a problem with it. He bought it restricted and did his test on it, it's now de-restricted and apparently will pull 80mph all day no worries.

That new Rs125.... =P~ Monkey see....Monkey want

He asked me about direct access but decided it was too big a jump for him to go from a complete novice (he's let the clutch out on my sv with choke on so it revs to 3500rpm in my back yard :roll: ) to a 60 BHP+ bike plus he's not allowed a faster bike than me :twisted:

Most of the rides we do tend to be twisty 'A' roads as i get bored to death on motorway and it encourages me to speed ( i wanna get off it as fast as i can) so he doesn't need the straight line speed, just something that will hold pace in a corner and belt back out the other end without doing a rain-dance on the gear lever :roll: .

Main problem is that he can't take ANY for a test ride as he's not even got CBT. If he waits till march i'm upping my ins. to cover 'other bikes' third party only (if you can :-k ) so i could take it for a spin but he's impatient like me. :roll:

Again thanks people :D

[Saint Matt]

Would definately reccomend a Varadero, great bikes to ride and they look bigger than a 125!

[mac]

I`ve still got my M plate Cagiva Mito - great fun and sounds v v nice. Parts were never much of a problem ( Three cross motorcycles usually had the parts in stock or could get them quickly ) . Should be putting it back on the road this year ( its SORN`ed at the moment due to being in bits whilst in the middle of a piston rings and barrel change + new exhaust ).

Will post some pics when its done ( if any ones interested )

[catdog]

You can't go wrong with the Varadero. The size of it'll mean he won't be terrified by a DAS 500 bike, you get a bit more respect from cagers (and other bikers too, I noticed!) out on the roads, decent fairing, nice comfy riding position.........plus it's a twin, so it even sounds like a bigger bike than all those 125 singles out there!

[northwind]

Vareder's expensive for what it is though...

[Stormspiel]

Vareder's expensive for what it is though...

Just found one 2 minutes down road parked outside a house...£1200 O.V.N.O Cosmetically a bit tatty ( few rust spots on exhaust, general grime on casings etc.) but has new chain + sprockets + tyres, gonna call back 2moro to have a proper look at it and talk to owner.

[Quiff Wichard]

my first bike was an NSR 125.. no probs with it at all....

in my experience .. aprilia Rs' have had tha nuts thrashed off em...

My NSR was nippy and reliable.. no probs like a sachs or an aprilia.

it was a 2 stroke though i dont recall NSR's bein 4 stroke....they were replaced with the cbr(which is tiny tiny dinky ) and thats a 4 stroke as said previous in the thread.....

i will find a pic of me NSR and pop it up..

but I would reccommend one fer sure....oh except fer the turning circle- its poor... but its a light bike..

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/bike4.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b326/sigourneysbeaver/bike1.jpg

[Saint Matt]

the turning circle- its poor... but its a light bike..

Yeah, I remember that, and your thumbs hit the tank at full lock.

[K]

*sigh* Back in the day when I took my test it was on a NSR - turning circle was sooooo bad that they had to officially increase the diameter of the circle of cones used for the 'figure of 8' test. Even pushing it round and passing was a physical impossibility.

(Yeah, yeah, cones... in a school playground... tests back then were a load of bollards!)

Cracking little bike though.

I'd also recommend the Varadero - after all, it's a Honda so it'll handle neglect and winter weather. :wink:

[cmit37]

I would go for a Varadero 125 but they are expensive. Last year me and my brother were on the motorway(in a car) and we tracked one for 45 minutes at 80mph and he was still accelerating here and there to overtake.
I am also trying to get my brother into riding and I took him to a Yamaha dealer and we sat on an XT125(4 stroke) and our minds were made up. That thing was so light with great suspensions I nearly want one myself(I hope he gets it so I can have a go). The dealer was selling them new at £2100
http://www.georgewhite.co.uk/images/yamaha/XT125-05-2.jpg
http://www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/products/motorcycles/125cc/xt125x.jsp

[wtdafk]

i miss my nsr what was stolen last year, great fun lil bike !!