Anyone had experience with NSR125's or similar

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 ) 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

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.

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

Regards

Rich

[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

Originally Posted by richwill68

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

Regards

Rich

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.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

What about a Honda CG 125

I suggested it but he's too much of a tart to ride one "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

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]

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

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!

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!

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.