Is 125cc too puny for commuting?

fleet

Hi,

looking to get my first bike.

Was looking at 250+ but with money being tight I am tempted by a 125.

Is this too small for getting around Dublin and the occasional trip to neighbouring counties?

KTRIC

I picked the lesbians option.


On the topic of the bike, a 125 is fine if you're not doing any mad milage.

Around town they are perfect, nice and light and easy on fuel.

Nodster

Nothing wrong with a 125 for scooting about, did a few months couriering on a Honda 70 in the 80's! Just change the oil regularly, on a CG 125 I use to change the oil every 1,200 miles and she was running sweetly for years

EvilMonkey

125 is fine in Dublin if you don't have any long motorway journeys.

mikemac

Certainly not, you'll be fine.
Just not ideal if you're taking long spins on the M1 or M7 but even then it's ok

CourierCollie

Yep, absolutely perfect. Just avoid the motorways(the old roads are still there, and usually more fun anyway).

chughes

I started off on a Yamaha Majesty 125 and it was great for getting around town and also beating the 50cc's away from the lights.
I ended up getting a 250 Majesty as I needed to do some motorway driving and the 125 just wasn't up to it.

tiernanobrien

frankly i'd say get a 250. you hear a ridiculous amount of people saying how sick they are of the limited power in a 125. a few bikes to consider that you can pick up cheaply:

bandit 250
cb 250
hornet 250 (not too cheap)
bros 400

Paparazzo

A 250 is ideal, a 125 is grand for around town, but once you get out on any national road, you'll wish you had a 250. Forget about motorways on a 125. I'm assuming you're going for a bog standard 125 (maurader, van-van, virago etc) instead of some high tuned RS 125?

madrab

I loved my little 125 when i started, it was a brand new suzuki gn125 & it rocked!

fleet

Thanks for all the advise lads!

Paparazzo wrote: »

I'm assuming you're going for a bog standard 125 (maurader, van-van, virago etc) instead of some high tuned RS 125?

Yeah, I was thinking of a cruiser or more traditional style, not a "crotch rocket" race bike.

Think I found what I'm looking for in the Hyosung GV250

http://www.hyosung.co.uk/detail.php?id=24

KamiKazi

What about a Virago 250 or a Marauder 250. They'd be more reliable than a Hyosung

fleet

KamiKazi wrote: »

What about a Virago 250 or a Marauder 250. They'd be more reliable than a Hyosung

Agreed, but neither are listed as being available on their European websites any more.

In fact nobody seems to make a sub 600 cruiser anymore...

I looked at second hand prices for them, very little saving.

Hyosung have made Suzuki's engines for 30 years so I'm not worried about the engine, the chrome and body have been known to rust on previous models though!

KamiKazi

fleet wrote: »

Agreed, but neither are listed as being available on their European websites any more.

In fact nobody seems to make a sub 600 cruiser anymore...

I looked at second hand prices for them, very little saving.

Hyosung have made Suzuki's engines for 30 years so I'm not worried about the engine, the chrome and body have been known to rust on previous models though!

Didn't realise you were buying new.

faceman

I started out on a Virago 125. Yamaha dont make them anymore but have a Dragstar range. Nicer bike to look at and the engine is slightly better tuned.

125 was grand for getting around the city. The odd day Id be on the M50 and could only get upto about 50mph on average. In windy conditions less. But city driving was grand.

rccaulfield

Not to neighbouring counties- unless its a sports 125! I voted no for that reason!

KamiKazi

rccaulfield wrote: »

Not to neighbouring counties- unless its a sports 125! I voted no for that reason!

Is a 125cc too puny for commuting?

fleet

Kewl.

Gonna save for the Hyousung and consider my options until April/May.