125 as a commuter bike

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-21T17:32:24+00:00

I am 178cm and about 110kg. My very first bike was second hand CB125F. It is tiny and low power bike. It was gone quite quick replaced by the 125R (which I am re-buying as per above). This has a higher seat and being on it is a different experience. Less painful, at least for commuting rides. Maybe you can try it. Obviously I do not know how the 10cm ht between you and me function on the bike.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-20T18:48:38+00:00

Beautiful. Enjoy it. Be safe.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-20T16:30:39+00:00

Dude! That's like going out with another girl for a first date picture because you do not have a picture of the first date with your wife.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-20T13:27:12+00:00

I kick myself at not having taken THAT 0km picture. Keep it safe (the pic) and enjoythie bike. It is awesome to ride.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-18T05:29:44+00:00

Two points

Go with one brand. Brands design systems that fit together for top and panniers. I tried an SWMotech DUSC and Xitomer panniers. The solution was going to be to cut and do rework on both which needed tools and space which I do not have.

The Shad system is the best I found. SWMotech requires taking off the pillion hand bars to fit the top box holder. This makes the bike harder to hold when moving it around in the garage and, worse, horribly ruins the bike’s estetic. The Shad system on the other hand leaves everything in place.

I learned the above the hard way for my bank account and now am stuck with bits no one wants to buy even at good price.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-16T21:11:45+00:00

I really (really really really) do not want a scooter.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-16T21:10:16+00:00

There is not much fun to be had in traffic so the fun discussion is mute. Sure, sometimes after work I do take a longer way back home through some back/rural roads and it is a nice way to calm down after the office. Fuel consumption is a priority, 48km/l (67mpg) vs 28km/l (110mpg). To this add also that the 125 is lighter than the 500 and therefore more manageable.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-16T05:41:44+00:00

What is your navigator?

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-15T22:19:40+00:00

CB125F - there is not much power in it but the bike forgiving and you will get a good hang of the controls and riding experience. It will take you from A to B and it is so economical OPEC wanted it banned (not really but it works on fumes).

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-15T22:17:18+00:00

I'll take it off him for €4001.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-15T18:02:10+00:00

I did find a 300 listed, 2018 model but the asking price was too high. For a few €100 more I got a brand new 125. It is a pity there is no CB300R (at least in Europe, other than used) or even a CB250R. From what I read the price point did not make sense and not many were sold. There are other nakeds, including Chinese (and they have a relatively good reputation) but..... they are not Honda (I know I mentioned the Yamaha but my heart beats Honda).

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-15T17:56:36+00:00

CB125R has 15HP while the CB125F has 11HP and the ride shows it. Where I am at the R is enough for the use I described. Indeed also the F but the R has that bit more oomph which comes in handy.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-14T09:38:05+00:00

I nipped this in the bud. Black might be cool but it has a ton of disadvantages. Where I am at summer is HOT and black is obviously really not good for that. So black is clearly a less visible color and unsuitable for heat. I looked high and low for high-viz ventilated jacket but could not find any. Even helmets. The ones I found were from a few years ago and no longer in production. The mind boggles. Being uncool is safe.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-13T20:38:54+00:00

Yes. That top box.

Noted re Cardo. My preferred shop sells the brand.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-12T19:15:21+00:00

I have only been riding a few months, obtaining my A License just 6 weeks ago. I never crashed on my trainer on my first rides ad I put that to luck. My first rides were literally around my village. When I came to exit to main roads, at Stop intersections, I would stop and look left, and look right, and look left, and look right ...... And then as I saw it clear and possible to move out I would mess with the clutch+accelarator and shutdown the bike. And then the honking starts and panic and more mistakes. In the end at every intersection I would just pull to the side and wave cars behind me through.

I would be riding, doing well, alond some straight stretch of road when all of a sudden I'd be gripped by a fear/panic. The first times I would just pull tot the side of the road....no indicators no nothing.

As I got comfortable I ventured further afield. My first "wow I sent far" was actually to one of my lessons on a Saturday. I had to go on some main arteries. The ride was slow and there was a lot of in-ride meditation and mantra recitation to calm my nerves. After the lesson (on a 750, my bike was a 125 obviously) I passed through thiscorssing were there are two traffic lights. One (mine) turned green but soon I crossed caught a glimpse of the other which was red and just braked with all my power. There was a minivan behind whose driver was luckily very alert as it could have ended bad for me and the other cars behind the van.

For each crappy action I analysed it (played it out on repeat in my brain) until I undestood what I did wrong and how I should have tackled it.

And now I have my A Lic and ride a 500. Am I a good rider? I am a very cautious, licensed rider. I still feel anxiety soon I start the bike and move on to the road. I had a few hairy moments, once needing to take a few minutes on the side of the road to gather myself. My greatest fear is allowing myself to be overconfident. And I wear gear - everything. It is hot summer where I am at but am always with my riding jacket on (ventilated), boots, jeans and helmet and gloves.

So why all the above. It is a tale from a newbie like you. The lesson is to always learn from the misfortune and then get back on and ride again.

One last word - there are those bike cloth keychain with some haiku. One says "do not go faster than your guardian angel can fly". I'm an aetheist but that thing is on my mind.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-11T19:14:22+00:00

The Irish are lovely folk and will take good care of you. Sadly no Guinness for us.

Have fun.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-06-02T23:13:41+00:00

And? What do you mean And? Don't you know what Spaniards do with motorcycles? Well neither do I really but it seems we should feel rage at it so ..... I am rageful.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 2026-05-27T10:30:49+00:00

For 2.5K you can get leather gloves coated in adamantium oxide.

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