Top 10 BEST 125CC MOTORCYCLES
It’s hard to choose a 125cc motorcycle these days because there are so many great options. Whether you’re looking for a sports bike, a naked bike, a mini bike, or even an ADV bike, there’s sure to be something that fits your needs. But with so many great choices on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is the best.
There are many misconceptions when it comes to 125 geared bikes. A lot of people think that because they have a maximum power of 11kw and produce a maximum power-to-weight ratio of 0.1kw per kg, that they’re all the same. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! In reality, there’s arguably no more diverse category in motorcycling. You have big-name brands fighting for market share and then you have more specialist companies that usually offer great value for your money.
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With so many different types of 125cc motorbikes on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. To help you make a decision, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 125cc motorbikes, in ascending order of price.
Suzuki GSX-R125 (from £4,449)
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The Suzuki GSX-R125 is a popular sportsbike among Suzuki fans, as it is the smallest and most affordable option in the GSX-R lineup.
The Suzuki GSX-R125 has been celebrated for its 60th Anniversary and its ability to imitate its bigger brother. It has been noted that it does a better job than its Kawasaki and Yamaha rivals. The blue and silver finish is a nod to the GSX-RR, which won the 2020 MotoGP title.
Although it’s not the best value in its class, the GSX-R125 is an eager urban runaround with its 15hp making good use of a 134kg that tips the scales at 8kg lighter than the Yamaha R125.
The GSX-R125 was last refreshed in 2018, and given Suzuki’s glacial approach to updates, it’s starting to feel its age. It feels brisk on the road, but not as eager to please or as refined as its rivals. However, it is comparable to them in terms of quality, and you can’t go wrong with Suzuki’s reputation for reliable engineering.
Honda MSX125 (from £3649)
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The Honda MSX125, introduced in 2014, is the smallest and loudest 125 motorcycle on the market. Developing a cult following quickly, it is known as the Grom. It is a modern day ‘monkey bike’ inspired by Honda’s mini-wheeled marvels from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The MSX 125 is a 10bhp, air-cooled 125 that rides on 12-inch wheels. It has all-round three-quarter scale proportions, making you look like an adult on a BMX.
The MSX 125 is a 10bhp, air-cooled 125 that rides on dinky 12-inch wheels and has all-round three-quarter scale proportions, making you look like an adult on a BMX. Even though it may not be the best thing for you, it is still a Honda, and it is thoroughly developed with brilliant ergonomics even for taller riders. It is hilariously easy to ride (especially around town) and has become something of a cult sensation in its own right. We wouldn’t fancy negotiating a dual carriageway or bypass on one and its practicality is limited, but it’s also far classier and more fun than you might expect.
The Honda Monkey 125 is a great bike for anyone looking for a stylish and affordable ride. Plus, it’s cooler than an ice cube on the Polar ice cap! If you’re looking for a more retro version, Honda also introduced the retro-styled ‘Monkey’ version in 2018 for just £300 extra. 125s simply don’t get any cuter…
Lexmoto LXR SE 125 (from £2999)
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With Lexmoto’s £1000 Echo 50cc scooter being a best seller in the UK for years now, we’re quite familiar with the company’s inexpensive, Chinese-built products that are imported into the country. However, similar to how China’s mobile phones have gradually gained credibility over time, the nation’s motorcycles are also slowly but surely being more highly regarded – and Lexmoto’s latest release, the LXR, is likely its strongest product yet.
The LXR is a great value bike, costing less than £2500 in a sector where similar bikes often cost nearly double that. It’s well-styled, with inverted forks, twin disc brakes, and an alloy swing arm – more than enough to impress your friends.
The bike’s air-cooled engine may be considered “old school” by some, but it’s a reliable and durable machine. It might not have the power of some of the newer models from Yamaha, but it’s a good 125cc bike for someone who is likely to only keep it for a year. And, since money is often tight for people in this age group, it’s definitely worth considering.
Aprilia RX 125 (from £3850)
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We were impressed with the powerful and honed flagship machines, so we were very interested in the smaller, more affordable but still desirable package.
While you may have expected us to choose the RS 125 (spoiler alert, scroll down…), we were actually more intrigued by the RX/SX duo. Introduced in 2018, the RX125 is a trail-style 125 and the SX is its supermoto-style brother. Both are based around the same advanced liquid-cooled, DOHC, fuel-injected four-valve single as used in its more famous sibling, the sporty RS.
The engine in the Honda X-ADV 125 is held in a minimal, twin beam steel frame, and it comes with decent cycle parts front and rear, including 41mm inverted forks and a monoshock rear. The RX version has 21/18in wire wheels and semi-knobbly tyres, while the SX version has 17in wheels with more street-oriented rubber.
Both versions have sharp, stylish bodywork, and they’re easy to ride. They’re just as fast as any other four-stroke 125, and they’re not even that expensive, with a price tag of just under £3500. What’s not to like?
KTM Duke 125 (from £4499)
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KTM, the Austrian off-road experts, are the original kings of supermoto conversions of MX or enduro style machines. In 1995, they introduced the first 620 Duke, which pretty much invented the breed.
Since then, the Duke family has evolved and grown to include 1290, 890, 790, 690, 390, 200 and 125cc models. They have constantly stayed ahead of the competition by continually evolving their design.
The 125 was first introduced in 2012 and quickly became one of the most popular bikes in its class due to its modern design, liquid-cooling, fuel injection, and DOHC four-valve four-stroke engine. The bike’s lightweight tubular steel trellis chassis, quality inverted WP forks and shock, sharp brakes and geometry make it a joy to ride. It also doesn’t hurt that the 125 has aggressive and eye-catching styling. The latest version of the 125 features a new LED headlight and a stylish TFT dash.
Honda CB 125 R (from £4399)
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The 2018 Honda CBR125R may not have been the fastest, best equipped or most expensive option in the 125cc sporty naked class, but it was still a brilliant bike. It replaced the long-lived and popular faired sports CBR125R, which showed Honda’s faith in the new model. The CBR125R competed against bikes like the KTM Duke and Yamaha MT-125.
The CB is a great all-rounder that combines performance, style, quality and value. The liquid-cooled single is derived from the CBR and although it has fewer valves and horsepower, it makes up for it by being more tractable and flexible. In the real world, it’s just as fast as all the other bikes.
The chassis is roomy and comfortable, with typical Honda brilliant ergonomics and several classy touches such as inverted forks, radial front caliper and classy LCD dash. The styling fits in with Honda’s new ‘Neo Café’ style roadsters such as the CB650R and CB1000R, appearing much more substantial than a 125 as a result. The whole plot costs just over £4K, which is surely a steal compared to the significantly more expensive Yamahas.
Yamaha MT-125 (from £4700)
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The Yamaha Master of Torque series returns for 2020, with the latest take on the 125 roadster. This bike is packed with features and offers great value for money. First introduced in 2014, the Master of Torque is a naked version of the all-conquering R-125 sportster (see below), itself updated in 2019.
The new bike features a VVA 125cc engine that produces 14.7bhp, a lighter six-speed gearchange, and a shorter and more agile Deltabox chassis. It also has an inverted KYB fork, a rear shock, and new styling that includes a revised riding position that is more comfortable and roomy.
It’s so good that we actually struggle to find anything to criticize, except for the price. The new MT-125 is now the priciest of this type of bike, even more so than Aprilia’s RS125-based Tuono, but it probably is worth the premium.
Aprilia RS 125 GP Replica (from £5000)
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The Aprilia RS125 is a modern, fuel-injected four-stroke that still delivers the power and performance that made it a teenage bedroom poster bike in the early 1990s. With 14.7bhp on tap, it’s as powerful as any of its rivals, and its high-revving four-valve DOHC engine is sure to please those who love the sound and smell of a two-stroke.
In addition to its inimitable Italian sports styling, the Aprilia 125 boasts a mouth-watering spec including inverted forks and radial brakes. Its impeccably sharp and nimble styling belies its decent novice manners, making it a sports 125 any self-respecting 17-year-old would sell their granny for. Best of all, though, with the base version at £4499, this historically expensive ‘super 125’ now actually undercuts the latest from Yamaha. Scrub that, though, go for the ‘full monty’ GP replica version for £100 more. No other 125 has as much ‘drool factor’.
Get them while they’re still available! Aprilia is rumored to be discontinuing this model in favor of a 300cc+ successor that will compete with the Yamaha R3 and KTM RC390. We just want both options, is that too much to ask?
Kawasaki Ninja 125 (from £4199)
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We could have chosen the Kawasaki Ninja 125 or the Kawasaki Z125, both of which are great handling and sporty machines. But the hooligan youth in us can’t help but be drawn to the lime green hues of the mini-ZX-10R.
The lightweight Ninja is a great choice for carving through mountain roads. It’s stable and predictable, even on rough roads. And in dense traffic, its lightness and flickability make it easy to navigate through static cars. With its punchy motor and head-turning looks, the Kawasaki Ninja is a great choice for a fun and easy-to-ride learner legal motorcycle.
The Kawasaki Ninja 125 is a great option for riders who are just starting out or for more experienced riders who want a cool urban bike. Kawasaki is known for reliability, sporting dynamics, and value, and the Ninja 125 has a recognizably livery that makes it stand out.
Yamaha R125 (from £4900)
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Yamaha’s sports R125 has been the most desirable offering in the quarter-litre class since the launch of the original in 2008. It looks like an R1 replica, albeit without the extra inches.
The bike combines the CBR125R’s novice manners with more full-sized style, spec and performance. It is a solid, effective learner buy that fulfils any 17-year-old’s ‘Rossi-replica’ fantasies.
The third generation version of this product, introduced in 2019, features improved ‘mini R1’ styling, a new engine with variable valve timing that boosts performance while maintaining the maximum 14.7bhp peak, and a revised chassis with a new aluminium swingarm and thicker 140-section rear tyre. There is also a smart new LCD dash, a variety of accessories including an Akrapovic exhaust, an optional ‘Monster MotoGP replica’ paint scheme and more.
The new Yamaha R125 comes at a slight price increase but is otherwise a complete package, on par with its Aprilia rival.
