Big 125's

jbdub · 17-01-2014 2:28pm #1

Hi,

I'm getting my Learner Permit in 2 weeks and had some queries around bike types.
I'm actually covered on all bikes(A1,A etc) but want to start off on a 125.

My only concern is some of them seem are quite small and I'm 6'2 so don't want my knees at the handlebars!

If anyone has suggestions on some larger 125's that'd be great.

Thanks,
J

Pedro K · 17-01-2014 2:29pm

I wouldn't go for a 125 if you already have the A licence.

You'll be bored of it in a week.

corkgsxr · 17-01-2014 2:57pm

As above I wouldn't.

The hyasung gt is a large one

goodlad · 17-01-2014 3:06pm

jbdub wrote: »

Hi,

I'm getting my Learner Permit in 2 weeks and had some queries around bike types.
I'm actually covered on all bikes(A1,A etc) but want to start off on a 125.

My only concern is some of them seem are quite small and I'm 6'2 so don't want my knees at the handlebars!

If anyone has suggestions on some larger 125's that'd be great.

Thanks,
J

Why do you want to start off on a 125? Thats crazy talk man.....
There is more power in a budgies fart

jbdub · 17-01-2014 3:12pm

I'm getting a lot of pushback on the 125! I suppose I just wanted to start with something low power while I'm learning. I have the Car and the Bike is just going to be for commuting and short distances.
I'm open to other options though

Thanks

galwaytt · 17-01-2014 3:17pm

If you really want to try a 125 for size, try and find a Varadero 125 - it's about the biggest there is, really.

If that doesn't work for you, by all means look further - but at least you'd have an idea.

lostboy75 · 17-01-2014 3:24pm

And I will shortly be selling my 125 Varadero, just saying................

chrismon · 17-01-2014 3:32pm

galwaytt wrote: »

If you really want to try a 125 for size, try and find a Varadero 125 - it's about the biggest there is, really.

If that doesn't work for you, by all means look further - but at least you'd have in idea.

Varedo is a great starter, big for a 125!

minidazzler · 17-01-2014 3:57pm

I know most are against the idea of a 125, but I say go for the Varadero and sell it in June. They are a great 125 and sell faster than anything. Great inexpensive run around to learn on.

RoryMurphyJnr · 17-01-2014 4:05pm

Had a Varadero myself, great first bike

Doylers · 17-01-2014 5:13pm

Vara was my first bike too, slow as fu*k but nice ride and enjoyed it

minidazzler · 17-01-2014 5:28pm

Doylers wrote: »

Vara was my first bike too, slow as fu*k but nice ride and enjoyed it

As 125's go, it's actually not all that slow I found. Could get it to 120 at a push. But went to 100kmh easy enough.... as long as there were no uphills :pac:

Doylers · 17-01-2014 5:52pm

minidazzler wrote: »

As 125's go, it's actually not all that slow I found. Could get it to 120 at a push. But went to 100kmh easy enough.... as long as there were no uphills :pac:

Ah yeah them hills :DI used to travel from waterford city to dungarvan for work, It wouldnt go over 100 and on the little hills happened slowed down to like 80:P Had a leak in the exhaust so that could have effected it.

Oh the reminds me OP if you go for a vara, give the underside of the exhaust a good looking they rust there alot especially on the bends, expensive to replace.

bluefinger · 17-01-2014 5:55pm

lostboy75 wrote: »

And I will shortly be selling my 125 Varadero, just saying................

The real question is how long did you last on it? :-)

corkgsxr · 17-01-2014 8:59pm

I wouldn't recommend going lower that 250

FatherLen · 17-01-2014 10:42pm

corkgsxr wrote: »

As above I wouldn't.

The hyasung gt is a large one

Don't get a hyosung gt250r whatever you do.
I had mine for only a few months and the thing just destroyed itself from the inside out and apparently it's not that rare for them to do it either. try something like a hornet.

AgileMyth · 17-01-2014 11:58pm

FatherLen wrote: »

Don't get a hyosung

Simples.

Guy I know through work loves his one. But then I've done more miles this week than he's done in the past three years. Other than him I've never heard a good word said about them.

F650GS would be what I'd go for OP. But the Varadero route isn't a bad one either, just means longer til you pass your test.

Del2005 · 18-01-2014 1:17am

jbdub wrote: »

I'm getting a lot of pushback on the 125! I suppose I just wanted to start with something low power while I'm learning. I have the Car and the Bike is just going to be for commuting and short distances.
I'm open to other options though

Thanks

Get a bike bigger than a 125. You can go too fast into a corner on a moped, it's proper training that'll keep you safe not the power of the bike.

Lemonperv · 18-01-2014 5:25am

I think a Hornet 250 would be a little small if you're tall.

Aren't the Honda CBFs meant to be big?

M450 · 18-01-2014 11:51am

I had the same idea of starting out on a low powered bike back in March, after doing the IBT on a 600 I ended up going straight for a Bandit 650. Like Del says above, it's proper training not the size of the bike you've to worry about.

During the IBT I had a go on a 125, a 250 and then the 600. The other 2 just felt far too small.

jbdub · 20-01-2014 10:57am

Thanks for all the feedback, much appreciated. Definately a lot good options listed, I have the IBT in a few weeks so will try out the different engine sizes then

lostboy75 · 20-01-2014 1:18pm

bluefinger wrote: »

The real question is how long did you last on it? :-)

had it a year and a half, will put you down as interested as well ;-)

that said, I would love for the Varadero to be more powerful, maybe a 250 or so (and no not the 1000), if it was I would be keeping it. it has enough power 90% of the time for most people. if your mainly city commuting, happy days on it, its a big bike, with good visibility and damn comfortable.
it is heavy and poorish top speed, as was mentioned previously it can do the 100kph, though its much more comfortable with 90.
almost all my riding is not in cities or built up areas so that has decided me in changing, that and have it the 1.5 years now

Lost

bluefinger · 20-01-2014 7:40pm

lostboy75 wrote: »

had it a year and a half, will put you down as interested as well ;-)

that said, I would love for the Varadero to be more powerful, maybe a 250 or so (and no not the 1000), if it was I would be keeping it. it has enough power 90% of the time for most people. if your mainly city commuting, happy days on it, its a big bike, with good visibility and damn comfortable.
it is heavy and poorish top speed, as was mentioned previously it can do the 100kph, though its much more comfortable with 90.
almost all my riding is not in cities or built up areas so that has decided me in changing, that and have it the 1.5 years now

Lost

I'll pass ;-) had a two fifty for about a year and though it was great to learn on I couldn't wait to go bigger.

lego101 · 21-01-2014 2:41am

I have a YZF 125 and I'm 6 foot tall and it feels perfect! mine had been lowered an inch or two aswell. Starting off with low power isn't a bad idea, if your not used to bikes even a 125 feels powerful! Great on fuel too

the cats pajamas · 27-01-2014 1:31pm

I'm 6"3 and I like my ninja 250cc a lot,
I commute clane to town on it everyday.
It is solid, cheap to run and and quicker than i require.

galwaytt · 27-01-2014 1:37pm

lostboy75 wrote: »

that said, I would love for the Varadero to be more powerful, maybe a 250 or so

^^^^this.

I even thought about shoe-horning a bigger engine into one a few years ago. A 250-400cc version of it would be brilliant.

fatbast · 30-01-2014 5:47pm

M450 wrote: »

I had the same idea of starting out on a low powered bike back in March, after doing the IBT on a 600 I ended up going straight for a Bandit 650. Like Del says above, it's proper training not the size of the bike you've to worry about.

During the IBT I had a go on a 125, a 250 and then the 600. The other 2 just felt far too small.

i have a 250 hornet and a fazer 600 both good starter bikes..pics

GunnerDown · 04-02-2014 9:03pm

Does anyone know if yoo have a learner permit cat A and IBT Cat A can you drive biiger bikes or are we restricted to 125. Varadero are almost impossible to buy also i went to look at 2 and they are fabulous but no body want to part the two i looked at were older and well used i drive a yamaha xmax 125 cause insurance Is allot cheaper for your first year but mine is up for renewal so if i can with my license Ill get bigger bike otherwise i'm 6'1 and ive tried yamaha yzf 125 looks great shes no where near a bigger bike but to start on would tick allot the boxs

Del2005 · 04-02-2014 11:16pm

GunnerDown wrote: »

Does anyone know if yoo have a learner permit cat A and IBT Cat A can you drive biiger bikes or are we restricted to 125. Varadero are almost impossible to buy also i went to look at 2 and they are fabulous but no body want to part the two i looked at were older and well used i drive a yamaha xmax 125 cause insurance Is allot cheaper for your first year but mine is up for renewal so if i can with my license Ill get bigger bike otherwise i'm 6'1 and ive tried yamaha yzf 125 looks great shes no where near a bigger bike but to start on would tick allot the boxs

You can ride anything you can afford to insure with an A permit, no point in restricting yourself to bikes you can't do the test on.

Pipz · 04-02-2014 11:20pm

I'd agree with the lads and recommend going bigger than a 125 if you can. I have my yzf r125 and I love it, can get it to 134km/h, which is quick enough for a little 125, but I've had it almost a year now and am counting the days until October when my restriction is up and I can go out on the R6. It's a great bike, but nothing more depressing than when you start looking for more gears and there are none left.

What about buying a bigger bike and getting it restricted if you're worried about having too much power at the start?

Big 125's

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