Within the Seventies, Japanese bikes have been changing into a standard sight on UK streets. Easy machines with glorious gas effectivity, they have been additionally less expensive than the bigger UK bikes or US imports. The CB125 entered the sector in 1972 as a fundamental commuter motorbike that might additionally quicken your heartbeat! A single-cylinder, four-stroke bike, the CB125 had an overhead camshaft (OHC) engine with a 122 cc displacement (elevated to 124 cc in 1976).
Honda designed this to be a rev-happy engine, with a 9500 rpm purple line encouraging you to twist the throttle. For a small motorbike within the Seventies, it carried out brilliantly. Riders managed to cross 65 mph at prime pace, whereas the bike may effortlessly cruise at 55 mph. An actual magnificence, the Honda CB125 engine may final eternally, supplied you stored an in depth eye on the oil ranges. Most house owners caught to grease adjustments each 1000 km to maintain every little thing in tip-top situation.
The Honda CB125 supplied thrilling efficiency to the typical biker, but managed to remain frugal. A part of the explanation was that it was gentle with a kerb weight of lower than 90 kgs. Relying on the way it was ridden, a Seventies Honda CB125 may handle over 40 kilometres on a single litre of petrol. The 5-speed transmission additionally helped enhance each management and mileage. With a torque of one thing like 18.5 bhp @ 9000 rpm, the Honda CB125 was a flexible motorbike that could possibly be used for commuting, work or simply using pleasure!
Honda didn’t make numerous variants and most survivors bear CB125, CB125S and CB125J designations. Curiously, the US-manufactured fashions (1976-89) all carry the Honda CB125S mannequin designation. In any circumstances, the adjustments have been minor, such because the improve of {the electrical} system from 6V to 12V within the Nineteen Eighties. Additionally, from 1974-79 the CB125 got here with disc brake as customary for the entrance wheel. Later fashions reverted again to the reasonably weak drum brakes, an odd determination for such a zippy motorbike.
The final Honda CB125 rolled out of a US manufacturing plant in 1989 however its legacy lives on. Close to-clones of the Honda B125 nonetheless zoom round some nations. It is also an admired basic motorbike with many loyal long-term house owners. Easy to make use of and keep, you possibly can usually spot this very environment friendly bike at used motorbike gross sales. A Honda CB125 in good situation nonetheless attracts numerous consideration from collectors and bike restorers.
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