I had a honda interceptor 500 in another life. I bought the 125 to commute with. but to commute i have to take the gardiner. this bike is at 9000rpm at 100km/h. i'm only 160lbs. am i destroying this bike? i'm afraid to push it any higher because it feels like it'll explode. anyone with any 125 experience, some feedback would be great. i have no power to jump in front of cars who can't see me, and am always taking a defensive position. as a city bike it's great, and i do love my $32/month insurance payment, but anyone who has any tips on this bike, what gears to ride in/rpms are good, please let me know. i love being back on a bike again, but regret the lack of power. i know every thread in here said to start with a 250, and i see why.
Just bought a CBR125 - is it going to explode on the highway?
- Thread starter wideiris
- Start date
Nope. I had a chick 2up carrying new tires and drove it from Whitby to London bouncing it off the rev limiter in 5th gear the entire way.
-Jamie M.
PLau
Well-known member
Lol. No, it wont explode on the highway. I've ridden it on the highway for 5 hrs straight (with gas stops) w/o any problems. If you end up going up around 135km/h-140km/h which would require a long downhill stretch without any headwind, you'll just run out of revs and drop back down to around 130km/h.
Just tuck and hope the wind is in your favor
Full tuck usually makes a 15-20km/h difference for me top speed although it may take a while to get there.I weigh 150lb.
Oh, and you'll find yourself on the middle/right lane 99% of the time while highway riding.
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PLau
Well-known member
It can hit the limiter 2up in FIFTH gear, not 6th.
D
Deleted member 40275
Guest
Hey man - I own a 250 ninja, but rode a CBR125 for about 15 hours over the course of my 2 day RTI MSF course and I can safely say that while a 250 is not SCARY fast, it is PLENTY fast - especially for a beginner. The difference between the 125 and the 250 is huge.. exactly double lol. Given that, I can say that holding high speeds on the highway needs a little more finesse in the 250 - so I can't imagine it being easy (nor safe) for the highways here.
However, no worries! Enjoy the bike - they have great resale and then maybe get into a 250 next season or even the new 300's and try them out for a season or two before moving on up to the monsters.
BTW - The CBR125's, although slow, were absolutely fantastic! I had a lot of fun in them and learned a lot about control.
It'll be fine. If you need to take the Gardiner take lakeshore instead. Probably less traffic and less crazy people...and the ride along the lake will be nicer.
PLau
Well-known member
This. I was able to go faster in 5th than I was in 6th, when I had a 2upper
-Jamie M.
Well yeah, I'm just saying, its easier to hit the rev limiter on a lower gear than its highest gear (kinda thought that would be common sense though
) I was just pointing it out cause some people don't know cbr125s have 6 gears.6th is more for cruising or if you dont want to be bouncing of the rev limiter constantly at 120.
Green Machine
Well-known member
my friend had this problem, I suggested removing the rev limiter so it wouldn't wear out(no one wants to buy a used bike with a worn out rev limiter) he thought about then decided to add a 7th gear instead, for highway use only of course.
PLau
Well-known member
Is... That... Even... Possible...? Regardless, even if you do add a 7th gear, its not like it would make much of a difference on such a small displacement engine.
I call ******** on this lol
The engine is designed to run wide open throttle continuously. It will take it.
There is one current forum member who has over 60,000 km on one.
The other thing is that on the Gardiner (90 km/h speed limit!), the traffic is often heavy enough that it's within the 125's comfort zone anyhow, AND, the air circulation from the traffic (when it's moving ...) easily adds 10 km/h to the bike's speed.
I take mine on 400 series roads routinely.
There is one current forum member who has over 60,000 km on one.
The other thing is that on the Gardiner (90 km/h speed limit!), the traffic is often heavy enough that it's within the 125's comfort zone anyhow, AND, the air circulation from the traffic (when it's moving ...) easily adds 10 km/h to the bike's speed.
I take mine on 400 series roads routinely.
Exactly! If anybody wants a spare 6th gear i dont really use mine so you can have it, just pm me and its yours. I also removed my rev limiter so no more redline at 12,000, i had it to 15,000 the other day and i can really feel the power.
