2004–2010 · Supersport · Buyer's Guide
City Light, Built Right
Honda built the CBR 125 R to look like a full sportbike and ask almost nothing of the person riding it. The 124 cc liquid-cooled single makes 14 hp at 10,000 rpm and 7 lb-ft at 8,000 rpm, spinning through a six-speed box to a chain final drive, and the whole machine weighs 273 lb (124 kg) wet. There is no ABS, no traction control, no rider modes, no IMU. What Honda spent the money on is what you actually touch every day: light controls, a neutral chassis on a 51.0 in wheelbase, and build quality that holds together. It wears the supersport costume without demanding supersport skills.
On the road it does exactly what 14 hp does. You use all six gears, you protect momentum, and 70 mph (113 km/h) is the ceiling rather than a cruising speed. In return you get 60 mpg, a 2.6 gal (10 L) tank that lasts, and a 30.6 in (776 mm) seat that puts almost everyone flat-footed. This is a first bike, a city bike, a cheap way to log real miles. The honest caveat is age and hardware. The fork is non-adjustable, the shock is non-adjustable, and these bikes are old enough now that the electrical and fuel systems decide how good yours is.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 14 hp (10 kW) @ 10,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 7 lb-ft (10 Nm) @ 8,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 124 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 276 mm |
| Front tire | 80/90-17 |
| Rear tire | 100/80-17 |
| Wheelbase | 51.0 in (1295 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.6 in (776 mm) |
| Wet weight | 273 lb (124 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.6 gal (10 L) |
| Top speed | 70 mph (113 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 60 mpg (US) |
This picture comes from years of listening: paddock talk, owner chats, club-night conversations and the messages riders send me directly. On the CBR 125 R, what riders say is consistent. They love how little it asks of them and how little it costs, and nearly every complaint comes back to size and wind.
Riders consistently describe the little single as close to unbreakable, as long as basic servicing gets done. Economy is the other recurring point of pride, and owners who ride gently report stretching a tank further than they thought possible. New riders talk about progressive brakes, neutral steering and power that never catches them out. They say the flickable chassis gives them the confidence to lean into corners early on. Plenty of owners also mention the looks: the full fairing and twin headlights make it look like a much bigger bike.
The most common gripe is faster roads. Owners say keeping up on the highway takes planning, passing becomes a slow and deliberate job, and a headwind drains momentum quickly. A smaller group says the same light weight makes the bike skittish in gusty crosswinds and near its top speed. Some riders over 6 feet (183 cm) find the high pegs and low seat tight on longer trips.
Ignition coil failure
The ignition coil is a known weak point, causing misfires or complete loss of spark, especially on higher mileage bikes.
Carburetor clogging and idle issues
If neglected, the carburetor can become clogged, leading to rough idling, hesitation, and reduced performance.
Charging system / regulator failures
Some early models suffered from voltage regulator failures, preventing the battery from charging and leading to breakdowns.
Rear brake caliper sticking
The rear brake caliper is prone to seizing if not cleaned regularly, leading to dragging and accelerated pad wear.
Where this Honda CBR 125 R pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the CBR 125 R is actually built for.
Angeles Crest exposes 14 hp in the first mile, and you will be flat out on every straight. As a cheap, light bike for drilling lines and corner speed, it teaches plenty. As a canyon weapon, no.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If skill matters more to you than pace, this is an honest teacher: light, forgiving and cheap to run all day at Dragon speeds. The ride out from Knoxville is the problem, not the corners.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Hill Country runs long and open, and 70 mph is this bike's ceiling, not its cruise. Fine for short local loops out of Austin, wrong tool for a full day on the Twisted Sisters.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2011–2016
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Competitor · 2008–2014
Full-Size Soul, Learner Limits
Competitor · 2005–2007
Two-Stroke City Lightweight
Similar Character · 2011–2016
Real Grip, Learner Displacement
Similar Character · 2019
The Full-Size Learner Starter