Honda CG125 Review

Overall Rating

Cheap on all counts
Easy to ride
Traffic buster

Build quality not to reputation
Slow - even for its power rating
Bumpy ride

I purchased my Honda CG125 new in 2006. Generally, I think it was a good buy. In the 4 months I have had it, I have put on over 3,300 miles on everything, from busy urban streets to dual carriageway A roads. I have ridden it in the heat of summer, and in some of the worst weather so far this year (well, since I bought it).

There is no question, this bike is value for money. With the exception of the cheap Chinese imports, it's about the cheapest you can buy, new. At the time, mine was £1,500 new, including a Honda rear-rack. The competition didn't come close. Yes, Chinese imports (and copies) are a lot cheaper, but with my lack of Motorcycle mechanical skills, 3 month parts only warranties seemed too much of a risk.

In the time I have has the bike, it has soaked up everything I have thrown at it, Stuck in traffic in the heat of summer (too timid at the time to filter through anything but the widest gaps in traffic), to the downpours of last Friday (17/11/06) in London, this bike just keeps going. And, it didn't have the easiest of running-in either. While I have not had it long enough to form an objective opinion, it shows every sign of being incredibly robust and tough - for a 125CC.

Also, despite its light-weight and narrow tyres, it is very stable - more so than the Kawasaki ER-5 (500CC) that I am doing my DAS training on. Despite its bumpy ride, it handles bumps in the road without losing directional control - something I couldn't say the same about for the ER-5. Undoubtedly, on flat surfaces, the ER-5 is much better, however, when the going gets rough, I feel more comfortable with the stability of the CG125.

And, this has to be one of the cheapest bikes to run. While I have seen people quote 120mpg, I find that hard to believe, unless the rider has no requirement to get from A to B in anything but the slowest time possible, and if there is no traffic to halt the rider in his/her progress. But, I average around 95 mpg, and that includes giving it a fair bit of stick on open-speed limited A roads. Of my 35 mile round trip commute, I am on roads that have 50MPH or greater limits for about 20 of them.

Insurance is a no-brainer as well. From memory, it has an insurance category 3 - which is about as low as one can go for a 125CC. In fact, the difference between fully comp and 3rd part was so low, I took the fully comp option.

Generally, the ride and the handling is very good for what it is, and what one pays. It is certainly not going to set the adrenalin running - the 11 horse power is more akin to 11 pony power (and 5 of them would be asleep). But, it is relatively stable, corners well and can be filtered through the tightest traffic conditions. While it is not fast, it is good enough for most city riding, though it does get embarrassing being overtaken by almost every other thing on the road. Also, it has very good braking with its front disc and rear drum - from other reviewers, a big improvement on the front drums.

However, there are a few things to be wary about. Build quality is less than one would expect from the Honda brand, although, I haven't experienced bolts rusting like others. Since new, this bike has had a perennial oil leak. The garage has replaced the gear-shaft seal a couple of times, but it still continues. Apparently, there is another seal for the sprocket shaft (or something like it) which has leaked. When I get a chance, it will be replaced. The oil loss has been minimal, but a pain in the proverbial.

Also, the nuts securing the rear suspension and rack to the body fell off. I first got wind of it as the rack started vibrating. When I got home, I was not too impressed to find out what happened. Off to my dealer to get a couple of them and bolt them on. This did not leave me with a great deal of confidence. I haven't put the rack on. Which reminds me, the Honda top box doesn't fit the rack either. Not sure how that came about, but it would take a few hours of engineering work to make them fit.

The gearbox is notchy, even for a Honda. I have found it irritating that it will, more often than not, lock in neutral when changing down, and recently it has started doing it when changing up lazily. This is inconvenient at best, but downright dangerous with a line of impatient drivers behind you as you coast trying to get the wretched thing into gear. Also, the choke is temperamental. When cold, the middle setting is not rich enough, but the top setting is too rich, and as soon as the throttle is released, the engine stalls. This however, is probably a function of the garage that set it, rather than the bike itself.

But, having said that, I have thoroughly enjoyed owning and riding my CG125. It has given me many hours of faithful service and great fun. It has been a great learning bike - forgiving of most mistakes (and I have made many). I think you would be hard-pressed to find any 125CC bike that would be more forgiving.

If you're after a cheap runabout to learn or commute on, it would be hard to beat the value offering of the CG125. Just make sure yours wasn't built on a Friday afternoon, as mine appears to have been.

Members' Comments onharvardt28's Review

• Bertie on 21st Nov 2006

  You deserved the Expert rating harvard -- top-drawer review there.

• slugbait on 21st Mar 2007

  Sometimes engine oil leaks are down to the crankcase not being able to breathe, I have seen a few new bikes with the crankcase breather tube pinched shut due to bad routing and I have seen some doubled over and tied with a rubber band to prevent oil seepage whilst in transit, its an easy thing to miss due to its location, take a look, you never know.

• harvardt28 on 21st Mar 2007

  Thanks...

• arriscado3 on 7th Nov 2008

  GOOD REVIEW I am buying a 125 bike soon and the cg125 was an option, value for money it has but is it reliable.

• Robertall on 13th Nov 2008

  i have an old style honda cg from 1999, and it is not jumping into netural at all.
  Gearbox is heavy though.
  Drum brakes are not fun either.