Honda CBR 125R

Overview

If there is one segment in which Honda is yet to make a bigger impact than its rivals, it is the entry level performance segment of motorcycles. Even after having a tremendous track record globally in producing world class performance motorcycles and initiating the quarter liter segment by launching the CBR 250R, Honda is yet to taste a success as stupendous as the YZF R15 or the KTM Dukes. The same fate happened to the Honda CBR 150R. Even after being a brilliant piece of engineering, the CBR 150R just simply couldn’t match its closest rival, the Yamaha R15, both in terms of overall packaging and sales figures.

Now, Honda has carried forward the same approach in the 125cc sportsbike segment as well – like the CBR 250R and CBR 150R, Honda has the 125cc workhorse, the CBR 125R, inspired by the former two, to give the beginners a taste of high level sportbiking, with its big bike stance and focused nature. The bike shares a lot of with its 150cc and 250cc siblings, including designing and underpinnings, but will it share the same fate as these two siblings? Let’s find out.

STYLING

In terms of looks, the CBR 125R looks substantially big for a 125cc motorcycle, as the design is shared with the CBR 250R. Though, we personally feel that the design now feels a bit dated, as it has existed now for more than half a decade without any significant change.

Nevertheless, as said, the VFR-inspired design of the CBR 125R is not too bad – it looks purposeful and has a good stance. At the front, the fairing has the same V-shaped headlamp with twin pilot lamps incorporated in both the upper corners as before. At the top of the headlamp unit, the fairing gets an aerodynamic V-shaped transparent visor, which is pretty effective in deflecting winds at high speeds.

From the sides, the inspiration from the CBR 250R continues to exist, with the design of the full fairing, fuel tank and side panels being exactly the same as that of the CBR 250R. Though, the body panels here have received new set of graphics, especially the side fairing panels. The stubby exhaust pipe here has been shared with the CBR 150R, but here, it is finished in grey. A closer look and you will find that the tyres on the CBR 125R are thinner than those of the CBR 250R, and are shared with the CBR 150R. Save for the different paint schemes and badging, there is nothing on the CBR 125R which differentiates it from the CBR 150R.

The part digital instrument console is exactly the same as that of the CBR 150R, a unit which is first inspired from that of the CBR 250R, but misses on the silver garnishing which the CBR 250R’s unit receives. The console includes a tachometer, along with a digital LCD strip below it, which displays speedometer, odometer, trip meters, fuel gauge, clock and engine temperature. The overall fit and finish of the motorcycle remains quite satisfactory.

DRIVETRAIN

The new Honda CBR 125R has got a new powertrain, which is actually a downsized unit of the 150cc unit of the CBR 250R. The mill is a four stroke, single cylinder, liquid cooled, 124.7cc engine, which pumps out 13.3 PS of maximum power and 10.4 Nm of torque. Now, these figures are considerably lower than that of the rivals, but then, the power delivery is excellent in the mid range and top-end. Rest assured, the engine is a very refined unit, just like that of the other Hondas, which has a meaty top end power to satiate those motorcyclists who love revving their engines to their limits, or for some case, beyond those limits as well!

RIDE AND HANDLING

The CBR 125R shares its genes with the CBR 150R, which explains the fact that both the motorcycles share a lot of mechanical components. Sitting on the same diamond type frame as that of the CBR 150R, the new CBR 125R comes with the same set of hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and spring loaded monoshock at the rear. The suspension is tuned in the same way as CBR 150R – a fine balance between for being a comfortable sport tourer and being a hardcore track tool, a balance which is quite spot-on for a bike of this demeanour. Running on 17-inch alloy wheels shod with tubeless tyres at both the ends, the CBR 125R comes with disc brakes at both front and rear to stop the bike with ease and precision. Sadly, ABS is not on offer even as an option.

The CBR 125R is available in three different color options – Ross White Tricolor, Asteroid Black Metallic and Honda’s ever famous Repsol edition.

Source Top Speed