Honda CB 125 R test

Menus

• The little neo sport cafe playing in the big leagues
• Discovery
• Mechanical
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• Highway
• Departmental
• Braking
• Comfort
• Duo
• Tires
• Consumption
• Conclusion
• The CB 125 R in video

The little neo sport cafe playing in the big leagues

60 years since the first CB in 1959! Each new CB is therefore a small revolution, especially when it is based on a concept like here with the CB4. And indeed, with the new series neo sport cafe Available in 125, 300 and 1000 cm3, Honda has really succeeded, with machines with a very specific look, combining novelty and design. Better, even the small one has everything of a big, in particular at the level of the external elements and the general line. And then, it is not just an aesthetic evolution, since the CB125R takes again the engine of the CBR125 and not that of the late CB 125 F while Honda confirms a new frame, a gain in weight and an increased handling, like the price elsewhere! From China with the CB125F, production moved to Thailand, with another level of engine and finish. And then, this is a model available only in Japan, Korea and Europe. What to appreciate a form of exclusivity. Suddenly, has the Honda returned to the level of Duke and MT and comparable to a GSX-S? Test on the small roads of Portugal between Lisbon and Estoril, quite a program.

Discovery

We admired the concept. It is particularly well respected on the small displacement, especially on the small displacement one could almost say. Because small displacement often says savings. But here, even the quality of plastics is at the rendezvous, including those that imitate metal and give this overall impression of near-perfection..

LED lights are everywhere, from the front headlight to the rear light, but also turn signals. And the headlight really dresses differently between night light, headlight and full headlight, confirming a unique personality. The side scoops are very well integrated. The thin tail reinforces the general line, both elegant and rewarding, with an overall impression of bigger, almost closer to a 300 than to a 125. It must be said that we also have large 17-inch wheels pavements in 110 at the front, but above all 150 at the rear which contribute to this impression of greatness. And we recognize the pencil stroke of the Italians, since the model was designed by Valerio Aiello with Honda R&D.

Mechanical

Under the ramage, there is a tubular steel frame, but full of innovations, including a central part, absorbing the constraints of the swingarm and having made it possible to achieve an upper frame almost trellis and very thin. The other advantage is to bring rigidity in the end, by preventing the stresses from coming from the rear to carry over to the front. The whole has gained 15% more rigidity, we believe them.

The whole surrounds a 124.7 cm3 ACT single 4-stroke single cylinder, delivering 13 small horsepower at 10,000 rpm for a torque of 10 Nm at 8,000 rpm. But the figures do not say everything, because the mapping has been reworked to promote reactions and acceleration at low and medium speed. We will talk about it again below.

As for the details that speak volumes, the wheels are aluminum, contributing to the light weight of the whole. We admire the petal discs. The ABS itself is quality with a Bosh build and two-channel model, doing 100 calculations per second. We won’t forget the 41mm Showa Fork (like the X-ADV) and the dual-chamber rear air / oil shock absorber. There is no need to say, this CB was not made to the economy.

In the saddle

The tips of the feet barely touch the ground for those under 1.70 m and that’s a real surprise, being more used to touching the ground on this type of small machine. Just by the saddle height of 816 mm, it has everything a greater. Fortunately, the CB125R weighs just 126 kilos and also benefits from excellent mass centralization, which is also low. Suddenly, we do not feel the weight. The saddle is thinner and handling is made very easy.

In front of us, we have a dashboard worthy of the biggest, some big ones not even having one so complete! There is even a text that appears on the screen when the kickstand is unfolded (bottom right)! It all starts when switching on with a written message "Let’s ride" … let’s ride … nice invitation! After, once again, there is everything: very readable speedometer and bar graph, 6-stick fuel gauge, instantaneous and average consumption, totalizer, partial double trip, clock, gear indicator engaged, but also a shifter indicator. (adjustable to encourage shifting to the next gear depending on the speed the pilot wants) and also a stopwatch … in case you want to compare your home work journey time. But it’s good for the track too. Everything can be adjusted to the brightness level on 5 levels! And despite all this information, readability is there.

The mirrors offer excellent rear vision, while being easily adjusted … including while driving if necessary.

Contact

The exhaust is not just racy and elegant, almost curled up under the engine. It distills a nice midrange sound. The gearbox is easy and the gears are easy to change. The first turns of the wheel are pleasant and provide good support forward, confirming the weight distribution of 51.6% at the front and 48.4% at the rear. The legs enclose the tank perfectly, contributing to a natural and very pleasant overall position. You immediately feel good on board. And from the first meters, we have the impression of having already done a good part of the road together, reinforcing an instinctive grip.

In the city

Lightweight, manoeuvrable … the CB125R is good for the city. The interface is a formality, thanks to a small template, helped by mirrors that pass almost above those of the cars. There are only thirteen horsepower, but Honda has worked hard on their availability at low revs and that’s what stands out in town. The slightest stress on the right handle is manifested by an immediate reaction of the single cylinder, with a little kick during acceleration, also felt when the gas is released. Yes it reacts instantly, no it does not turn into a rocking horse, but yes, it gives a reactive and very nice character.

The gears are quite long and we can go up the first up to 40 km / h and the second up to 68 km / h, even if the vibrations from 8,000 rpm will shift the gears forward. In fact, in town, we will often stay between 2nd and 3rd gear. However, the mono is particularly flexible and also accepts to wind on the sixth and last report, under the 30 km / h. The recovery is then – very – soft, but it is a way to bring the consumption down to 2.2 liters per hundred, certainly possible. U-turns are carried out in a pocket-sized handkerchief effortlessly, with a turning radius of 2.3 meters.

Highway

The CB 125 R voluntarily engages on the motorway when it is already at almost 100 km / h in fourth gear … but fifth and sixth gears only allow it to gain about ten kilometers per hour on the flat, or even to tease well launched the 115/117 km / h counter … before going back down to 100 km / h as long as the road becomes slightly uphill. It must be said that the break-in was barely finished on the small mono and that it should be released a little once the break-in is finished to nibble a few kilometers hours. Undeniably, what has been earned in the city for character comes at a price on the freeway for maximum speed, but the freeway is not the cup of tea for roadsters in general anyway..

Departmental

Out of breath on the motorway, the CB finds itself much more in its element on small roads … and then goes down between two to three reports, to oscillate between third and fourth. It must be said that the mono climbs to 90 km / h in third, largely sufficient to chain the virolos and much more dynamic in high revs to extract the essential. And it will also be necessary to whip it a little, because if we stay on the fourth report, the raises from one pif paf to another may be a little soft if we want to get into the sensations with friends.

Braking

The front brake offers excellent feeling, but also power. It must be said that with floating discs of 296mm and 220mm at the rear, we have the equivalent of larger displacement, even if the front has a simple disc. The ABS signed Bosh, but with a two-channel IMU worked on by Honda, is triggered quite easily at the rear, with a feedback in the foot, but without generating any jolts. However, the stability of the bike even on hard braking remains incredible, without particular diving. Everything is easy on a daily basis, including in the wet. And wet, we had, all day of this Portuguese test.

Comfort

The small CB is particularly comfortable … which is almost surprising, knowing that neither the fork nor the shock absorber have the slightest adjustment, neither in rebound nor in preload. But the basic version does the job very well, especially compared to other small engines close to the woods. In town, the defects of the road are well erased, including on the cobblestones encountered, without any snowshoeing on the usual holes in the road.

Duo

No visible handle … in fact, there are slits under the saddle that allow a slight grip. But there is just a piece of the saddle. It is therefore necessary to be particularly small to hold on to the back … or very much in love. In any case, it will be rather exceptional.

Tires

The CB is mounted with Dunlop Sportmax GPR300F, little known aftermarket, erased by Roadsmart and Sportsmart. However, these are recent, single-compound tires developed by Dunlop in 2016 and produced in Japan and technically very similar to the two aforementioned models, with good mileage potential while offering good grip. They are also found in dealerships to replace the original equipment and they also equip the Ninja … 400!

Consumption

Each of the six sticks of the gauge descends after 55 kilometers. Honda announces a maximum range of 480 km, or 2.1 liters per hundred. During our test, the on-board computer indicated 2.6 liters on average … a consumption verified at the pump with a 2.7 liters per hundred. With the 10.1-liter tank, we therefore revolve around a real range of 400 km. We can’t wait for the trail version to be released! We can dream no ?

Conclusion

At 4,499 euros, the new CB is twice as expensive as the old one but normally positioned for the category (same price as the Duke, but 500 euros less than the MT and 500 euros more than the Suzuki GSX-S). It offers high level services and a cute look with real strengths against its main rivals. It would remain almost entirely to choose the color, between white, gray, red and black. It has nothing to do with the CB 125 F, but is also very far in terms of price, while the F was more than 2,000 euros cheaper, here is something to think about between utility and pleasure !

Strong points

• Look
• Finishing
• Low / medium speed engine
• Consumption and autonomy
• Comfort

Weak points

• Duo
• Top speed

The technical sheet of the Honda CB 125 R

Test conditions

• Itinerary: small and varied roads between Lisbon and Estoril + motorway + a bit of town
• Motorcycle mileage: 100 km

The CB 125 R in video

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