Table of contents

• 125er 2011: Aprilia RS4 125, Honda CBR 125 R, KTM 125 Duke New four-stroke engines conquer the 125cc market
• Honda CBR 125 R.
• KTM 125 Duke

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motorcycles

Sporty four-stroke 125cc

125er 2011: Aprilia RS4 125, Honda CBR 125 R, KTM 125 Duke
New four-stroke engines conquer the 125cc market

The four-stroke engine replaced the two-stroke engine that was once dominant in 125 cc models. As one of the last manufacturers, Aprilia heralds the change with the RS4. MOTORRAD online shows you the three hottest 125cc models of 2011.

Gerhard Eirich

02/02/2011

Aprilia RS4 125
Too loud, too smelly, too gnawing – the two-stroke engines are dying out. The dinosaurs of engine history are replaced, the four-stroke engines take over. Now also with the 125s. The legendary RS 125 is still in the program, but the changing of the guard is already at the start, in terms of appearance and naming strongly based on the four-cylinder super sports sister: the RS4 125 Achieving legally regulated power of 15 hp for 16-year-olds makes high-performance two-stroke engines that openly generate around 30 hp, making less and less sense. The main reason for their demise, however, lies in the increasingly strict emission laws. Equipped with injection, lambda probe and catalytic converter, the four-stroke engine has no problems meeting the Euro 3 standard. And consumption can be reduced to three liters per 100 kilometers, depending on the driving style.

A two-stroke engine can also destroy almost twice the amount of fuel. The beautifully made, already eagerly awaited Aprilia RS4 won’t be available until April. Driving impressions or measured values ​​are not yet available, but the Italian uses the well-known Piaggio Group engine, which had to be turned in the supermoto Derbi Senda DRD 125 due to the lack of testing. There the engine characteristics have not yet been smeared with fame, the rather weak four-valve engine only came into play here from 6500 rpm, always needed high speeds and only delivered 13.1 hp on the test bench. One can only hope that the changed exhaust routing and an adapted adjustment of the injection will result in a different characteristic in the RS4. With an aluminum frame and swing arm in the style of the large RSV4, thick 41 mm upside-down fork and radial brake caliper at the front, the Aprilia finally brings up super-sporty guns. The predicted weight of 145 kilograms with a full tank should have been a little lower.

motorcycles

Driving report: Aprilia RS4 125

Aprilia’s new four-stroke 125cc

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Honda CBR 125 R.

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Honda CBR 125 R – data: single-cylinder four-stroke engine, bore / stroke 58 / 47.2 mm, 125 cm³, 9.8 kW (13 HP) at 10,000 rpm, steel bridge frame, single disc brake at the front, Ø 276 mm, rear disc brake , Ø 220 mm, seat height 793 mm, weight 137 kg, price: 3390 euros.

Now at 137, the Honda also has CBR 125 R Gained eleven kilograms, which now rolls on appropriate tire dimensions and has a fairing, frame and exhaust in the design of its big sister Fireblade. The cockpit is also new, with 13 liters the tank now holds three liters more, while the two-valve engine remains almost the same. Economical and smooth-running, but with the 13 HP of the tried and tested single cylinder, the Honda has so far proven to be a decisive bit weaker and slower than the competition such as the Yamaha YZF-R125. Whether the optimized electronic injection changes anything, and whether the now shorter translation of the CBR helps with the sprint on the jumps?

The significantly flatter fork and the longer wheelbase are intended to calm the previously hyper-nervous CBR, which was rolling on ultra-narrow tires, and give it a more confident handling. A pleasant side effect of the new tire dimensions (previously 80 front / 100 rear, now 100 front / 130 rear): The CBR no longer looks so poor and finally no longer looks like 50, but rather 125 or more. Confusion with the big Fireblade is in future quite possible at first glance and certainly desired by the young clientele.

You will certainly also be pleased to note the good news that the price of the previous year’s model has been retained. The 2011 CBR 125 R is therefore more than ever a fair offer at 3390 euros if you take all innovations and improvements into account. Even if an ABS, as it is now offered at least as an option by Honda for almost all models, is still not available for money or good words for the sporty 125cc.

motorcycles

Driving report: Honda CBR 125 R

Honda has revised the CBR 125 R.

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KTM 125 Duke

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KTM 125 Duke – data: single-cylinder four-stroke engine, bore / stroke 58 / 47.2 mm, 125 cm³, 11.3 kW (15 PS) at 10500 / min, 12 Nm at 8000 / min, tubular steel frame, single disc brake at the front, Ø 280 mm, rear disc brake, Ø 230 mm, seat height 810 mm, weight approx. 125 kg, price: 3995 euros.

The first, very positive driving impressions with the filigree looking and light KTM 125 Duke MOTORRAD has already collected. The newly developed, high-compression engine must now show in a first test as soon as possible whether it achieves the promised performance values ​​and whether it can meet the high demands it has set itself in terms of performance and fuel consumption, thus justifying the high development effort. The key data suggest that the Duke is a worthy four-stroke successor to the Sting 125 two-stroke lethal syringe that was once light at 127 kilograms. The small Duke should also be able to easily undercut their test consumption of around five liters / 100 kilometers at the time, thanks to a meticulously coordinated injection system from Bosch. The latest four-stroke 125cc generation is ready, and it offers everything to make it easier for 125cc fans to say goodbye to the two-stroke engine.

In terms of chassis and brakes KTM The bar is also quite high: the stoppers developed together with Brembo guarantee the best deceleration, the steel tubular space frame impeccable stability, and the spring elements from WP guarantee fine responsiveness, clean wheel guidance and good grip. The engine is also quiet: a balancer shaft successfully eliminates vibrations.

motorcycles

Driving report KTM 125 Duke (with videos)

The first driving report of the KTM 125 Duke

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Supermoto

Test: KTM 125 Duke

Supermoto fun bike for beginners

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