Most of those who choose their first motorcycle for themselves or as a gift for an older child begin to study 125 cc motorcycles. The main requirements for them are ease of operation, good maneuverability and low price. Considering that since 2014 it is legal to drive such vehicles from the age of 16 with an A1 category license, the demand for them has increased significantly, which means that a lot of worthy offers have appeared.
The most powerful VS economical 125 cc motorcycles
An important criterion that we pay attention to when comparing motorcycles is power. Most 125cc bikes offer between 7 and 15 horsepower. The maximum speed and how confident you will feel on the road depend on this indicator. In manufacturers' catalogs you can find lightweight models with high power, for example the Aprilia RS 125 has 33 horsepower. The question immediately arises: “Do you need a category A license to drive such a vehicle?” The answer is definitely yes, because A1 allows you to control vehicles with a power of up to 11 kW. If you choose from what is permitted by law, you can choose the Yamaha YZF-R125. With 125 cc and 15 horsepower, it makes you feel like a driver of a 250 cc “sport”.
If efficiency plays an important role in your choice, you should pay attention to the Honda PCX 125 and SH MODE scooters. They do not take up much space, consume an average of 2.4 liters per 100 km and become indispensable when you need to get around any traffic jam and save the most valuable thing - time.
Sports and motocross 125 cc motorcycles
Which type should I choose? It makes sense to take “sport” when the goal is to develop in this direction. And 125cc bikes for beginners remain the best option. They easily outpace their rivals on the track, and at the same time have a spectacular appearance. The Aprilia RS 125 and Honda CBR125R are worth mentioning here.
If you want to take part in motocross racing or learn tricks, then you should choose motocross models. They are made from lighter (but no less high-quality) materials than their sports companions, and consume 2-3 liters per 100 km. One of the most popular models today remains the KTM SX. However, when purchasing, it is important to take into account that, like most crossovers, there are no headlights or a speedometer.
What to do if even the maximum performance of 125 cc “iron horses” is not impressive and you want to immediately jump on a 600 cc one? All that remains is to study, prepare and pass for category A. Be attentive not only to the technical parameters of the iron horse, but also to your own skills and wishes. And let the long-awaited purchase pay off with driving pleasure.
Sportbikes 250cc
Sports motorcycles are in great demand in the markets of the CIS countries.
Models from manufacturers Zongshen, Spark, Ekonika and many others have been successfully traveling along our roads for several years. The maximum speed of these motorcycles can reach 200 kilometers per hour. To drive at such speeds, you need roads with smooth surfaces and good grip.
To effectively stop a two-wheeled car, manufacturers install disc brakes
It is this kind of braking system that can quickly reduce speed, which is very important for bikers
The clutch on these cars is usually multi-disc in an oil bath. The manual gearbox has five or more gears for confident acceleration even at speeds over 100 kilometers per hour (while Chinese 250cc road motorcycles lose agility after 70 km/h).
It is worth noting models with a two-cylinder four-stroke engine. Such power units are significantly ahead of single-cylinder ones. Two pistons with a short stroke will be able to rotate the crankshaft more efficiently than one longer one.
400, 600 or 1000? For a beginner.
The most common question in the world of motorcycles: What should a beginner choose? The most common question from those who just want to buy a motorcycle (we are talking about a road bike or a sports bike). How many cubes should I take? After all, in theory, the more cubes, the more dangerous the errors. On the other hand, when you don’t know what 400 and 600 are, you think, what if 400 is not enough? Due to the lack of understanding in comparison, a lot of theories and opinions appear. What's in practice? 400 VS 600
I have already touched on this topic several times on my channel, and in this article I will examine this issue in even more detail.
I'll start with the most interesting. 600 cubic meters is already a very serious machine.
1 - 2.8 seconds to one hundred, in fact it seems like 1 second. It shoots up to 200 in such a way that you ask the question: “can anything in the world accelerate faster?” Everything would be fine if everyone was born with the abilities of Valentino Rossi.
2 - Such motorcycles have very sharp brakes and traction that can tear the rear wheel off when accelerating. Example:
3 - And, in addition, add the ability to easily respond to the variability of the road surface and the tendency for the front wheel to become loose because of this. Example:
And if a person without experience sits on it, he can do something that should not be done, and the 600 cc sport will not only allow you to do this, but will also insist and provoke you. Therefore, for those for whom the technique of controlling a motorcycle (namely the technique of control, and not the knowledge of what to press where and when) is a dark forest, read all of the above again.
400 cubic meters is the golden mean for a beginner.
1- No, it’s not little. Any four hundred can easily compete in terms of acceleration even with charged cars.
2 - she is obedient and sometimes will not allow you to make a rash mistake, such as sharply opening the gas in a turn or pressing the front brake, but again SOMETIMES. A head on your shoulders is required, because... The 400 cc motz is capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h. At this speed, you feel like the wind is trying to tear your hands off the steering wheel and twist your neck back. I often come across the opinion that 400 will quickly get boring. I saw how the 400 cc HONDA VFR combed many liters at competitions. For me personally, the main indicator is whether YOU can unlock the potential of even 400. I repeat once again - 400 is not small.
The most uninteresting and controversial comparison: 600 vs 1000 My vision. 1 - In Drag competitions, a 1/4 mile 600 can actually be done by 1000. This is the case when the power is enough up to and beyond, when the rider's abilities come to the fore. 2 - The difference between 1000 and 600 is that at 1 liter you don’t need to shift down in order to pull, but at 600, although it’s so difficult and you don’t want to, you have to press the shift paw with your foot a couple of times. 3 - I know maybe 1-2 people who can unlock the potential of 600. And even having brushed the YZF-R1 at the last competitions and taking 1st place among motorcycles on road tires, I believe that I can’t even reach 80% of the potential of my motorcycle yet reveal due to a million factors, the main one of which is driving technique, I mean driving really fast. 4 - 1000 is worth taking for straight shots, when you want the same acceleration from 200 to 300 as from 0 to 100. Guys who like to hit 200 on the back take liters. Personally, I don’t need this and now we can move on to the most important thing in the choice - the question: Why are you buying a motorcycle? Most base their choice on the coolness of the motorcycle, on the power rating, on the design, on whether chicks will be watching, but no one knows where and how it will ride. All these indicators can be found in 400 and 600 and 1000, only if you are not greedy, looking with shifting eyes at the power indicators, with the words: “MOARRR, I need MOAAAAR” *. If only it didn’t turn out like this in front of the girls -
What to do if the choice is 125, 250, 400. It’s simple - do you just want a new motorcycle? - either YBR-125 or Ninja 250R, whichever you have enough money for. And if you don’t mind buying a used one. - take 400. The money is approximately comparable.
Then what should a beginner take after all that has been said above? If you still want 600, take it. If you want 1000, take it. If you want a bead, for God's sake. Just don’t roll the cotton wool, just take it and go.
Everything described above is based on my experience, on what I saw and is my personal opinion, which does not claim any canons.
If you are interested in my other thoughts, then welcome to my channel youtube.com/jet00cbr it contains analyzes of motorcycle control, detailed reviews and test drives of various classes of motorcycles, videos from the track and simple evening rides with friends.
*Moar is a slang word for more with a hint of frenzy.
