Honda CBF 125 motorcycle is a good bike for its class

Honda CB125F (2015-2017)
Model of the budget road motorcycle Honda CB125F

appeared in 2015, replacing the Honda CB125E. The model was intended for sale in European countries (except the Russian Federation). The motorcycle has a very simple design, in comparison with models of those years - a 1-cylinder 2-valve air-cooled engine, simple suspension in the form of a conventional telescopic fork at the front and a double shock absorber at the rear, rear drum brake, 5-speed gearbox.

In 2021, due to low demand, production of the Honda CB125F model was suspended and resumed only in 2021, which turned out to be the last. However, as of the end of 2021, the model is still on sale at European dealers (remaining 2021 models are on sale).

In 2021, Honda offered a new model in this cubic capacity - the Honda CB125R. The new model was radically different from the CB125F, receiving external features from the flagship Honda CB1000R, a liquid-cooled engine, modern suspension and braking system.

The Honda CB125F model is not represented on the Russian market.

The model also has a name - Honda GLR1251WH

.

Main competitors in the class:

• Yamaha YS125

Bike features

Here are the main features of the Honda SBF 125:

• exterior features characteristic of modern representatives of the class;
• ride comfort;
• balance of components.

This bike is not suitable for intercity travel, unless we are talking about minor distances. It is designed for streets, large and small, where it can make life much easier for its owner due to its small dimensions.

Honda CBF 125 2009!!!

MOTOR magazine link: https://www.motor.ru/archive/number151/art3

The loudest sensation of the motor show in Cologne was not the latest liter Honda sportbike or even an automatic cruiser, but the tiny CBF125. So the Japanese manufacturer had its say in the production of “entry level” machines.

In business, as in love, all methods are good. But often the largest motorcycle manufacturers have to follow the rules and laws invented by them. When about three years ago Yamaha launched an amazing model in all respects, the YBR125, on the Russian market - a kind of simple road bike, very nice looking, produced at the Chinese branch of the company, at a price of only $2000, I spent a long time tormenting our Honda representatives with questions about why they didn’t want to sell here. the same devices. The answer then plunged me into slight shock. It turned out that Honda seeks to position itself in our and European markets as a manufacturer of premium class motorcycles - expensive, technically sophisticated, prestigious and necessarily large-capacity. 125 cc machines are not their specialty, although the company produces and sells such machines all over the world (mainly Asian) in huge quantities. Premium is, of course, great, but not in a country where only a few can afford a two-wheeler for $10,000 or more. Over the years, Yamaha has managed to make an excellent advertisement for itself in our market thanks to the YBR125 (it was sold and is being sold, you know, for that kind of money very successfully) and only now its competitors have pushed aside their ambitions and decided to follow the same direction as Yamaha. So, at the motorcycle show in Cologne, Honda actually showed a clone of this YBR125 - CBF125. It is with this device that the company is going to conquer Europe - no longer as a premium brand that is impregnable for mere mortals, but in a form that is completely understandable to most consumers. The bearish game was, of course, not determined by the most outstanding sales. And the prospects for its development in light of the current market situation look very vague. The crisis is sweeping across Europe, and therefore many are selling their “liters” and switching to budget bikes. Well, the “horseless” are busy looking for two-wheelers, not on credit, but those that they can afford. Here, as they say, there is no time for fat, just to drive. It must be said that in Asian countries they have already noticed this point a long time ago and are quite normally dissecting it on these very “octagons” and “quarters”. For us, a forced descent “from heaven to earth” threatens to lead to some kind of emotional shock. How can you ride these? It's almost a bicycle! 10 “horses” - like a scooter! Until the very moment I sat at the helm of a Yamaha YBR125 and drove the first hundreds of kilometers on it, I was one of these very skeptics. I couldn’t imagine how it was possible to switch from a powerful road car to this “consumption”. But it turned out that even in the saddle of a 125 cc motorcycle you can get quite a lot of adrenaline and get no less pleasure from riding. It is these bikes that are designed to expand the popularity of two-wheeled transport, and therefore the entire motorcycle culture. The more motorcycles there are on our roads, the more people will want to exchange the stale world of the car for the free and pure spirit of the biker lifestyle. But let's move from lyrics to prose. CBF125 is made according to the same recipe as YBR125. This is a classic chassis, modern appearance and a proven, unpretentious engine. We must give credit to the Honda developers, they did not follow the path of Yamaha, which first released a “stripped” version and only then began to produce a model with a semi-fairing. Honda immediately debuted a noble road builder. Moreover, the style of the fairing, the design of the optics and even the decoration of the exhaust system were made in a modern corporate style. The device resembles its older brothers – CBF600. And only thin tires give out real cubic capacity. Like the YBR125, the CBF125 is actually “Japanese” with Chinese citizenship - it is produced in the Middle Kingdom, on the Honda assembly line. This fact is determined by the fact that at one time the production of small-capacity engines was moved from Japan to various Asian countries and local engineers accumulated quite a few useful developments in this class. By the way, it is the Chinese origin of the new product that determines its relatively low market value. CBF125 was developed through joint efforts. The ideas of Indian and Taiwanese models similar to it were taken as a basis. The first thing that was taken into account was the noticeably greater weight and height of the average European. Therefore, the steel duplex frame is made of pipes of a larger cross-section, and there are additional stiffening struts in the tail section. The saddle height has been increased and the footpegs have been lowered slightly. The ergonomics of the pilot’s seat were almost identical to those of the CBF600. That is why the newcomer is distinguished not by a simple “inflated” gas tank, but by a rather complex shape - with side recesses for the knees and a top beveled towards the dashboard. And its volume is made to match the distances the CBF will have to travel – 13 liters. Considering the super-efficient (3-4 liters per 100 km) engine, it is not difficult to calculate the range – almost 400 km! The single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 125cc air-cooled engine is housed in the tight grip of a steel frame. It’s strange, but lovers of progress - Honda designers - did not modify the gas distribution system and left the 2-valve head, equipping the engine only with a modern PGM-F1 fuel injection system. It is to her that the model owes its almost complete lack of appetite for consuming fuel. The expression “does not eat, but breathes” is about the Honda power unit. By the way, it is equipped with a very reliable and precise 5-speed transmission with a chain drive to the rear wheel. In this regard, Honda is clearly capable of giving Yamaha a head start, whose bikes (and especially the YBR125) were not very pleased with the adequacy of the gearbox. The bike’s chassis turned out to be noticeably more energy-intensive and balanced than that of the YBR125. What makes driving a motorcycle easier and more enjoyable? Irregularities in the road surface are quietly absorbed by the suspensions, and even at high speed there is no swaying of the stern so typical for motorcycles of this class. It is as easy to maneuver and change trajectory as on a bicycle. The pilot never loses the feeling that he is controlled only by his own weight. This is understandable, because the dry weight of the car is simply scanty - only 128 kg! However, in this parameter the YBR125 is still a little ahead, but the other side of the coin is the Yamaha’s less comfort compared to the Honda. By the way, an advantageous difference in the direction of the CBF125 compared to the YBR is that the rookie has a thicker tire installed on the rear - 100/90 R17. This is precisely what determines the fact that the vehicle steers more clearly and stays on the trajectory better. The engine, despite its modest volume, is distinguished by elasticity and high-torque power. Of course, you won’t go far in first gear, but the third and fourth stages are quite suitable for dynamically clearing traffic jams. In the highest fifth position you can even accelerate to 110 km/h according to the speedometer and maintain this pace, albeit at full throttle. It is worth noting that the motor can easily withstand even such modes. No wonder they say about it - rubber! In general, it’s even breathtaking, from how easily and naturally it spins, it’s a pity that there is no tachometer on the dashboard and it’s not clear to what limits the engine can be tortured. Although, judging by the performance characteristics, peak power occurs at 8000 rpm. The braking systems feel smoother than those of the YBR, despite the fact that the latter has a larger diameter brake disc installed at the front. Probably the whole point is in a more correct selection of pads, although they do not greatly affect the information content, which is also noticeably higher in Honda. The classic comfortable seating position is the strong point of the model; you can spend an infinite amount of time behind the wheel. The designers worked thoroughly on ergonomics. This also applies to a wide seat with support at the back, a high gas tank, a straight steering wheel with widely spaced rear-view mirrors. Visibility in them is excellent - there is no trace of a “dead zone”. So, as they say, God himself ordered to do cork slalom on the CBF125. There is no doubt that the device will sell with a bang in Europe and let's hope that Russian dealers will still decide to sell this model. Because positioning is positioning, and the immediate needs of customers should always be at the forefront. It’s a pity that it won’t be possible to make a splash on the market, as Yamaha did with its YBR125. But being a follower of these ideas is also an honorable mission.

Engine

A two-cylinder, four-stroke air-cooled engine is quite acceptable here. Effective volume – 124.7 cm³. Yes, maximum torque of 11 Nm and power of 11 hp. may not impress anyone, but this motorcycle never pretended to be spectacular. The maximum speed may vary depending on the direction of the wind, but this model is capable of accelerating to hundreds.

Specifications

Technical characteristics of Honda CB125F:

Dimensions and weight

This motorcycle, of course, has small dimensions. The weight of the bike is 128 kg, the tank volume is 13 liters, and its seat height is 792 mm. But fuel consumption per 100 km will please many: only 2.7 liters. This is due to the size and engine.

The Honda CBF125 is a small capacity motorcycle for beginners and is a direct competitor to the Yamaha YBR125.
Currently, the model of the 2015 model year is presented to the public. The bike looks quite interesting in its class, this cannot be denied, but it faces a tough competition with the aforementioned mega-popular motorcycle from Yamaha, which has long been considered perhaps the most popular motorcycle for beginner motorcyclists in all the countries where it is sold. However, motorcycles of this capacity are popular not only among beginners. Still, due to their efficiency, low price and proven Japanese reliability, such bikes can easily lay claim to the role of a city motorcycle, being the main transport during the season.

Honda CBF125 looks quite stylish and modern. The design prototype for this motorcycle was its “big brothers” in the model line. In any case, it is unlikely to confuse the Honda CBF125 with numerous Chinese small-capacity models that are as similar to each other as two peas in a pod.

The 125 cc Honda CBF125 engine, equipped with electronic injection, produces 11 hp. and 11 nM of torque. The figure is quite good for such a small engine, especially since the chain drive transmits all the power to the rear wheel without the losses that are inevitable when using a cardan, as on some heavy motorcycles. Fuel consumption in the urban cycle fluctuates around 3 liters per 100 kilometers.

The designers managed to combine in the Honda CBF125 both technology and the famous quality of their products, as well as the simplest technical solutions, thanks to which they managed to keep the price of this motorcycle at a reasonable level so that it would be competitive in the small-capacity market. A rear drum brake, a standard steel frame and conventional telescopic forks are combined with an efficient floating disc brake on the front wheel and electronic fuel injection. By the way, taking into account the light weight of the Honda CBF125, even one front brake stops this motorcycle very effectively, leaving the rear one as an auxiliary one.

Of course, the Honda CBF125 is a budget motorcycle, and it belongs to the lower price segment, although it costs almost twice as much as some competitors from China. True, the difference in price is more than justified - no one has ever heard of Hondas falling apart after a couple of months. And it looks stylish, the design was clearly a great success, thanks to some borrowings from the CBF series.

The main competitors of the Honda CBF125 are the Yamaha YBR125 and inexpensive Chinese motorcycles. On the side of the former is reliability and simplicity of design, proven over many years, on the side of the latter is low price and slowly but surely growing quality; Chinese motorcycle manufacturers are actively learning from their mistakes. So Honda will have to try hard to get its customers' money, despite the fact that the Honda CBF125 is a very, very good motorcycle.

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Chassis and brakes

The frame here is steel, tubular. It looks great considering the class of the motorcycle. The wheels are alloy, and the handlebars are typical for this kind of bike. The exterior looks modern, even futuristic in places, so the appearance of the CBF 125 will fit perfectly into an urban area.

The suspensions here are not adjustable. At the rear there is a double shock absorber, and at the front there is a 31 mm telescopic fork. The rear brake is drum, which, given the extremely low power of the motorcycle, is perhaps acceptable. The brakes at the front are a 240 mm disc and a two-piston caliper.