My wife and I have two 2021 monkeys we love them. We ride mountain roads and trails mostly. I put 13 tooth on the front. Hand guards which have saved the levers a few times. Rear spring preload spacers in the rear and dropped the front forks in the clamps a bit. And dropped tire pressure to about 14 lbs. The bikes are easy to load in our truck. We are both 57 yrs old and love the bikes. We have bike camped on them several times and always come back smiling from ear to ear. I have 37 tooth rear sprockets that I am putting on this winter just to get a bit more power for the hills. Love your video with the two bikes and Moab we want to ride Moab some day. It is on our bucket list. Thanks for the great video.
@@stevenbrown1798 they have them bough sitting on the floor hear in Canada. was two Trails, but now only one. and at least one Monkey. Have to check next time I am in, they also have two or three Groms. I love my Trail and thinking weather to add a Monkey or Grom to my stable.
Small bikes are where the real adventure is, IMO. Everyone loves an underdog -- pushing a humble little machine well beyond what you'd ever expect of it.
Not to mention the pressure you have when you ride a big bike. I was always scared to death on my SA-1290, I did not want to drop it. Heavy to pick up, easy to damage and expensive to fix. On one of these, you don't care. You can beat it, drop it and not worry.
People just don’t realize how capable small bikes really are.. it’s like they see that 750cc+ bikes exist and assume that anything smaller just won’t do it. I love my little bikes! I still daily a rebel250. Super simple mechanically, great mileage and still fast enough for pretty much any road.
I have a Super Tenere, it will do more offroad than I capable, but it just isn’t FUN! I got a ‘19 KLX (would have gotten a new 300 but they weren’t out yet) Lowered it 2”, had the suspension tuned for my butt and gear, re-geared it to make it more of a trail bike, got Green Chile strap on gear…. oh man is it perfect. PERFECT! If these guys liked these bikes, I know they’d find a lowered 250 KLX or CFL heaven as a dirty ADV.
Favorite quote "that's what TW 200s are for." I'm a TW guy and definitely know how fun small bikes can be. Much respect for taking those little bikes thru their paces.
When I was 13 (about 23 years ago) stepfather taught me to ride his tw200. I’d come home do chores…and be gone for hours. Riding all over the mountain. Only place that caught me was thick mud because that back tire!
The right tools for the right job. The TW200 is an off road tank, basic, get the job done. Not the best on road compared to a Monkey or Grom. Honda Minimotos are do it all bikes, low cost, light and goes fast enough for commuting. In a perfect world I would own a TW200, a Monkey, a CT125 and a Grom 😊
I'm 65, a longtime (50+ years) dirt bike veteran and at 5' 6"/130 lbs. my Monkey works incredibly well as an "adventure bike." It's NOT a dirt bike--the gearing is all wrong for that--but for riding on dirt, gravel and paved backroads it works awesome. On a recent ride I ran away from a guy on a Tenere 700 on the twisty gravel and dirt forest roads and he was amazed at the speed I could carry on the paved roads. C'mon guys, park your egos and your monster "adventure bikes" and get one that's genuinely fun to ride!!
I have both an Africa Twin and a Trail 125. The Twin is a beast but the fun I can have on the trail is unmatched. Cut through downtown alleys, run it off road, scoot down to the corner store. I feel like a kid on a bike when I ride it
So cool seeing these two iconic bikes side by side having fun. Thanks for showcasing their abilities and how everyone can still have a blast on a budget.
I’ve owned all kinds of bikes in 43 years of riding, but I’m so happy taking it slower now on my CRF300L. So fun using it as a mini ADV. Honda is on a winning streak!
Frankly, for off road use it still needs a lower gearing. And a dual range transmission would be perfect for the CRF models. why Honda hasn't figured this out yet is a mystery, since they invented the dual range gearbox.
This is a reassuring and a great comment to read by a 30 year old with 15ish years of riding experience. I had a xr100r in my teen years and then a goofy sachs madass125 in my early 20's and wanted more, but remembered how limiting the 125 was in terms of speed and power. landed on the crf300l. Iv not gotten the chance to ride it much due to the weather, but have felt slightly intimidated by its power and size difference. While iv always preferred smaller bikes for the confidence and the ability to get more wild with them (jumps, sliding around in mud etc.) without the penalty of a broken body part or worse. I'm looking very forward to spring riding and learning the experience over many years of the crf300l, while also still retaining the ability to maneuver it well and rough it up.
@@Liquid_Fear I got a crf300l in September and have 2000 miles on it already. (I live in upstate NY) I grew up on a ttr125 so this bike is a huge upgrade for me. The power is nothing to be afraid of and it's nice to take off road. I've ridden a lot of powerline trails and dirt roads and it is absolutely perfect. Now with gas prices I can't afford not to ride it to work lol. I have a hurricane gas tank bag that is wonderful and let's you use your phone GPS thanks to the see through cover. I also have a Colman soft cooler backpack that I bring along if I need to carry a bunch of stuff. I brought home 50 lbs of meat and goods from Sam's club the other day. It wasn't the most comfortable 30 minute ride but I got it done and the bike had no problem. Once you get used to it you'll have a LOT of confidence riding it
My small bikes are more fun to ride than my larger ones. Have the Honda Monkey and Honda Trail. They are awesome. I actually prefer riding the Monkey over the Trail because it is so comfortable and it reminds me of my earliest days riding a similar frame of a Kawasaki KV75 back in the 1980’s. My buddy had a blue one and ours was red. We rode those everywhere. My mom actually drove to town (3.5 miles one way) and picked up a bag of groceries with it. I think she had as much fun as we youngsters had on these small bikes. Safe travels to everyone out there on two wheels! 😊
I have now ridden my 2019 monkey thru Finnish winter. Same red as in the vid. Just awesome. Used just regular tires. Front is still original and the bike has done 13k miles Did 12k miles in a year with the bugger, since I bought that. 🤘 I dropped the front fender when I bought it and put a mudflap on it. P. S. My monkey does 180mpg average and I weigh 230lbs.
As a previous owner of a Honda 90 (1967 as I recall), this new 125 is awesome. Though its a bummer it doesn't have the second lower sprocket. Also, I like the heal-toe shifter.
That would have been the dual range selector/transmission that came out on the 1967 CT90 K0 and they were a damn sight easier compared to the overlay sprockets used before 1967. Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki all copied dual range transmission for their own "trail bikes".. Something that's needed for a lot of modern small displacement, DS capable bikes.
@@tauncfester3022 the old ct200 had the two piece sprockets. It was the 90cc pushrod predecessor to the 90’s in 1966. I have one and those rear sprockets are huge😂
Oh so cool! Awesome that you did them stock. Alex, now you see what I was talking about firsthand. That shifter has to go! Revzilla would be the spot to dial those minis in! First the shifter on the trail. A nice folding aluminum shifter to start. Tires as well. Taller side profile dirt tires would make a huge difference! Last, they are both geared for the street. One tooth down on the counter shaft sprocket will make them both be much better doing that kind of riding. Way to much fun working hard guys!
Would be great if the trail had the high and low range like the older ones. Then it could be given a tad more high end for the street, with plenty of power for the trail.
I tried to buy a Trail 125 today and I was told by the dealer that the waiting list in my area is 2 years long. I guess I am out of luck for 2022 and maybe even 2023. This is crazy.
The problem is that the Trail is almost impossible to find in the US unless you are willing to pay several thousand $ over sticker. Honda could sell a million of these if they would just build them.
It's made in Thailand, so, is it a production capacity problem, a Covid-19 problem, a political problem (do you know anything about Thai politics in the last couple of decades?), a supply chain problem (again, Covid)? Or a straight-up economic waste of time? Honda assemble step-throughs throughout Asia, but the vast majority are "street" or "delivery" bikes. The Trail is a niche and the ADV market in the US is miniscule compared to the 4,500,000,000 people (60% of the world's population) they sell modern Supercub evolutions to in Asia.
@@aaronleverton4221No doubt you are right on several fronts. I just think there is also global demand for this vehicle when they are able to ramp up production.
@@deanmignola5448 I'm sure there is, but if you're a Honda bean counter, is tht demand big enough to warrant either an expansion at an existing factory of the creation of a new factory? I don't know, I've never counted beans for Honda.
@@aaronleverton4221 I think it is just a production capacity problem. The Trail is in big demand globally. If it is any comfort I live in Thailand and I cannot get one. I think they prefer to sell in export markets as the price is markedly higher. It is about three thousand dollars here but that is somewhat academic when the dealers cannot get them.
I am fortunate that I am an American ex-pat living in Thailand. I purchased a new desert tan Honda CT 125 Trail for $2600 out the door including insurance. I love my Trail and even though I am 6'1", no problem. I have added a Motoskill center luggage rack, a Motoskill Headlight guard/luggage rack and a 3.75 liter gas rotopac...I am so happy with this bike..
I was on that same trail back in June with old ATVs it hurt going 15 mph it was a blast though the scenery was amazing my group definitely has the cheapest vehicles on the trail most people had $30,000 or more you don't need a lot of money to have fun
Ordered two 125s last May, finally picking up the second bike tomorrow. 5 more people on the waiting list that have no idea when another will come in to the dealer. Feeling pretty lucky lol. Can't wait to get out on them. Thank you so much for the video, that's such a beautiful area to ride.
Any small trail bike will let you have all kinds of fun adventures. I have had about 10 since 1970 including Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda. My favourite was my Honda CT-110 because of the dual range gearbox with ultra low first gear. And also the 4 stroke motor just sounds so much more civilized than those buzzing 2 strokes. But all are lots of fun 👍👍
On all my older ct90s I always cut the back half of the shifter off and put the front where I wanted it or even replaced the whole shifter with a little longer one for regular toe use only shifter.
Great video! Funny having ads for the $15,000 adventure bikes popping up while watching. 🤣 I am loving my Trail 125 so far. It’s a fun little bike. (The stock heel shifter location is unfortunate. It needs to be rotated a couple notches.)
I own a 72 ct90. Still going today after thousands of miles and it’s packed five full bodied mule deer out of the mountains of Idaho. A few years back I had it up elk hunting with a friend who had his induro with him. After a couple of days of him claiming he was always waiting on me I convinced him to switch bikes on our way back to camp from the trail head. After about a two mile ride back to camp he climbed off with a ear to ear grin, he looked at my 90 then back to me and said “ok, I get it”. Never gave me another criticism about it.
I chose the Suzuki Van Van 200 over both of these bikes because of the larger wheels and fatter tires, as well as the amazing seat and cool retro vibe.
I've seen the van van about. It interests me. I've got a Suzuki trail bike. But I'm not a 6foot giant. So I have a few tricky moments getting my foot down on rocky, uneven ground. The vanvan looks like a more sensible ride height.
Great video! I disagree on the CT125 shifter. With riding boots on, there's no way to fit my toe under the shifter. It's impossible. The heel toe shifter is great in my opinion. But it definitely takes some getting used to...
@@JoeMama-vj8es All you have to do is adjust the shifter. I've ridden mine with MX boots and use the front part only up and down. I considered cutting the heel half off but it's not in the way. You can also use your toe to shift the heel shifter.
Yeah the small bikes are great fun, always have been. I have a DRZ125L that I made street legal and it's pretty awesome for trails like that. It's so light, if you get stuck just pick it up and pull it out, turn it around, whatever. Low enough to the ground for easy riding, but definitely quite a bit taller than the Monkey or the Trail125.
The little bikes are great other than having to trailer them to the trail. It's 1650 miles to Canyonlands National Park from my place, so I need a little bigger scoot to get there.
When I was a kid a jillion years ago, I had a Honda Mini-Trail 50 (pre-monkey). It had no skid plate that I can remember. I rode it all over the place, and sometimes had to pull it over obstacles, like sideways over stuff. On a single gallon, I could ride half a day. I keep thinking I'd lie to add a monkey to my collection for a park bike.
I had the same first bike. Man I have great memories of that machine. When all over on it. Got brought home 3 times by the police who would just throw it in the truck of their caprice cop car. In the days before you kids were prosecuted for every little thing. Growing up in the 80’s was the best. My local dealer has a 78’ mini trail 50 on display. I spend more time gawking over that bike than anything else in there. I must have put a dozen rear tires on that little bike. It survived 4 boys and was still running when I left the house. Sadly my dad gave it away, but hopefully some young kid got to have more adventures on it.
Nice comparative review. I had a Monkey, loved it, got a lot of favorable comnents and smiles ....and traded it for a Rebel 500 so I could see more of the countryside. Love both.
I'm not yet into bikes but the rebel has my eye along with these mini motos, if the price is similar can I really justify something like the monkey over the rebel?
@@FerventReminderIts about 2k difference in purchase price.. My mistake was to buy the Monkey, outgrow it in 4 months, take a $600 loss to trade up to the Rebel. If I had been rich, I'd have kept the Monkey. It was a lot of fun...it was just the limited range of the Monkey that drove my decision. If you're fine riding pretty close to home, then the Monkey might be just what you need.
Grabbing my coffee and my weed . . Love my TFL Mornings... Amazing cptsd medication...YOUR doing a great job on the productions...❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥💯 Have a good day everyone 😊
The only deal breaker for me is the fact that Honda deleted the low range on the trail 125. I had one when I was a kid and 95 % of the time it was in low range. Maybe not enough air flow to cool but I never had any troubles.
I had a '71 trail 90 with a PowRoll 125cc stroker hop up that was a beast in low range. First in low range was almost too much as the engine had a narrower and more peaky torque range.
The cinematography, video editing, sound editing, scripting/dialog and overall production of this video is far better than anything Roman Mica has done. I would love to see all the other TFL channels learn from this example.
Man this is just pure fun. I've had everything from a ruckus to sportsbike to Harley to KTM naked and I gotta admit I had the most fun on the Ruckus. Can't wait to get a Monkey lol.
The hard part about this is, for $4,000 I can buy a good used full size motorcycle that can do this and much more. Sure these are fun, and capable but for my money I'd go used and find a KLR, a XT250, even a TW200 or VANVAN.
OR for just a bit more money ($1-2K) a bigger more powerful motorcycle can be purchased. I am thinking CRF300L or even KTM390 Adventure. I have seen the CRF300L in the low $5k range and the Adventure in the high $5k range.
Yes all those things are true. I have a 2015 WR250F (best all around bike), CRF250L (ignored now), 2020 YZ250F, and 2015 Grom. I will never sell the Grom. I sneak it out on the MX track for a laugh. Use it as a trail bike, pit bike, beer getter, deli runner, single track mountain trail riding, you name it. It’s the challenge of making it happen on a Grom. Fire roads, no problem, it’s when the terrain gets tougher that the challenge begins. Making it to the top of a black diamond trail on Grom is a sense of accomplishment. Is it a better off road bike ? Hell no! I’ll still never sell it unless someone made me chose only one bike, in which case I’d take the WR250F. The engine, suspension, and lower weight is far superior than the CRF250L. It’s not even close. I’m rambling. Happy riding !
I’ve been considering the Honda trail for a while. I think the major upside for a bike like this is stealth camping and downtown parking. I had two KLR’s, and the biggest drawback of traveling with something that size is sneaking into the woods for the night. Also, you can park a monkey or a trail125 on the curb or next to the bike rack and no one will bat an eye.
@David. Well said! Without going into all the detail of the condition of my 6 bikes when I originally bought them, the total sum I paid is less than the price of a new Honda Monkey in South Africa. The newest of my 6 bikes is a 2015 Honda XR150 that had done less than 6000km when I bought it 2 years ago. I used it for another of many mini adventure bike lessons again this am, did a 650km adventure bike trip earlier this year and is regularly used by my son as a commuter when there is no fuel in his car. And of course, proper sized and powered bikes can be ridden slowly, if required.
You could even find a Versys 650, or Vstrom for around $4k. Granted, you are going to be harder pressed to hit some of the single track stuff than these bikes.
OK they both have clutches just to correct a misconception. the Hunter Trail has a semi automatic clutch. It's activated when ever you press the shifter, or rev the engine above idle speed. If you have the foot dexterity you can feather the semi auto clutch by depressing the shifter slightly and slowly so it lets the engine's revs rise and this allow the engine to gain more torque before re-engagement. This should not be done frequently as it will wear out your clutch discs sooner. You're both riding too fast for the suspension on these bikes. Slow down in rough conditions.
I see alot of people talking about he heel shifter on the Trail being terrible. I made it a point to get used to mine as soon as I started riding it. 2k miles later and I absolutely love the heel shifter and use it every time. I have no issues with it when standing up. Might be because I wear sneakers instead of boots when riding it. Not sure. The heel shifter is one of my favorite features of the bike.
Always an adventure on 125.bikes!!! I moved from California to Europe and I've always had big bikes. But decided this time to get a 125 to sight see and travel. The Honda mini motos are a blast!!! But out here they are a bit expensive though. So I decided on the G1 125 Scrambler from Zontes. Which is great for some gravel, and the highways. I am blown away with its 20-liter tank, led full lighting, engine protection bars hand protection, and hand protection case we'll! A switch for night lighting up all the controls on the handlebars!! It has 14.5 horses Which is plenty for a nice relaxing ride. In the near future, I have my eyes set on (the super cub-125) to travel with!
Interesting. Aside from being automatic, I thought the Trail would be the clear winner. I have the Monkey and find the small wheels a disadvantage along with the exposed muffler.
I bought a Trail-90 new in the Spring of 1969. I could go anywhere with that lower gearing. Shoulda never sold it, but was 17 and wanted to go faster, so I bought bigger. Now I am thinking of the new CT-125 as maybe my last bike. I never used the heel shifter BTW.
Love the video!!! I own a 2022 Monkey and I will never take it to the dirt: it looks too beautiful and cozy. However, I appreciate the video and your trail through that awesome land and incredible landscapes.
You folks should have searched out and purchased a 1960's Honda trail 55 to ride with these bikes to provide a historical perspective. As a Honda shop in Idaho was the first business to convert the venerable old Honda Cub with a 5 cc increase, trail gearing, upswept pipe and high front fender. In fact any Japanese "trail bike" from that era like the old Hodaka Ace 90, CT200 or Yamaha Trailmasters.
Awesome edits boosting the quality of TFL reviews with sweet Drone footage and videography. Filming on beautiful trails and places that should be seen, so thanks for taking us their. As you guys are clearly expanding viewer demographics. 😎😉✌
I have nothing against the Monkey, but the Trial is obviously more suited for offroad scenarios. Engine guard, kick start, airintake snorkel and a nice rear rack all as standard, The only thing I don't like is that heel toe shifter. I said it many times and I will say it again, if I will be lucky enough to own a CT125 the biggest mod that I would do on it is to install the clutch mechanism of the monkey on the Trial125, and fit a clutch cable and lever.
So for the handrail, I would adjust the shifter you can do that so you adjust the angle of it so it’s harder for you to accidentally bump it and it has not been a problem since
Thanks, good job. It would be fun to see on not so rocky a trail and see how they both perform. I like the fact that you trade bikes. I liked that you are willing, to be honest about what works and what is a drag on both bikes. Take care
@@TheIrishPhantom If you are eating dirt a lot, you are in no way riding inside your experience limits. Throttle back and pick your lines better. With over 35+ years of on/off road riding experience, I can honestly say, you should not let your bike dictate your pace and place. Same philosophy as riding a horse. If you are letting the horse dictate things, you are not in control and can expect to "eat dirt" more often than not. 🏍 🏇
i have been looking for a trail 125 for almost 6 months now and cant find one anywhere. and the only real grip i hear is that shifter. and seeing the speedo.
I think I would go for that Monkey. Seems like a more comfortable ride and I like the design. I don’t know why you didn’t have it outfitted with front and back luggage racks (as well as possibly crash guards).
Nice fun video with great scenery! One complaint though, the shifter on the Trail 125 was mentioned numerous times but not once did you show it! I had to go search the internet for photos of it! other then that Good job on the video.
This is the comparison I was waiting on, the only thing missing was a stretch of road riding that I have seen in every other video. In short, which is better on the road, the bigger narrow tires, or the fat small guys, Ugh, guess I'll just have to test ride then both.
@@infesting I have not ridden the new Trail 125, but it is absolutely impossible for it to climb as well as it would if it had a dual range transmission. The low range on my old Trail's had a top speed roughly half that of the high range.
Honda should make a trail250 with the semi auto but five gears instead, the fifth should be a close to overdrive level of high, tune it to make like 19 hp, it'll be a serious hit if they price it appropriately Also a low range mode
Thx for the video. It clearly shows the limit of those 2 bikes. One with small wheels, the other one without clutch making difficult to pass on some of the obstacles. I still wish i could be there. You lucky ❤
it looks like you had quite a bit of fun. But for $1350 more you could get a CRF 300 L. In my opinion the 300 is so much more for your money. It is still a small bike but it is a lot more motor a lot more suspension than the little one 125.
C90adventures shows how capable the Honda Super Cub (Trail 125) family of bikes are. Most produced motor vehicle in the world. Lots of parts available, around the world. Someguyrides showed how reliable the Trail 125 is; rode entire TAT, trouble free. He tried replacing with a new Royal Enfield, engine broken, dealer can't fix. He is back to riding his reliable Trail 125.
I am 6’ 2” I think a Yamaha TW-200 would be better for my 200+ pound frame. More power with a clutch plus any kind of after market items to fully customize the bike my way. I do like the idea of the Honda Trail but they should make a 200 cc. Version for bigger riders.
I spent 3k on a 08 650 versys with 10k miles on it I run it everywhere not jumping it off-road like a klr but craws up everything and is great on the road I'd love to have a 125 trail but not at that price
Nice video. The trail 125 would be really nice with a hi-lo selector. I have 2 CT 110s and a CT 125. I’m not fond of the clutch on the old 125. Thanks for the video.
I really like the look of the trail 125. Had a 110 model when I was a kid. I think the Yamaha tw200 would be a better fit for around the same price. Doesn’t have the back rack but the added power I believe is worth it. Would like to see a video comparing the trail 125 vs Yamaha tw200.
I have owned the TW and now own the CT125, the CT has more power and better delivery than the Tdub. On the TW I struggled to hit 80kph on downhill, I can get there easy on flat with the CT.
@@UndisputedKingofSnails interesting, I've owned two T-Dubs as well, a '97 and a '98. Both were able to hit 112 kph (70 mph, GPS verified) on flat land. You may have had carburetor problems.
I own a trail. It sucks in the sand but it sucks up the giant bumps super well. People I know with the monkey say the opposite, that it sucks over big bumps but soaks up sand like it’s nothing. Also monkey has more gears & wider gear range with better parts availability. Grass is always greener right?
my 78 Honda 50 was exactly like the trail 125 is ( no clutch/semi auto ) The only difference is the back shifter. I'm thinking about replacing it with a suicide shifter
I run an old kz250 csr through light off-roading like this. It’s small, light, squishy, comfortable and gutless. It’s fantastic! These small, light, comfortable bikes on light off-roading really are about the most fun you can have on two wheels.
I Remember it was the 70s I was mabe 8 yrs old n lookin 4 trouble n m y Dad gave me a honda 50 i rode the wheels off it rebuilt it n did it again Great Bikes !
Getting one is impossible here in Kingman AZ, the local Honda dealer which also sells HD will not even take a deposit to order a CT125, they suck. Need to find a dealer that will ship me one. Just bought a Honda Monkey from same dealer 6/13.2023 and am very happy with it and the clutch was a big factor.
62yrs old 225lbs. Love my Monkey. So comfortable. So enjoyable.
I’m 6’11 and 341 lbs and it holds me awkward to drive but so fun
That’s awesome 🎉
My wife and I have two 2021 monkeys we love them. We ride mountain roads and trails mostly. I put 13 tooth on the front. Hand guards which have saved the levers a few times. Rear spring preload spacers in the rear and dropped the front forks in the clamps a bit. And dropped tire pressure to about 14 lbs. The bikes are easy to load in our truck. We are both 57 yrs old and love the bikes. We have bike camped on them several times and always come back smiling from ear to ear. I have 37 tooth rear sprockets that I am putting on this winter just to get a bit more power for the hills. Love your video with the two bikes and Moab we want to ride Moab some day. It is on our bucket list. Thanks for the great video.
nice - great way to use these bikes
Try to find one you go to the Honda dealership none to be able to get
@@stevenbrown1798 they have them bough sitting on the floor hear in Canada. was two Trails, but now only one. and at least one Monkey. Have to check next time I am in, they also have two or three Groms. I love my Trail and thinking weather to add a Monkey or Grom to my stable.
why did you drop the front forks?
Small bikes are where the real adventure is, IMO. Everyone loves an underdog -- pushing a humble little machine well beyond what you'd ever expect of it.
Not to mention the pressure you have when you ride a big bike. I was always scared to death on my SA-1290, I did not want to drop it. Heavy to pick up, easy to damage and expensive to fix. On one of these, you don't care. You can beat it, drop it and not worry.
People just don’t realize how capable small bikes really are.. it’s like they see that 750cc+ bikes exist and assume that anything smaller just won’t do it. I love my little bikes! I still daily a rebel250. Super simple mechanically, great mileage and still fast enough for pretty much any road.
I have a Super Tenere, it will do more offroad than I capable, but it just isn’t FUN! I got a ‘19 KLX (would have gotten a new 300 but they weren’t out yet) Lowered it 2”, had the suspension tuned for my butt and gear, re-geared it to make it more of a trail bike, got Green Chile strap on gear…. oh man is it perfect. PERFECT! If these guys liked these bikes, I know they’d find a lowered 250 KLX or CFL heaven as a dirty ADV.
That applies to more street-focused bikes too. I tour on my old Ninja 250 and have a blast when I do.
@@edwardkeeter762 I don’t doubt it.. I’d trust my rebel to handle a cross country trip tomorrow.
Favorite quote "that's what TW 200s are for." I'm a TW guy and definitely know how fun small bikes can be. Much respect for taking those little bikes thru their paces.
The TeeDub still needs a dual range gearbox. Yamaha got that right on their LT5-A and their electric start 2 stroke CT-125.
When I was 13 (about 23 years ago) stepfather taught me to ride his tw200.
I’d come home do chores…and be gone for hours. Riding all over the mountain. Only place that caught me was thick mud because that back tire!
The right tools for the right job. The TW200 is an off road tank, basic, get the job done. Not the best on road compared to a Monkey or Grom.
Honda Minimotos are do it all bikes, low cost, light and goes fast enough for commuting.
In a perfect world I would own a TW200, a Monkey, a CT125 and a Grom 😊
I'm 65, a longtime (50+ years) dirt bike veteran and at 5' 6"/130 lbs. my Monkey works incredibly well as an "adventure bike." It's NOT a dirt bike--the gearing is all wrong for that--but for riding on dirt, gravel and paved backroads it works awesome. On a recent ride I ran away from a guy on a Tenere 700 on the twisty gravel and dirt forest roads and he was amazed at the speed I could carry on the paved roads. C'mon guys, park your egos and your monster "adventure bikes" and get one that's genuinely fun to ride!!
I have both an Africa Twin and a Trail 125. The Twin is a beast but the fun I can have on the trail is unmatched. Cut through downtown alleys, run it off road, scoot down to the corner store. I feel like a kid on a bike when I ride it
So cool seeing these two iconic bikes side by side having fun. Thanks for showcasing their abilities and how everyone can still have a blast on a budget.
On a budget You can get a trailmaster MB200 for 1,200 brand new. I live in Trans Pecos and I put an mb200 to the test.
I’ve owned all kinds of bikes in 43 years of riding, but I’m so happy taking it slower now on my CRF300L. So fun using it as a mini ADV. Honda is on a winning streak!
Frankly, for off road use it still needs a lower gearing. And a dual range transmission would be perfect for the CRF models. why Honda hasn't figured this out yet is a mystery, since they invented the dual range gearbox.
This is a reassuring and a great comment to read by a 30 year old with 15ish years of riding experience. I had a xr100r in my teen years and then a goofy sachs madass125 in my early 20's and wanted more, but remembered how limiting the 125 was in terms of speed and power. landed on the crf300l. Iv not gotten the chance to ride it much due to the weather, but have felt slightly intimidated by its power and size difference. While iv always preferred smaller bikes for the confidence and the ability to get more wild with them (jumps, sliding around in mud etc.) without the penalty of a broken body part or worse. I'm looking very forward to spring riding and learning the experience over many years of the crf300l, while also still retaining the ability to maneuver it well and rough it up.
I went with the MT-03 & love it. Bike tripping it this summer
@@Liquid_Fear I got a crf300l in September and have 2000 miles on it already. (I live in upstate NY) I grew up on a ttr125 so this bike is a huge upgrade for me. The power is nothing to be afraid of and it's nice to take off road. I've ridden a lot of powerline trails and dirt roads and it is absolutely perfect. Now with gas prices I can't afford not to ride it to work lol. I have a hurricane gas tank bag that is wonderful and let's you use your phone GPS thanks to the see through cover. I also have a Colman soft cooler backpack that I bring along if I need to carry a bunch of stuff. I brought home 50 lbs of meat and goods from Sam's club the other day. It wasn't the most comfortable 30 minute ride but I got it done and the bike had no problem. Once you get used to it you'll have a LOT of confidence riding it
@@AaronSchwarz42 How's the MT03 for light off-roading?
Hi, I took my Monkey to Morocco from UK. 6000km trouble free with a lot of memories 🙂
My small bikes are more fun to ride than my larger ones. Have the Honda Monkey and Honda Trail. They are awesome. I actually prefer riding the Monkey over the Trail because it is so comfortable and it reminds me of my earliest days riding a similar frame of a Kawasaki KV75 back in the 1980’s. My buddy had a blue one and ours was red. We rode those everywhere. My mom actually drove to town (3.5 miles one way) and picked up a bag of groceries with it. I think she had as much fun as we youngsters had on these small bikes. Safe travels to everyone out there on two wheels! 😊
I have now ridden my 2019 monkey thru Finnish winter. Same red as in the vid.
Just awesome.
Used just regular tires. Front is still original and the bike has done 13k miles
Did 12k miles in a year with the bugger, since I bought that. 🤘
I dropped the front fender when I bought it and put a mudflap on it.
P. S. My monkey does 180mpg average and I weigh 230lbs.
As a previous owner of a Honda 90 (1967 as I recall), this new 125 is awesome. Though its a bummer it doesn't have the second lower sprocket. Also, I like the heal-toe shifter.
That would have been the dual range selector/transmission that came out on the 1967 CT90 K0 and they were a damn sight easier compared to the overlay sprockets used before 1967. Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki all copied dual range transmission for their own "trail bikes".. Something that's needed for a lot of modern small displacement, DS capable bikes.
@@tauncfester3022 Mine had the double sprockets. So it must have been like a 66 or something if 67 switched to the mode selector switch.
@@tauncfester3022 the old ct200 had the two piece sprockets. It was the 90cc pushrod predecessor to the 90’s in 1966. I have one and those rear sprockets are huge😂
Off roaded super 90 trail riders ,the trail 90 hi low was super addition for versatility.
Honda builds really cool 125ccm at the moment. And so many different!
I took my monkey all the way around the white rim trail. Buddy came with on a wr250. It was a blast.
Oh so cool! Awesome that you did them stock. Alex, now you see what I was talking about firsthand. That shifter has to go! Revzilla would be the spot to dial those minis in! First the shifter on the trail. A nice folding aluminum shifter to start. Tires as well. Taller side profile dirt tires would make a huge difference! Last, they are both geared for the street. One tooth down on the counter shaft sprocket will make them both be much better doing that kind of riding. Way to much fun working hard guys!
Would be great if the trail had the high and low range like the older ones. Then it could be given a tad more high end for the street, with plenty of power for the trail.
I tried to buy a Trail 125 today and I was told by the dealer that the waiting list in my area is 2 years long. I guess I am out of luck for 2022 and maybe even 2023. This is crazy.
You gotta expand your search. I bought my Trail 125 from a dealer in Florida. I live in California. $600 to ship it.
My daughter and her fiancee just bought two near Denver.
The problem is that the Trail is almost impossible to find in the US unless you are willing to pay several thousand $ over sticker. Honda could sell a million of these if they would just build them.
It's made in Thailand, so, is it a production capacity problem, a Covid-19 problem, a political problem (do you know anything about Thai politics in the last couple of decades?), a supply chain problem (again, Covid)? Or a straight-up economic waste of time?
Honda assemble step-throughs throughout Asia, but the vast majority are "street" or "delivery" bikes. The Trail is a niche and the ADV market in the US is miniscule compared to the 4,500,000,000 people (60% of the world's population) they sell modern Supercub evolutions to in Asia.
@@aaronleverton4221No doubt you are right on several fronts. I just think there is also global demand for this vehicle when they are able to ramp up production.
@@deanmignola5448 I'm sure there is, but if you're a Honda bean counter, is tht demand big enough to warrant either an expansion at an existing factory of the creation of a new factory?
I don't know, I've never counted beans for Honda.
@@aaronleverton4221 I think it is just a production capacity problem. The Trail is in big demand globally. If it is any comfort I live in Thailand and I cannot get one. I think they prefer to sell in export markets as the price is markedly higher. It is about three thousand dollars here but that is somewhat academic when the dealers cannot get them.
I am fortunate that I am an American ex-pat living in Thailand. I purchased a new desert tan Honda CT 125 Trail for $2600 out the door including insurance. I love my Trail and even though I am 6'1", no problem. I have added a Motoskill center luggage rack, a Motoskill Headlight guard/luggage rack and a 3.75 liter gas rotopac...I am so happy with this bike..
I was on that same trail back in June with old ATVs it hurt going 15 mph it was a blast though the scenery was amazing my group definitely has the cheapest vehicles on the trail most people had $30,000 or more you don't need a lot of money to have fun
Ordered two 125s last May, finally picking up the second bike tomorrow. 5 more people on the waiting list that have no idea when another will come in to the dealer. Feeling pretty lucky lol. Can't wait to get out on them. Thank you so much for the video, that's such a beautiful area to ride.
Any small trail bike will let you have all kinds of fun adventures. I have had about 10 since 1970 including Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda. My favourite was my Honda CT-110 because of the dual range gearbox with ultra low first gear. And also the 4 stroke motor just sounds so much more civilized than those buzzing 2 strokes. But all are lots of fun 👍👍
On all my older ct90s I always cut the back half of the shifter off and put the front where I wanted it or even replaced the whole shifter with a little longer one for regular toe use only shifter.
Great video! Funny having ads for the $15,000 adventure bikes popping up while watching. 🤣
I am loving my Trail 125 so far. It’s a fun little bike. (The stock heel shifter location is unfortunate. It needs to be rotated a couple notches.)
I have a 82 ct70 I restored, its just great fun, it's cool to be able to go down the road and hit a trail where you want, great video guys
I own a 72 ct90. Still going today after thousands of miles and it’s packed five full bodied mule deer out of the mountains of Idaho. A few years back I had it up elk hunting with a friend who had his induro with him. After a couple of days of him claiming he was always waiting on me I convinced him to switch bikes on our way back to camp from the trail head. After about a two mile ride back to camp he climbed off with a ear to ear grin, he looked at my 90 then back to me and said “ok, I get it”. Never gave me another criticism about it.
I don’t get it
I chose the Suzuki Van Van 200 over both of these bikes because of the larger wheels and fatter tires, as well as the amazing seat and cool retro vibe.
Good to know dat i will check it out.
I've seen the van van about. It interests me. I've got a Suzuki trail bike. But I'm not a 6foot giant. So I have a few tricky moments getting my foot down on rocky, uneven ground. The vanvan looks like a more sensible ride height.
Great video! I disagree on the CT125 shifter. With riding boots on, there's no way to fit my toe under the shifter. It's impossible. The heel toe shifter is great in my opinion. But it definitely takes some getting used to...
Modify it! That's part of the journey man!
@@JoeMama-vj8es All you have to do is adjust the shifter. I've ridden mine with MX boots and use the front part only up and down. I considered cutting the heel half off but it's not in the way. You can also use your toe to shift the heel shifter.
Yeah, it's just the human error
I've ride honda moped many years and had no problem
Yeah the small bikes are great fun, always have been. I have a DRZ125L that I made street legal and it's pretty awesome for trails like that. It's so light, if you get stuck just pick it up and pull it out, turn it around, whatever. Low enough to the ground for easy riding, but definitely quite a bit taller than the Monkey or the Trail125.
The little bikes are great other than having to trailer them to the trail. It's 1650 miles to Canyonlands National Park from my place, so I need a little bigger scoot to get there.
When I was a kid a jillion years ago, I had a Honda Mini-Trail 50 (pre-monkey). It had no skid plate that I can remember. I rode it all over the place, and sometimes had to pull it over obstacles, like sideways over stuff. On a single gallon, I could ride half a day. I keep thinking I'd lie to add a monkey to my collection for a park bike.
I had the same first bike. Man I have great memories of that machine. When all over on it. Got brought home 3 times by the police who would just throw it in the truck of their caprice cop car. In the days before you kids were prosecuted for every little thing. Growing up in the 80’s was the best. My local dealer has a 78’ mini trail 50 on display. I spend more time gawking over that bike than anything else in there. I must have put a dozen rear tires on that little bike. It survived 4 boys and was still running when I left the house. Sadly my dad gave it away, but hopefully some young kid got to have more adventures on it.
Nice comparative review. I had a Monkey, loved it, got a lot of favorable comnents and smiles ....and traded it for a Rebel 500 so I could see more of the countryside. Love both.
I'm not yet into bikes but the rebel has my eye along with these mini motos, if the price is similar can I really justify something like the monkey over the rebel?
@@FerventReminderIts about 2k difference in purchase price.. My mistake was to buy the Monkey, outgrow it in 4 months, take a $600 loss to trade up to the Rebel. If I had been rich, I'd have kept the Monkey. It was a lot of fun...it was just the limited range of the Monkey that drove my decision. If you're fine riding pretty close to home, then the Monkey might be just what you need.
@@dalegarrard9446 Thanks, also like the looks of the grom and tempted to go that route just because it's notably cheaper.
Grabbing my coffee and my weed . . Love my TFL Mornings... Amazing cptsd medication...YOUR doing a great job on the productions...❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥💯 Have a good day everyone 😊
Very cool video…I have 2017 Honda Grom with 21000 off road miles…perfect for riding fire roads
Awesome!
The only deal breaker for me is the fact that Honda deleted the low range on the trail 125. I had one when I was a kid and 95 % of the time it was in low range. Maybe not enough air flow to cool but I never had any troubles.
I had a '71 trail 90 with a PowRoll 125cc stroker hop up that was a beast in low range. First in low range was almost too much as the engine had a narrower and more peaky torque range.
The cinematography, video editing, sound editing, scripting/dialog and overall production of this video is far better than anything Roman Mica has done. I would love to see all the other TFL channels learn from this example.
Man this is just pure fun. I've had everything from a ruckus to sportsbike to Harley to KTM naked and I gotta admit I had the most fun on the Ruckus. Can't wait to get a Monkey lol.
Great Video Boys! The Monkey is so fun to ride and love seeing it out in the wild!
The hard part about this is, for $4,000 I can buy a good used full size motorcycle that can do this and much more. Sure these are fun, and capable but for my money I'd go used and find a KLR, a XT250, even a TW200 or VANVAN.
OR for just a bit more money ($1-2K) a bigger more powerful motorcycle can be purchased. I am thinking CRF300L or even KTM390 Adventure. I have seen the CRF300L in the low $5k range and the Adventure in the high $5k range.
Yes all those things are true. I have a 2015 WR250F (best all around bike), CRF250L (ignored now), 2020 YZ250F, and 2015 Grom. I will never sell the Grom. I sneak it out on the MX track for a laugh. Use it as a trail bike, pit bike, beer getter, deli runner, single track mountain trail riding, you name it. It’s the challenge of making it happen on a Grom. Fire roads, no problem, it’s when the terrain gets tougher that the challenge begins. Making it to the top of a black diamond trail on Grom is a sense of accomplishment. Is it a better off road bike ? Hell no! I’ll still never sell it unless someone made me chose only one bike, in which case I’d take the WR250F. The engine, suspension, and lower weight is far superior than the CRF250L. It’s not even close. I’m rambling. Happy riding !
I’ve been considering the Honda trail for a while. I think the major upside for a bike like this is stealth camping and downtown parking. I had two KLR’s, and the biggest drawback of traveling with something that size is sneaking into the woods for the night. Also, you can park a monkey or a trail125 on the curb or next to the bike rack and no one will bat an eye.
@David. Well said!
Without going into all the detail of the condition of my 6 bikes when I originally bought them, the total sum I paid is less than the price of a new Honda Monkey in South Africa. The newest of my 6 bikes is a 2015 Honda XR150 that had done less than 6000km when I bought it 2 years ago. I used it for another of many mini adventure bike lessons again this am, did a 650km adventure bike trip earlier this year and is regularly used by my son as a commuter when there is no fuel in his car.
And of course, proper sized and powered bikes can be ridden slowly, if required.
You could even find a Versys 650, or Vstrom for around $4k. Granted, you are going to be harder pressed to hit some of the single track stuff than these bikes.
OK they both have clutches just to correct a misconception. the Hunter Trail has a semi automatic clutch. It's activated when ever you press the shifter, or rev the engine above idle speed. If you have the foot dexterity you can feather the semi auto clutch by depressing the shifter slightly and slowly so it lets the engine's revs rise and this allow the engine to gain more torque before re-engagement. This should not be done frequently as it will wear out your clutch discs sooner. You're both riding too fast for the suspension on these bikes. Slow down in rough conditions.
Such great views! You all should do a video on the Yamaha TW200!
You can upgrade the suspension cheap on these compared to the bigger bikes.
I see alot of people talking about he heel shifter on the Trail being terrible. I made it a point to get used to mine as soon as I started riding it. 2k miles later and I absolutely love the heel shifter and use it every time. I have no issues with it when standing up. Might be because I wear sneakers instead of boots when riding it. Not sure. The heel shifter is one of my favorite features of the bike.
I came soooo close to swapping my Monkey for a Trail just yesterday and, watching this, I’m so glad I didn’t!
My brother bought a CT 90 in the late 70's. I just loved leaving him in the dust on my MT 125. A farm bike will always be a farm bike.
This brings back some very good memories, thanks guys.
I winced every time I saw the Monkey go over the rocks. How did the wheels/tires hold up?
Always an adventure on 125.bikes!!!
I moved from California to Europe and I've always had big bikes. But decided this time to get a 125 to sight see and travel.
The Honda mini motos are a blast!!!
But out here they are a bit expensive though. So I decided on the G1 125 Scrambler from Zontes. Which is great for some gravel, and the highways. I am blown away with its 20-liter tank, led full lighting, engine protection bars hand protection, and hand protection case we'll! A switch for night lighting up all the controls on the handlebars!! It has 14.5 horses
Which is plenty for a nice relaxing ride.
In the near future, I have my eyes set on (the super cub-125) to travel with!
I own a honda monkey and its surprisingly good on offroad i personally think its better on offroad than on asphalt.
Interesting. Aside from being automatic, I thought the Trail would be the clear winner. I have the Monkey and find the small wheels a disadvantage along with the exposed muffler.
I bought a Trail-90 new in the Spring of 1969. I could go anywhere with that lower gearing. Shoulda never sold it, but was 17 and wanted to go faster, so I bought bigger. Now I am thinking of the new CT-125 as maybe my last bike. I never used the heel shifter BTW.
This looks so fun. Just to be able to enjoy the scenery at a slower pace.
Love the video!!! I own a 2022 Monkey and I will never take it to the dirt: it looks too beautiful and cozy. However, I appreciate the video and your trail through that awesome land and incredible landscapes.
I do not think that $4000 is inexpensive for a 125cc motorbike.
Good luck getting a new Trail 125 in USA, my friend is 6 in line for 15 months and the dealer hasn't gotten any....
I didn't find the dry bags for the Monkey on revzilla site....can anybody help finding them? great video and thanks
Awesome rewiew! Thank you very much! Love these Honda mini motos, now added by the new Honda Dax 125. 👍🙂
Need to watch a video of Chris Bamman from Australia. He can show ya how to load up a 125 for camping. Love ya videos guys, keep it up!
You folks should have searched out and purchased a 1960's Honda trail 55 to ride with these bikes to provide a historical perspective. As a Honda shop in Idaho was the first business to convert the venerable old Honda Cub with a 5 cc increase, trail gearing, upswept pipe and high front fender. In fact any Japanese "trail bike" from that era like the old Hodaka Ace 90, CT200 or Yamaha Trailmasters.
Awesome edits boosting the quality of TFL reviews with sweet Drone footage and videography. Filming on beautiful trails and places that should be seen, so thanks for taking us their. As you guys are clearly expanding viewer demographics. 😎😉✌
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Awesome video! It's surprising what these little bikes can do and what they can stand up to. Absolutely amazing place to ride.
Awesome footage of the red rock trail and the two off road minis. Great video makes me want to head that way!
Sold my 1200cc bike and bought a Honda Grom, absolutely love it. I take it up into the mountains of WNC.
I have nothing against the Monkey, but the Trial is obviously more suited for offroad scenarios. Engine guard, kick start, airintake snorkel and a nice rear rack all as standard, The only thing I don't like is that heel toe shifter. I said it many times and I will say it again, if I will be lucky enough to own a CT125 the biggest mod that I would do on it is to install the clutch mechanism of the monkey on the Trial125, and fit a clutch cable and lever.
Yes, I think the Trail has a lot more potential for off roading. But out of the box I think the monkey beats it.
So for the handrail, I would adjust the shifter you can do that so you adjust the angle of it so it’s harder for you to accidentally bump it and it has not been a problem since
Good morning to you!
I am Cross Cub grandpa from Japan and sharing Cross Cub video.
Awesome review !!
So great job !
Have a nice day friend !
Can you guys test out the Royal Enfield Himalayan some time? Thanks
This was a very good comparison vid. I’m glad you both switched so we could hear the difference after the switch! Well done and thanks!
Thanks, good job. It would be fun to see on not so rocky a trail and see how they both perform. I like the fact that you trade bikes. I liked that you are willing, to be honest about what works and what is a drag on both bikes. Take care
Praise to whoever chose the music for this video. It gave off an adventure vibe.
The small bikes can work for a fun excursion. I think I might tend toward a KLX 300 or a CRF 300L for a little bit more power and stability.
@@TheIrishPhantom If you are eating dirt a lot, you are in no way riding inside your experience limits. Throttle back and pick your lines better. With over 35+ years of on/off road riding experience, I can honestly say, you should not let your bike dictate your pace and place. Same philosophy as riding a horse. If you are letting the horse dictate things, you are not in control and can expect to "eat dirt" more often than not. 🏍 🏇
@@WW-wf8tu very very right I never knew this till u said it
@@WW-wf8tu Coming from someone who owns both IMO the Monkey is more fun and forgivable. Didn't want to get boomer lectured thanks.
i have been looking for a trail 125 for almost 6 months now and cant find one anywhere. and the only real grip i hear is that shifter. and seeing the speedo.
I think I would go for that Monkey. Seems like a more comfortable ride and I like the design. I don’t know why you didn’t have it outfitted with front and back luggage racks (as well as possibly crash guards).
Nice fun video with great scenery! One complaint though, the shifter on the Trail 125 was mentioned numerous times but not once did you show it! I had to go search the internet for photos of it!
other then that Good job on the video.
What is the name of the saddlebags on the monkey?
This is the comparison I was waiting on, the only thing missing was a stretch of road riding that I have seen in every other video. In short, which is better on the road, the bigger narrow tires, or the fat small guys, Ugh, guess I'll just have to test ride then both.
Great job guys! Makes me want one. Cheers Kirk
Honda would sell twice as many Trail 125 if it had the dual range transmission. Lack thereof is a deal breaker for me.
Excuse my ignorance. Can you explain a little how these work?
Instead of having 4 gears like a motorcycle, you could just swap sprockets on the fly just like a bicycle
@@gfrizzleshizzlemanizzle I think they mean like a low range for more torque and a high range with less torque but more speed.
But the modern trail125 can climb the same grades as the old trail with the low range.
@@infesting I have not ridden the new Trail 125, but it is absolutely impossible for it to climb as well as it would if it had a dual range transmission. The low range on my old Trail's had a top speed roughly half that of the high range.
Honda should make a trail250 with the semi auto but five gears instead, the fifth should be a close to overdrive level of high, tune it to make like 19 hp, it'll be a serious hit if they price it appropriately
Also a low range mode
Thx for the video. It clearly shows the limit of those 2 bikes. One with small wheels, the other one without clutch making difficult to pass on some of the obstacles.
I still wish i could be there. You lucky ❤
Called the bike shop in AZ as of April- 2022, they wanted 10.5k out the door for this CT 125 Honda.
I will wait for awhile to get one.
'22 Monkey has 5-speed, and Grom engine; Nice!
I thought the 125 Trail had a hi lo range that you flipped a lever to change from one to another
it looks like you had quite a bit of fun. But for $1350 more you could get a CRF 300 L. In my opinion the 300 is so much more for your money. It is still a small bike but it is a lot more motor a lot more suspension than the little one 125.
Please do it again with the adv150 orr with the adv350 if it got here.
C90adventures shows how capable the Honda Super Cub (Trail 125) family of bikes are.
Most produced motor vehicle in the world.
Lots of parts available, around the world.
Someguyrides showed how reliable the Trail 125 is; rode entire TAT, trouble free.
He tried replacing with a new Royal Enfield, engine broken, dealer can't fix.
He is back to riding his reliable Trail 125.
How do you think an ADV 150 would handle those type of roads/trails?
I've been wondering the same thing.
I am 6’ 2” I think a Yamaha TW-200 would be better for my 200+ pound frame. More power with a clutch plus any kind of after market items to fully customize the bike my way. I do like the idea of the Honda Trail but they should make a 200 cc. Version for bigger riders.
I spent 3k on a 08 650 versys with 10k miles on it I run it everywhere not jumping it off-road like a klr but craws up everything and is great on the road I'd love to have a 125 trail but not at that price
These things are a blast.Everybody should have one!😊
Nice video. The trail 125 would be really nice with a hi-lo selector. I have 2 CT 110s and a CT 125. I’m not fond of the clutch on the old 125. Thanks for the video.
I really like the look of the trail 125. Had a 110 model when I was a kid. I think the Yamaha tw200 would be a better fit for around the same price. Doesn’t have the back rack but the added power I believe is worth it. Would like to see a video comparing the trail 125 vs Yamaha tw200.
Roger that. The T-dub is the winner.
Tdubber here I agree. I think it's the most capable small dual sport stock.
I have owned the TW and now own the CT125, the CT has more power and better delivery than the Tdub. On the TW I struggled to hit 80kph on downhill, I can get there easy on flat with the CT.
@@UndisputedKingofSnails interesting, I've owned two T-Dubs as well, a '97 and a '98. Both were able to hit 112 kph (70 mph, GPS verified) on flat land. You may have had carburetor problems.
@@Bdub1952 I can hit 70 as well with stock gearing, although it hates it
I own a trail. It sucks in the sand but it sucks up the giant bumps super well. People I know with the monkey say the opposite, that it sucks over big bumps but soaks up sand like it’s nothing. Also monkey has more gears & wider gear range with better parts availability. Grass is always greener right?
my 78 Honda 50 was exactly like the trail 125 is ( no clutch/semi auto ) The only difference is the back shifter. I'm thinking about replacing it with a suicide shifter
Love it. Great job demonstrating less is more. Keep the great videos coming. Thanks.
Good luck getting one! They are totally back ordered!
I have the ct125. Love it but the LED headlight is a joke. Auxiliary lights are a must. Not sure if the monkey is equipped with a better light.
I run an old kz250 csr through light off-roading like this. It’s small, light, squishy, comfortable and gutless. It’s fantastic! These small, light, comfortable bikes on light off-roading really are about the most fun you can have on two wheels.
I Remember it was the 70s I was mabe 8 yrs old n lookin 4 trouble n m y Dad gave me a honda 50 i rode the wheels off it rebuilt it n did it again Great Bikes !
Little bikes can fit in a van, and also are easy to pick up..
Getting one is impossible here in Kingman AZ, the local Honda dealer which also sells HD will not even take a deposit to order a CT125, they suck. Need to find a dealer that will ship me one. Just bought a Honda Monkey from same dealer 6/13.2023 and am very happy with it and the clutch was a big factor.