Back in 1975 I bought a brand new Honda CB125S. I fitted a rear carrier and along with my wife, a large holdall on the rack and a duffel bag aerolastic'ed to the petrol tank we toured all over England and Scotland. In the Lake District we surprised plenty of people as we tackled Hard Knot Pass with no problems. We sold it in 1981 after six years of great service, the only ever breakdown was a faulty plug cap.
The Honda brought back memories, as the two-tone design was how the 125 looked when I first got interested in bikes. Too young to ride one, but obsessed with the catalogues. It's funny how a bike's appearance can evoke emotions you last felt decades ago.
I love small capacity machines. They're just not something we see much of in the States. Admittedly, they're not well suited for our highways and long distances between urban areas, but they are great as a second machine for running local errands. In a Country where a brand new rider can legally ride an R1, or any decade's equivalent, not enough riders know the joy of riding these little gems.
I think the Suzuki GT125 is worth a mention here. When i was 16 and riding a Puch M50 sport (sixteener moped) my friend, who owned a GT125, let me ride his. I rather naughtily disappeared into the night for about an hour on it. Shame on me but it was great ride. A very well put together motorcycle. Left me impressed to the point where it is still clear in my memory 45 years later. Of course my friend was livid when i found him later. But a few beers i bought him to make up for it chilled him out again.
Excellent!! I learnt to ride on my brothers gogeous Guzzi 125 (I think a GT) and that has fed my abiding love for Guzzis (I'm now 67!) .....very generous brother!!! I would have been intriqued to have seen the Suzuki 125 Stinger 🙂
the CB125 you show is a K3 - it's significantly different from the contemporary CB175 and they're not the same engine, despite their outward similarities. For the time, the brakes were top notch and contemporary British 175s would use sls drums. The TLS front was probably the best brake on a 25 at that time; discs on a 125 were very much in the future. It's a measure of Honda's engineering that they were prepared to build bikes that were technically different and yet looked similar. In your Guzzi section, you start with a 235 lodola.....
I not focusing on one particular time period here The 60s bike had a pressed steal frame and a sloper engine Ditto the Yamaha you may notice is from the 70s
How about the Suzuki 125 2-cyl., 2-stroke. I remember seeing one once around 1970 and I fell in love with it. It was gold and black. I never read anything about them in the Motorcycle magazines. I would also like to see a video on Bridgestone motorcycles, I had a 90cc Bridgestone when I was 14, and it was a great bike.
The Italian bikes of the period were so stylish and offered good performance with technical specifications only dreamt of by the makers of the Bantam. Not a 125, but I wonder if anyone remembers a bike which a friend of my brothers had in the 60s. It was a Garelli 98cc single, 2 stroke and was beautifully styled like a little race bike and offered good performance for the era. I've looked on the internet but can only find Garelli mopeds, which it definitely wasn't. Great video, thanks for posting.
Nice to see some italian machines. I am renovating a Bianchi Bernina 125 as, when young, my brothers friend had one and that set off the motorcycling bug in me. Its beautiful alloy castings do it for me. I also have a Honda 125ss from the 60's in the pipeline and a Lodola...Thanks for another very interesting video!
Pretty cool little tiddlers! I bought a 1967 Yamaha 125 twin at a garage sale for $50 in 1990. I rode it home. Sweet little bike but I was in no financial position to keep it. It had 2 back sprockets and an extra length of chain in the tool kit including extra master links. I rode it up a mountainside in the Rockies but coming back down was a real eye opening experience. I wonder where it is now. I sold it not long after that.
My 1st bike was the Suzuki GT 125 "the hornet", as the "Motorrad" magazine named it. 14.2 hp. (mind the .2 !) Wonderful bike. About 120 kph top speed. Then bought my first BMW R75/5. Around 2000, I bought a Yamaha RD125LC. 10W, first. Later even a 1GU (Never sold in Germany. Mine is from Switzerland.) 21hp. Around 100kg. Both bikes go 140 kph! And I haven't even optimized the transmission. (I got to know about a Suzuki LS 650, that only made 120 kph.) Fun story: I once was on the Autobahn behind a Rover 400 at a 130kph. The Rover moved over, to see, if I could do more, or if it was the slipstream. So I showed him! This bike is so tiny, nowbody gets annoyed by it. The frame is actually the same as the 80ccm.
Yes but in the real world top speed is largely irrelevant It’s torque that really counts As soon as you need to overtake or climb a hill Dancing your feet around constantly on the gear pedal gets very old very quickly I know which I’d take out for a long ride Those Honda twins are no torque monsters 👹
I had a Suzuki TSX125 in the nineties. It was a bunch of fun (and far too tall for me). But I always dreamed for the RD. I could probably have got both of my feet down, sat on that one. The TSX was fun though...
@@bikerdood1100 "Tall and bouncy" was that Susie, probably not sensible for a short-arse like me. A mate of mine had an old air-cooled RD(125), some years later. He let me start it up and blow some blue, smelly smoke rings in his garden. The bike was a dream for a short-arse like me...
My dad had a Yamaha RX125 for a few years, basically the DT125 engine but with squared off cooling fins like the RZ. I was too young to take it out on the road, but I learned doing hill starts up our driveway, and puttering up and down our street (the joys of living in a cul de sac). There was just enough road to get it up to 50 or 60 kph. It was a good little bike and I was sad when he sold it. After that it was a downgrade to a 50cc step through and then a Honda Ct110 until I got a car.
The Honda 125 K3 twin had its timing chain running on the left hand side, thus creating a car term " timing chest" both the CD & CB 175 s had the timing chain running between the two cylinders. I have owned all three of these bikes.
Another good video, with some cool bikes...but you could do with losing that background noise! It doesn't add anything, and only distracts from what you are saying. Just my opinion, of course! 👍
And the BSA, the Minsk, HD Hustler and the first Yamaha stroker I suspect because they are all basically the same bike Oh and then there’s the Royal Enfield but pretty sure there’s a few more
The best Honda 125 cc was the CB 92 . I had one in the 1960s . Even today I would swop my 1000cc Ducati for a CB 92 to potter around on, but they are way overpriced now.
...those guccis were my favourite, mean handlebars..of course, the 125 hondas, bullet proof...125 yami was my dream bike, never came true, dumbass father...
Back in 1975 I bought a brand new Honda CB125S. I fitted a rear carrier and along with my wife, a large holdall on the rack and a duffel bag aerolastic'ed to the petrol tank we toured all over England and Scotland. In the Lake District we surprised plenty of people as we tackled Hard Knot Pass with no problems. We sold it in 1981 after six years of great service, the only ever breakdown was a faulty plug cap.
Nice
Surprising what can be achieved on a small bike
Some great little bikes, all great fun to ride! I've always had a soft spot for Kawasaki's KH125.
Nice little stroker the KH
That's what I learned on kh125
The Honda brought back memories, as the two-tone design was how the 125 looked when I first got interested in bikes. Too young to ride one, but obsessed with the catalogues. It's funny how a bike's appearance can evoke emotions you last felt decades ago.
That’s memory for you
I get the same thing when I smell two stroke oil
I love small capacity machines. They're just not something we see much of in the States. Admittedly, they're not well suited for our highways and long distances between urban areas, but they are great as a second machine for running local errands. In a Country where a brand new rider can legally ride an R1, or any decade's equivalent, not enough riders know the joy of riding these little gems.
Well said
The 124 Gilera was a force to be reckoned with in the early 60's
Lot of really good small Italian bikes back then
The bikes I dreamed of as a child! Thank you.
Cool 😎
I think the Suzuki GT125 is worth a mention here. When i was 16 and riding a Puch M50 sport (sixteener moped) my friend, who owned a GT125, let me ride his. I rather naughtily disappeared into the night for about an hour on it. Shame on me but it was great ride. A very well put together motorcycle. Left me impressed to the point where it is still clear in my memory 45 years later.
Of course my friend was livid when i found him later. But a few beers i bought him to make up for it chilled him out again.
It is but you can’t fit every bike in one video
Excellent!! I learnt to ride on my brothers gogeous Guzzi 125 (I think a GT) and that has fed my abiding love for Guzzis (I'm now 67!) .....very generous brother!!!
I would have been intriqued to have seen the Suzuki 125 Stinger 🙂
It’s become our go too choice these days with all three of us owning a Guzzi
the CB125 you show is a K3 - it's significantly different from the contemporary CB175 and they're not the same engine, despite their outward similarities. For the time, the brakes were top notch and contemporary British 175s would use sls drums. The TLS front was probably the best brake on a 25 at that time; discs on a 125 were very much in the future. It's a measure of Honda's engineering that they were prepared to build bikes that were technically different and yet looked similar. In your Guzzi section, you start with a 235 lodola.....
I not focusing on one particular time period here
The 60s bike had a pressed steal frame and a sloper engine
Ditto the Yamaha you may notice is from the 70s
@@bikerdood1100this '5' series is fantastic dood. You done a special on the bantam?
Another fine list of fun bikes. I wanted every one of these as soon as I saw them. Thanks for sharing. You and your family ride safe. Cheers
Glad you enjoyed them
How about the Suzuki 125 2-cyl., 2-stroke. I remember seeing one once around 1970 and I fell in love with it. It was gold and black. I never read anything about them in the Motorcycle magazines. I would also like to see a video on Bridgestone motorcycles, I had a 90cc Bridgestone when I was 14, and it was a great bike.
@@glennmassengill7400 maybe next time
The CZ125C in this video is mine,I still use it at rallies mainly but it's a cracking little and runs lovely.Thanks for including it.
Thanks for bringing it along
Ahhhh yes my dad had one great memories the moto morini 125
Nice little bikes and rare too
The Italian bikes of the period were so stylish and offered good performance with technical specifications only dreamt of by the makers of the Bantam. Not a 125, but I wonder if anyone remembers a bike which a friend of my brothers had in the 60s.
It was a Garelli 98cc single, 2 stroke and was beautifully styled like a little race bike and offered good performance for the era. I've looked on the internet but can only find Garelli mopeds, which it definitely wasn't. Great video, thanks for posting.
Well they were also a lot more expensive of course
Nice to see some italian machines. I am renovating a Bianchi Bernina 125 as, when young, my brothers friend had one and that set off the motorcycling bug in me. Its beautiful alloy castings
do it for me. I also have a Honda 125ss from the 60's in the pipeline and a Lodola...Thanks for another very interesting video!
Cool selection of small machines
I love all your videos , bikerdood, but you for got about the cracking little Suzuki wolf
Well no I can’t fit everything in a single video
Somethings got to give if the video isn’t going to run for too long
Pretty cool little tiddlers! I bought a 1967 Yamaha 125 twin at a garage sale for $50 in 1990. I rode it home. Sweet little bike but I was in no financial position to keep it. It had 2 back sprockets and an extra length of chain in the tool kit including extra master links. I rode it up a mountainside in the Rockies but coming back down was a real eye opening experience. I wonder where it is now. I sold it not long after that.
Probably been kept in a collection by someone who paid way more than you did I expect
ah what memories, had a rd125 in late 70's sadly blew it up racing a transit van 😂
Tut tut
Younger you 😂
The RD brought back memories as I had the 200cc version. I was very impressed with that, very nimble.
The 200 was a cracker!
Me too!
A neighbour of mine had a 200 in the early 80s
Loved the sound and smell when he fired it up
My 1st bike was the Suzuki GT 125 "the hornet", as the "Motorrad" magazine named it. 14.2 hp. (mind the .2 !) Wonderful bike. About 120 kph top speed.
Then bought my first BMW R75/5. Around 2000, I bought a Yamaha RD125LC. 10W, first. Later even a 1GU (Never sold in Germany. Mine is from Switzerland.) 21hp. Around 100kg. Both bikes go 140 kph! And I haven't even optimized the transmission. (I got to know about a Suzuki LS 650, that only made 120 kph.)
Fun story: I once was on the Autobahn behind a Rover 400 at a 130kph. The Rover moved over, to see, if I could do more, or if it was the slipstream.
So I showed him! This bike is so tiny, nowbody gets annoyed by it. The frame is actually the same as the 80ccm.
Cool 😎
Gt125 Suzuki my first bike never let me down quick I used to thrash it sometimes two up
They do get some stick, 125s
That Honda 125 from the 60s has the same top speed as the Royal Enfield 350 Classic from the 2020s!
Yes but in the real world top speed is largely irrelevant
It’s torque that really counts
As soon as you need to overtake or climb a hill
Dancing your feet around constantly on the gear pedal gets very old very quickly
I know which I’d take out for a long ride
Those Honda twins are no torque monsters 👹
I had a Suzuki TSX125 in the nineties. It was a bunch of fun (and far too tall for me).
But I always dreamed for the RD. I could probably have got both of my feet down, sat on that one. The TSX was fun though...
Yams go well
Only ever owned a liquid cooled one though
@@bikerdood1100 "Tall and bouncy" was that Susie, probably not sensible for a short-arse like me.
A mate of mine had an old air-cooled RD(125), some years later. He let me start it up and blow some blue, smelly smoke rings in his garden. The bike was a dream for a short-arse like me...
My dad had a Yamaha RX125 for a few years, basically the DT125 engine but with squared off cooling fins like the RZ. I was too young to take it out on the road, but I learned doing hill starts up our driveway, and puttering up and down our street (the joys of living in a cul de sac). There was just enough road to get it up to 50 or 60 kph. It was a good little bike and I was sad when he sold it. After that it was a downgrade to a 50cc step through and then a Honda Ct110 until I got a car.
A CAR 😱
The Honda 125 K3 twin had its timing chain running on the left hand side, thus creating a car term " timing chest" both the CD & CB 175 s had the timing chain running between the two cylinders. I have owned all three of these bikes.
Nice
You forgot Honda NSR 125R with 32 horsepowers, water cooling and a cast aluminium frame. Almost a racing machine!
No no no😂
One was restricted by law to 125 cc when I was young until one passed 'the test.' Hence manufactures produced them in abundance.
It’s so today
Another good video, with some cool bikes...but you could do with losing that background noise! It doesn't add anything, and only distracts from what you are saying. Just my opinion, of course! 👍
Well actually a lot of people like the engine sounds
Better than bath music
I would imagine some of those would outperform modern day 125s🙄👍
A match at least
A lot of the cheaper 125s only make around 10hp
What about the early 1970s Suzuki T125 Stinger? That was a very different design and produced 15bhp and a top speed of 81 mph.
Next time
Maybe 🤔
The CZ looks almost identical to the DKW RT 125/MZ RT 125
And the BSA, the Minsk, HD Hustler and the first Yamaha stroker
I suspect because they are all basically the same bike
Oh and then there’s the Royal Enfield but pretty sure there’s a few more
Riding the Honda OHC twin was not unlike riding the Singer sewing machine. 😀 For me it had no whoomph.
That sounds a bit weird
True twins on lower capacity are smooth but lack a bit of punch
The best Honda 125 cc was the CB 92 . I had one in the 1960s . Even today I would swop my 1000cc Ducati for a CB 92 to potter around on, but they are way overpriced now.
As is the way with many older bikes
Should have been six 'Classic' 125's. You forgot about the dear old BSA Bantam!. 🤣
Naaaa
Going in my 175 video
Nice list ,BUT the MOTO RUMI makes all of these look RUBBISH
Oh of course 🙄
should've either done 4t or 2t, not both
Why ?
Not exactly radically different
All of 3hp between em
Bloody annoying how you mix Imperial units with Metric units; stick to one unit of measurement - it makes comparisons much easier.
No
Где Минск?
?
Check out my videos on Eastern bloc bikes
...those guccis were my favourite, mean handlebars..of course, the 125 hondas, bullet proof...125 yami was my dream bike, never came true, dumbass father...
Oh I have one of those father things
Never listened to him much
Thankfully
It's never too late. Gucci make handbags though...🤣