... Whilst researching into what bike to choose I came across the Honda NSR125 and knew instantly I wanted one! After looking around for a few weeks I eventually bought a 2001 model in Red white and Blue, from a local motorbike dealer for £2200.
-----Style-----
Wow! was my initial thought...the ... Read review
Advantages: Looks Great, Very reliable, very powerful for a 125 Disadvantages: Turns like a bus as slow speeds, driving position can get painful on wrists
...choose I came across the Honda NSR125 and knew instantly I wanted one! After looking around for a few weeks I eventually bought a 2001 model in Red white and Blue, from a local motorbike dealer for £2200.
-----Style-----
Wow! was my initial thought...the bike looks like a 600cc! Stylish curves and fat wheels. The only give away is the smaller exhaust (and the fact I’ve got 'L' plates). The bike is a definite head turner. ... ...wind to a minimum, though you do have to duck your head down a bit to optimise the effect of the screen. The fat wheels are very reassuring and allow you lean round any corner with confidence. One thing which looks out of place on this bike is the rear indicators, they stick out for miles...so much so you could hang you washing on them and dry it whilst you ride! But this is only cosmetic, and let’s face it the longer indicators make you more visible ... more
-----Introduction------
Aged 22, I decided to get a 125cc bike and ride it for a few years on 'L' plates, in order to gain some confidence and experience of riding, before I would eventually go for my full bike test on a larger bike.
I spent allot of time looking at what bike to get and reading reviews. Whilst researching into what bike to choose I came across the Honda NSR125 and knew instantly I wanted one! After looking around for a few weeks I eventually bought a 2001 model in Red white and Blue, from a local motorbike dealer for £2200.
-----Style-----
Wow! was my initial thought...the bike looks like a 600cc! Stylish curves and fat wheels. The only give away is the smaller exhaust (and the fact I’ve got 'L' plates). The bike is a definite head turner. The fairings also do their job well, keeping rain and wind to a minimum, though you do have to duck your head down a bit to optimise the effect of the screen. The fat wheels are very reassuring and allow you lean round any corner with confidence. One thing which looks out of place on this bike is the rear indicators, they stick out for miles...so much so you could hang you washing on them and dry it whilst you ride! But this is only cosmetic, and let’s face it the longer indicators make you more visible and therefore safer. Universal rear indicators are available from most motorbike shops (as well as Halfords) for about £10 if you do decide to change them. Any way enough about how it looks, you can see that for your self...on to the bike it’s self...
-----Engine-----
Its a two stroke, which means it doesn’t have the grunt of most bike, but don’t worry it doesn’t sound like a hover mower, the engine makes quite a purr which is very unique and distinguished (I think so anyway). Because it is a two stroke it means that this bike is sportier than 4stroke bike of the same cc, however it does take a while to warm up. This also means that it requires toping up with 2 stroke oil every 3-4 fuel fill ups. Because of the sporty set up of this bike I recommend using good quality fully synthetic 2stroke oil, this can be expensive (appx £5/litre) but it will ensure the engine remains healthy. Toping up the 2stroke oil, and tinkering with the engine requires the tank to be propped up, there is a single bolt locking the front of the tank down, this requires an Allen key and can be a bit fiddly (especially with cold fingers). Once under the tank routine maintenance can also be a bit fiddly as there is little room for manoeuvre. I have had not problems with the engine at all, it starts every time…first time…even when cold or when I have left the bike standing for a few weeks. There is not a great deal more to say about the engine, it is liquid cooled, single cylinder and very straight forward. Stock bikes have restrictions in place (in the carb and the exhaust) which limit the bike to 12BHP, these can be legally removed after passing your bike test and have been reported to more than double the power out put to appx. 28-30BHP.
-----Handling/performance-----
Now we are talking....this bike moves!!! As soon as you pull back the throttle and let out the clutch you forget that this bike is 125cc. Acceleration is fantastic. I regularly ride this bike on duel carriage ways and it has no problems keeping up with (and overtaking...he he!) traffic. I get some funny looks of people who have just been overtaken by a bike with L plates. At low revs the bike potters along blissfully, high revs the power band is breathtaking...it makes me smile every time! Its has been reported that the bike will achieve a 0-60mph speed of around 5 seconds and a top speed of 100mph+ when the bike is fully de-restricted, and a 0-60 of around 10seconds and top speed of 85-90mph when fully restricted. The brakes work...there is not much more to say, they are not the best brakes in the world but they do their job more than sufficiently for the weight of the bike. The riding position can be a little painful on the wrists (especially when riding for long periods of time). However it is very sporty and makes you feel a part of the bike, which is excellent when leaning into corners. Due to the respectively light weight of the bike it is great to manoeuvre. Unfortunately at low speeds the turning circle is huge and this makes things difficult if you have to do anything like a U-turn.
-----Additional Info-----
www.nsr125.com is a great website with lots of helpful information and chat forums where friendly advice is given about any problems you have.
Insurance for this bike is not the cheapest, especially for young riders, however the fact that it only costs £15 to tax, as well as not having to pay car parking fee's or pay and display saves me so much money. I actually enjoy going to work nowadays solely for the enjoyment of overtaking everyone on my way!!
I initially bought this bike with the intention of using it as a stepping stone for a few years before I get a bigger bike, however the fun I have had with this machine has persuaded me to hold on to this bike for a few years longer.
Considering that this is only a 125cc machine, the speed and power this bike produces is phenomenal.......and you can ride one of these at 17yrs old!!
Advantages: Cheap, easy to work on. Disadvantages: None, it does exactly what it says on the tin.
I’m writing this from memory so you will have to excuse some of the details I may miss.
I bought an NSR125 about 6 years ago second hand, it was the old styling where there were 2 colors available, white and red.
I rode it on a moped license with “L” plates which you could do at the time as long as it was restricted (I don’t know if you can do it now)?
Then after 6 months I passed my test, kept it another 6 months and sold ... ...The riding position was very nice and the fairing did a brilliant job of keeping the wind of and the rain.
I don’t remember how many miles it was between fill ups but I don’t remember getting on first name terms with the local petrol station so it couldn’t have been that bad.
It was irritating having to check the two stroke oil tank every 2 or 3 fill ups to make sure you weren’t caught short but it did have a warning light ...
andrewj100 25.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Honda NSR125
Advantages: Small lite and economical Disadvantages: limited performance
...whom wanted to sell a Honda NSR125. I know you must be wondering why that and not another. Anyway, I was little confused about all the rules on motorcycling but was glad to find that as I had passed my test none applied to me. The Honda NSR 125 is a watercooled single cylinder machine the most expensive of the 125 cc machines that Honda makes it has some interesting features and is at the most fasionable end of the market for learner and commuter ... ...Hence, I am reviewing the Honda NSR125.
~The Look~
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It's has a white plastic and metal body with silver controls with black buttons on the handlebars and blue display screen on the instrument panel. I liked that clearly. It's got many buttons on the front of the handle bars on-off switch, stop clutch/brake leavers, speedo, revcounter etc. The seat is a black with silver inserts with the flexibility of extra features that the machine ...
essential1 04.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Honda NSR125
Advantages: Quick off the mark, superb feel, looks the business. Disadvantages: Fiddly design makes routine maintenance awkward. Turns like a bus at low speeds.
I passed the Compulsory Basic Training about a month ago, and picked up a brand new NSR125 the same day. I looked at a couple of bikes, but being 6ft3 and built like a brick out-building, my choices were somewhat limited.
The NSR125 looks like a 500cc, the only real give-away being the scaled down exhaust. It's a two-stroke engine which is great for being first away from the traffic lights!
Being the only bike I've ridden, aside from the Yamaha ... ...most comfortable bike you'll ever ride. You always seem to have a lot of body weight resting on your arms, and this can be fairly uncomfortable after a while. But, maybe I just need to relax more. :)
Routine maintenance of this bike is a little fiddly. If you don't know anything about bikes, a 2-stroke engine uses oil, just as it uses petrol. Therefore you have to put more oil in periodically. The oil filler cap is situated underneath the petrol ...
lyricalt 24.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Honda NSR125
...-review information my new 03 Honda NSR is sitting outside waiting for me to ride it. Here follows a report and review of the bike to date as yet unridden and an update once I have taken my CBT (on sat) and actually ridden the bike, but it may be of use to folks who are 2 -3 weeks behind me in the purchasing process
Background: I am 36 years old and now have a little more money and had the BMW and the posh watches etc and like many men my age decided ... ...bike which ironically was a Honda MT5..49cc . Unlike my friends I did not take my bike test at that time and now regret it as it was easier (so I understand).
So I was left with the quandry as many whether to do a direct access and get a larger CC (like many and frighten myself to death with an R1) or do my cbt and see first whether I actually like motorbiking still - the roads were a lot quieter 20 years ago. I really wanted to bite the bullet ...
stanleymathews 18.07.2003 (19.07.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Honda NSR125
Advantages: excelent handling, easy to ride Disadvantages: weight, handlebar position.
ever since the NSR first came on the market, I wanted one.
I was immediately drawn to it. It looks sharp. a great bike to stand next at boxhill on a sunny sunday afternoon and say 'this one's mine'.
the ride position is definitely very sporty. you can just feel yourself moulding to the tank as you reduce air drag.
The throttle talks to you, saying quietly in your ear,'open me up, come on, you can do more, that's it, keep going'.
It seems to tell ... ...for such a small but heavy bike.
There seems to be a feel of comfort when riding it. It takes care of you and seems to know what to do.
a bit sluggish in low rpm, but just pull on the throttle and it's 'lift off'. Great on corners and even better on the straight. Servicing and parts are not a problem for this machine as it has been around for many a year now. So, from new parts to second hand, you should not have much trouble with keeping it on ...
mixture 18.03.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Honda NSR125
Comfort
Handling
Looks
Features
Fuel consumption
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Advantages: Looks fantastic Disadvantages: Not a great first bike and very heavy maintenance
and sixth.
The flipside is this bike will put a smile on your face everytime you ride it. It can be used everyday as a commuter bike (i did it for 9 months) but it doesn't like it much, buy a honda CB500 for that. It likes smooth roads with lots of bends and with practice it is possible to slide the back wheel into and out of corners but thats not easy or recommended. If you use it on a track day it is possible to get your elbow down let alone your knee. The handling is superb and the sound is gorgeous, especially when compared to Honda's NSR125.
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Advantages: A quick reliable bike, can be ridded on L-Plates Disadvantages: A bit unrefined at lows revs (two stroke misfire)
I use my '89 Yam TZR 125 every day as a means of getting to work. It has done 35,000 miles, 7000 of which have been done by myself. It is fully de-restricted (servo power valve connected) and can top 100mph on a good day It has needed very little work apart from a new clutch, chain and sprockets (General Wear and Tear). They are easy to maintain and while yamaha genuine parts are quite pricey, you are guaranteed good quality and robustness when you buy them, in my opinion you HAVE to use the genuine parts, don't trust pattern products as they are always of lesser quality.
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