Honda NSR125 > Reviews > Faster Faster..

Author's product rating:   

Comfort	Good
Handling	Good
Looks	Good
Features	Good
Fuel consumption	Excellent

Advantages:	Smart looking learner legal sports, fastest acceleration in the category, comfy and practical for just about every need .
Disadvantages:	Not quite in the same league performance wise as the aprilia rs125 and cagiva mito . New UK spec bikes are more pricey than they should be .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

After nearly a year on my nice but annoyingly slow (60-70mph) Derbi gpr50 sports moped, i decided that it was now time to upgrade to something a little bigger. I first thought how about doing my test and getting a restricted 400/600,but due to high insurance costs and moaning mother this idea was quickly dropped.

Bike Shopping

So this now left me the hard choice of the 125 sports category. First up there was the Aprilia RS125, nortoriously fast and trick (120mph), but also nortoriously unreliable, as a mate of mine found out when his 7 month old rs blew its engine to a million bits for no reason. Second up was the Cagiva Mito, this is also another fast italian (also upto 120mph), even more beautiful than the rs, and more reliable, but due the recent money problem of Cagiva, are harder to find and buy than Buckingham palace. Now we come to the Honda NSR125R this bike is not as fast/light or (in more conflicting terms) attractive/exciting as the rs/mito, BUT in the NSR's side its secret weapon is that they are more reliable than Big Ben, plus have the benefit of comfy(er) travel for both rider and pillion.

Choosing the NSR

This is what in the end tilted my choice, as i cant afford to be repairing it every couple of months, this and the fact that i found it to be the quickest 125 from 0 to 60,(5.5sec) even if it doesnt keep up after that.
The best things about this bike are that, you can take pillions alot easier with the help of a big seat, grab rail and its low down power which helps alot with puling away with more weight on the little bike. Its economical, reports of up to 70 miles per gallon are not uncommon, if something does go wrong, its a honda, so getting hold of parts takes no time at all and at moderate prices.

First impressions.

When you first see the bike in person it looks sharp, and quite large, if low, when looking in finer detail there are some parts that need some further designing, the Dials for instant are'nt particularly eye catching, just useful and thats it, the rear mud guard is also something of a mismatch as there is no real need of it being so big, only to hold the L plate, but fortunately this is easily removed by disconecting two bolts on either side of it, just got to put them back in the holes that are left otherwise the number plate can come off!

Bikes Specs

This bike has some of the brightest headlights around for such a small bike. The engine is the best 125 engine in restricted form, but is a little underpowered when derestricted as it only produces about 27bhp, compared to the rs/mito which produce 33.
The top speed of the NSR is around 100-110 depending on the spockets that are fitted, but you will lose some acceleration for top speed. The brakes are Ok, good enough but not class leading (that goes to the mito). The tyres are slightly (20mm) thinner than other new 125 sportsbikes, and are slightly more touring based, but are still grippy enough for getting your knee down. You can also fit a D-lock under the bike's seat, but it is a tight fit.

As a whole this bike is a very good bike to learn and pose on and any owner would be proud of it.