... 18 months ago I bought a Suzuki GN125 and I've never looked back.
WHO CAN RIDE ONE?
Anyone with a full UK driving license, so over 16's. It's officially a 124cc and therefore can be ridden using that license. You have to take a CBT course and pass it. You also have to display seven-inch ... Read review
Advantages: Good "commuter"; rideable on a car license Disadvantages: Doesn't like the cold; top speed 55-60mph
...months ago I bought a Suzuki GN125 and I've never looked back.
WHO CAN RIDE ONE?
Anyone with a full UK driving license, so over 16's. It's officially a 124cc and therefore can be ridden using that license. You have to take a CBT course and pass it. You also have to display seven-inch sqaure "L" plates front and rear. The CBT certificate is only valid for 2 years, after which you retake it or move onto the "big ... ...bike. I eased myself in with a moped for three years and progressed to this simple, if flawed, model. Should be looking to make the transition from moped to motorbike, I would recommend the Suzuki GN 125.
WHY HAVE I GOT A MOTORBIKE? I haven't told many people this but I feel quite happy telling the Ciao community for some reason. About five years I had a panic attack on a train: sweat, hyperventilation, sense of claustrophobia - the works. It got stuck in a tunnel for an hour and something in me just couldn't take it. I've never stepped on a train or tube since, but I am willing to work on that for the sake of the kids.
So I looked for alternative methods of getting from Bexleyheath in Kent to London's West End. Bicycle: 28 mile round trip would kill me back in those days; bus: two hours at least. So I investigated the possibility of, and purchased a scooter/moped. 18 months ago I bought a Suzuki GN125 and I've never looked back.
WHO CAN RIDE ONE? Anyone with a full UK driving license, so over 16's. It's officially a 124cc and therefore can be ridden using that license. You have to take a CBT course and pass it. You also have to display seven-inch sqaure "L" plates front and rear. The CBT certificate is only valid for 2 years, after which you retake it or move onto the "big boys" test!
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? I like it. My one is red, they also come in black. It has a "classic" look to it and is the polar opposite of the "lean forward" riding positions of the faster, plastic, sportier bikes out there. The position for riding is upright and feels very comfortable even over bumps and potholes.
Everything about it feels real. Only the built-in toolbox is made of plastic. The beautifully rounded headlamps, indicator storks and rear frame are all finished in shiny metal, as well as the spokes and rims on the wheels. The leather (real?) seat is very comfortable to sit on for the duration of my 50 minute journey to work.
HOW FAST DOES IT GO? This is the first flaw. It's only a 125 and therefore isn't going to set off any speed cameras.
Along the flat: 55mph (7500 rpm) Uphill: 45mph (7000 rpm) Downhill: 62mph (8000 rpm)*
For my 50 minute, 14 mile journey through London's mean streets, it's perfect. There are many junctions and traffic lights and I can name only two stretches of road where I could achieve the above speeds anyway.
*could have been more but I bottled it! Soz.
WHAT'S IT LIKE PETROL-WISE? Brilliant. Even with petrol prices fluctuating as they are at the moment, £7 will see me through a working week. I fill up every Friday morning on my way in.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD IT BE SERVICED? Because I do 600 miles a month, I get it serviced four times year (October, December, February and August). For those doing less miles and thus creating less wear and tear, I would say twice yearly or every 2500 miles will suffice.
I've had services exceeding £200 twice in 18 months and both times it's been for a lack of power that has been traced back to the diaphragm. I don't know what this does, but changing it for a new one certainly made a world of difference. Apart from that it's the usual: oil, sparks, chain and brake tightening etc.
ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS? I can't speak for the range of Suzukis as a whole, but mine doesn't seem to like the cold weather. I cover it and leave it up the side of the house overnight and in April, I had to call the recovery dudes out four times! Since then I've had no problems. Punctures are the only other irritant I can think of and you can never allow for these. If they happen, they happen I'm afraid.
WHAT COMES WITH IT? Not a lot. A built-in toolbox and, that's it. One glaring omission is a fuel gauge. I ran out of petrol twice when I first got it, and then subsequently overfilled it the following two times. You get to know the bike eventually and not having a fuel gauge isn't that much of a handicap for me.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED? I'm aiming this at people who are seeking to commute like me and have never stepped on a bike:
A safety helmet: £100 or so Waterproof trs £20 from Millets Padded gloves £35 Waterproof coat £50-150 depending on brand Road tax: £15 p.a!
WHAT'S BEST: A 125 BIKE OR 125 SCOOTER? I've owned both and they both have their pros and cons. Generally the bike lasts longer but it slower away from the lights. A moped IS nippy but two years' wear and tear drove my old Peugeot Vivacity into the ground. If my bike was stolen today, I would look to replace it with the same model. No more mopeds for me.
ANYTHING ELSE? Starting is easy. Press the electronic start button, hold the clutch in and........REV!
Starting price for these are around £1500 with three year old second hand models currently changing hands for around £950.
SUMMARY Five years ago you wouldn't get on a bike. I eased myself in with a moped for three years and progressed to this simple, if flawed, model. Should be looking to make the transition from moped to motorbike, I would recommend the Suzuki GN 125.
Advantages: Reliable / Economical / Looks Good Disadvantages: Not The Quickest 125
...I think the Suzuki is a good looker but one of the drawbacks is the wide mirrors - this can cause a problem when squeezing through traffic at the lights.
If you're thinking of getting a 125 to learn on as your first bike I would definately recommend it. ...
SgtZara 10.01.2003 (11.01.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Suzuki GN 125
Advantages: fuel economy, price Disadvantages: corrosion, depreciation, acceleration, top speed
...intention was to by a Suzuki Van Van. However, I took my CBT on a GN125 and decided that it wouldn't be a bad first bike to learn on. It's also significantly cheaper than a Van Van and top speed is higher. Bought the bike new back in April 2006 for £1400. The bike was a grey import - Suzuki no longer officially supply this bike to the UK market. As a result the speedometer is in km/h which is a little annoying. That's the only difference that I am ... ...the bike daily until recently to ride too and from the station.
The bike rides quite well bearing in mind its size. Acceleration is obviously poor compared to a bigger bike but not as bad as you might think. It could certainly outrun the average car from standstill. It really starts to struggle once you get up to 50mph - especially if you are going uphill. That being said however I am quite a big bloke (16 stone) so performance may be a bit better ...
Andy1750 11.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Suzuki GN 125
Advantages: reliable, hard working, low fuel consumption, great commuter Disadvantages: Classic Suzuki paint work.
Five and a half years i have been riding now and the first 4 of those years were spent on mopeds until one day i decided that no matter how long i tried to put it off for i was going to have to learn gears if i was to become a 'real biker'! i booked the cbt and away i went. The GN 125 is the bike i took my training on. I was very nervous at first, but once i got on the bike i started to relax a bit. The bike has a very natural riding position wich ... ...went well and as a result i passed!
After a month or two i finally came accross a GN 125 at one of the local bike shops. It was one of a batch of ex training bikes. I wanted it as soon as i saw it its not flash looking but with its naked fairing and single lamp id say its quite retro. I just did a straight swap for the bike i was riding at the time. The bike was delivered later that day in exchange for my shiney swish lookin gilera DNA 125. I was ...
raincheck_uk 20.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Suzuki GN 125
Advantages: very good on fuel very comfortable easy to ride perfect for the learner Disadvantages: No faring so warm clothing is necessary
This is a very very good bike for the learner. Great handling easy controls unbelievable fuel consumption (a full tank (£6) last for a long time) quite fast for a 125 I have had 75mph out of mine and will pull 60mph on flat no trouble 50mph up a steep hill and will accelerate up hills as well unlike most scooters. The acceleration is not the best but will still beat some cars off the mark. This bike sounds great! Much better than these 50cc hair ... ...as there is no fairing so will get a bit nippy in the winter months. Starts first time every time although the choke does come in handy. A bad point is that there is no kick-start, not that it needs it but it could be very useful. The lights are not as good as a car but better than a scooter you can still see where you are going and all in good time. The only bad points to this bike is that the suspension is very soft and the mirrors are a bit big ...
timmynastics 05.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Suzuki GN 125
Comfort
Handling
Looks
Features
Fuel consumption
Quick review of Suzuki GN 125
Gnanesh
Sri lanka
Every Bike has some Problem... The Only problem I had was that
the front Disk Brake Kept squeaking after a heavy rain. Needed to clean the brake pads or replace them ...Then its OK. It has happened a dozen of times .
Finally I changed the Disk into a grooved one and the problem vanished.
Mr.Suzuki should introduce this in Future GN if he makes any.... ...
Sheka 09.10.2007 (08.10.2007)
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Suzuki GN 125
