Honda CBR125R (2012)

The 125cc sportsbike class is where riding careers begin. For the vast majority of new riders, on the road and on the race circuit, these machines are the first step on a path that could lead anywhere, perhaps right to the top. For this reason 125cc sportsbikes have a huge responsibility. They must be just as rewarding to ride as bigger Supersports machines, particularly where engine power is less important, such as in town and on very twisty roads. They must be easy to ride too, patiently nurturing new riders and building their confidence on two wheels. If a 125cc sportsbike can put its rider at ease with the fundamentals of control then it has done its job.

Of course the perfect 125cc sportsbike is also huge fun to ride. Such machines are motorcycling’s first chance to capture a rider’s imagination; its opportunity to show just how exhilarating and rewarding riding can be, not to mention how much more practical it is as a means of travelling today’s congested urban roads. This can only be achieved by offering a machine that’s designed from the ground up as a sportsbike – delivering the crisp responses and thrilling performance young riders demand.

Since its introduction in 2004 the CBR125R has represented the ideal first sportsbike. Compact, lightweight and blessed with the refinement, ease of use and welcoming handling that have become synonymous with the CBR family, it has become a popular machine with young riders the world over. But the time has come for a more sophisticated 125cc sportsbike, a 125 with the quality feel associated with bigger machines. The CBR125R is ready to prove itself as the perfect first sportsbike for a new generation of riders.

The brief was simple: to create a 125cc sportsbike with the look and feel of a bigger and more expensive machine. The new sportsbike had to retain the current CBR125R’s user-friendly handling characteristics and free-revving single-cylinder engine, but package them inside all-new bodywork with the sophisticated styling and full-size proportions demanded by the modern young sports rider. It was decided too that wider, more impressive wheel and tyre sizes should be specified, enhancing handling while also helping create the feel of a much bigger motorcycle. Finally, the latest advances in fuel injection and catalyser technology would make the 2012 CBR125R more efficient than its predecessor.

Developing a peak power figure of 9.8kW at 10,000rpm and a peak torque figure of 10.4Nm at just 8000rpm, the CBR125R has the performance to make every ride a joy, whether it’s commuting to work or college or riding open roads for the sheer thrill of it.

2012 Honda CB125R – Candian MSRP Price – $3,499 – $3,599 CDN

Honda CBR125R (2012)