Something I’ve always wondered about is what kind of mileage can be expected from a 125cc engine if subject to the following type of use…
Engine: 125 from one of the big reliable Jap manufacturers like Honda;
Useage: daily for 85 mile round commute - equal mix of 70, 60 & 30mph limits;
Servicing: Probably just following the manufacturers reccommended intervals.
I’ve heard some talk of how any 125 will be shagged after 15k miles, whilst others say 50k+ no probs. Just wondered if anyone on here has notched up big miles on a 125?
From what I have seen, expect the oil pump to fail at about 40k, but until then nothing major will shag the engine as long as it is not modified and is serviced properly.
My mates KTM 125 Duke snapped its conrod at the end of a 100 mile run with a 30min stop half way! The speed was about 60mph and it was one year old with 6k on clock. It seems the constant rpm did it no favours…
YZF-R125 defo does 70+ tried and tested my brothers one:D
if you look after them they do last, dont neglect checking the oil, 125’s only hold a litre of oil and use a bit due to using high revs so keep an eye on it.
Sports 125 definitely hit much higher than 70. Guy I know had a slightly older Aprilia and he did 80-90mph on motorways no probs. OTOH my YBR barely does 65.
Coincidentally I just hit 15k not so long ago. Bike had issues now and then starting (when started runs fine). But did some servicing at the OMC and all seems fine and dandy now.
guy at work does about the same commute on a suzuki van van, and after 3 years his engine blew, although i think he could have been more diligent with the oil. going that far, you want to keep it topped up and change the oil at least once a month i would say.
Just to clarify, this is a hypothetical question. Neither I nor anyone I know actually does this kind of commute on a 125. I get it that my hypothetical rider doing his hypothetical 85 miles a day on a 125 is clearly a masochist of the magnitude that would put Anastacia in 50 Shades to shame, but back to the original question… How long before his motor goes pop!?
Polisher, any ideas what mileage your workmate had on that VanVan before it ate itself? :w00t:
About 45 - 50 000, I think. Less than he was hoping for certainly. he got a used engine from a write off fitted for £600 though and he’s back on the road, after 3 weeks of no bike. He’s decided to keep going till he blows this one too, then get something more capable. A large part of his commute is at 60mph, basicly with the throttle full on, head down, arse up and the mechanic thought that is what did it, just trunning the engine at full capacity for too long, every day.
My courier friend had 90k miles on his 2005 Honda CG125, probably a lot more now since I last saw him. He rides in central London so its a lot of start stop but not much high speed.
id happily do 41 miles way trip on my dt 125 2 stroke iv done about 15k on my dt in the year and a bit i have owned it i blew it up once dew to a faulty piston ring stop on the piston lol
+1 for my varadero 125 (2005 version. with carbs no fuel injection), its had 6 previous owners, i have only ever topped the oil up since i got the bike in feb. it can do 75mph easily and 80 if you keep the needle on the red and if theres no wind against you, its also comfy. it is slow at accellerating from a stop though due to the size and weight for a 125. it has a v twin though which helps
surpose like any bike it depends how u look after em in the long run i still got my old 1990 yamma/gamma laying about and she is now on 47 thou miles and still kicking,
I’ve seen Honda S-Wing 125’s, SH125’s PS125’s and 4 stroke Pantheon’s racking up high mileages, and my own S-Wing seems unburstable, I see no reason to worry about high mileages, as long as you give it some respect.
The auto engine units are not under strain, as they are sold as 150cc units in Japan/Europe, and have roots back to the Cub range.
The PS125 loan scooter I had for a few days never seemed to be under strain. I got 65 out of it on an A road and even then it wasn’t revving iteself to bits. I think you could expect high mileags out of them. There must be some Honda Cubs still around with lunar mileages.
+1 depends how you look after them. There are so many ancient 125’s and 250’s out there with loads of mileage on them. Unless the problem comes from the manufactor, the rest will be normal wear from usage. It’s the same for all JAPANESE motorcycles.
