History of Honda CB125 Motorcycle

In the 1970s, Japanese motorcycles were becoming a common sight on British streets. It was a simple machine with excellent fuel efficiency and was much cheaper than large British bicycles and US imports. The CB125 was introduced in 1972 as a basic commuter motorcycle that can also increase your heart rate. The single-cylinder 4-stroke bike CB125 was equipped with an overhead camshaft (OHC) engine with a displacement of 122 cc (increased to 124 cc in 1976).

Honda designed it as a high rev engine and urged the throttle to be twisted with a red line at 9500 rpm. It demonstrated excellent performance as a small motorcycle in the 1970s. The rider was able to exceed 65 mph at top speed, but the bike was comfortable cruising at 55 mph. A true beauty, the Honda CB125 engine can last forever if you keep an eye on your oil levels. Most owners stuck to oil changes every 1000km to keep everything in top condition.

The Honda CB125 provided an exciting performance for the average biker, but remained modest. Part of the reason was that it was lightweight with a curb weight of less than 90 kg. Depending on how you ride, the 1970s Honda CB125 was able to run over 40 kilometers on a liter of gasoline. The 5-speed transmission also helped improve both control and mileage. The Honda CB125 was a versatile motorcycle with torques like 18.5 bhp @ 9000 rpm that could be used for commuting, work, or just riding fun.

Honda has not created many variations and most survivors have been designated as CB125, CB125S, and CB125J. Interestingly, all models manufactured in the United States (1976-89) have been designated as Honda CB125S models. In any case, the changes were minor, such as the electrical system being upgraded from 6V to 12V in the 1980s. Also, from 1974 to 1979, the CB125 was equipped with disc brakes on the front wheels as standard equipment. Subsequent models returned to fairly weak drum brakes. This was a strange decision for such a nifty motorcycle.

The last Honda CB125 was deployed from a US manufacturing plant in 1989, but its legacy remains. The Honda B125 near clone is still zooming in some countries. It is also a praised classic motorcycle with many loyal long-term owners. Easy to use and maintain, you can find this highly efficient bike for sale on used bikes. The well-conditioned Honda CB125 is still receiving a lot of attention from collectors and bike repairers.