Admit it: We all love the Grom, Honda’s compact 125cc bundle of fun that’s become the playbike of choice for a whole new generation of riders. But what would happen if you took a similar 125cc single, a simple air-cooled motor, and installed it in a larger, more conventional, chassis?
Presto! You’d get the all-new 2015 CB125F, a Europe-only naked bike just unveiled by Honda. Although we haven’t ridden this new Honda, it looks like simple fun, a great learner’s bike that would also be a handy to have at a campsite or used around town like a scooter. Sure, Honda already has its CB300 and CB500 models here in the US, but the considerably lighter CB125 might be a better way of getting more beginning street riders in the saddle.
Details: The electric-start 124.7cc engine—an air-cooled SOHC two-valver with fuel injection and a balance shaft—puts out a claimed 10.5 horsepower, along with 7.5 pound-feet of torque. The gearbox is a five-speed, and fuel economy—get this—is listed as an astounding 125 miles per gallon. With its 3.4-gallon fuel tank, the 2015 Honda CB125F therefore has a range of more than 370 miles.
In addition to an all-new steel frame with a conventional fork and dual shocks, the new CB125F has a front disc and a rear drum brake. The blacked-out 18-in. wheels are cast, and the upright riding position, together with a wide handlebar, is designed to help the beginning rider with control. Honda says the new CB125F has a muscular “mass-forward” stance, and its contoured side cowls are designed to minimize the height difference between the rider and passenger seat.
With a seat height of 30.5 inches and a curb weight of only 282 lb., this new CB125F does make a lot of sense as a commuter bike in tight cities such as London and Paris. But would it sell well in the US? In the recent past, American Honda didn’t think small street-legal bikes like this had much of a chance here. But the Grom may have changed their mind. What do you think: Should Honda sell this new CB125F—available in Pearl Twinkle Yellow, Onyx Blue Metallic, Pearl Sunbeam White, and Candy Blazing Red colors—in the US?
| SPECIFICATIONS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Honda CB125F | ||
| ENGINE | Air-cooled 2-valve OHC single, balance shaft | |
| DISPLACEMENT | 124.7cc | |
| BORE & STROKE | 52.4 x 57.8mm | |
| COMPRESSION RATIO | 9.2:1 | |
| CLAIMED HORSEPOWER | 10.5 hp @ 7,750 rpm | |
| CLAIMED TORQUE | Six-speed | |
| FUEL DELIVERY | PGM-FI | |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 3.4 gal. | |
| CLAIMED FUEL ECONOMY | 125 mpg | |
| STARTER | Electric | |
| BATTERY CAPACITY | 12V/6AH | |
| ACG OUTPUT | 202W | |
| CLUTCH | Wet multiplate | |
| TRANSMISSION | Five-speed | |
| FINAL DRIVE | Standard chain | |
| FRAME | Diamond; steel | |
| DIMENSIONS (LxWxH) | 80.1 x 30.1 x 42.5 in. | |
| WHEELBASE | 51.0 in | |
| CASTER | 26° | |
| TRAIL | 3.8 in. | |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 30.5 in. | |
| GROUND CLEARANCE | 6.3 in. | |
| CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT | 282 lb. | |
| FRONT SUSPENSION | 31mm telescopic fork | |
| REAR SUSPENSION | Dual rear shocks, preload adjustment | |
| FRONT WHEEL | 18-in. six-spoke cast aluminum | |
| REAR WHEEL | 18-in. six-spoke cast aluminum | |
| FRONT TIRE | 80/100-18 | |
| REAR TIRE | 90/90–18 | |
| FRONT BRAKES | 240mm disc, dual-piston caliper | |
| REAR BRAKE | 130mm drum | |
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