Naked // Manual // 2024 // CBT Legal
Honda
CB125R
The benchmark first big-bike-feel 125.
Power
14.8 bhp
Weight
130kg
Top Speed
78 mph
From New
£4,249
Profile silhouette
17" cast aluminium · seat 816 mm
Colour palette
- Pearl Smoky Grey
- Mat Gunpowder Black
- Candy Energy Orange
Range & economy
The CB125R is Honda's premium naked 125. With its single-cylinder DOHC engine, full LED lighting, USD forks, and radial-style front caliper, it looks and rides like a scaled-down Fireblade. The Neo Sports Café styling makes it the most desirable 125 you can buy.
Who it's for
New riders who want a proper motorcycle look and feel, not a learner stigma. Strong choice if you plan to step up to the CB650R or CB1000R later.
Pros
- Best-in-class build quality and finish
- Excellent brakes with ABS
- Real big-bike riding position
- Strong residual value
Cons
- Most expensive 125 in its class
- Modest 14.8bhp limits motorway use
- Tall seat height for shorter riders
Suitability
commuter
7/10
sport
7/10
comfort
6/10
value
5/10
style
6/10
Full Specifications
- Engine
- Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve, liquid-cooled
- Displacement
- 124.9cc
- Power
- 14.8 bhp @ 10,000 rpm
- Torque
- 8.4 lb-ft @ 8,000 rpm
- Top speed
- 78 mph
- Fuel economy
- 112 mpg
- Fuel capacity
- 10.1 litres
- Weight
- 130 kg (wet)
- Seat height
- 816 mm
- Transmission
- 6-speed manual
- ABS
- Dual-channel ABS, standard
- Brakes
- Front: 296mm disc, radial-style 4-piston caliper. Rear: 220mm disc.
- Suspension
- Front: 41mm USD Showa SFF-BP. Rear: monoshock.
- Wheels & tyres
- 17" cast aluminium, Dunlop GPR-300 tyres
- Service interval
- 8,000 miles / 12 months
- Warranty
- 2 years unlimited mileage
- Insurance group
- Group 11
- Available colours
- Pearl Smoky Grey, Mat Gunpowder Black, Candy Energy Orange
- Price new
- £4,249
- Price used
- £2,800 – £3,600
- CBT legal?
- Yes
- Keepable post-licence?
- No — learners only
True cost of owning a CB125R
Estimates for a 25-year-old with one year of CBT licence holding, riding 4,000 miles a year in Zone 2 London. Adjust for your own circumstances.
insurance
£535 / year (third-party fire & theft, 25 yr old, London)
tax
£25 / year (motorcycles ≤150cc)
mot
£29.65 / year (compulsory from year 3)
fuel
~£235 / year at 4,000 mi (£1.45/L)
service
~£165 / minor service
Day-one essentials
ECE 22.06 full-face helmet
£120 – £400
CE Level 2 armoured jacket
£150 – £350
Disc lock + reminder cable
£35 – £75
Sold Secure Gold chain + ground anchor
£90 – £180
Tail-pack 25L
£75 – £160
All-weather cover + bike socks
£30 – £80
Best for
- City riding
- Commuting up to 25 miles
- CBT to A2 licence pathway
Insider trivia
- — First introduced in 2018, refreshed with USD forks in 2021.
- — Shares chassis philosophy with the CB300R and CB650R.
- — Honda's best-selling premium 125 in the UK for five consecutive years.
Owner FAQs
- Can I ride the CB125R on a CBT?
- Yes — the Honda CB125R Neo Sports Café is fully CBT-legal in the UK. With L-plates and a valid DL196 you can ride it for two years before progressing to A1, A2, or full A.
- What licence do I need to take L-plates off the CB125R?
- You need an A1 (17+), A2 (19+) or full A (24+) licence and Module 1 / 2 pass — this 125 itself is restricted to learners.
- Is the CB125R reliable?
- Honda has a 2 years unlimited mileage warranty on the CB125R. First introduced in 2018, refreshed with USD forks in 2021.
- What is the real-world range?
- Claimed economy is 112 mpg and the tank is 10.1 litres, giving a theoretical range of 249 miles. Real-world budget around 80% of that.
- What insurance group is the CB125R?
- Group 11. As a rough guide, a 25-year-old in zone 2 London with no claims pays around £535 per year third-party fire & theft.
- Is the CB125R good for delivery / courier work?
- It's possible, but a scooter like the PCX 125 or SH125i is the standard courier choice. Manual gearboxes slow down stop-start delivery work.
Browse all CBT-legal 125s
Don't have your CBT yet?
You need a valid DL196 certificate before you can legally ride the CB125R on UK roads.
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