[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by woodsrat

My point here is that a modern 125 would weigh and cost about the same as a 250 and get about the same mileage so there's very little incentive for them to exist in this country without tiered licensing.

Even though a hi-tech 125cc motorcycle may be just marginally lighter and not so substantially cheaper than a comparatively-equipped 250cc, there is still some viability for them even among Americans.

Originally Posted by Hip001

As interesting as a 125 motorcycle sounds, it would be crushed by the scooter market.

Maybe not. You know, while a scooter has been more optimized for city traffic, a more traditionally-designed 125cc motorcycle is still likely to attract those who want something more suitable to occasional short trips (for which both the gearing and the usually broader RPM range of a motorcycle often become less of a compromise). Plus a recently-licensed boy would eventually feel more inclined toward the idea that a motorcycle would make him appear more macho than his scooter-riding peers, much like the way some folks still say that "real men use the 3 pedals".

125 bike has a target market of high school and college students(see honda grom).

So it doesn't seem so bad, since it would become a reasonable option for unexperienced riders who would otherwise be pushed toward an older (and occasionally neglected) higher-performance motorcycle which may not just be more expensive to mantain but also not so suitable to their (lack of) riding skills.

Book/laptop storage, twist and go, easy step through frame, Fuel injection and water cooled, Modern designs, lower body weather protection, 12v power outlets and cubbie storage for cell phone, and stuff.

Scooters have been pointed out as an option for people who are looking for a "car replacement" to use in their shorter inner-city errands, not for a traditional motorcycle experience. The weight bias of a scooter is also more concentrated around the rear wheel, while in a motorcycle it's more centralized.