AMERICANS: Would you buy a 125cc motorcycle for the street?

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

V-Twins were not so common on trail bikes, and the only ones I can remember were at least 450.

I can imagine why. The heavy trail bikes are a pretty intense workout vs the little ones on the actual trails vs just the backroads. I see the new Harley Pan Am/ BMWs out and about and think about the Greek god you need to be riding those 550lb machines around here. haha

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I didn't mean anything that extreme.

[PaulB2]

My Kawasaki Super Sherpa is plenty fun, with streetish tires I can go to absurd lean angles and still get by on gravel roads, gets pretty good mileage when I'm taking it easy. Nice vertical seating position too, which at my age is a must (my wrists can't take a lot of weight any more). What's the point of going to 125cc when 250cc does what you need?

But there's no cargo room to speak of. I don't ride much any more, for that and other reasons. A fall at my age would be pretty severe. Motorcycles are really a young man's thing.

If I lived in a big city I might have a different take on it.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by PaulB2

What's the point of going to 125cc when 250cc does what you need?

Usually a lower price tag, and depending on some jurisdictions there are other benefits such as a lower taxation or more lenient requirements to obtain a rider license. And for a strictly inner-city usage, fuel-economy still tends to be more favorable overall.

Motorcycles are really a young man's thing.

I see many older folks riding motorcycles, even though often they do it more for fun than for commuting or work.

If I lived in a big city I might have a different take on it.

The black one is a 100cc carburettor-fed, the white one is a 110cc already fitted with EFI. For some people the possibility of performing courier service with their own vehicle became a reason to get such small motorcycles, while rising fuel costs and intense traffic have also been a major reason for many to get a motorcycle at least as their secondary vehicle even when they also have a car. And for such usage as a secondary vehicle for shorter inner-city errands, a small motorcycle being "just enough" and with a lower TCO is quite reasonable.

[hayden55]

How many mpg do you guys think a 1987 Suzuki SP125 gets? I'm about to go pick this up tomorrow for $900 to ride to and from the trails.

[Joggernot]

75-80 mpg (best guess)

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

The engine on that resembles the one which was still fitted to some 125cc utilitarian Suzuki motorcycles which were still available in my country until a few years ago, before the entry-level range was rebadged here as Haojue.

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

The engine on that resembles the one which was still fitted to some 125cc utilitarian Suzuki motorcycles which were still available in my country until a few years ago, before the entry-level range was rebadged here as Haojue.

Honestly its not too bad. 6-speed and with the crazy long gears it has (geared for 74mph) it will go 62mph. Mostly just cruising around 45-50 the entire time or less though. Its pretty quick though I'm not holding up traffic in town for sure. Gonna try and find a 14t front sprocket though and gear it down to 65mph top speed though. haha
Makes me wonder why the Groms aren't built for normal-sized people like this one.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

The 125cc Suzukis I'm familiar with have only a 5-speed gearbox. But for that dual-purpose model, sure having an extra gear makes it easier to set it up for general usage despite its aerodynamic disadvantage on highway. Well, maybe it also being subjected to lesser emission regulations than a more recent model with a similar engine leaves a more reasonable power and torque reserve.

[wheelbender6]

I am seeing more more scooters on the road. High fuels costs give you plenty of motivation to spend some money to get the scoot back on the road.
My neighbor has a 650cc Suzuki scooter. Production of the 650 scoot ended in 2015, so they are getting tough to find in good shape.