The CBR125R is powered by a modern, liquid-cooled and fuel-injected SOHC 125cc Single that claims 13.5 horsepower. Admittedly, those aren’t superbike numbers, but there’s enough power to keep you ahead of city traffic and to maintain a safe pace along secondary roads. Mild hills require a downshift or two, as does turning into the wind, both of which shave speed off the CBR. And along winding, hilly roads you’ll be rowing through its slick-shifting six-speed gearbox like a ’60s hippie throwback rows through vinyl in a vintage record shop.
The good news is you can keep the 125R’s throttle pinned without worry of getting speeding tickets. However, with a top speed of 75 mph tucked in and with a tailwind (and it takes some time to get there), you’d be wise to avoid multi-lane freeways.
Honda Canada has a comprehensive program to support CBR125R racers, offering an in-house race kit that includes Mimic Industries fiberglass bodywork, an adjustable Elka shock, Arrow slip-on muffler, frame sliders, a race stand and a coupon for one set of Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas (the race bike uses 110/70-17 fronts at both ends) for about $1,800. The Arrow exhaust reportedly adds 10 percent more power (count the ponies, folks, that is about 1.3 hp) and Challenge series’ machines have been getting 12.5 rear-wheel hp on the on the series’ dyno.
Internal engine modifications are prohibited to keep costs to a minimum, and horsepower is limited to 14 at the rear wheel. Honda Canada also provides riding instructors, mechanics and free transportation for competitors’ machines to all rounds of the Parts Canada National Superbike series, in which the CBR125R Challenge is a support race.
Honda has enjoyed a fair amount of success with the CBR125R, though Honda Canada product planners must be banging their heads on the wall for missing an opportunity it created. The bike succeeded in ushering in new riders, but the company failed to follow it up with a step-up model. Many CBR owners that outgrew the machine traded it in for the next logical and inexpensive bike, Kawasaki’s Ninja 250R ($4,999 CDN).
Honda Canada had considered importing the sleek-looking VTR250 as a gap-filler between the CBR125R and the CBR600RR, but unfortunately could not do it at a reasonable cost to the consumer. That’s no matter, though, because the CBR125R has introduced many new riders – and racers – to motorcycling, and that was Honda’s ultimate goal.
Honda has enjoyed a fair amount of success with the CBR125R, though Honda Canada product planners must be banging their heads on the wall for missing an opportunity it created. The bike succeeded in ushering in new riders, but the company failed to follow it up with a step-up model. Many CBR owners that outgrew the machine traded it in for the next logical and inexpensive bike, Kawasaki’s Ninja 250R ($4,999 CDN).
Honda Canada had considered importing the sleek-looking VTR250 as a gap-filler between the CBR125R and the CBR600RR, but unfortunately could not do it at a reasonable cost to the consumer. That’s no matter, though, because the CBR125R has introduced many new riders – and racers – to motorcycling, and that was Honda’s ultimate goal.
source : http://www.motorcycle.com/
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