Burn the Hell's Highway

HONDA CBR125R 2011 HIGHLIGHTS

Bodystyle : Sports Bike
Warranty : 12 months
Manufacturer Country : Japan
Model Year : 2011
Displacement (cc) : 124.7
Engine Type : Liquid-cooled 4-stroke

VEHICLE REVIEW

Bearing more than a passing resemblance with its larger relative, the all new 2011 CBR250R, the bike looks set once again to storm the ‘learner legal’ charts in the hope of knocking Yamaha’s YZ-R125 off its pedestal. The 2011 Honda CBR125R has taken the old model a complete step further, with a new larger but lighter chassis and 17 inch wheels, the handling should be much improved. The 2011 CBR125R has been designed to offer exciting and performance led riding dynamics, giving young riders the opportunity to develop sports riding skills from the very earliest days of their careers, but also, designed to offer more seasoned riders a fun and economical daily commuter machine. The existing CBR125R is an enormously popular motorcycle, one that has schooled a generation of riders. But while its small size is a tremendous asset in many instances, guaranteeing easy handling, a low weight and the ability to slice through urban traffic, the demand has emerged for a 125cc machine that is in every way a full-sized performance bike. Honda’s response to this demand is a new small-capacity bike with big ambitions – the 2011 CBR125R. The brief was simple: to create a 125cc sportsbike with the look and feel of a bigger and more expensive machine. The new sportsbike had to retain the current CBR125R’s user-friendly handling characteristics and free-revving single-cylinder engine, but package them inside all-new bodywork with the sophisticated styling and full-size proportions demanded by the modern young sports rider. It was decided too that wider, more impressive wheel and tyre sizes should be specified, enhancing handling while also helping create the feel of a much bigger motorcycle. Finally, the latest advances in fuel injection and catalyser technology would make the 2011 CBR125R more efficient than its predecessor.

Main features

Powerful, reliable and fuel-efficient 124.7cm3 liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine with PGM-FI fuel injection.

Lightweight diamond twin-spar steel frame with sporty geometry for intuitive and exciting handling.

Comfortable yet involving riding position and low kerb weight (136.9kg) make for a very manageable and easy to handle 125cc sportsbike.

Wide 130/70-17M/C rear tyre for a thrilling riding experience and Supersports style.

Advanced multi-function digital instrument display.

Striking full fairing cowl

The CBR name is synonymous with superb handling at any speed, and the new CBR125R is no exception. Despite its slightly larger overall dimensions, the 2011 machine remains extraordinarily easy to handle, immediately giving new riders the confidence they need. Key to the CBR’s manoeuvrability is its riding position, which is designed around the low 793mm seat. The location of the handlebars and footpegs has been revised for improved control while maintaining outstanding rider comfort. Together with the contoured new fuel tank, which is bigger on the new machine for improved range, the result is an unmistakably sporty but easygoing riding position. The rider’s weight is distributed evenly, creating a posture that isn’t tiring to maintain and that doesn’t in any way restrict movement. The 2011 CBR125R boasts a competitively low kerb weight of just 136.9kg. This mass is distributed perfectly between the front and rear wheels in a 49:51 weight distribution, while the compact single-cylinder engine helps keep the centre of gravity low. The result is a machine that feels instantly manageable, regardless of a rider’s height or stature, so the rider feels completely in control. The CBR125R’s dramatic new full fairing is more than a mere styling exercise. By providing protection from windblast, the fairing makes the rider more comfortable, particularly over long-distance journeys which can affect riders of Naked machines. The fairing also features a powerful one-piece headlight and bright taillight for superb visibility at night.

Digital instruments

Digital instrumentation is now commonplace on large-capacity machines. For 2011 the CBR125R underlines its big-bike credentials by adopting this technology. The result is a thoroughly modern rider’s eye-view, with speed, engine revs and engine temperature all visible at a glance. The display also includes a six-segment fuel gauge, a clock and an odometer/trip meter.

Comfortable riding position

Grab handles on either side of the rear seat provide the sense of security so crucial to passenger comfort, leaving rider and pillion free to enjoy the ride.

Body Style

As you’d expect of a machine with a presence beyond its modest engine size, the 2011 CBR125R has an all-new full fairing cowl. The racy yet sophisticated new look is typically CBR, with clean lines inspired by 600cc and 1000cc Supersports machines but developed into a unique style. The new single headlight design sets the tone for the rest of the fairing, being both original in shape and suggestive of much more expensive motorcycles. From there the fairing quickly tapers rearward to a slim and sporty tail unit. Since the compact new exhaust system finishes ahead of the rear axle, the back of the machine appears to float above the purposefully wide new rear tyre, creating a dynamic forward-biased silhouette.

Powerunit Engine

Like the previous CBR125R, the 2011 model uses a powerful single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. The single-cylinder configuration boasts many advantages over a twin-cylinder engine of the same capacity, most noticeably lighter weight, smaller dimensions, improved fuel economy and mechanical simplicity. Developing a peak power figure of 9.38kW at 10,000rpm and a peak torque figure of 10.1Nm at just 8000rpm, the CBR125R has the performance to make every ride a joy, whether it’s commuting to work or college or riding open roads for sheer pleasure. Honda’s advanced PGM-FI system is key to the CBR125R’s clean-revving and manageable performance. The system’s Electronic Control Unit works with the electronic ignition to provide exactly the right fuel/air mix to the cylinder for any given combination of throttle position and engine revs. The result is a smooth power curve delivered with the accuracy and predictability needed to breed rider confidence. New FI settings also make the engine more fuel efficient. Few engines in motorcycling are more rugged or affordable to run than the CBR125R’s liquid-cooled single. The electric start means the machine is ready to go at the push of a button, while its outstanding efficiency means superb fuel economy delivering an impressive range from the slim and compact 13-litre fuel tank. Because the fuel tank can be smaller for a given range, in turn this helps create a lighter and more compact motorcycle. The superb fuel economy betters the previous model thanks to a revised final drive ratio and new fuel injection settings. The new bike is also easier to look after – for 2011 the filter that supplies clean fuel to the fuel injection system has been moved outside the fuel tank to make maintenance simpler.

Six-speed transmission

The CBR125R uses a mechanically actuated clutch for fine control and a light feel at the clutch lever. The transmission’s six ratios complement the engine’s flexible power delivery perfectly, giving the CBR125R the performance that riders demand.

New ultra-clean exhaust system

The 2011 CBR125R features a new exhaust system incorporating an oxygen sensor and a Tri-metal catalytic converter. The catalyser all but eliminates the emission of polluting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides, ensuring the CBR125R easily complies with emissions legislation. Emissions are further reduced at source by the PGM-FI system, which analyses the exhaust gases via the oxygen sensor to maintain the air/fuel ratio at the ideal for clean combustion.

Lightweight body frame

The CBR125R uses a lightweight pentagonal-section steel twin-spar frame. The design is a proven one, linking the critical areas of the headstock and the swingarm pivot point using a straight and unbroken spar on both sides of the engine. The design delivers the rigidity required of a sportsbike frame while also being light and compact. The chassis feel of the CBR125R treads a line between the swift responses required of a Supersports machine and the reassuring predictability that develops rider confidence. The wheelbase is one of the shortest in its class at just 1313mm, ensuring the CBR125R flicks through bends with a fluidity and grace none of its rivals can match. However a trail figure of 90mm means this thrilling agility never threatens to cause instability. In short the CBR125R is ready for anything, from super-smooth open roads to the traffic-packed and bumpy challenge of the city.

Sophisticated suspension system

Control and a superb ride feel are guaranteed by the CBR125R’s premium suspension components. The front wheel is controlled by a 31mm hydraulic telescopic fork, while the rear tubular steel swingarm mounts to a Monoshock for sporty control and exceptional comfort. While in its element on the kind of smooth and twisting roads Supersports machines of all sizes revel in, the CBR125R also has the chassis sophistication to remain stable and comfortable on rougher back roads. In line with the new brief, the 2011 CBR125R uses tyres and wheels of a size more commonly associated with the 250cc class. The lightweight new 100/80-17 front and 130/70-17 rear cast wheels use a striking five-spoke design and bring both stability and increased grip. They also underline the CBR125R’s full-sized credentials. They are slowed by equally impressive braking systems, with powerful disc brakes front and rear. The front brake uses a 276mm disc gripped by a twin-piston caliper, while at the rear a 220mm disc and single-piston caliper offer the accuracy and feel that make low-speed manoeuvres easy.

OVERVIEW SPECIFICATIONS

Engine

Transmission

Transmission Type : 6-speed
Clutch Operation Mechanical; cable-actuated
Clutch : Wet, multi-plate with coil springs
Final Drive : ‘O’-ring sealed chain

Frame & Suspension

Frame Type : Pentagonal; steel twin-spar
Front Suspension : 31mm telescopic fork, 120mm stroke
Rear Suspension : Monoshock damper, 126mm axle travel

Wheels

Front : 17 x MT2.5
Rear : 17 x MT3.50

Tyres

Front : 100/80-17M/C
Rear : 130/70-17M/C

Brakes

Front : 296 x 4mm dual hydraulic disc with dual-piston caliper and sintered metal pads
Rear : 220 x 4mm hydraulic disc with single-piston caliper and sintered metal pads

Colours

Terra Silver Metallic SE
Ross White Tricolour
Asteroid Black Metallic

DIMENSIONS

Length(mm) : 1,946

Width(mm) : 704

Height(mm) : 1,089

Wheelbase(mm) : 1,313

Caster Angle : 35°

Trail(mm) : 90

Seat Height(mm) : 793

Ground Clearance(mm) : 185

Kerb Weight(kg) : 136.9