Motorcycle specifications HondaCB 125 R 2021 Baston at 15 hp

Make no mistake - the new CB 125 R looks just like the 2018-2020 version. But as with identical twins, the differences are as real as they are hard to discern. For the smallest Neo Sports Café, that means a new engine and new suspension.

This bike is a CB 1000 R in miniature. Same type, same presence, adapted to the size of the Cub Scouts. The little curmudgeon was fed up with his engine, borrowed from the CBR 125 R. For 2021, he wants his own block, possibly more modern, so as to have a more convincing CV. He needs it. The competition is far from gentle.

This mono has twice as many elements in its cylinder head: 4 valves and 2 ACTs, for better breathing. Its internal dimensions are less oversquare (57.3 x 48.4 mm instead of 58 x 47.2 mm), its compression ratio is higher, and the airbox and resonator have been redesigned. As a result, the CB 125 R II's engine is 1.6 horsepower more powerful, for a maximum of 15 hp (within a hair's breadth of the segment). Torque has also improved, with an additional 1.2 Nm delivering a total of 11.6 at 8,000 rpm. With this more peppy mill, the CB is better armed in a category where the offer has become much denser in recent years. Kawa and Suz have returned to this segment after years of abstinence.

With its design clearly setting it apart from the trend, the Honda can now treat curiosity with its pedigree. At less than 130 kilos fully loaded, it is one of the lightest 125s on the market. A Katoche or a Yam is 5 kilos lighter. As for the chassis, the little CB offers a new argument. Its inverted fork is now a 41 mm Showa SFF-BP, with large internal pistons and separate functions - a technology that arrived on sports bikes less than 10 years ago. More efficient and offering greater feel, this is the first time this model has been installed on a 125.

apart from the fork, the CB 125 R has not changed any of its chassis components. Composed of pressed steel tubes and elements for both frame and swingarm, it does the job with satisfaction and action. A 4-piston radial caliper around a 296 mm disc calms the bike's velocity. The rear caliper measures 220 mm and has just one piston. Braking is reinforced by ABS, itself associated with an IMU inertial unit. Its job is to fine-tune braking distribution between front and rear.
The weight is up by 4 kilos; is this due to the new engine or to Euro5 adaptations?
The level of quality is more refined, with a gold-bronze finish on the forks, rims and crankcases.

Beneath this facade, neither neo nor retro but a little of both, the bike benefits from technological inlays that are sure to hit the mark. Digital instrumentation and a bulging headlight enhanced by rows of LEDs. It's still all there, but the next generation will have to switch to a color TFT display to avoid being left behind in the high-tech stakes.
Frugal, the roadster claims to make do with just over 2 liters to cover 100 kilometers. With 10 liters in the belly, a full tank should take you well over 400 km (according to the figures provided). The reality will be a little less. But the range will still be excellent.

Honda continues to keep its tough little roadster in the 125 class. The CBF lacks the necessary punch; the CB 125 R is there to crack shoulders. The battle goes on, with each manufacturer having its own slingshot.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos