There’s a slew of small 125cc motorcycles out there these days. But the question I get regularly is, “Do small 125cc motorcycle make for a good first bike?”
My answer? Yes and No. It really depends on what you want.
These small (sometimes mini motorcycles) can be excellent first bikes. However, I say that with some caveats. Let me explain
You have a lot of options from the Kawasaki Z125 Pro and the Honda Grom to the Honda Super Cub and the Kymco K-Pipe. There are bikes from China, Japan, and Europe to choose from.
All of these motorcycles are good options for beginners. They’re lightweight, have modest power, good or decent brakes, and are affordable both from an MSRP perspective and an insurance perspective.
Some folks will tell you you’re better off with a full-size small-displacement motorcycle rather than something as small as a Grom. I get this. You sit a little higher and are a little easier to see. However, I still think these small 125cc motorcycles can be a good first bike.
With that said, there are a couple things to think about.
What Do You Want Your First Motorcycle to Do?
If you want to tour or go on long rides, then avoid these little motorcycles. Don’t get me wrong, you can tour on them. There’s a guy right now riding a Honda Monkey around the world. But it’s less than ideal.
If you want something you can grow into, you should also avoid these small 125cc motorcycles. There’s nothing to “grow into.”
Personally, the whole idea of growing into a bike is silly to me. Get a first motorcycle that fits you and your skillset. When you’re ready to ride something more challenging upgrade.
Think About The Upgrade
Speaking of upgrades, if you’re thinking you’ll start riding on one of Honda’s Mini-Moto rides like the Grom and then you’ll upgrade to a bigger sportbike, you might want to rethink that.
The Grom is a great little motorcycle, but its small overall size means if you were to go from it to a much larger sportbike, you’d have a lot of learning to do. It’s better to start out with a full-size motorcycle that has a small displacement of 250cc to 300cc and then upgrade from there.
This will ensure you’re used to the overall larger size and heavier weight of the bike you upgrade to.
So What Are Small 125cc Motorcycles Good for?
They make the most sense in two scenarios. First, they’re great bikes for having fun. Two, they can be excellent commuting machines.
You will have a hard time not smiling on a Grom. The bike looks hilarious and is fun to pop wheelies on and hop curbs. It’s also friendly and perfect for scooting around town or a sub-division but has enough grunt to do about 55 mph. The same can be said of many other bikes this size. They’re just fun motorcycles to ride, often more fun than their high-powered counterparts.
As for commuting, these machines really shine (at least for me) when you’re cutting through urban environments. You can get around a city much more easily on a little Grom or Monkey than you can on a much larger motorcycle.
They don’t wear you out, and you’ll be having a lot of fun at 25 mph on your morning commute. Also, they get excellent gas mileage (often around 100 mpg) so they’re economical to ride each and every day.
These small 125cc motorcycles aren’t perfect, but they do make for great first motorcycles if you manage your expectations and are aware of their shortcomings.
If you’re wondering just what kind of stuff you can do with a small 125cc motorcycle, check out this episode of Throttle Out from the MotorTrend Channel.
