A resurgence in biking has meant that many manufacturers are
producing new model 125 cc machines.
There is no shame in any biker riding a 125 because they are not the noisy, irritating machines of the 1980s which a generation of Learners rode. Modern 125s are quiet, relatively, the electronics work, and they are reliable. You also don't have to mix oil or kick-start them.
Dropping down in CC is rare, but many people are returning to riding after being off bikes for years, or older riders purchase smaller cc bikes to keep biking without the weight of larger machines. I have to do it to review the bikes and the issues I have found which are not exclusive to the VSR 125; I hit the rev limiter as I strive for power and speed. You do have to change your mindset and your riding.
I went to overtake a car pootling along on a 40 mph road, dropped down to third, and the revs shot up, and as I continued to twist the throttle, the bike hit 8500 rpm and started to stall as the limiter cut the engine. I had to back off the overtake and the power, so the revs dropped. Pulling away from junctions requires planning because you can get out in a gap on a larger bike and quickly get to speed. On the 125, you can't take any risks on openings; you have to leave more room and time to pull out.
For purely urban use, the Kymco VSR 125 comes into its own. Speed is irrelevant in towns and cities, and vital factors such as lightness and agility take precedence, in which the VSR 125 excels.
The front wheel is 80/100-17, and the rear is 110/80-17, so the 17-inch (25 cm) front and rear are good for stability & build-up of speed but still relatively narrow, allowing you to throw the bike around with ease. Slim tyres are standard on the majority of 125cc bikes.
The Kymco VSR 125 i is light, bringing benefits in handling, manoeuvring, filtering and moving the bike around when the engine is off.
The VSR 125 i is comfortable on the journies it is designed for. It is an accommodating machine with a low seat height of 780mm, allowing most people to swing a leg over it. Telescopic front forks and a single rear shock provide the suspension, which are fine and soak up most of the rough stuff British roads now throw at you. You won't be touring on this, but you will do lots of social riding or commuting.
The Kymco VSR 125 i has a five-speed gearbox which I think should be increased to six to allow a smoother ride at high speeds. In the rider display, you get a digital gear indicator which is a good touch. You can rapidly change through the gears as the clutch is light and short.
The front brakes are good and smoothly decrease your speed quickly. They look stylish, too, with bright red paint standing out.
The rear disc is effective; the bike has CBS, a combined braking system.
The Kymco VSR 125i is a reliable bike ideal for commuting, getting to college, or sports training. It looks good, and the economy is excellent. The price is lower than most competition, and insurance is lower than these too.
Aprilia es 125,
https://www.aprilia.com/gb_EN/models/rs-125
Sinnis GPX 125, which I will be reviewing next in May,