Honda CB125F gets updates for 2021

ONE of the most successful motorcycles in the lightweight geared category gains new updates for 2021, as the Honda CB125F gets thoroughly updated for next year.

Visually the new bike is similar to the outgoing model, although beneath the skin the bike has seen a raft of developments. The biggest change is that the new bike weighs 11kg less than the outgoing CB125F (down from 128kg to 117kg), making Honda’s already accessible entry-level machine even easier to manage.

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The frame of the bike has been redesigned, aiding to the machine’s weight-loss program and also improving the comfort of the new machine. The Smart Power (eSP) engine has also seen major changes and updates, providing 27% better fuel economy and a claimed potential range of 490 miles from the 11 litre fuel tank.

The new bike produces a claimed 10.7bhp at 7,750rpm and 7.5lb-ft of torque at 6,000rpm. To help achieve this increase in power and torque, the new engine features and innovative off-set cylinder to help reduce internal friction. It also features a clever combined alternator and starter motor, combining the electrical generation and starting duties. The effort needed to start the engine is reduced thanks to a swing-back system that returns the crank to its position before air intake – giving the engine a ‘running’ start – and a decompression mechanism that negates cranking resistance due to compression. In use the ACG starter is extremely quiet. The gearbox is 5-speed and the final drive is via a sealed chain.

The new CB125F also features slightly tweaked and more aggressive bodywork, intended to echo the bigger bikes in the CB range. The bike also features a new LED headlight and digital dash that includes gear position indicator as well as real-time and average fuel economy, distance to empty, and ECO indicator, for when riding in the most efficient way. The start/stop button is an integrated switch (the previous model did not feature a stop button as standard) as is the high beam/passing switch.

Honda CB125F technical specification