Ok, so I bounced into my local dealer today for some bits and pieces for a grampions run I'll be doing in a few weeks. In addition to being able to comparemy Daelim to the CBR250R (I swear it's the same engine!), I came across my first bike. Well, half my first bike. Seems Honda's following up the CBR's release with a naked version, the CB125E. Those who are far older than me may rember the old CB125 (production ceased in 1985) and there are some similarities. The engine has the same dimensions as the '85, however is a more modern 4 valve design (wouldn't expect any less), however it lacks some newer tech you might expect, being still carburetted (possibly to keep price down), and still featuring a rear drum brake (this I think COULD have been upgraded to a disc). The instrument layout is classic CB, with the welcome addition of an analouge fuel guage, and weighs in at 137 kg (kerb). It also sports a 14 litre tank, thus continuing the CB tradition of never stopping! The styling has had a modern retouch, lots of matt black finishings and the classic colour options of Red, Blue or Pearl. Unfortunatly weather conditions prevented a test ride, but I am quite excited by this, especially as the price quoted to me was $2,600 with on-roads. With the release of so many small capacity chinese bikes to the market (Sachs, Kymco and the like) it would seem Honda's woken up and decided to enter the ring, with a bike you can be sure won't have bits falling off! Time to get the girlfriend her License it seems
