Apr 24, 2009 02:53 AM
8380 Views
Over here in England the Stunner is sold under the CBF125 model name. The specification is basically the same but we get only the disc brake, electric start and fuel injected version. The fuel injection reflects the need to comply with EURO emission standards but does not add to the performance. The CBF125 is made in India.
In the UK the retail price including taxes is £1795 (about 132000 Rupees). But this still makes it the cheapest proper 125cc motorbike available from the Japanese brands.
I bought the bike as a commuter and to save my Triumph from the worst of the English winter and the little Honda has done a great job. It starts on the button every time even when it's below freezing and the absence of a choke lever means it is a simple matter to ride away even after a cold start.
The light clutch makes the Honda a joy to ride in town and the gearchange is smooth enough for clutchless up changes. I have yet to miss a gear change in over a thousand miles of use. The low seat height (785mm) makes the Honda easy to ride whatever your size. The riding position is a bit upright for out of town use. You are stuck up in the breeze which blunts the performance on the highway. But the plus side is no aching wrists at town speeds and excellent rear visibility through the large mirrors. There is next to no vibration even at maximum speed and the mirrors stay clear.
The outright performance of the CBF is acceptable, but more impressive is the way the Honda hangs onto its cruising speed up hills and into headwinds. The gearing is spot on and the flat torque curve means fewer gear changes. Obviously the top end performance suffers compared with the more expensive and sporty Honda CBR125 which has a four valve head and a squarer bore/stroke for higher revs. But the CBF has more torque at lower revs and you can cruise easily at 60mph (96 kph) and hold that speed up hills when the CBR rider will have to dance on the gear lever to find more go.
The top speed I have seen on the speedo is 73 mph (116 kph) but I was crouched over the tank with full throttle. The fuel economy plunges when you use the performance and you can feel the huge difference in throttle setting when you choose to cruise at 60 mph (96 kph) instead of 45 mph (72kph). Cruising at full throttle the fuel I get 35 km/litre. Someone with more restraint would probably achieve 50% more. Either way the large fuel tank gives a good range between fill ups.
Comfort on the CBF is impressive too. The most distance I have covered without stopping is about 150 km and the most I have ridden in a day is 300km. But with a few minutes to stretch my legs I could have done it again. The lightness of the controls and the absence of vibration help to make the bike all day comfortable.
The disc brake on the front works well and the drum on the back is fine. I have not missed a rear disc brake and on a bike this light, it is just not necessary. There are, of course, areas I would like to see improved. The standard TVS tyres are fine in the dry but slither around in the wet which makes life a little too exciting at times. They look like they will last many thousands of miles though, so I guess I will get used to them.
The absence of a tachometer means you cannot check the revs to see if you are in top and it gets to be a pain looking for fifth gear and finding you are already using it. The fuel gauge is a nice touch but it tends to stay near full for the first 160km and then dive for empty when I am not looking. The handling is excellent for a commuter bike but I would like flatter bars to put a little more weight over the front end in the corners. A lower riding position would be helpful at higher cruising speeds.
The build quality is good. Nothing has fallen off or stopped working in 2000 km. But the black paint on the exhaust is looking like a temporary resident after a couple of months of English weather. A chrome finish would help. I have a replacement Devil Racer exhaust system arriving from France any day so this should be an improvement in terms of finish, noise and performance. I will let you know how I get on. I like this bike more than I expected. The CBF125 is great fun and totally recommended.
