Sex In The City - 125cc sportsbike road test
Heading my way? Three of the sauciest 125s ever made hanging out for slappers in Amsterdam’s De Wallen district
     “They sell porno vids in the service station,” teenager Sam returns from the magazine rack in the non-descript petrol station just outside Amsterdam with a wide-eyed look. “And you can buy this stuff at 16?” Clutching a copy of ‘Rocco’s Anal Adventures 22’ he starts to read the ‘plot’ on the back of the DVD, before realising he’s in a busy location and sheepishly returns it to the rack. “You might want to be careful taking that home, customs have big gloves and small patience,” policeman Ben warns. Sam’s looks says he isn’t 100% sure if Ben is joking or not. Despite the crowd of people queuing to use the coffee machine next to the magazine section no one raises an eyebrow at this interchange, it’s just another couple of foreigners in a country that’s made a tourist attraction out of vice. Since it legalised prostitution in 1988 (although technically it had been legal since 1830) and decriminalised ‘soft drugs,’ allowing them to be sold in specialist ‘coffee shops,’ Holland, and Amsterdam particularly, has become a mecca for tourists wanting to legally expand their minds. Or explore their darker sides. It’s a city where anything goes, and usually does so at a pre-determined price. For a teenager wanting to dip their toe into life’s pool of pleasures Amsterdam is the place to start. But with only a restricted 125 for transport this European city of sin is tantalisingly out of reach. Or is it? With the new breed of funky 125s also comes a new influx of younger riders, armed with bikes that are only restricted in their engine performance, not their potential for exploration. So we decided to unlock this potential and embark on a voyage of discovery to show a teenager on a restricted licence what is achievable after a few hours’ riding. But first we had to locate our willing teenager. Trainee mechanic Sam had everything we were after: a restricted licence, passport and mind ready to be expanded. He was also 18 years old, the legal age to ride a 125 in Holland. Unfortunately what he lacked was a sense of direction. “Isn’t Amsterdam the other side of Belgium? That’s a long way on a 125,” was his first response when we asked if he was up for the trip. After a brief lesson in geography, he was more reassured, although he did confess to having never ridden outside the M25. Things can get messy quite quickly in Amsterdam, (I have a hazy recollection to this day of ecstasy pills and four hookers in 1999) and for that reason we needed to bring along a voice of reason for when it all got a bit much. Ben Giff stuck his hand up at this point, and seeing as he’s a copper, and therefore trusted enough by the Met Police to bash crims over the head with a nightstick, he filled the brief perfectly as the sensible yin to Sam’s yang. Team assembled, time to embark on our voyage. Due to Sam’s L-plates, taking the M25 to Harwich was out, so we cut through London and picked up the A12 heading east, soon entering uncharted waters for Sam as we slipped under the M25 barrier. On the open dual carriageway it rapidly developed into a slipstreaming contest as we tried to eek out every last mph. On the CBR125R Sam’s miniscule frame allowed him to exploit the frankly pathetic performance of the Honda and keep up with the more rapid Aprilia and Yamaha. Even looking at the CBR you know it’s built to a budget and will be lacking performance. Over the last few years it has been the only four-stroke race rep 125 that has sold in big numbers. A testament to the fact that all the competition looked cock rather than the ‘racy’ Honda looking any good. Things have changed. Stand it next to the Yamaha and it looks like a shit commuter with a slight nod towards a fairing. The Yamaha and Aprilia look like ‘proper’ bikes. Which is how they ride. On dual carriageways the Honda gets buffeted around in the wind as the rider battles to stop both knees dragging on the ground due to the subterranean seat height. It feels tiny, not all that settled at speed, and lacking in grunt. Quite often on the Honda you have to change down a gear at 70mph to deal with a slight incline or particularly vicious breath of wind, while the Yamaha forges happily on. For a first attempt at a baby racer Yamaha has hit the target with the YZF’s styling. From a distance it’s easily, and often, mistaken for an R1, while to ride it’s comfortable and roomy with a fairing that is surprisingly effective. And mirrors that work. Tucked in I managed to see an indicated 83mph on the digital dash, which is more than enough to transport its teenage jockey to a chosen location where he will arrive in style. But as much style as on the Aprilia? Having been the 125 of choice for the style-conscious teenager since it burst onto the scene in 1997, this year the RS is in danger of losing this mantle because, to the untrained eye, the YZF looks so good. Dig a bit deeper and you spot the quality touches such as the radial brake and polished swingarm that sets the RS aside, but to the uninformed the Yamaha pulls off effortless cool. It’s also far easier to ride than the Aprilia. Two-stroke motors can be a pain when compared to their four-stroke counterparts, and the RS’ little powerplant has its quirks. Flat out the vibrations are obtrusive while every now and then it’ll miss-fire or cough as its plug gets oily. And it’s not that economical. Reaching Harwich in plenty of time we stopped to fill the bikes up. Despite having been held on the stop for nearly 100 miles the CBR had averaged just over 80mpg, the YZF 110mpg and the RS a disappointing 50mpg. In commuter terms that’s 100 miles for less than the price of a day’s peak time travel card. See why these four-stroke bikes are catching on? A few beers on the ferry, followed by a night of relative peace and quiet, we rolled out into the early morning Dutch air and headed north. At this point I realised I had no idea if 125s were allowed on Dutch motorways. I assumed they weren’t, so the route we took to Amsterdam was anything but the quickest. For his first taste into the Amsterdam life style we decided to drop Sam right in at the deep end, so headed directly for the redlight zone. Stopping on the outskirts to take a few photos Ben nudged Sam and directed his attention towards a large glass window. Looking over expecting to see some local trinkets, Sam’s jaw almost hit the floor as he was confronted by a lingerie-clad girl bending over exposing her arse. Not the sight he was expecting to see at 3pm in the afternoon. Sensing his gaze the lady, who had now stood up to reveal she was on the plump side, started her ‘sexy dance’. “I think she needs to keep that up for a while, she may get more business,” mumbled a flushed looking Sam, reeling after his first Amsterdam experience. With the tone of the day set we rode deeper into the city. Despite the daylight hour as soon as we approached the redlight zone the sweet smell of cannabis hung in the air. Pedestrians changed from being lively obstacles that would make some effort to get out of your way to semi-conscious zombies that looked like their faces were in the process of melting. But this isn’t the only obstacle to be overcome, there is one far more dangerous – the Dutch cyclist. In their free spirited way the Dutch have embraced the whole ‘eco transport’ scene wholeheartedly, and they are a menace to other road users. From what we could tell cyclists have the right of way, no matter what, and after each of us nearly being T-boned on several occasions we decided it was time for a drink. Stopping outside a coffee house I popped inside for a round of drinks. Having fished a few cans out of the fridge I approached the bloodshot-eyed fellow behind the counter and asked for a coffee, only to be answered with a confused look and “sorry man, the coffee machine is broken.” Judging by the state of him I’m guessing it wasn’t through over-use. Back out in the melee and an unlikely hero was starting to emerge. Having been the bike that everyone avoided on the run down the CBR is starting to regain popularity. For dodging pedestrians and the like the lightweight Honda with its huge steering lock and low seat height was proving a star. As well as a clutch that can be operated with your little finger, Honda has thoughtfully given the CBR quite low gearing, not great for dual carriageways, but excellent for zipping away from lights before the demon cyclists have slipped their clogs onto the pegs. In the intense arcade game that is the centre of town the CBR eclipsed the troublesome Aprilia with its racy riding position and lack of bottom end, not to mention rock hard seat. It even just about nudged ahead of the YZF, which was almost as user friendly, but had a slightly taller seat height and less steering lock. I was starting to see why so many commuters had fallen under the Honda’s spell. It may look crap, but in town it all works perfectly. Having spent a good few hours dodging the cyclists our photographer was satisfied he had enough so we left the bike at the hotel and ventured back into the redlight zone. Although it was busy by day, this particular area comes alive when the sun drops. Neon signs advertise each shop’s wares be it sex, drugs or takeaway food, attracting punters like flies to a light. Shop windows that you would have walked past earlier have their curtains thrown open and their scantily clad occupants are bathed in a red glow. Shadowy figures skulk around, whispering their illegal wares to anyone within earshot, and the bars become packed with people drinking a deep foam topped pint of Heineken. And it all happens under the sweet, thick, smell of dope being smoked. Chatting to one of the coffee house owners he told me the reason the city smelt so much was that the Dutch have had to enforce the EU smoking ban, meaning you can’t smoke tobacco indoors, only outside, hence the smell. Here you can only smoke pure drugs indoors in an environment where everyone is there for one reason, but not tobacco because it might harm someone. It’s a crazy world, bounded by all manor of bureaucratic laws that are as nonsensical as they are rigidly enforced. Thank goodness that the Dutch are prepared to bend the rules slightly, or at least entertain some freethinking. The voice of the lawBen Giff On a sunny afternoon, walking along the canal is very pleasant and the river boat tour is worth investing a few euros in to see the city from and find out a bit of history- yes there is culture in Amsterdam, it’s not just drugs and prostitutes! The one thing that really shines through is how chilled everyone is. In London if a cyclist, or anyone for that matter, cut-up cars in the fashion they do in Amsterdam there would be a tirade of abuse. But in Amsterdam everyone just takes it in their stride. Maybe we could learn something from our continental friends approach to driving. The bars in Amsterdam are plentiful and the warm weather we had meant having a drink by the canal was a truly glorious experience.” * Please note: Ben is a real policeman and therefore has to speak like this. Don’t be put off. The best thing about Amsterdam remains the hookers and drugs, and both are plentiful for the weary traveller. The voice of youthSam Clark Every single shop has a different smell or surprise inside and I’ve never seen anything like the girls in the windows. Amsterdam is known for that, and now I see why, but you have to have a look to see these things in real life. For the first few hours I was walking around open-mouthed, I felt quite out of place, but you soon get used to it and everyone else treats it as the norm. And it was so busy, but with no aggro. We were there on a Tuesday night and it was packed and everyone seemed friendly. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. A load of stoners hanging around on street corners? But it was really civilized. You can tell someone what it’s like, but you only really experience it when you’re out there. And riding in Europe wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, European drivers are far more considerate than in the UK. I’d definitely go back again, and on a bike. Which one? Out of these three I’d go for the YZF because it has a better fuel range and looks great.” How do I get there?
What’s the score with 125s? they’re bloody everywhere!
SPLIFFING UP
Without a doubt the Aprilia was the best handling bike out of the bunch, it’s a proper track bike, not a commuter that has been designed to look like one. As well as the ability to de-restrict it (when you have gained a full licence) the RS has a level of componentry that the others can only dream about. But in restricted form it’s not great to ride, especially in town or over distance. The seat is hard, engine vibrates and the two-stroke motor not only drinks fuel, it also like a drop or two of the old fully synthetic, which isn’t cheap. Is it still the 125 that will leave teenagers drooling? I’m not convinced anymore, because the YZF-R125 looks simply fantastic. With a tank range that would run a BMW GS close (not to mention a digital fuel gauge) and a ‘big bike’ riding position it’s easy to forget that this is only a 125. Pricewise the Yamaha sits nicely between the CBR’s £2,499 and Aprilia’s £3,699 at £2,999 and it manages to draw a nice compromise between the two as well, offering good town ability with very real straight line commuting potential. As for Amsterdam, until the icecaps melt or nuclear war breaks out this city will always be open for trade, no matter what you particular vice is. EU laws may start to muddle its freedom, but the relaxed Dutch way always seems to shine through. MODEL SPECSAPRILIA RS125 HONDA CBR125R YAMAHA YZF125R |
“They sell porno vids in the service station,” teenager Sam returns from the magazine rack in the non-descript petrol station just outside Amsterdam with a wide-eyed look. “And you can buy this stuff at 16?” Clutching a copy of ‘Rocco’s Anal Adventures 22’ he starts to read the ‘plot’ on the back of the DVD, before realising he’s in a busy location and sheepishly returns it to the rack. “You might want to be careful taking that home, customs have big gloves and small patience,” policeman Ben warns. Sam’s looks says he isn’t 100% sure if Ben is joking or not. Despite the crowd of people queuing to use the coffee machine next to the magazine section no one raises an eyebrow at this interchange, it’s just another couple of foreigners in a country that’s made a tourist attraction out of vice.
Since it legalised prostitution in 1988 (although technically it had been legal since 1830) and decriminalised ‘soft drugs,’ allowing them to be sold in specialist ‘coffee shops,’ Holland, and Amsterdam particularly, has become a mecca for tourists wanting to legally expand their minds. Or explore their darker sides. It’s a city where anything goes, and usually does so at a pre-determined price. For a teenager wanting to dip their toe into life’s pool of pleasures Amsterdam is the place to start. But with only a restricted 125 for transport this European city of sin is tantalisingly out of reach. Or is it?
With the new breed of funky 125s also comes a new influx of younger riders, armed with bikes that are only restricted in their engine performance, not their potential for exploration. So we decided to unlock this potential and embark on a voyage of discovery to show a teenager on a restricted licence what is achievable after a few hours’ riding. But first we had to locate our willing teenager.
Trainee mechanic Sam had everything we were after: a restricted licence, passport and mind ready to be expanded. He was also 18 years old, the legal age to ride a 125 in Holland. Unfortunately what he lacked was a sense of direction. “Isn’t Amsterdam the other side of Belgium? That’s a long way on a 125,” was his first response when we asked if he was up for the trip. After a brief lesson in geography, he was more reassured, although he did confess to having never ridden outside the M25.
Things can get messy quite quickly in Amsterdam, (I have a hazy recollection to this day of ecstasy pills and four hookers in 1999) and for that reason we needed to bring along a voice of reason for when it all got a bit much. Ben Giff stuck his hand up at this point, and seeing as he’s a copper, and therefore trusted enough by the Met Police to bash crims over the head with a nightstick, he filled the brief perfectly as the sensible yin to Sam’s yang. Team assembled, time to embark on our voyage.
Due to Sam’s L-plates, taking the M25 to Harwich was out, so we cut through London and picked up the A12 heading east, soon entering uncharted waters for Sam as we slipped under the M25 barrier. On the open dual carriageway it rapidly developed into a slipstreaming contest as we tried to eek out every last mph. On the CBR125R Sam’s miniscule frame allowed him to exploit the frankly pathetic performance of the Honda and keep up with the more rapid Aprilia and Yamaha.
What’s the score with 125s? they’re bloody everywhere!
For the last few years Honda’s CBR125R has ruled the roost, shifting a massive 2,738 bikes when it was launched in 2005, a feat that made it the UK’s best selling bike ahead of a row of big capacity race reps. This year it has been joined by Yamaha’s new YZF-R125, which has sold over 1,000 bikes in the 14 weeks since it hit these shores. As always Aprilia’s RS125 has been in the background, selling a consistent 800-odd bikes a year, the majority of which are restricted, but the two-stroke Italian mini-stallion has always tended to sell less due to its higher price tag. So why are they back in favour? As the tabloids are happily screaming at the moment times are tough in the UK, and the cost of commuting is high, especially in major cities. Small capacity bikes are back as commuters use them to either ride to the train station, saving miles on the family car and parking fees, or ride to work. For £120 you can get a CBT, which is all that is needed to ride on the road. Insurance is next to nothing and fuel costs negligible. Once the initial outlay of buying a bike is over the rest of the costs are minimal. Small capacity bikes are reliable, cheap, and almost maintenance free and unlike scooters not very attractive to thieves. And although the CBR was seen as the ‘cool’ commuter, last year Yamaha’s very basic YBR125 (costing £1,849) was the best-selling bike in the UK with 2,272 sold.
Learner 125cc Test
Even looking at the CBR you know it’s built to a budget and will be lacking performance. Over the last few years it has been the only four-stroke race rep 125 that has sold in big numbers. A testament to the fact that all the competition looked cock rather than the ‘racy’ Honda looking any good. Things have changed. Stand it next to the Yamaha and it looks like a shit commuter with a slight nod towards a fairing. The Yamaha and Aprilia look like ‘proper’ bikes.
Which is how they ride. On dual carriageways the Honda gets buffeted around in the wind as the rider battles to stop both knees dragging on the ground due to the subterranean seat height. It feels tiny, not all that settled at speed, and lacking in grunt. Quite often on the Honda you have to change down a gear at 70mph to deal with a slight incline or particularly vicious breath of wind, while the Yamaha forges happily on.
For a first attempt at a baby racer Yamaha has hit the target with the YZF’s styling. From a distance it’s easily, and often, mistaken for an R1, while to ride it’s comfortable and roomy with a fairing that is surprisingly effective. And mirrors that work. Tucked in I managed to see an indicated 83mph on the digital dash, which is more than enough to transport its teenage jockey to a chosen location where he will arrive in style. But as much style as on the Aprilia?
Having been the 125 of choice for the style-conscious teenager since it burst onto the scene in 1997, this year the RS is in danger of losing this mantle because, to the untrained eye, the YZF looks so good. Dig a bit deeper and you spot the quality touches such as the radial brake and polished swingarm that sets the RS aside, but to the uninformed the Yamaha pulls off effortless cool. It’s also far easier to ride than the Aprilia.
Two-stroke motors can be a pain when compared to their four-stroke counterparts, and the RS’ little powerplant has its quirks. Flat out the vibrations are obtrusive while every now and then it’ll miss-fire or cough as its plug gets oily. And it’s not that economical.
Reaching Harwich in plenty of time we stopped to fill the bikes up. Despite having been held on the stop for nearly 100 miles the CBR had averaged just over 80mpg, the YZF 110mpg and the RS a disappointing 50mpg. In commuter terms that’s 100 miles for less than the price of a day’s peak time travel card. See why these four-stroke bikes are catching on?
A few beers on the ferry, followed by a night of relative peace and quiet, we rolled out into the early morning Dutch air and headed north. At this point I realised I had no idea if 125s were allowed on Dutch motorways. I assumed they weren’t, so the route we took to Amsterdam was anything but the quickest.
For his first taste into the Amsterdam life style we decided to drop Sam right in at the deep end, so headed directly for the redlight zone. Stopping on the outskirts to take a few photos Ben nudged Sam and directed his attention towards a large glass window. Looking over expecting to see some local trinkets, Sam’s jaw almost hit the floor as he was confronted by a lingerie-clad girl bending over exposing her arse. Not the sight he was expecting to see at 3pm in the afternoon. Sensing his gaze the lady, who had now stood up to reveal she was on the plump side, started her ‘sexy dance’. “I think she needs to keep that up for a while, she may get more business,” mumbled a flushed looking Sam, reeling after his first Amsterdam experience. With the tone of the day set we rode deeper into the city.
Second Opinions
The voice of the law
Ben Giff
“I’ve been to Amsterdam before so I knew what to expect. Lot’s of stoners walking around with glazed eyes, pints with more head than beer, streets drenched in red light and more scantily clad women than your average town centre high street on a Friday night. Except these ones don’t expect conversation and have set prices. Not being into the whole ‘coffee shop’ scene and not fancying partaking in the night ‘services’ I was looking forward to seeing Amsterdam from a biker’s point of view.
On a sunny afternoon, walking along the canal is very pleasant and the river boat tour is worth investing a few euros in to see the city from and find out a bit of history- yes there is culture in Amsterdam, it’s not just drugs and prostitutes!
The one thing that really shines through is how chilled everyone is. In London if a cyclist, or anyone for that matter, cut-up cars in the fashion they do in Amsterdam there would be a tirade of abuse. But in Amsterdam everyone just takes it in their stride. Maybe we could learn something from our continental friends approach to driving. The bars in Amsterdam are plentiful and the warm weather we had meant having a drink by the canal was a truly glorious experience.”
* Please note: Ben is a real policeman and therefore has to speak like this. Don’t be put off. The best thing about Amsterdam remains the hookers and drugs, and both are plentiful for the weary traveller.
The voice of youth
Sam Clark
“Amsterdam was completely different to any country I’ve ever been too, it was a different world. Shocking really, but good shocking. They were so open about everything, so liberal, it’s a great experience for any teenager, everything is there you could need. I loved it!
Every single shop has a different smell or surprise inside and I’ve never seen anything like the girls in the windows. Amsterdam is known for that, and now I see why, but you have to have a look to see these things in real life. For the first few hours I was walking around open-mouthed, I felt quite out of place, but you soon get used to it and everyone else treats it as the norm. And it was so busy, but with no aggro. We were there on a Tuesday night and it was packed and everyone seemed friendly. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. A load of stoners hanging around on street corners? But it was really civilized.
You can tell someone what it’s like, but you only really experience it when you’re out there. And riding in Europe wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, European drivers are far more considerate than in the UK. I’d definitely go back again, and on a bike. Which one? Out of these three I’d go for the YZF because it has a better fuel range and looks great.”
Learner 125cc Test
Despite the daylight hour as soon as we approached the redlight zone the sweet smell of cannabis hung in the air. Pedestrians changed from being lively obstacles that would make some effort to get out of your way to semi-conscious zombies that looked like their faces were in the process of melting.
“Everyone looks screwed,” commented Sam.
But this isn’t the only obstacle to be overcome, there is one far more dangerous – the Dutch cyclist. In their free spirited way the Dutch have embraced the whole ‘eco transport’ scene wholeheartedly, and they are a menace to other road users. From what we could tell cyclists have the right of way, no matter what, and after each of us nearly being T-boned on several occasions we decided it was time for a drink.
Stopping outside a coffee house I popped inside for a round of drinks. Having fished a few cans out of the fridge I approached the bloodshot-eyed fellow behind the counter and asked for a coffee, only to be answered with a confused look and “sorry man, the coffee machine is broken.” Judging by the state of him I’m guessing it wasn’t through over-use.
Back out in the melee and an unlikely hero was starting to emerge. Having been the bike that everyone avoided on the run down the CBR is starting to regain popularity. For dodging pedestrians and the like the lightweight Honda with its huge steering lock and low seat height was proving a star. As well as a clutch that can be operated with your little finger, Honda has thoughtfully given the CBR quite low gearing, not great for dual carriageways, but excellent for zipping away from lights before the demon cyclists have slipped their clogs onto the pegs.
In the intense arcade game that is the centre of town the CBR eclipsed the troublesome Aprilia with its racy riding position and lack of bottom end, not to mention rock hard seat. It even just about nudged ahead of the YZF, which was almost as user friendly, but had a slightly taller seat height and less steering lock. I was starting to see why so many commuters had fallen under the Honda’s spell. It may look crap, but in town it all works perfectly. Having spent a good few hours dodging the cyclists our photographer was satisfied he had enough so we left the bike at the hotel and ventured back into the redlight zone.
Although it was busy by day, this particular area comes alive when the sun drops. Neon signs advertise each shop’s wares be it sex, drugs or takeaway food, attracting punters like flies to a light. Shop windows that you would have walked past earlier have their curtains thrown open and their scantily clad occupants are bathed in a red glow. Shadowy figures skulk around, whispering their illegal wares to anyone within earshot, and the bars become packed with people drinking a deep foam topped pint of Heineken.
And it all happens under the sweet, thick, smell of dope being smoked. Chatting to one of the coffee house owners he told me the reason the city smelt so much was that the Dutch have had to enforce the EU smoking ban, meaning you can’t smoke tobacco indoors, only outside, hence the smell. Here you can only smoke pure drugs indoors in an environment where everyone is there for one reason, but not tobacco because it might harm someone. It’s a crazy world, bounded by all manor of bureaucratic laws that are as nonsensical as they are rigidly enforced. Thank goodness that the Dutch are prepared to bend the rules slightly, or at least entertain some freethinking.
SPLIFFING UP
Usually with 125s there’s little to split them, especially restricted ones. But in the case of the new breed there is. Honda’s CBR125R may have set the standard for the last few years, but it was our least favourite bike here for the whole journey. Skinny tyres and a diminutive physical size made it a slightly unnerving to ride on the open roads and not great when it came to cornering. For new riders it’s very easy to live with, and is superb in town, but over-all finish and quality of the ride let it down.
Without a doubt the Aprilia was the best handling bike out of the bunch, it’s a proper track bike, not a commuter that has been designed to look like one. As well as the ability to de-restrict it (when you have gained a full licence) the RS has a level of componentry that the others can only dream about. But in restricted form it’s not great to ride, especially in town or over distance. The seat is hard, engine vibrates and the two-stroke motor not only drinks fuel, it also like a drop or two of the old fully synthetic, which isn’t cheap. Is it still the 125 that will leave teenagers drooling? I’m not convinced anymore, because the YZF-R125 looks simply fantastic. With a tank range that would run a BMW GS close (not to mention a digital fuel gauge) and a ‘big bike’ riding position it’s easy to forget that this is only a 125. Pricewise the Yamaha sits nicely between the CBR’s £2,499 and Aprilia’s £3,699 at £2,999 and it manages to draw a nice compromise between the two as well, offering good town ability with very real straight line commuting potential.
As for Amsterdam, until the icecaps melt or nuclear war breaks out this city will always be open for trade, no matter what you particular vice is. EU laws may start to muddle its freedom, but the relaxed Dutch way always seems to shine through.
Specifications
APRILIA RS125
PRICE: £3,699
ENGINE: 124.8cc, liquid-cooled, two-stroke single
POWER: 13bhp @ 9,000rpm
TORQUE: N/A
FRONT SUSPENSION: 40mm non-adjustable
REAR SUSPENSION: spring preload adjustable monoshock
FRONT BRAKE: 320mm discs, four-piston radial caliper
REAR BRAKE: 220mm disc, two-piston caliper
DRY WEIGHT: 114kg (claimed)
SEAT HEIGHT: 805mm
FUEL CAPACITY: 14l
TOP SPEED: 81mph
COLOURS: blue,black, red and varous replicas
RATING: 3/5
HONDA CBR125R
PRICE: £2,499
ENGINE: 124cc, liquid-cooled, 2-valve single
POWER: 13bhp @ 10,000rpm
TORQUE: 7.8 lb.ft @ 8,250rpm
FRONT SUSPENSION: 31mm non-adjustable
REAR SUSPENSION: spring preload adjustable monoshock
FRONT BRAKE: 276mm disc, two-piston caliper
REAR BRAKE: 220mm disc, one-piston caliper
DRY WEIGHT: 127kg (claimed)
SEAT HEIGHT: 776mm
FUEL CAPACITY: 10l
TOP SPEED: 78mph
COLOURS: blue, black, red
RATING: 4/5
YAMAHA YZF125R
PRICE: £2,999
ENGINE: 124cc, liquid-cooled, 4-valve single
POWER: 13bhp @ 9,000rpm
TORQUE: 14 lb.ft @ 8,000rpm
FRONT SUSPENSION: non- adjustable
REAR SUSPENSION: spring preload adjustable monoshock
FRONT BRAKE: 292mm disc, two-piston caliper
REAR BRAKE: 230mm disc, one-piston caliper
DRY WEIGHT: 126kg (claimed)
SEAT HEIGHT: 818mm
FUEL CAPACITY: 13.8l
TOP SPEED: 83mph
COLOURS: red/white, blue, yellow
RATING: 5/5
