Versus: Honda CBF125 vs Yamaha YBR125
Budget-priced, good-looking Jap commuter or, erm, budget-priced, good-looking Jap commuter? We have the answer
THEY'RE the two best-selling ‘naked’ bikes in the country according to motorcycle industry data. That means a lot of people make the choice between them. And it’s not an easy one.
They both do exactly the same job. They’re both from Japanese manufacturers renowned for quality and reliability. They offer almost identical performance levels. They cost almost the same.
You might feel like tossing a coin. Don’t. Read this.
Reasons to buy CBF125 | Reasons to buy YBR125 |
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Price: £2,600 OTR | Price: £2,499 OTR |
Our choice: YBR125
There really isn’t much to separate these two. Both are clearly built to a tight budget and known to suffer corrosion at the first exposure to salt, particularly on those cheap exhausts.
But it’s the CBF which seems to disappoint the most up close. While the styling creates a superficial impression of quality, the bodywork is horribly flimsy in places. Take that side panel by the seat. Push it into place without the utmost care and a grommet will snap off from the tiniest misalignment.
Despite it’s extra claimed 1bhp, the CBF is not discernibly faster than the Yamaha. And with all Honda’s claims of 134mpg, you’ll be lucky to get more than 100mpg in real-life use, about the same as you can expect from the YBR.
We think a rack is more useful than a fairing on a bike that only goes about 65mph, and it makes up for the YBR’s lack of under-seat storage.
Although the CBF might have nicer styling details, these are working machines, and it’s their ability to do the job on which they should be judged. So save yourself £100. The YBR has it.
