One-two-five is an important size of motorcycle engine. For many of us, our first motorbike will be a 125 and it’s an important category of machine for that reason alone.

If you’re aged between 17 and 19, you’ll have to start out on a 125cc (or lower) bike and, if you’re older and don’t have a full licence, it’s the largest engine capacity bike you’ll be able to ride unaccompanied. It’s a category of bike that carries many different names because, as well as being known as a 125, you’ll hear them called a learner bike or A1 compatible. Below 125s, you also have mopeds. These are restricted 50cc machines which can be ridden by 16-year-olds.

The reason for this is that you can run around on a 125, unaccompanied, as long as you display the white and red ‘L’ plates. You’ll need a provisional licence, and will also need to complete the CBT (a half day of compulsory basic training to learn the fundamentals and prove that you have the necessary skills required to safely ride a motorcycle), but you don’t need to pass your full motorcycle test.

Combined with cheap running costs (such as fuel, insurance and servicing) a 125cc motorcycle can be an inexpensive way to get around. If you pass your test on a 125 you’ll be able to take off the L plates and throw off the restrictions that come with them, meaning that you’ll be able to carry a passenger and use motorways. Passing your test on a 125cc (or lower) bike means that you’ll have an A1 category motorcycle licence, meaning that you’ll still be restricted to riding bikes with a maximum capacity of 125cc and a power output of 11kw (14.75bhp).

What style of 125cc motorcycle?

And while 125 is a size of bike, that’s only part of the equation. As with bigger motorcycles, you can get 125s in pretty much any style you please, from twist-and-go scooters, through to racy sports bikes, aggressively styled naked streetfighters and simple roadsters. You’ll even find a few 125cc adventure bikes and cruisers out there too.

Scooters are supremely practical and easy to ride. With their seamless automatic transmissions and generous storage under the seat, they make perfect commuter bikes. Top speeds of around 60mph mean that they can keep up with the flow of traffic on dual carriageways, while common modifications include the addition of a windscreen, leg covers and top boxes for practical year-round commuting.

Other styles of 125cc motorcycles tend to be geared, with a traditional five or six speed manual gearbox. As a result, geared bikes can be a little bit quicker than scoots, even if they are trickier to ride, and they provide great experience for riders looking to continue their career on bigger motorbikes.

Although they are not 125s in the traditional sense, there are also an increasing number of A1 compatible electric motorcycles coming on the market. These can also be ridden on L plates and benefit from automatic gearboxes and silky smooth power delivery.

Of course, price will also play a major part in deciding which 125cc bike you’ll ride. Established manufacturers like Honda and Yamaha will sell you a brand new roadster such as the popular CB125F or YS125 for around the £3000 mark, while their sportier models can cost almost £5000.

Honda’s PCX125 scooter is regularly the best selling powered two-wheeler in the UK and comes in at just under £3000, while fancier scoots like the Honda Forza and Yamaha XMAX 125 carry a hefty premium. Pretty much every kind of motorcycle can be had with a 125cc engine, from race replicas like the Yamaha YZF-R125 to cruisers (such as the Kawasaki Eliminator 125), off-road and even adventure bikes, like the Honda Varadero 125 of recent years.

Of course, price will always play a significant role in helping you decide what 125cc motorcycle to purchase. So far we’ve mainly looked at new models from the established Japanese manufacturers, but there are far more options out there.

There are plenty of choices out there on the second hand market, with bargains to be had. The usual advice for buying second hand applies, although it could be argued that more care should be taken with these smaller bikes.

Why? Well unlike some bigger bikes, which are purchased for leisure riding, these 125s are generally ridden by people as their sole forms of transport. As a result, they tend to be ridden all year round, on wet and salty roads, and spend a lot more time outside. That means that you’ll rarely find a mint second hand 125, but it doesn’t mean that there aren’t good ones out there.

Cosmetically, a used 125 can be a little scruffy but the engines should still be strong. While it’s fair to assume that a previous owner won’t have lavished too much love on their bike, there’s some basic maintenance that you’d want the previous owner(s) to have carried out.

Regular oil changes are the key sign of a conscientious owner. Small engines usually hold less oil than bigger bikes, which in turn means that they need more frequent changes to keep the engine in tip top condition. Checking with the previous owner to see how frequently they changed the oil, and also what quality of oil they used, gives a good indication of how well looked after the bike has been.

Other visual indicators include the condition of the tyres and the chain and sprocket. If these safety critical items have been neglected, it’s fair to say that the bike hasn’t been well looked after.

If you decide to go down the second hand route, there are bargains to be had. A four year old Honda CBR125R with 15,000 miles on the clock can be yours for around £2000 – or roughly half the new price – and something basic like a 10 year old YBR125 can be found for less than £1000.

For new bargains, you could also look to one of the new generation of Chinese bikes. These budget machines were universally derided in the past, but over the last five or so years the quality and backup support has really improved.

Lexmoto, one of the biggest selling brands in the UK, make 125s starting at £1300. The ZSB, their cheapest geared 125, is a basic roadster-cum-cruiser but uses tried and tested technology and comes with a 24 month warranty.

These Chinese bikes tend to be based around older Japanese engine designs and most have been reworked for British tastes, including brands like Mutt and Herald – who create fashionable custom style 125s from utilitarian base machines.

What are the best selling 125s in the UK?

Unsurprisingly, the 50-125cc category of bikes are the biggest sellers in the UK. Almost a third of all motorcycles sold in this country fall into the A1 licence bracket, and Honda have the sector sewn up – with one in three 125s bearing the flying wing logo on the tank.

In total, seven 125s appear in the top 20 bikes sold in the UK in 2019, they are…

Honda PCX125

Perennial best seller, Honda’s practical 125cc twist and go scooter is Britain’s biggest selling powered two wheeler. Popular with commuters and couriers alike.

Honda CB125F

Basic geared air-cooled 125 roadster which, along with the Yamaha YS125, is a staple with riding schools and commuters looking for a no-frills set of wheels.

Yamaha NMAX 125

 Yamaha’s answer to the PCX125. Peppy variable valve timing engine and sportier chassis makes it an interesting alternative for around the same money.

Honda NSC110 Vision 

Honda’s most basic scoot doesn’t use the full 125ccs. That limits it on the dual carriageway, but the Vision is super agile and brilliant around town. Suzuki’s Address 110 is similar, and even cheaper at £2199.

Honda CB125R

Posh CB125R is a premium roadster that’s up against some tough competition from the Kawasaki Z125, Suzuki GSX-S125 and Yamaha MT-125 at the top end of the 125 market.

KTM Duke 125 

KTM have long been considered as the kings of the sporty 125. Battling it out in the same arena as the CB125R, the Duke is an unfaired version of race style RC 125 and still sells well some nine years on from its introduction.

Lexmoto LXR125 

Lexmoto are the second biggest players in the UK’s sub-125 category (behind Honda) and have a wide range of budget priced machines. Their best seller is also the flagship model. The LXR125 is a good looking £2199 sports bike that costs half the price of a Japanese alternative.