Starting off in late 2008, Honda nailed it with a simple recipe on their launch of the CBF125, following the success of the 33-year production run of the CG125.

Here we had a budget bike with a fuel-injected, air-cooled, near-bulletproof engine that was light, incredibly frugal, and had instant mass appeal. It became popular among training schools, first-time bikers, and, of course, commuters, to name a few. Now, we have the CB125F, but is it still as great as what it replaces?

Moving it on to 2025, Honda is making some big changes.

Soon, we will have the 2026 model with its updated fairing, headlight, 4.2” TFT screen with Honda RoadSync app connectivity with navigation, phone call and text functionality, music connectivity and weather updates with USB-C socket, but, for this review, we have the 2024 CB125F.

Effectively, it's the same bike, just without the updated front end, TFT, RoadSync, and USB socket.

Onto how much the CB125F costs, and it’s no surprise that it’s cheap.

Coming in at £3,159 for our model (the 2024/2025 version) and £3,299 for the 2026 model with all the updates mentioned above, Honda really has made it competitive in the market and makes you wonder how they’ve managed to input these updates for only £140 more.

Powering the CB125F is an air-cooled, 4-stroke 124cc single cylinder making 10.7 hp and 10.9 Nm of torque paired with a 5-speed gearbox and Honda’s eSP (enhanced smart power) with low-friction engine internals and oil jet cooling, which further enhances power delivery and fuel economy.

This helps the CB to achieve 189 mpg according to Honda, or in real-world testing here at BikeMatters, over 140 mpg on 60 mph roads – still very impressive and just goes to show what an excellent commuter it would be, bringing in some true competition for the whole electric versus petrol debate, for sure.

Talking of faster roads, the CB performed well. Surprising, in fact, but of course, not mind-blowing. It is less than 11 hp; don’t forget. Maybe I was a bit too critical of the Honda before I rode it, not expecting it to keep up with faster traffic, but as I say, I was pleasantly surprised.

On the dual carriageway (without tucking in!), I saw an indicated 67 mph for a few seconds, but otherwise, it stuck at 66 mph, albeit at the limit of its revs.

It is worth mentioning, though, that due to the way Honda has secured the footpegs (being bolted to the lower engine case on a bar), on faster A-roads and dual carriageways, it did get a bit uncomfortable for my feet, with the consistent vibration being very noticeable due to the high-revving nature of the air-cooled single at speed, which is where I think it could benefit from a sixth gear, personally.

Now, while the CB125F can just about keep up with faster traffic in both acceleration and top speed, around town or in the city is where it shines. A light clutch, easy, smooth power delivery and an excellent turning circle all helped to contribute to its easy-going, unintimidating nature.

The comfortable riding position also meant that shoulder checks, or ‘lifesavers’, were easy, unlike some other, more aggressive riding positions where that’s not always as simple and can sometimes cause a restricted view. This is helped by an approachable 790 mm seat height and a relaxed handlebar position.

Talking of the seat, too, I found it had plenty of padding, and it was something I never even had to think about when riding. Personally, I find that’s a good thing, as it never gave me any issues; I could easily spend all day in the saddle if needed.

In terms of the gearbox, the 5-speed was slick and never proved to be an issue, allowing the CB to even coast around in fifth at 30 mph without issue. You know the CB likes it too, as the little green eco light illuminates above the dash to tell you.

Given that the CB125F comes equipped with thin 80 mm and 100 mm wide tyres wrapped around 18” wheels front and rear, I was pleasantly surprised by its handling. Not once did it feel unsteady into a bend or unsure of itself, and it was actually quite a fun ride, all things considered. There’s a saying you may have heard of, ‘It’s more fun to ride a slow bike fast than it is to ride a fast bike slow,’ or something like that, and that rings true on this Honda.

Taking into account its somewhat underdamped suspension at lower speeds and overdamped suspension at higher speeds, we have to remember that this is a bike priced at a little over 3 grand, and it was still a blast bouncing down a country lane, especially with its low 117kg weight.

On the topic of that, whilst great for manually moving the bike and riding at slower speeds, the low weight did contribute to feeling somewhat unstable amongst larger oncoming traffic at speed, especially with the likes of coaches and HGVs, but it was never too much of an issue; just bear in mind you can get blown about a bit.

It could have maybe benefited from a fiddle with the 5-stage preload adjustment on its twin rear shocks to help matters, but we still have to remember that the 30 mm telescopic forks at the front are non-adjustable.

 

It’s also all well and good throwing a bike at the countryside, but you need to be able to stop it, too. On the CB, we have a 240 mm single disc with a single piston calliper at the front and a 130 mm drum at the rear. Now, they do lack feel or bite; the back drum is naturally spongy, as can be expected, but at the end of the day, they work and stop you at a reasonable and safe distance, even from 60+ mph.

Typically, you would think that at £3,159 for this model year, it would feel a bit cheap or plasticky, but that’s far from the truth. With solid, tactile switchgear, everything you touch on the CB125F feels of quality, and that really does speak volumes for Honda.

LED lighting front and rear also provides an aspect of safety on the CB125F, allowing for a higher chance of visibility among other road users in combination with the halogen indicators staying on as daytime running lights on either side.

As mentioned, we also have a somewhat basic LCD dash on this model with updates coming for the 2026 model year, but for this year, we still have the LCD unit. Whilst basic, it is clear and easy to see, displaying all your fuel data, including current and average MPG, tank range, time and basically everything you would want to know whilst riding.

But if you are a fan of tech, then it may be worth waiting until the end of the year for the new updates, given it's only going to be £140 more expensive.

When considering the Honda CB125F, one of its party tricks is its frankly ridiculous mpg figures, with Honda stating a huge 189 mpg. Coming with an 11-litre tank and pairing that to the claimed economy figures from Honda, you could expect close to 500 miles out of a tank or, more realistically, about 300 miles if you stick to faster, 60 mph roads – equally impressive.

In the real world, this gave the CB a real feeling of dependability, which is hard to convey when reading specs alone. Here we have a bike that is the true definition of no-thrills riding and a true machine for the masses. Fill it up and don’t worry. Don’t even worry about whether it will get you there. It’s a Honda! This feeling of reliability and dependability was one of my biggest takeaways from riding the CB125F, a bike that will get you there and will barely have to be topped up with fuel on the way.

In comparison, Honda is the only one left out of the ‘big four’ that makes a simple bike like this anymore. Gone are the days of Yamaha’s YBR125, for example. The cheapest 125cc geared bike from Yamaha these days is the XSR125 at £4,951, unless you want a scooter like the RayZR at £2,501. So what else is out there?

If you’re after a simple machine for not a lot of money, you are almost tied to Chinese offerings nowadays in the form of the Benelli BN125 or Lexmoto LS-Z 125. These come in at £2,799 and £2,519, respectively, beating the Honda on price by £360 and £640, but don’t come with the reputation, resale value or durability of a Honda.

Going back to the start, is the CB125F still one of the best commuters around? I’d say so.

Considering its wide appeal, there must be a reason it’s so popular, and I reckon it’s because of how cheap you can get it, how reliable and durable it is, how easy it is to live with and how economical it is, to name a few.

It’s not a groundbreaking machine by any means, but it will always get you where you’re going, all whilst slowly sipping away its fuel, albeit with some quirks like its basic suspension, vibey footpegs at speed and getting blown about a bit on quicker roads.

I liked its basic nature, its lack of frills and gadgets, and how manoeuvrable it is both on and off the bike. It’s so unintimidating, and I think that’s great for a newbie to the world of two wheels. It won’t blow you away or excite you most of the time, but that’s fine, because it’s here to do a job, and that’s how I’d best summarise the 2024/25 Honda CB125F. A bike to simply get the job done.

So, there it is. My full review of the Honda CB125F.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this review and have your very own CB125F to insure or indeed another bike, head to Lexham to get a motorcycle or scooter insurance quote direct!