At 17, we all have dreams of a first 125 with which to get on the road. But with dream bikes like Yamaha’s R125 now costing around £5500 the reality is the most attractive new offerings are often out of reach for most.
But what’s available if you have, say, a budget of £3000 (because don’t forget, you’ve also got to budget for bike gear, insurance and maybe even security)? What’s available? What do you need to watch out for? And can you still get the bike of your dreams?
To find out, our experts scoured the small ads and came up with our £3000 choices. Here’s our pick of the best, in price ascending order…
10. KTM Duke 125
Austrian firm KTM lives by the mantra of ‘Ready to Race’, is a world leader in both off-road sport and a contender in MotoGP and the backbone of its road range is the supermoto style Duke family, a sprightly, punchy, lightweight street bike in capacities ranging from 125 to 390, 790, 890 and 990 capacities.
The 125 version, although an A1 licence-compliant 15PS, has all the allure of the bigger versions, much of its bigger brother’s high spec including inverted forks, liquid-cooled single cylinder engine and slick TFT dash and is, at the same time, easy to ride yet decent fun.
On the slight downside, it’s fairly pricey new (£4800), is now built in India and its reliability record isn’t impeccable (possibly due to often being thrashed). However, those things also combine to brings down used prices, meaning you can still get a later version (the last major update was in 2019) for under £3K and, as long as you find a well looked after example, you’ll still be the envy of your mates!
9. Suzuki GSX-S125
Launched back in 2017, the GSX-S125 is the junior version of the Japanese marque’s GSX-S roadster family (the other members being the GSX-S750, 950 and 1000) and, as such, is effectively a naked version of the GSX-R125 faired learner sportster.
We’ve gone for the S, here, as the sportster is a little ‘dinky’ and overshadowed by its rivals while the higher-barred S is roomier, easier the ride and suits more riders. It looks good, is unintimidating and is responsive and good fun due to decent power-to-weight ratio thanks to a combination of its 14.7-ish bhp from the DOHC motor and a low overall 135 kg weight.
Still available new for a fairly hefty £4999, £3000 will get you a pretty clean 2021-22 example with 3-4000 miles under its wheels and it’s pretty durable and reliable, too.
8. Hyosung Aquila GV125S
Not all novice riders are after a sports, roadster or retro 125, there is plenty of demand for cruiser style versions, too, whether that’s for their classic laid back style or for the ease of their low seats and upright riding positions. In recent years the choice hasn’t been as good as it once was – currently none of the major Japanese manufacturers offer such a 125. But there are still plenty out there – if you know where to look.
Our pick is the Aquila GV125S from South Korean brand Hyosung, which as well as being a more proven, longer established brand than some of the more recent Chinese newcomers, the bike itself is one of the best and most popular 125 cruisers.
Key to that is its authentic, liquid-cooled V-twin engine which compensates for revvy power with flexible torque, combined with credible, fat-tyred ‘bobber’ styling and the low riding position and equipment to match. It’s also better built and more durable than many of the Chinese alternatives and there are plenty of good used examples to choose from.
Costing around £4000 new, used examples can be had from £1800 and £3000 will get you a virtually as-new 2024 example with under 1000 miles done.
7. Husqvarna Svartpilen 125
Historic Swedish brand Husqvarna has been owned by KTM since 2013 with its bikes since effectively being restyled versions of existing KTM models – and that’s the case here.
Both this scrambler-style Svartpilen, with wire wheels, knobblies and trail bars, and its roadster sister bike, the Svartpilen, are essentially KTM’s already impressive 125 Duke but with different style and spec.
As they’re both KTM based you know what you’re getting – for good and bad. The same lusty engine and nimble engine, the same build quality and the spec is good including two power settings, Street and Rain. There is also ByBre brake calipers (Brembo’s more budget brand), Bosch 9.8 Cornering ABS, WP Apex suspension with 150mm of travel, 5” TFT dash with smartphone integration and a 6-speed gearbox with standard quick-shifter.
£3000 should get you a low-ish mileage 2022 example, just check the ones you’re looking at have been looked after and correctly maintained.
6. Aprilia Tuono 125
Another European brand that has a knack for producing stylish, attractive 125cc novice machines which are impressively budget-friendly due to now being built in India. We’re dealing first with the Tuono as it’s both stylish, intimidating and versatile.
Its four-stroke single boasts both Euro5+ engine compliance, DOHC with four valves plus traction control. While, chassis-wise, there’s an aluminium frame, Bosch ABS and light 144 kg kerb weight. Being an upright ‘naked’ (albeit with a useful fairing) it’s a decent performer but with added functionality and comfort.
One downside could be its digital LCD instrumentation instead of a TFT display, but it’s still decently comprehensive and can be paired to your phone. £3000 will get you a good 2023 example showing around 3000 miles.
5. Kawasaki Ninja 125
Kawasaki’s Ninja 125 may not have quite the stature and saucy styling of Yamaha’s MotoGP-alike R125 but is a credible, slightly more affordable and easier to manage sports 125 fitted with a liquid-cooled DOHC four-valve single with the full, regulation 14.8 bhp plus a relatively punchy 11.7 Nm of torque.
Its trellis frame is slim and compact and although the 37mm telescopic forks are RWU (not USD) it helps keep weight down to a respectable 149kg helping keep it nimble and manageable.
It’s also proven, relatively durable, more affordable than the Yamaha and, if you don’t want full-on, fully faired, sports 125 there’s also a naked, roadster version, the Z 125 with accompanying upright seating position.
We’ve seen some as low as £2800, but £3000 should get you a clean 2019 example with around 10,000miles.
4. Honda CB125R
Honda has a bigger selection than most when it comes to 125s, including the commuter CB125F, its ‘Monkey Bike’ family including the MSX/Grom also featured here and even the but the most popular and stylish of the bunch is the CB125R roadster with its ‘Neo Café’ styling, 14.7 bhp peak power from its DOHC four valve motor and classic Honda reliability.
Regularly updated, the latest version has a 5-inch TFT screen, 41mm Showa Separate Function Big Piston forks, dual channel ABS braking with IMU and Nissin calipers.
Being a Honda, it’s also beautifully neutral to ride and durable, although one downside is the tank is a relatively small 10.1 litres. Updated again for 2026 and now £4799 new, we’ve seen first year 2017 examples as cheap as £2799 and £3000 will get you a good, later 2020 example with around 12,000miles.
3. Yamaha YZF-R125
Originally called the YZF-R125 and now simply the R125, Yamaha’s quarter-litre sportster has been the definitive A1-class sportster ever since its introduction in 2008 thanks to its big bike proportions, R1-alike styling and class-leading performance and tech.
We’re ignoring those very early bikes here as they’re now simply too old and instead focusing on bikes since 2016 (when it received a big update) and 2019 when it was restyled into its current form. Both remain hugely popular, the latest version features
Variable Valve Actuation for greater top end power, an R1-inspired 5-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity, full Euro5+ compliant power for a 125cc at 14.8 bhp and 11.5 Nm of torque with assist-slipper clutch, traction control and ABS, and a relatively decent weight at 141kg – however this does now cost £5500.
However, 2016-on examples are still great bikes and can be had from £2450 albeit with slightly higher mileages over 20K, while £3000 should get you a decent 2019 example showing around 10,000 miles. As always, inspect carefully, check maintenance and buy the best you can afford.
2. Aprilia RX125
Was a time when the 125cc class was dominated by trail bikes, motocross-inspired, off-road capable lightweights that blended sporty style, full-scale proportions and upright nimbleness and manouvrability that made them great, appealing learner machines – but not anymore.
However, one still stands out. Cool Italian brand Aprilia has two offerings in the class, both powered by the same impressive DOHC engine in the Tuono 125 and same lightweight frame.
The RX125 is the full trail version with 21/18inch wire wheels, longer travel suspension and knobbly tyres, meaning you really can take it off-road. The SX125 is the ‘supermoto’ version with smaller street wheels and tyres. Both are great, lightweight learner bikes if quite tall – the RX has a 905mm seat height, the SX 880mm – small fuel tank and also cost £4280 new.
But used examples are plentiful, it’s also fairly durable and a used RX can be had from just £2450 while £3000 will get you a 2023 example with as few as 3000miles – for taller riders they’re a great choice.
1. Honda MSX125 ‘Grom’
From one extreme to the other… If Aprilia’s RX and SX 125s appeal partly for their height and full-size proportions, Honda’s ‘Grom’ (and others) have big allure for being ‘minibikes’.
The ‘monkey’ bike, was, historically, one of Honda’s most famous – and charming – models: a small-wheeled fun machine available in a variety of small capacities which proved a big hit in the 1960s and ‘70s. Modernised and reintroduced as the MSX125 ‘Grom’ in 2014 it proved a big hit so much so that it grew into a whole family which now includes the retro styled Monkey and also the DAX, another revival model.
The MSX has been updated since, now costs £3999 new, and is great fun and a doddle to ride. On the downside, being a minibike, its range is limited and its rider can feel quite vulnerable in traffic. But if you want a ‘short hop’ town bike it’s by far and away the best, is well made, classy, durable and early versions from 2017 can now be had for as little as £2000 while £3000 will get you a 2022 example with as little as 4000miles under its wheels.
