Best Used 125cc Motorcycles for Beginners

A used 125cc motorcycle is one of the smartest ways to start riding. 

You get a bike that someone else has already run in, at a fraction of the new price, and you avoid the sting of depreciation while you're still finding your feet. 

The UK's 125cc class is packed with capable machines from Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki, many of which hold their value, run reliably at high mileages, and are easy to maintain at home or through a Vertu Motorcycles dealership. 

Here are five of the best used 125cc motorcycles for beginners to look for right now. 

Honda CB125F – the everyday commuter 

The Honda CB125F has been the UK's best-selling 125cc motorcycle for years, and that popularity works in your favour on the used market. 

Plenty of supply keeps prices competitive, and Honda's reputation for reliability means a well-maintained CB125F will shrug off commuting miles without complaint. 

Its air-cooled single-cylinder engine produces 10.6hp and returns outstanding fuel economy; Honda quotes a combined figure of 1.4 litres per 100km, which translates to well over 200mpg in everyday riding. 

A low 790mm seat height and a kerb weight of just 117kg make the CB125F one of the most approachable bikes in the class for shorter or less confident riders. 

The trade-off is outright performance – it's the least powerful bike on this list – but for town riding, commuting and building confidence, few beginner motorcycles do the job better. 

What to check used: the CB125F is simple and robust, but look for a full service history and check the chain and sprockets, which wear faster on a bike used mostly in town. 

Honda CB125R – the premium step up 

If you want more from your first bike without stepping outside the 125cc class, the Honda CB125R delivers a noticeably more premium ride. 

Part of Honda's Neo Sports Café family, the CB125R shares its design language with the bigger CB650R and CB1000R, so it looks and feels like a proper motorcycle rather than a stripped-back learner tool. 

From 2021 onwards, Honda upgraded the engine to a liquid-cooled DOHC unit producing 14.8bhp, paired with a six-speed gearbox and Showa SFF-BP forks. These are components you'd normally find on machines costing far more. 

A 130kg kerb weight keeps things manageable, and dual disc brakes with ABS give genuine stopping confidence. 

Pre-2021 models (with the older 13bhp engine) are excellent value on the second-hand 125cc market and still offer strong build quality and handling. 

Explore Honda's current beginner-friendly range at Vertu Motorcycles if you'd like to compare new and used options side by side. 

What to check used: inspect the front disc for scoring, and verify that the ABS warning light clears on start-up. Post-2021 bikes should have a service stamp at every 4,000 miles. 

Yamaha MT-125 – the head-turner 

The Yamaha MT-125 borrows its aggressive styling from Yamaha's Dark Side of Japan family, and that alone makes it one of the most desirable A1 licence bikes on the used market. 

Beneath the sharp bodywork sits a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVA on 2020-on models), producing 14.8bhp through a six-speed gearbox. 

Handling is a strong point. The steel Deltabox frame and inverted forks give precise, confidence-inspiring turn-in, and the radial front brake provides real stopping power for a learner-class bike. 

Later models (2023 onwards) add a full-colour TFT dashboard and traction control, which are worth seeking out if your budget allows. 

The MT-125's 810mm seat height is slightly taller than some rivals, so it's worth sitting on one before you commit. 

What to check used: the MT-125 is well built, but check for cosmetic damage as the angular bodywork picks up scratches easily. Test the clutch lever for smooth engagement. 

Yamaha YZF-R125 – the supersport 

For riders drawn to sportbike styling, the Yamaha YZF-R125 is the 125cc class benchmark. 

Full fairings, clip-on handlebars and a forward-leaning riding position give it genuine race-replica character, inspired directly by Yamaha's R-series supersport range. 

The engine is shared with the MT-125, so you get the same 14.8bhp and VVA technology in a sportier package. 

That sportier package does bring a taller 820mm seat and a slightly more committed riding position, which won't suit every new rider, particularly on longer commutes. 

Where the R125 excels is weekend fun and building cornering confidence, and there's a strong community of owners and track-day riders to tap into. 

Used R125s hold their value well, so you'll find a healthy supply of well-kept examples from riders who've moved up to an A2-class machine. 

What to check used: fairings hide crash damage well, so inspect behind panels for cracks or repair marks. Check bar-end weights and footpeg tips for scuffing - these are signs of a possible drop. 

Suzuki GSX-S125 – the lightweight contender 

Suzuki designed the GSX-S125 around one headline figure: the best power-to-weight ratio in the 125cc street sport class. 

A DOHC engine producing 14.8bhp sits in one of the lightest packages here at 133kg, and the low 785mm seat height is the most accessible on this list. 

Suzuki built the chassis around a twin-spar aluminium frame – unusual at this price point – which keeps the bike feeling planted through corners. 

ABS comes as standard, fuel economy is quoted at over 120mpg, and the Suzuki Easy Start system fires the engine with a single button press. 

The GSX-S125 is arguably the least flashy bike on this list, but its combination of low weight, low seat and genuine usability makes it an underrated pick for a first used 125cc motorcycle UK purchase. 

What to check used: verify the rear shock preload adjuster moves freely, and check the original equipment tyres as the Dunlop D102 fitment divides opinion, and many owners upgrade early. 

What to look for when buying a used 125cc 

A second-hand 125cc bike from a franchised dealer will typically come with a warranty, a documented preparation check and peace of mind on provenance. 

The Vertu Motorcycles Bike Buying Guide walks you through the full process, from budgeting to test rides. 

For any bike, a few essentials apply: insist on a full service history, check the HPI status, inspect tyres and brakes, and ask about consumables like chains, sprockets and brake pads. 

Mileage matters less than maintenance on a well-built Japanese 125. A bike with 15,000 miles and a full stamp book is a better buy than one with 3,000 miles and no receipts. 

You can browse used motorcycles at Vertu Motorcycles, search used Honda bikes at Vertu Honda, or find your nearest Vertu Motorcycles dealership to see what's in stock. 

What comes next 

Once you've passed your A2 test and outgrown the 125cc class, a whole new category of motorcycles opens up. 

The A2 licence allows bikes producing up to 35kW (47bhp), and that includes machines from BMW Motorrad, whose G 310 R and G 310 GS are purpose-built as accessible, premium stepping stones for riders moving beyond learner bikes. 

You can explore BMW Motorrad's beginner-friendly range at Vertu Motorcycles, alongside A2-legal options from Honda and other manufacturers. 

If you're ready to start looking, read our companion piece: Best Used A2 Motorcycles for New Riders. 

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