Page 1 of 2
Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:20 pm
by masterchop
Was speaking to a guy at work today who ive seen ride in a few times on a silverwing 125. Got talking and the conversation got on to mileage.
Expecting the usual comments about my bike being old in the tooth I told him mines done 40k.
He reckons that his previous Honda 125 did just over 300'000 miles before it died.
I asked if he was sure about that and he didn't mean 30k and he said it had been round the clock 3 times.
If that is true then we should consider 40k broken in and ready to go.
Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:32 pm
by ridinhigh
I would be inclined to believe that cos my brother CG125 motor bike did over over around 2000k it only had chains sprockets plugs and oil couple batteries tyres
we never took engine to bits, ,then some bstward stole it he was gutted cost him two days pay,
Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 10:28 pm
by masterchop
2000k excuse me?
Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:17 pm
by ridinhigh
slip of the tongue

200:000k more like it

Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 8:56 am
by wozza
If 300k miles is correct on a 125 that is truely amazing!

Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:35 am
by jjprivate
the longest lasting 125cc X9 I have seen had 125.000 km on the clock at that time without any flaws or damages and no repairs neccessary. It is gaining more because it is still on the road
Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:39 am
by Data
Sounds pretty unbelieveable to me unless he has some magic formula he puts in the oil that no-one knows about, you can catagorically rule that out as mere puff! I've never seen a 125 with more than 85k on the clock before it needed a crank or piston and barrel, talking 4 strokes here. My own CD175 Honda managed just 70k running on synthetic oil before I rebuilt it. The crank bearings rattled like hell and were in danger of breaking up. I've seen a wide variety of bikes with high mileages (100k+) too. But never a 125. They work damn hard you know! Most bigger bikes won't go that distance. Most car engines don't go that long either unless it's a diesel. I think he was pulling your leg for sure, Honda or not. 300,000 miles...

I suspect he meant the bike had covered 300,000 in total. Rebuilding a 125 Honda takes just the afternoon to do. Drop in a new crank and piston and barrel (all cheap to do) and your off again.
Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:41 am
by ridinhigh
1 know of some 90cc bikes that exceed that mileage
Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:49 am
by Data
I'd want proof. As far as I'm concerned it can't be done without a rebuild and I've never in 42 years of biking seen a 90cc 4 stroke bike do more than 60k without a strip down. I owned a C90 and it was done at 50k, worn out, buggered!! I stripped it and rebuild with crank and piston, new barrel, new clutch and off it went again. Sold it to some guy who continued to ride it for years, like I did. My Honda C50 went 22k before a rebuild was needed, piston, rings and front wheel bearing needed actually!! My first bike on the road that was.

Re: Longest lasting 125 engine?
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:52 am
by Dave Weller
The water cooled Honda 125 engine is capable of very high mileages, even when used to the limit all the time, I have seen used ones for sale with 100,000+ miles on them, most of the Dylans and SH125's have a hard life in London and give good service.
My S-Wing is happy at 60mph and for overtakes can get upto 70, it gives about 110mpg and spares are cheap (belt £29 easy to fit and should last 16,000 miles)
When I had a Burgman 650 and the S-Wing 125 in the garage, my first choice of bike was the 125, I like being involved in the ride, and making progress on a light weight scoot is more interesting, ie high cornering speed.