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Smashed Pumpkin · Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:04 am

Hi there,
I read a few pages of the sticky for Beginner Bikers but the smallest bikes you guys talk about seem to be 250cc. I'm from England and, once I have done my CBT, I will only be able to ride up to a 125 until I have got my full licence.

What I was wanting was a little bit of advice on what 125 is a good one. I was wanting to get a cruiser so I have been looking at :

Suzuki Intruder VL 125
Suzuki Marauder GZ 125
Yamaha Dragstar XVS 125
Kawasaki Eliminator BN 125

Out of these I think I'm leaning most towards the intruder but I thought I would try and get some opinions from more experienced motorcyclists.

Any advice or info, on which of these you think would be best, would be great. Thanks

Mike.

#2 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:08 am

I know nothing of the 125's (the only one you listed that I've seen in the states is the Eliminator) but I wanted to welcome you to the forum!

Oh and, Smashing Pumpkins ruled!

Kaige · #3 Unread post by **Kaige** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:29 am

The only 125cc bike I've ever ridden was the Eliminator in my MSF class. I preferred it for the seat height and low center of gravity. It kinda blows if you're tall though.

Nibblet99 · #4 Unread post by **Nibblet99** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:42 am

To be honest with you, you can't go too far wrong with the 125's (excepting the race replicas, which place a very high stress on the engine)

The marauder is quite a long bike for a 125, and looks good, but I don't like the way the gear shifter is located.

The dragstar is nice, but looks a little bit "thrown together" when you get close up

The eliminator and intruder are ones I have no knowledge whatsoever of

Also worth considering (but a bit pricier) is the honda shadow, which benefits from a water cooled v-twin engine.

Smashed Pumpkin · Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:04 am

Thanks for the warm welcom and the feedback

The Honda Shadow was actually another one I looked at but it's a little high on the price scale for me, I have to say I would probably get one if I could afford it.

My girlfriend has a little Honda CG and was the very first bike I ever rode, although I can't say I'm too keen on having one like that myself. Her father has a Triumph Boneville which is more like what I would want

.

Henriettaah · Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:37 am

Hello there from the UK

Didn't go for a cruiser as my first bike; was fond of the Suzuki GN but then found this little two-stroke 125
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So not a lot to add to your discussion but just wanted to say Hi! from another UK CBT'er!

#7 Unread post by **Kal** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:38 am

The only one of those inside my group of feinds is the Marauder - kick 'Duken', who is probably lurking nearby , as he has ridden one albeit briefly.

brbolin · #8 Unread post by **brbolin** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:40 am

Welcome! You'll get a LOT of good advice on this board.
Not necessarily from me, but you get the idea...

Anyway, I just took the MSF beginner class and rode the Kawasaki Eliminator during the whole thing. I LOVED that bike! I wanted to throw it in the back of my Escape and take it home afterwards, but they wouldn't let me. Oh well.
I really recommend this bike if you're only able to ride a 125 for a while. It's a beautiful bike, sits really nice (sitting on it for 5 hrs straight per day, no pains at all), and just feels really nice and nimble. Granted, with it being a 125 you're not going to be breaking any speeding records, but it just feels really good, and easy to handle.
I don't think you'd go wrong at all with the Eliminator!
Good luck!