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2-For-1 Offer: 1975 Honda CB125S

The moment that I saw this pair of Honda motorcycles I was immediately transported back to the days of my youth. The law said that I could not obtain a license for a car until I was 17-years-old, but at 16, I was allowed to hit the road on a motorcycle. I yearned for one of these to give me that chance, but it never came to pass. I’m probably a bit long in the tooth to recapture those dreams, but if classic 1970s motorcycles hold a huge attraction for you, then this is your chance to secure a pair of Honda’s lovely little CB125S road bikes. They are located in Point Saint Lucie, Florida, and have been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $1,450 for this pair, and it is worth noting that this is a No Reserve listing.

The listing for this pair is slightly deceptive because although they both look virtually identical, one is a 1975 model, but the other is a 1974 model. It makes little difference because there were no changes made to the CB125 between those 2-years. Neither bike is perfect, with a few visible nicks and marks in the paint, but the reality is that for motorcycles of this age, they do present quite nicely. The paint and chrome look really nice, while the seats of both have survived with no signs of splits or tears.

Powering the CB125S is the 122cc single-cylinder, 4-stroke engine, which sends its chain-driven power to the rear wheel via a 5-speed transmission. This was not the most powerful of engines, but what it does possess is exceptionally smooth power delivery. This makes it perfect for those people just starting out into the world of two-wheeled adventures. The smooth power delivery of these little engines is probably best demonstrated by the fact that this same engine and transmission combination also saw duty on Honda’s TL125 trials bike, a competition category that demands smooth and consistent power delivery. Neither of these bikes has seen use over the past 6-months or so, but both have recently received an oil change, and the tanks on both have been cleaned. So getting them back up and running should be relatively easy.

It sounds like the owner of this pair of Hondas might be of the more senior persuasion, and they have been using the bikes for some basic, short-distance commuting. That’s not to say that this would be the only use for them, because the CB125S is quite capable of sitting on 50-60mph on the open road. However, if you and your partner want a pair of easy to ride motorcycles for a bit of relaxed riding, or if you have a young person itching to get out on the road independently, then this pair would be an alternative well worth considering.

Comments

  1. Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

    Nice find, Adam! Those are beautiful little bikes, more than big and/or fast enough for almost anyone to tool around town on.

    Like 6
  2. HoA Howard A Member

    Meh, nice little bikes, but you’ll easily tire with it’s lack of power. Parts too, not the easiest. Ebay has some, but the sellers are gouging the heck out of you, because they know the stuff can’t be found. Strictly in town, and you’d be nuts to take this in any traffic, an ant in an elephant stampede. I like power in a motorcycle, and this ain’t it.

    Like 5
  3. Avatar George Mattar

    Great find. $30,000 for a new POS Harley with dealers who gouge you on service. Buy these and far more reliable than a new Harley. Love these.

    Like 21
    • HoA Howard A Member

      Look, George, don’t come on here blasting Harley’s. You can have your preference, but many here, me included, think Harley’s, especially modern Harley’s, are some of the best motorcycles made. And if you think for minute, these “nice” Honda dealers are any different, you are sadly mistaken. I thankfully sold my GoldWing, which was nothing but a money pit, and would buy another Harley in a minute.

      Like 7
    • Avatar FordGuy1972 Member

      I don’t think I’d call a Harley a POS though in my mind they’re overpriced compared to a comparable Japanese bike. I can’t afford one which is why I went with a Kawasaki Vulcan Classic LT. It was a lot cheaper than a Harley and in the ten years I’ve owned it, I haven’t spent a dime on it apart from regular servicing. While I’ve never owned a Harley, I’ve always had good luck with the Japanese bikes I’ve owned.

      Harley owners are fiercely brand loyal and seem willing to pay more to own one but I don’t feel like I should have to pay more for a bike just because it says Harley on the tank. Maybe that’s because I don’t consider myself to be a biker. I’m just a guy who likes to ride a motorcycle and have money left in my pocket after I buy one.

      Like 11
      • Avatar Dave

        2005 Sportster 1200 Roadster, out the door for $9700. Still riding it, 80,000 miles later. Everything you need, nothing you don’t.

        Like 2
  4. Avatar Dave

    How come every time a motorcycle is on here Harley enters the conversation?

    These Hondas didn’t have the power to deal with Pittsburgh’s hills, but CB 350s sold like crazy. It seemed like every other garage had one.

    Like 5
  5. Avatar Johnny

    Maybe because”-You meet the nicest people on a Honda” hahaha Remember the advertisement. They are nice bikes and will sale pretty quick.Seeing they are in nice shape. Price a trail 70 or trail 90. one in nice shape will go $1,500

    Like 4
    • Avatar Dave

      You know, it’s not a big motorcycle, just a groovy little motorbike. I better turn on the light so I can ride my Honda tonite.

      Like 5
  6. Avatar On and On Member

    I agree these are starter bikes or a second bike for short trips. For bikes this age you have to have the skill to wrench on them yourself, they’re not worth taking them to the Honda dealer for repairs. They are already overpriced, and one has no title. If you look hard you could find lots of them. They sold thousands. It’s a Honda and all most need is a fuel system cleaning and a new battery. Howard is right, Honda did not and does not have a strong replacement parts infrastructure set up on any of these. It’s hit or miss. Many were bought and used briefly then set aside when the kids left. On another note, cruising a 125 at 50-60mph is not an option, that’s over the top and they’ll be screaming to shift but no gears left. Short trips only or cruise the suburbs at 35 and check out the neighborhood. You always see more from the seat of a bike than the seat of a car.

    Like 6
    • HoA Howard A Member

      Hey Gregg, I read Honda dealers, well, all Asian makes, were told by the factory to dispose of all spare parts, they by forcing owners to buy new machines. No money in keeping the old stuff running. ( nice network, hey George?) You can probably still buy panhead parts at a H-D dealer. Unless someone dug them out of the dumpster and resells them online, you’re out of luck. A CL350 I looked at had a broken front brake lever mount, a guy online wanted $175 bucks for one! A friend had an older Suzuki atv needed a front power shaft, none in the country, and he junked the atv. Electrics too. These lighting coils fail from just being old, and new ones in the box are bad from sitting. These look nice, but there’s usually a reason why these are sitting in a pile with all the other vintage Asian bikes.

      Like 1
  7. Avatar Mike

    My GF at the time (late 80’s) had this bizarre idea that one of these would be a great commuter bike to her job 5 miles away. It only took 3 days for her to give up. I sat next to our trailer for a couple of years and got rusty and banged up. Kinda sad considering it had less than 300 miles on it.

    Like 4
  8. Avatar 70 SprBzzz

    Your 80 year old GF shoulda retired. imho 😂

    Like 7
    • Avatar Mike

      What can I say? Lots of available women at the senior center. :)

      Like 2
  9. Avatar stillrunners

    Nice little get around bikes…..kinda rare Honda in the 125cc…..they also made a SL125 based on this motor which is rare too.

    Like 3
  10. Avatar Mike Walden

    If she was in her 80s, I’m surprised she lasted 3 days!!!

    Like 3
  11. Avatar Ron Lord

    Had a 1974 CB 200, very similar looking to those but was a twin cylinder. Great little bike, it could cruise at 65, topped out at around 75mph. Rode it for 2 years with no problems at all.

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Jim in FL

    These are a couple hours away from me, so I’m going to bid. If the price doesn’t go too high, it’s a good replacement for the 74 Vespa I ride around town. Those who think this is overpriced should look at a Honda Monkey. 4 grand for a mini bike. I figure I can get a title for the missing one, keep the one I like and recoup some investment by selling the second one local.

    As to Harley hate, the handful of Harleys I owned were all good, basic bikes. If they aren’t your style, I get it, but in my 35 years of riding, the only thing I’ve noticed, brand wise, is that the teakettle BMWs were like precision jewelry compared to most everything else.

    Like 2
  13. Avatar Joe Haska

    Adam, we must be near the same age, in Colorado when I was 14, you could have a “motor scooter” if it was less than six h.p. that included several options, one being a Triumph Tiger Cub. I would have done anything to have one, at the time they were about $500, that was a ton of money at that time and only the rich kids had them, not me.
    So guess what, I still want one. I now live in an age restricted community, very nice, lots of golf karts, that double for golf and transportation ,I want to start a new trend and ride my Tiger Cub, and regain my lost opportunity when I was 14!

    Like 5
  14. Avatar steve

    These are an odd vehicle. A smaller young person commuting to school or a job? Sure. It will keep up with most city traffic and on country back roads, they are kinda fun. Here’s the thing. They are under-powered much like the mopeds and scooters out there yet in most states they require the same insurance costs as a larger (say up to 500cc) bike and the inspections etc. Because of that there are no savings using it as a 2nd vehicle for “those days” if you have a car or a “real” motorcycle. Unlike a bigger bike you have the same issue, like being wet/cold and a TARGET for motorists (The air force paid billions to develop stealth technology where all they had to do was paint the planes to look like motorcycles and nobody can see them….) but no speed, acceleration or distance capabilities. “Oh! I’m gunna buy a bike to save gas money!” Umm no..no you’re not. Do the math and figure it out. Paying for the fuel to run two 50 mpg bikes is the same as for those two people riding in a safer and drier 25mpg car. There is a reason these were rare and not that popular. They don’t make sense for most people. I like motorcycles but I can’t see having these.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar JC

    I had a ’73 Honda CB100 when I was a kid (14)… I can still see it, it was Gold and black with lots of chrome… had a lot of fun on it and thought I was da man when I got it up to 55mph (which was about as fast as it would go!) and all the other kids were left in the dust on their Honda 50’s and mower engined mini bikes. lol. I sold it years later for the same price my dad bought it for ($300) to be enjoyed by another kid whose dad had a big farm to ride it on. I’ll never forget they didn’t tie it down good in the back of the truck and it fell over and put a huge dent in the tank just as they were pulling out of the driveway…smh.

    Like 2
  16. Avatar Willowen

    “Not enough power” is very much a relative thing. Having been used to German and English 175s and 250s with HP well under 20 (late 50s), my first ride on a Honda 150 was a revelation: 16.5 @10,000! I had been riding all over my part of Alaska on a Puch (Allstate-branded) 175, 14 HP rated and good for right at 70 if I laid down on it, and this little zipper would run off and leave that. I even went riding with a bunch of guys on their Harley (Aermacchi) 250 Sprints, and after shocking them with the pushbutton start doubled the effect by disappearing down the road.

    Later Hondas like this were more easygoing, but I can’t imagine their being unsuited to urban and secondary-road traffic. I’d never want to ride on the freeway anyway, though I did commute into Nashville for a while on a CL160.

    Like 2
  17. Avatar Al

    Had both. Sad day when I sold my CB 500 4. Happy day when I sold the Sporty. Even happier day when I bought a 500 Honda Magna. Rides like a Caddy, maintains like a Honda.

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Stevieg

    You meet the nicest people on a Honda…until they start bashing Harley Davidson products and riders.
    Maybe it’s just jealousy!
    Here’s a picture of my 2 Harleys side by side, the new one I bought a year ago & my Springer, which was totaled earlier this year by a young driver who decided she could text & drive. Maybe she rides a Honda lol.

    Like 1
  19. Avatar Stevieg

    You meet the nicest people on a Honda…until they bash Harley products & their riders.
    Attached is a picture of my new Harley I purchased a year ago, next to my Springer which was totaled earlier this year by a young driver who decided she could text and drive. Maybe she is a Honda rider lol.

    Like 0
    • Avatar On and On Member

      Now there’s some real ‘Ape Hangers’ Nice collection Stevieg. Ride on!

      Like 0
  20. Avatar Stevieg

    I stuttered lol

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Stevieg

    Thank you On & On. No longer a collection since the Springer has been totaled. I wish I had been able to keep it.
    I am looking for another though, so if anyone out there knows of a nice FLSTC or FLSTCI for sale, let me know please. I would be interested.

    Like 0
  22. Avatar AZVanMan

    I’ve owned and ridden many makes and models over the last 50 years, and the average Harley is a 2-wheeled tractor compared to the average Japanese street bike. Not that there’s anything wrong with a 2-wheeled tractor.
    These Honda’s have a special value for people who grew up with them–not to commute on or run an iron butt rally, but cool, 45 year-old fun.

    Like 1
  23. Avatar Stevieg

    So my Roadglide with abs, air ride, stereo with serius satellite & GPS, led lighting, and so on, is a 2 wheeled tractor? What makes the other brand bikes better than mine?
    I think pretty much all motorcycles are 2 wheeled tractors. They don’t have power windows because there aren’t windows. What do you want from a motorcycle?

    Like 0

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