2015 Honda CB125F - First Look

Admit it: We all love the Grom, Honda’s compact 125cc bundle of fun that’s become the playbike of choice for a whole new generation of riders. But what would happen if you took a similar 125cc single, a simple air-cooled motor, and installed it in a larger, more conventional, chassis?

Presto! You'd get the all-new 2015 CB125F, a Europe-only naked bike just unveiled by Honda. Although we haven't ridden this new Honda, it looks like simple fun, a great learner's bike that would also be a handy to have at a campsite or used around town like a scooter. Sure, Honda already has its CB300 and CB500 models here in the US, but the considerably lighter CB125 might be a better way of getting more beginning street riders in the saddle.

Details: The electric-start 124.7cc engine—an air-cooled SOHC two-valver with fuel injection and a balance shaft—puts out a claimed 10.5 horsepower, along with 7.5 pound-feet of torque. The gearbox is a five-speed, and fuel economy—get this—is listed as an astounding 125 miles per gallon. With its 3.4-gallon fuel tank, the 2015 Honda CB125F therefore has a range of more than 370 miles.

In addition to an all-new steel frame with a conventional fork and dual shocks, the new CB125F has a front disc and a rear drum brake. The blacked-out 18-in. wheels are cast, and the upright riding position, together with a wide handlebar, is designed to help the beginning rider with control. Honda says the new CB125F has a muscular “mass-forward” stance, and its contoured side cowls are designed to minimize the height difference between the rider and passenger seat.

With a seat height of 30.5 inches and a curb weight of only 282 lb., this new CB125F does make a lot of sense as a commuter bike in tight cities such as London and Paris. But would it sell well in the US? In the recent past, American Honda didn’t think small street-legal bikes like this had much of a chance here. But the Grom may have changed their mind. What do you think: Should Honda sell this new CB125F—available in Pearl Twinkle Yellow, Onyx Blue Metallic, Pearl Sunbeam White, and Candy Blazing Red colors—in the US?