Benelli BN 125cc

[dipenhydramine]

When i turn 17 i am getting a 125cc bike

 

I want something with speed, nice looks and comfort and landed on the benelli BN 125.

 

I do have a few questions about it though

 

What is its top speed

Can it be modded well, big bore kit etc..

Does it sound nice

Is it comfortable 

 

 

Also i was wondering, with the BN, what is the rough top bhp/mph i could stretch it to without it being too obvious to police and damaging the engine 

 

Thank you if you do decide to answer any of these questions 

[Simon Davey]

@dipenhydramine

 

If you're a genuine new rider. 

The only answer you'll get on this forum is to buy your BN, keep it standard, and to spend your time and money on getting a full licence. 

Then you have the most awesome choice of big, loud and f***ing fast bikes you can imagine. 

I remember the same issue with my 125, all I wanted was the power valve kit to de-restrict it, but I just couldn't get it in the UK. 

Get your licence, it's a great thing to do. 

Also, noisy and slightly faster 125's just sound shit to everyone except the person riding it. 

Edited December 18, 2024 by Simon Davey

[S-Westerly]

What Simon said. If you modify a 125 not only does it make the bike illegal if you are riding on a CBT but it renders your insurance invalid. This extends the rap sheet that will be thrown in your direction. It will also render you effectively uninsurable in the future unless you can afford thousands of pounds per year of premium so you'll effectively kill your biking career before you start. 

I know you don't want to hear this but in short don't do it. Keep it legal and when you can pass your full test and ride what the hell you like.

[dipenhydramine]

36 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

@dipenhydramine

 

If you're a genuine new rider. 

The only answer you'll get on this forum is to buy your BN, keep it standard, and to spend your time and money on getting a full licence. 

Then you have the most awesome choice of big, loud and f***ing fast bikes you can imagine. 

I remember the same issue with my 125, all I wanted was the power valve kit to de-restrict it, but I just get it in the UK. 

Get your licence, it's a great thing to do. 

Also, noisy and slightly faster 125's just sound shit to everyone except the person riding it. 

 

6 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

What Simon said. If you modify a 125 not only does it make the bike illegal if you are riding on a CBT but it renders your insurance invalid. This extends the rap sheet that will be thrown in your direction. It will also render you effectively uninsurable in the future unless you can afford thousands of pounds per year of premium so you'll effectively kill your biking career before you start. 

I know you don't want to hear this but in short don't do it. Keep it legal and when you can pass your full test and ride what the hell you like.

thank you

 

yeah its a shit thing to hear but ill take your guys word for it

[Simon Davey]

Just now, dipenhydramine said:

 

thank you

 

yeah its a shit thing to hear but ill take your guys word for it

 

We've all been there and tried

 

[dipenhydramine]

14 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

 

We've all been there and tried

 

to be fair though, i have spent a year now on an aprilla 50SR

 

and nothint about that thing is stock

 

it gets about 60 to 65mph flat and potentially 70 on a good downhill

 

im not sure whats been done with it as its got 8 owners before me

 

ive never been questioned or stopped by police despite it clearly not sounding or going the speed of a 50cc

 

 

[Simon Davey]

20 minutes ago, dipenhydramine said:

to be fair though, i have spent a year now on an aprilla 50SR

 

and nothint about that thing is stock

 

it gets about 60 to 65mph flat and potentially 70 on a good downhill

 

im not sure whats been done with it as its got 8 owners before me

 

ive never been questioned or stopped by police despite it clearly not sounding or going the speed of a 50cc

 

 

 

 

Maybe you need what someone did for me, a ride as pillion on a litre bike that'll leave you gripping for your life. Two months later I was taking my test. 

A 125 screaming along at 80-90 Mph is nothing compared to a bigger bike doing 70 in second gear, sounding like a real race bike and getting there in just a few seconds. 

It's nothing to do with the police or insurance, it's taking your test and having that immense power. 

I passed my test almost 40 years ago, I ride a 20 year old 1200cc bike that cost me £1500, it'll do 180 Mph and it still shits the life out of me. 

Don't you want that? 

Why waste your time on a 125?

[RideWithStyles]

Because the licence system dictates it….

[Simon Davey]

6 minutes ago, RideWithStyles said:

Because the licence system dictates it….

Yes indeed , i should have said, why waste your time trying to make a 125 so much faster. 

Do the 125 thing, get a licence. Time soon passes. 

[RideWithStyles]

 

gauges aren’t very accurate at higher speeds on small capacity cheap bikes…

Say no different to the others.

 I wouldnt get to hung up over it as a 50cc is only a bit fast than bicycle but a 125 can burn off a normal car with the right rider and mind set up.

until late this year I spent regular time over the last 7plus years on a 125 over my old bikes I have/had 500 (46hp), 600 (100+hp) ,650 (77hp),955cc (150+hp) and i never had a downer about it it was fun extracting every last bit of it.

I could still do weel over 70 quite easily unless it’s a really steep hill (a gearing change helped here with this bike) with that one only had 8hp (out of the factory) and 5 gears ,so a super fit 125 with 15hp and an extra gear will be very easy.

if you think I’m bs look on Yt for bike world- Chris (ex racer) had a long term Suzuki sv650 with sub 100hp- and pitched it against super cars for a drag race.

honest power make you lazy, bigger bikes are pain in the arse most of the time with less in return for potentially get you into more trouble than with the Police.

so what I would do is concentrate on getting you skills of proper riding (real world riding so your less likely to kill yourself or enjoy riding for longer) and learn to fixing the bike rather than prick about in a manner many may view as antisocial/yobness which for clarity im not saying you are but just that we all have it against us from the eye of many as it is.

Edited December 18, 2024 by RideWithStyles

[Simon Davey]

I think I've come across as a bit of a bully. 

Apologies @dipenhydramine   

Just want young riders to crack on and get a full licence, then have the most incredible rides on a bigger bike. 

I appreciate the costs involved now though. 

[bud]

The Benelli has under 11hp, so there are lots of 125cc bikes with more than that. The Yamaha R125, MT and XSR family have an extra 4hp for example.

The licensing at 17 sucks. You can only do the A1 test. Which will limit you to a 125. 

Edited December 18, 2024 by bud

[dipenhydramine]

10 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

 

gauges aren’t very accurate at higher speeds on small capacity cheap bikes…

Say no different to the others.

 I wouldnt get to hung up over it as a 50cc is only a bit fast than bicycle but a 125 can burn off a normal car with the right rider and mind set up.

until late this year I spent regular time over the last 7plus years on a 125 over my old bikes I have/had 500 (46hp), 600 (100+hp) ,650 (77hp),955cc (150+hp) and i never had a downer about it it was fun extracting every last bit of it.

I could still do weel over 70 quite easily unless it’s a really steep hill (a gearing change helped here with this bike) with that one only had 8hp (out of the factory) and 5 gears ,so a super fit 125 with 15hp and an extra gear will be very easy.

if you think I’m bs look on Yt for bike world- Chris (ex racer) had a long term Suzuki sv650 with sub 100hp- and pitched it against super cars for a drag race.

honest power make you lazy, bigger bikes are pain in the arse most of the time with less in return for potentially get you into more trouble than with the Police.

so what I would do is concentrate on getting you skills of proper riding (real world riding so your less likely to kill yourself or enjoy riding for longer) and learn to fixing the bike rather than prick about in a manner many may view as antisocial/yobness which for clarity im not saying you are but just that we all have it against us from the eye of many as it is.

yeah thats true honestly

 

ive just watched the right video (i think) and see what you mean

 

ive just become sort of obsessed with the idea of speed recently seeing my friend on his new 125 before me 

 

9 hours ago, Simon Davey said:

I think I've come across as a bit of a bully. 

Apologies @dipenhydramine   

Just want young riders to crack on and get a full licence, then have the most incredible rides on a bigger bike. 

I appreciate the costs involved now though. 

its completely cool man, nothing bully about it

 

my plan was to go onto my full license anyway to be honest

 

my thinking was just i can get experience messing with engines on something slightly less valuable than a higher cc bike and get some decent experience too

 

id prefer someone to tell me how it is than sugarcoat it, and you even took the time to respond so better than most

 

7 hours ago, bud said:

The Benelli has under 11hp, so there are lots of 125cc bikes with more than that. The Yamaha R125, MT and XSR family have an extra 4hp for example.

The licensing at 17 sucks. You can only do the A1 test. Which will limit you to a 125. 

yeah i was looking at the MT until i saw the price tag for it

 

and i will also need a daily rider for college which is about an hour there and an hour back, and i figured a sports bike would be rather uncomfortable 

[Capt Sisko]

1 hour ago, dipenhydramine said:

i will also need a daily rider for college which is about an hour there and an hour back

In that case the argument for keeping it standard is more compelling. It's wrong to say 'you will' make the bike less reliable by tinkering with it, but it's not an unheard side effect. On a slightly different note, literally; loud exhausts and commuting don't really go together. Sure it'll sound great gassing away from the collage to impress your mates or through your favourite series of bends, but that constant drone, two hours a day, day in day out will get to you.

 

Lastly, if you want to learn about engine & bikes, buy an old nail. You will make mistakes, it's all part of the learning curve, but if it's on an old nail then it doesn't matter. You never know, you may be able to sell at a profit once you've got it running right. 

Edited December 18, 2024 by Capt Sisko

[bud]

To be honest the 125cc sports bikes are not as uncomfortable as the bigger bikes. If you look at the bars for instance, they are above the top yoke, not under. And the foot legs are not as high as a proper sports bike.

I would rather have a Honda CBF than the Benelli if I was commuting that far. Even if it meant buying second hand. It's likely going to be more reliable. And more places would work on it if it did go wrong.

Edited December 18, 2024 by bud

[muldoon74]

I can sympathise with your desire to get going as quickly as possible as quickly as possible...

 

Unfortunately the world has changed from 30/35/40 years ago. Particularly when it comes to bikes. (and cars for that matter)

 

Insurance will be your biggest outlay (and butt ache). Modifying and f**king about with stuff may (as mentioned previously) invalidate your insurance. 

 

I done a bit of research and actually the Benelli you're looking at is a group 4 whereas my CB125F is a group 5. 

 

I was going to suggest a CB125F and learn your road craft/highway code etc but the Benneli may be a better option price wise. (although not by much and looking at them side by side a wee scrote with theft on his/her/their/ze etc mind may choose the Benneli as it look s quit cool.).. 

 

Unfortunately you're at a shit age for the current motorcycle regulations (which seem only to be getting more stringent and therefore expensive.. ) 

 

Get your Benneli or any cheap as you can find 125, do your test when ready and start building no claims up. You're restricted to 14bhp until 19 when you can move up to A2 and max 47bhp anyway so maybe just have to suck it up and get on with it.

 

As far as mods for loudness etc, why not find a motorcycle maintenance course at local college and do that? Learn how to actually sort your bike without resorting to drilling holes in exhausts or f**king about with essential components. 

 

As my brother and cousin said to me.. "learn to ride properly and you can ride fast on anything".... 

 

From experience loud cars are very tiring to drive. I guarantee if you were to go from Edinburgh to Blackpool in a massive exhausted modified Corsa or a Normally exhausted Corsa you'd choose the normal one for the return. So much more relaxed and physically less tiring. (noise is stressful, and makes you clench so physically more demanding.)

 

Bikes are no different with added disadvantage of vibration through the handlebars.

 

I know you're looking a the BN125 but is there anything to be said for the Leoncino?

 

https://www.benelli.co.uk/model/2024-benelli-leoncino-125cc-1776

 

Cracking looking bike. One parked up next to me at South Queensferry one day and it looked absolutely lovely. If you're going to be on a 125 for at least 2 years, might as-well be on a good looking bike. 

 

 

Edited December 19, 2024 by muldoon74

[dipenhydramine]

10 hours ago, Capt Sisko said:

In that case the argument for keeping it standard is more compelling. It's wrong to say 'you will' make the bike less reliable by tinkering with it, but it's not an unheard side effect. On a slightly different note, literally; loud exhausts and commuting don't really go together. Sure it'll sound great gassing away from the collage to impress your mates or through your favourite series of bends, but that constant drone, two hours a day, day in day out will get to you.

 

 

 

Lastly, if you want to learn about engine & bikes, buy an old nail. You will make mistakes, it's all part of the learning curve, but if it's on an old nail then it doesn't matter. You never know, you may be able to sell at a profit once you've got it running right. 

 

you are right yeah, ill start looking at some old nail to buy right now, thank you

 

10 hours ago, bud said:

To be honest the 125cc sports bikes

are not as uncomfortable as the bigger bikes. If you look at the bars for instance, they are above the top yoke, not under. And the foot legs are not as high as a proper sports bike.

I would rather have a Honda CBF than the Benelli if I was commuting that far. Even if it meant buying second hand. It's likely going to be more reliable. And more places would work on it if it did go wrong.

im really going to take your word on this

a large part of me wanted a sports looking one but i was scared of the discomfort

 

7 hours ago, muldoon74 said:

I can sympathise with your desire to get going as quickly as possible as quickly as possible...

 

Unfortunately the world has changed from 30/35/40 years ago. Particularly when it comes to bikes. (and cars for that matter)

 

Insurance will be your biggest outlay (and butt ache). Modifying and f**king about with stuff may (as mentioned previously) invalidate your insurance. 

 

I done a bit of research and actually the Benelli you're looking at is a group 4 whereas my CB125F is a group 5. 

 

I was going to suggest a CB125F and learn your road craft/highway code etc but the Benneli may be a better option price wise. (although not by much and looking at them side by side a wee scrote with theft on his/her/their/ze etc mind may choose the Benneli as it look s quit cool.).. 

 

Unfortunately you're at a shit age for the current motorcycle regulations (which seem only to be getting more stringent and therefore expensive.. ) 

 

Get your Benneli or any cheap as you can find 125, do your test when ready and start building no claims up. You're restricted to 14bhp until 19 when you can move up to A2 and max 47bhp anyway so maybe just have to suck it up and get on with it.

 

As far as mods for loudness etc, why not find a motorcycle maintenance course at local college and do that? Learn how to actually sort your bike without resorting to drilling holes in exhausts or f**king about with essential components. 

 

As my brother and cousin said to me.. "learn to ride properly and you can ride fast on anything".... 

 

From experience loud cars are very tiring to drive. I guarantee if you were to go from Edinburgh to Blackpool in a massive exhausted modified Corsa or a Normally exhausted Corsa you'd choose the normal one for the return. So much more relaxed and physically less tiring. (noise is stressful, and makes you clench so physically more demanding.)

 

Bikes are no different with added disadvantage of vibration through the handlebars.

 

I know you're looking a the BN125 but is there anything to be said for the Leoncino?

 

https://www.benelli.co.uk/model/2024-benelli-leoncino-125cc-1776

 

Cracking looking bike. One parked up next to me at South Queensferry one day and it looked absolutely lovely. If you're going to be on a 125 for at least 2 years, might as-well be on a good looking bike. 

 

 

there is nothing for to to even argue here

 

the theft thing is correct but i do have some massive boron chain and lock that no determined crackhead could cut through no matter how determined/high they are, so security isnt my biggest concern

 

i do agree the bike rules are quite bullshit, seeing as most people my age can get a car that goes faster

 

ill put my ego aside and say, i do really want a leoncino, but its what my friend has and i need to outdo him

 

thats pretty much the point of all of this

 

i will likely go for a sportys looking one if need be then

 

thank you all for taking the time to respond you have most likely saved my ass from a lot of mods gone wrong and being pulled over by police

 

 

[RideWithStyles]

I would second buds and Muldoon.

as for the benelli leoncino (I had the 500 for four years and 20thou miles so I know a good bit) it’s a nicer and more classy looking bike (normal) compared to the loud teenage cap backwards and chav talking of the bn.

only gripe is as like with any Chinese bikes (even a premium one) especially the cheap ones the usual of rust under the paint and infesting the bike even before the its first registration.

metal and welds are cheese, paint is atoms thick but it was a nice colour of red.

the engine even as a new design has a design flaw that vibrates the crap out of it when it eventually loosens up.

fogging of the clocks and headlight.

electrics are abit sub par - not fun when your 120miles away bike goes full disco meltdown with all the lights including the indicators and confusing the fook out of everyone with a misfire…

normal mechanics won’t willingly work on them, parts are difficult to get hold or or no longer stocked (like even a year after its release) even if your a dealer so a private buyer has little chance and doing a eBay scam buy is questionable.

most normal sellers like sportsbike or wemoto etc dont really have or want to sell parts for them.

the bikes value will be a hell of a lot less if you can find someone who has no idea of what it is or getting themselves into.

on the value, looks good now as it’s cheaper but it will defo screw you later.

New benelli was £5k, dealer and garage service had loads of trouble with it, like new condition as I really looked after it and got loads of claims in for parts and things just before the warranty expired, 4yr old sold for £2200 and that was a real struggle to sell.

 

used cbf125 4k miles on it bought for £1700, used condition mixed service but always serviced, not one trouble with it other than a battery, sold it 7 years later as a 13year old bike with around 16k, £1200 was fraught over between two people and a garage on day one!

was snapped off my hands with no haggling, could of got more if not the same as what I paid for it moons ago!

Parts are plentiful and cheap, i couldnt get it below 100mpg try as I might. 
 

as the thought it was slow, the only things managed to beat me was a m3 “on it” risking it while I wasn’t and other bikes with quite larger cc’s.

I’m not a Honda fan and the bike wasn’t mine but rode it plenty enough so I’m not rose tinting it for you but it was the better bike even if it was used, older, 38hp less, didn’t looks special.

so if I was to recommend owt it would be the a cbf (or Yamaha/suzuki/kawa) over the Chinese or Italese….

 

if you wish to out do your mate, just make the wiser choice! It great even many years down the road of do u remember that piece of shite you bought….how shite? how much money did u loose? How many times was it in the garage, how many parts did they have to replace? How many days of your life was wasted on it Etc, never gets old…

Edited December 19, 2024 by RideWithStyles
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