In 2018, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the CB125R, a stripped-back new entry-level sports naked machine targeted especially at young riders. The bike was part of a distinctive new family that used Honda's new Neo Sports Cafe looks, which also included the CB1000R and CB300R models, both new for 2018.
The CB125R came in a lightweight and compact package that was fun to ride and represented a bold new direction of Honda's entry-level machines but also packed a host of premium features found on its larger siblings.
The bike's frame was manufactured with tubular and pressed steel and the swingarm was made of a steel plate, irregularly shaped in cross-section, while both were designed to offer high longitudinal rigidity and control torsion from wheel deflection without excess rigidity or weight.
In addition, the bike featured a unique style and was available in four color schemes, such as Candy Chromosphere Red, Black, Pearl Metalloid White, and Matt Axis Grey Metallic.
In the performance department, the 2018 Honda CB125R had its soul brought to life by a 125cc four-stroke single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine fed by a Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system that helped deliver an output power of 13 hp with maximum strength at 10,000 rpm and 10 Nm (7 lb-ft) of torque available at 8,000 rpm.
For suspension, the bike packed a 41 mm telescopic fork on the front and a single damper on the rear, while the stopping power was handled by a 296 mm petal disc with a four-piston caliper on the front wheel and a 220 mm petal disc squeezed by a single-piston caliper on the rear wheel.