History of the Honda CA 125

Released in 1995, the Honda CA 125 had a cruiser-inspired design, but a frugal commuter engine lifted directly from the 1980s Honda CB 125. This gave the CA 125 owner a unique experience, with a sense of Very similar driving to larger American cruisers. Even the seat mimicked solo driver styling, with just a basic passenger pad. The Honda Motorcycle Company continued production for 5 years, during which time this motorcycle was a great favorite among riders who wanted a dash of biker image during their regular commute.

The Honda CA 125 was powered by a proven air-cooled four-stroke engine with a displacement of about 125 cc. Not exactly a powerhouse, this frugal commuter engine only made 11 hp at 9500 rpm. It was still a fun ride, though, thanks to the cruiser-like driving position and light curb weight of just over 300 pounds. Once out on the open road, this Honda could reach speeds of around 70 mph in fifth gear. Amazingly, Honda gave this cruiser design bike a fuel tank that holds about 2 gallons of gas.

The 5-speed transmission from the Honda CA 125 was also familiar to Honda commuter motorcycle owners. Designed for frequent gear changes on city and urban roads, it came with a dependent clutch plate and responsive gear ratios. The CA 125 used 17-inch, 90/90 tires at the front with an effective disc brake, while the rear had smaller, fatter 15-inch, 130/90 tires and a drum brake. This tire combination added to the cruiser style, along with the liberal use of chrome throughout and the stylized exhaust.

Under the right riding conditions, CB 125 cruiser-style motorcycles would average up to 65 to 70 mpg. This combination of frugal engine with cruiser styling proved very popular internationally, with some countries still making clones of the Honda CA 125 for growing economies. You can also find this stout little Honda on many a UK street, with owners and enthusiasts keeping the spirit alive. Quality parts are still available that can help you restore any production model CB 125 back to working order. The excellent Honda engine is usually in perfect condition, even after thousands of kilometers behind it. With a little effort and some genuine parts, this unique ’90s commuter can still give young riders a thrill on a budget.