Honda CG125
Encyclopedia
The Honda CG125 is a commuter motorcycle
that was made by Honda
of Japan. It was in production from 1976 to 2008 and was originally manufactured in Japan, but source for European market was eventually moved to Brazil in 1985 and also Turkey for the W model. Over its lifetime, the CG125 has received numerous enhancements and tweaks:
2004 saw a number of further changes in the European market:
This last change is one of the very few changes that sacrificed functionality (longer chain life) in favour of aesthetics.
The CG125 is powered by a fuel-efficient 124 cc four-stroke, overhead valve
, single-cylinder engine that has changed little over the years.
The CG125 was developed from the CB125 for third world markets. The CB was an overhead cam engine which revved more freely and some say was more reliable than early CG125 models. There were many parts in common between the two - basically just the top end was different. One fault with many Honda OHC engines of that era (generally denoted CB), was that they had a tendency to wear in the camshaft bearings if oil changes were skipped. The CG engine was developed specifically to address this problem (amongst others).
Due to its design success, several direct copies of the CG125 have sprung up (mostly from Chinese
and Korea
n manufacturers), such as the Hongdou CG125, the Champ Commuter, the Warrior Dispatch and the Kymco
Pulsar 125.
In Brazil and in the UK, it is widely used as beginner motorcycle by training schools for teaching and Compulsory Basic Training
.
In Brazil, due to emission laws from 2009, the engine has been redesigned with an overhead camshaft
(bore and stroke also changed).
Due to Euro 3 emission laws
the Honda CG125 has been replaced by the fuel injected
Honda CBF125 in UK and Europe since 2009.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
that was made by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
of Japan. It was in production from 1976 to 2008 and was originally manufactured in Japan, but source for European market was eventually moved to Brazil in 1985 and also Turkey for the W model. Over its lifetime, the CG125 has received numerous enhancements and tweaks:
- The electrics were upgraded from 6 V to 12 V (1985 in UK)
- The old contact breakers were replaced by electronic ignition (1995 in UK).
- An electric start was added in 2001, originally alongside the original kick startKick startKick start refers to a method of starting an internal combustion engine by pushing a ratcheting lever with one's foot. Kick start mechanisms were almost universally a part of motorcycle engines before the mid-1970s, and were phased out of production over the next twenty years or so as electric...
and replacing it completely in 2004 (in the European Market).
2004 saw a number of further changes in the European market:
- The front drum brakeDrum brakeA drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against a rotating drum-shaped part called a brake drum....
was replaced by a disc brakeDisc brakeThe disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or... - A new instrument cluster, including a fuel gauge for the first time, replaced the old square unit.
- The fuel capacity was increased from 12 litres (25.4 US pt) to 13 litres (27.5 US pt)
- The styling was modernised
- The chain casing was dropped in favour of a simpler chain guard
This last change is one of the very few changes that sacrificed functionality (longer chain life) in favour of aesthetics.
The CG125 is powered by a fuel-efficient 124 cc four-stroke, overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
, single-cylinder engine that has changed little over the years.
The CG125 was developed from the CB125 for third world markets. The CB was an overhead cam engine which revved more freely and some say was more reliable than early CG125 models. There were many parts in common between the two - basically just the top end was different. One fault with many Honda OHC engines of that era (generally denoted CB), was that they had a tendency to wear in the camshaft bearings if oil changes were skipped. The CG engine was developed specifically to address this problem (amongst others).
Due to its design success, several direct copies of the CG125 have sprung up (mostly from Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n manufacturers), such as the Hongdou CG125, the Champ Commuter, the Warrior Dispatch and the Kymco
Kymco
KYMCO KYMCO KYMCO (trade name for the Kwang Yang Motor Co, Ltd is a Taiwanese company that manufactures motor scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs for worldwide distribution. Founded in 1963, the company originally made parts for Honda. The company built its first complete scooter in 1970 and began...
Pulsar 125.
In Brazil and in the UK, it is widely used as beginner motorcycle by training schools for teaching and Compulsory Basic Training
Compulsory Basic Training
In the United Kingdom, the term Compulsory Basic Training is a preliminary vehicular training course which must be completed by people wishing to ride a motorcycle or moped unaccompanied on the road, and remains valid for 2 years upon completion...
.
In Brazil, due to emission laws from 2009, the engine has been redesigned with an overhead camshaft
Overhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
(bore and stroke also changed).
Due to Euro 3 emission laws
European emission standards
European emission standards define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in EU member states. The emission standards are defined in a series of European Union directives staging the progressive introduction of increasingly stringent standards.Currently, emissions of...
the Honda CG125 has been replaced by the fuel injected
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
Honda CBF125 in UK and Europe since 2009.
UK model history
| CG 125 K1/B/C | 77-83 | |
| CG 125 E | 84 | |
| CG 125 BR-F/J | 85-91 | Now 12v |
| CG 125 BR-K | 91-94 | |
| CG 125 BR-S/T | 95-97 | Now electronic ignition |
| CG 125 W | 98-00 | |
| CG 125 M1/1 | 01-03 | |
| CG 125-ES4 | 04 | |
| CG 125 Job | 05 | |
| CG 125-ES5/ES6/ES7/ES8 | 05-08 |