2011 Honda CBR125R Makes Canadian Debut

As we posted earlier this week, Honda Canada invited CBR125R owners to its corporate headquarters for the Canadian debut of the new CBR250R. But that wasn’t the only unveiling, as the 2011 edition of the CBR125R was also revealed. While the new 250 was the star of Honda Canada’s launch event, the 125 owners in attendance reacted positively to the updates for the 2011 CBR125R model.

The not-available-in-America Honda CBR125R has consistently been among Honda Canada’s top sellers since it was first introduced. For 2011, Honda has given the CBR125R its first major revisions since it arrived in Canada in 2007.

Check out the Honda CBR250R Forum

According to Honda Canada, the fuel-injected 125cc single-cylinder engine has been tweaked to be more rideable at lower revs. Honda Canada hasn’t had a chance to put the CBR125R on the dyno yet, but the specs out of Europe claim 13.1 hp at 10,000 rpm (down slightly from the previous 2009 model’s claimed 13.4 hp at 10,000 rpm) and 7.7 ft-lb. at 8000 rpm (another slight dip from 7.8 ft-lb. at 8250 rpm).

Updated fuel injection settings and a revised  final drive ratio are supposed to offer better fuel economy, and with a larger tank (3.4 gallons compared to 2.6 gallons), Honda Canada estimates the CBR125R has a range of over 335 miles on a single tank. The new fuel-sipping drive ratio may come at the expense of less acceleration however.

The new exhaust system uses an oxygen sensor and tri-metal catalytic converter, but several people in attendance said they preferred the old model’s pipe to the styling of the 2011 version’s stubbier exhaust.

One update that drew applause from CBR125R owners is its larger wheels. Previous models used 80/90-17 front and 100/80-17 rear tires. The 2011 model uses much fatter 100/80-17 front and 130/70-17 rear tires with a new five-spoke design, to help improve handling and give the CBR125R more of a “grown-up” look. One Honda rep also pointed out that the orange wheels of the metallic silver 125 match those found on the 2011 special edition CBR600RR and Repsol edition CBR1000RR.

The CBR’s geometry has also been tweaked with a longer wheelbase (51.7 inches compared to 50.9 inches) while the seat is now up to 31.2 inches from 30.6 inches. The 31mm telescopic fork now has 4.7 inches (120mm) of travel compared to the previous model’s 4.3 inches (109mm). The rear monoshock also has more travel, now up to 5 inches (126mm) compared to 4.7 inches.

Brakes remain unchanged with a 276mm disc and dual-piston caliper up front and a 220mm disc with a single-piston caliper at the rear.

Like the new 250, the 2011 CBR125R gets updated styling to look more like the CBR1000RR, while a new single headlight replaces the dual cat’s eye lights from the previous model. The updates have made the new 125 about 21 pounds heavier with a curb weight of 302 pounds. Another update that will work in the bike’s favor is the price: with an MSRP of CN$3,499, the 2011 model is $100 cheaper than the previous model.

While the new CBR250R is sure to put a dent on its sales figures next year, the updates to the 2011 model suggest Honda isn’t ready to get rid of the CBR125R yet.

Related Reading
2011 Honda CBR250R Review
2010 Honda CBR125R Review

By Dennis Chung