Honda CB125

Honda1973

Honda CB125. 2 cylinder 4-stroke with electric start. Could it get any tougher in 1973?

In the 1970s, Honda's small 4-strokes could sound like a heavy motorcycle from a distance. Until 1978, the limit for a light motorcycle was 125cc, and Honda 125, with its 2 cylinders, was one of the toughest things a 16-year-old could ride.

2 cylinders were big, and the sound was tougher than the train. And, not to forget all the talk about the "bottom drag"! Yamaha LS2 also had a 2-cylinder engine, but the 2-stroke in the Yamaha sounded more like a wasp. Tough enough, but a bit thin compared to the sound that came from the 4-stroke in the Honda. The 4-stroke engine was also more advanced, a bit more high-tech, so to speak. We were used to Tempo and Jawa that filled the streets with blue smoke from their 1- and 2-cylinder 2-strokes, with not too much power and refinement compared to the lightweights from Japan. The 124 cc Honda delivered a full 15 hp at 10,500 rpm, right where the red marking on the tachometer started. Perhaps one of the things that was most gruff on the Honda, in addition to equipment such as a tachometer and turn signals, was the self-starter, a bit like on heavier bikes.