S U Z U K I
GSX -R125
When Suzuki contacted me about sending one of their brand new Suzuki GSX-R125 motorbikes, I have to admit, I was panicking... I had never ridden a sports bike before and had heard that the riding position was completely different from the upright models I was used to. A month earlier, I had test-ridden the GSX-S125 at Suzuki’s HQ and absolutely fell in love with it, but again it was an upright model so now this baby was arriving it was a whole new world! I thought there was no other bike I wanted more than the S model – until I got on the R model!
Suzuki delivered the bike along with Hayden’s GSX-S1000GT. Seeing the GSX-R125 up close for the first time, I was super excited but jeez I was nervous at the same time....
As soon as the van doors opened though I immediately loved the look of the bike. Compared to my KTM Duke 125, the GSX-R125 was a lot smaller, allowing me to touch both feet to the ground, which made me feel much more confident and lot more stable. It was also the first time I had used a keyless bike, a feature I had never seen before. Ian, the delivery driver must have thought 'oh god' when I started with the questions, he was great though and we even made a video for me to looking back on because my ADHD had kicked in at this point and everything would have been forgotten the second he walked out the gate!
Moving the bike was a a lot easier than I expected, it was a lot lighter than I expected, maybe even lighter than the S model because of its shape, either way that was one panic off the tick list. The folding mirrors were really handy because my back gate is pretty tight and my bikes always live indoors so it moved through the house really easily.
By the time Hayden finished work, I was already geared up and ready to go with two of my friends, rushing him to get ready - probably hated me that day haha . Leaving the driveway, which leads straight into a tight corner, was a bit tricky and caused me a small wobble or two as we set off. But once I adjusted to the weight and different positioning, it felt natural and I totally relaxed. I was surprised at how quickly I adapted. In fact, my friends all noticed how much more comfortable and natural I looked riding it.
As you all know, I was the queen of stalling on the KTM. But with this bike, stalling seems almost impossible. I think I only stalled it twice in the weeks I’ve had it. The gear changes are smooth, and the bike feels so much nicer and less aggressive to ride. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the KTM, but it was probably too tall for me, and I had less control over the gears, which wasn’t ideal for someone new to using gears.
After riding the GSX-R125 for about a month, I can honestly say I love it more than any bike I’ve ridden before. It’s given me the confidence to start thinking about taking my big bike test. I highly recommend this model for anyone new to riding who wants something safe, confidence-building, reliable, with excellent power-to-weight ratio and acceleration – plus, it looks fantastic!
For those interested in more details on the specs, I’ve included the link below where you can also purchase. They currently have £500 off (as of 7/8/24), so if this deal is still valid, grab it while you can!