how much would it cost for a 125cc Honda MSX

Demetrius671

Hey everyone my family are all experienced with cars and the internet is very muddled with different answers so I need help. I have a big interest with the Honda MSX 125cc. I am 18, at uni and I do not have much experience motoring. I was wondering how much do you reckon it would cost to insure, tax, license (cbt) and buy gear.

I greatly appreciate your time, if anyone has some advice on a different first bike would also be great.

Thanks

wgl2014

Tax £17 p/a
Insurance - no idea, try an online quote.
CBT - £100ish but consider at least an extra days training especially if you have no experience of being on the road.
Gear - Check out sales or eBay. Helmet must be bought new (ghost bikes have some good deals) other kit second hand is fine. You can find lots of hardly used expensive kit for not very much. Get a decent armoured jacket, gloves and boots with ankle protection, jeans are ok but proper bike trousers are better. There is a trade-off between protection and convenience, I err towards more protection.
With regards the bike consider what you want it for, as a run around they look good, if it's as a stepping stone to something bigger I would think about one with normal gears, loads of used bikes available. Sachs 125cc bikes are also available with low miles pretty cheap and are well made, I would avoid anything Chinese although apparently they are getting better! ��

goosander

MSX is pretty funky looking but they are tiny, unless you are very small a more normal sized bike would be better. Honda CBF125 is a standard issue learner bike, also Suzuki Van Van 125.

If you plan on passing bike test and getting a bigger bike soon, then pretty much any 125 will do. If you will likely keep it a while, I'd go CBF as it is a more practical bike (novelty of MSX will soon wear off).

If you don't plan on passing bike test and just want wheels for transport, I'd probably buy a scooter instead.

Heliflyguy

I considered the MSX to start riding again after a long break, saw one this morning on the way to work, its a fun looking bike I believe you can get some good examples for £2000 - £2500 and sometimes less.

Good advice about the riding gear, it can be done at a reasonable cost including approved crash helmets.

Before you buy all the lovely upgrades/enhancements for the MSX :cool: one thing I wouldn't scrimp on is security, it would be better if the bike was garaged or in a shed and use a ground anchor and chain(s)

If possible. more than 1 chain/lock will help deter but if they want your bike then a battery powered angle grinder and a lot of front is all they need, even when its locked up in broad daylight, plenty of examples on YT, dont go cheap on the disc lock(s) but make sure they fit your discs.

if its outside then a cover is a must as well.

And ride safely.:)

damoC

You can pick one up for 1500-2000£. Insurance depends but mine was 70 a month for the first year fully comp ( I own an msx125 15 model).
Road tax is 17£ a year and cbt can be from 100-150£ depending where you are located.

Ignore those that say it isn't a proper bike, it does have gears, full sized controlls and can get up to 70mph with no mods, I take mine on the motorway to work. I have a full unrestricted A licence and still ride the grom. I do 140miles a week and it costs me roughly 3-5£ a week in fuel, you can't complain at that.

It is small yes but it is comfortable, I'm 5ft 7in.

As for the gear mine cost around 400£ for boots, pants, jacket, gloves and helmet, but you can go cheaper.

Hope this helps.

Demetrius671

I greatly appreciate all your advice it has helped a lot . I am definitely going to keep myself open minded on other bikes. I was also worried about protection and was wondering if anyone can go a bit deeper in to it. I live in SW London and travel around everywhere including central London.

I know something like the MSX125 is really light how would I go about locking and parking in certain areas

- Plus I have a shed at home

Heliflyguy

Ideally secure it with a chain 10 - 12 mm link thickness to a street fixture but the lock needs to be as difficult to cut trough as the chain, the grom could probably be lifted easily by a 2 people.

A couple of good quality disc locks, you need to make it take longer to steal your bike than the one next to you.

Look at alarm options as well and maybe datatag.

I have this one for out and about and in the garage (plus two other locks and chains through a ground anchor) but the lock might not work with the chain depending on how it fits through the brake disc.

Abus are generally good locks but pricey.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Abus-Granit-Victory-Lock-Chain-120cm/dp/B00B236GXO

It may make your head spin but research locks (doesn't need to be specifically for a bike) on the net, you will find they can all pretty much be broken into given enough time and the right tools which is basically a battery angle grinder nowadays.

Oh and according to my insurers no discount for Thatcham approved locks, only with approved alarms/immobilisers.

A cover is still a good idea, helps hide what the bike is and what locks are securing it, adds a bit more time to the tealeafs work as well.

Demetrius671

Ok so I have been looking further in to protecting a motercycle. I have come to the conclusion that I think I am going to get the grom, obviously its super light and I live in london. The bike theft in London has gone up over something ridiculous like 40% in the last 2 years.

I have been seeing all these bike thieves videos in London (which I recognise most of the places in the vids) on youtube it really seems easy for them to do it and the police seem hopeless. At home I know my bike will be safe as it will be in my back garden shed but out there in the streets I'm worried .

For something like the grom what type of alarms, locks, trackers should I be looking for as I have no idea about certain brands and what sizes I need.

Plus is recording the key code and then scratching it off a good idea?
Thanks again

Heliflyguy

Probably best to join one of the Grom forums and ask, there seem to be a couple and this ones UK based although it doesn't seem very active.

http://gromlins.co.uk/forums/forum/honda-grom-main/

or

http://www.hondagrom.net/forums/6-honda-grom-forums

If you can fit a ground anchor in the shed, (is there a concrete base?) it would help, mine wasnt expensive but considering its only a cut and drilled peace of box section steel it would be cheaper to make one yourself if able.

Demetrius671

Thanks a lot I'm going to post some threads on those forums