Honda CB125F – a motorcycle to learn on

This is how to get a bike ready for learners. Most of us who ride motorcycles learnt to ride a piddly little 110cc motorcycle first and then probably upgraded to something better. Well Honda has taken learning to ride a motorcycle a step further. They’ve launched a special version of the CB125F aimed specifically at motorcycle training schools. While the CB125F isn’t sold in India or even in its home country Japan, the CB 125F will exclusively to be sold to training facilities only. The few modifications done to help new riders are those massive crash bars which are essential for riders who’ve never straddled a motorcycle before and will probably land up dropping the motorcycle.

Did you notice all those lights on the front? Well it turns out that each coloured light – red, orange, blue, green, cyan and white, with a matching set on the rear of the bike, too – has a specific meaning and automatically comes on when the trainee rider does something. For instance, one comes on when the brakes are applied, allowing the instructor to know if the trainee is using the brakes even if he’s riding in front of the pupil. Another one lights when the engine stalls and presumably there’s a clutch light, a neutral light and maybe one to show if the motorcycle is revving too high or too low. Honda hasn’t confirmed all the details but the result of all this is that an instructor can see things that the learner rider is doing wrong. The motorcycle also has a switchable speed limiter allowing it to be restricted to 30km/h or 40km/h if needed. This model will only be sold to training schools in Japan, but the idea of clear external indications that a learner rider is making mistakes seems like an idea that could be useful in India too.