I just went on one of the best motorcycle rides of my life. The Kawasaki Z125 Pro, Kawasaki’s answer to the mighty Honda Grom, (one of Honda’s best selling motorcycles) is a BRILLIANT machine. Super light, flickable and extremely confidence inspiring. It costs $11 a month to insure and sips gas to the point it is capable of a whopping 130 mpg if you care about that. I don’t, but it’s a wonderful talking point against the green weenies who want to electrify the world and make it boring as fuck. (This is coming from a HUGE electric bicycle proponent)

I got caught in a rain storm tonight and got thoroughly soaked but I kept riding and by the time I came home I was completely dry! It’s wild that parts of my little town didn’t even get any rain at all.

If you keep the rpm’s near redline, which I did most of tonight, gas mileage is still quite surprising on this bike. I’ve ridden it around town for a few days and this was my first fill up cost. A whopping gallon of ethanol free gas is all it could take in its tiny gastank. These pics were taken one handed and super sketchy. I need to get a better way to document these excellent rides.

The little mini motos are fun. I haven't ridden a Z125 but I had a Monkey and Trail 125. Light and lotsa fun up to 45 mph or so.

What do they cost. I would need some kind of a basket or rack to haul a little something. I am still looking for a used TW200 that I can afford.

That thing is cool as heck. How much does it weigh, how tall are you, and can you actually fit comfortably on it?

I didn't really buy my bike for fuel economy, but with gas at almost $4/gal it sure is nice to be able to fill up from half a tank for under $10. I was impressed with the 65mpg that mine is getting...130 is nuts!

quote:

I need to get a better way to document these excellent rides.

I was just thinking that myself. It was absolutely gorgeous here yesterday...70s and not a cloud in the sky, and the storms overnight took away the humidity that we had last week. In between chainsaw sessions dealing with a tree that broke Wednesday night, I took the BMW out and rode like 50 miles. I went around the lakes (which were vibrant blue under that clear sky), through farm country, and even got out in the local fish and game area to practice riding on some dirt roads. Indiana may be flat, but it's still got some good stuff to see. Like you, I struggle with a way to capture it. On a bike your hands are full of clutch and throttle, and my attention is fully occupied trying not to die. Normal photography the way I like to do it is out, but I'm wondering how hard it would be to get some kind of helmet mount video camera or dashcam or something to record the rides. It would need to be something that would require zero input from me while recording, but high enough quality to produce useful images/footage.

Most of those little mini moto bikes are surprisingly roomy when you sit on them. The Monkey I had felt about like a full size motorcycle.


I've often wished there was a camera attached to my helmet with a button on the handlebar to snap pictures. Of course there are but I just haven't gotten around to pursuing it.

When I'm riding alone I stop more often to take a pic, read the white point of interest signs, or just investigate something that looks interesting, that you just can't do so much when riding with others.

What's the top practical speed on that bike?

92fstech, 225 lbs wet. It is pretty comfy. I’m hobbit sized but my coworker who is 6-3 rode it and LOVED IT
Maximum Power: ~8.3 hp at 7,800 rpm
Maximum Torque: ~7.1 lb-ft at 6,000

I’ve ever ridden a bike that I can take on the twisty back roads that I’ve have been riding for years and keep the throttle pinned wide open for the majority of the road. AND I was still be pretty darn close to the speed limit the whole time. It’s truly a new sensation.

Oddball, The bike currently seems to max out at 64 miles an out at around 9,000+ rpm. It’s funny, if I run into a strong head wind the bike will begin to loose speed even at full throttle. I am sure I could increase the top speed with different gearing and perhaps a few performance mods but I kinda like that it has a OEM exhaust on it. I had it north of 7,000 rpm for so long my hands and feet were slightly numb and tingly when I got off the bike.

It’s not a fast bike, Lord knows ive ridden and owned faster stuff but I dare say this is the most fun bike in my garage.

On a my favorite country road (speed limit 45 but cars go 55) I actually managed to catch up to the cars ahead of me though passing was not an option because I was only keeping pace by blasting through the sharp turns at well over the recommended 35 mph limit.


It wouldn’t seem like it for those who haven’t ridden one but this bike makes you feel like a rock star on two wheels because of how good it handles, how small it is and how you can constantly rev the piss out of it.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:


I've often wished there was a camera attached to my helmet with a button on the handlebar to snap pictures. Of course there are but I just haven't gotten around to pursuing it.

Do you already own a GoPro? The remotes are about $30.

You can always take screen shot of live videos post production.

That has to be an absolute blast!

My neighbor offered to sell me a Grom for 1K. Nearly new. I passed. Many regrets.

quote:

I need to get a better way to document these excellent rides.

360 cameras are all the rage on motorcycles, the lens records everything around you, so the video picks up lots of information.

You can't throw a stick without hitting one at BikeWeek. I've no information on the brand in the link, its an example, and better than a helmet or single lens stationary on the bike.

https://store.insta360.com/motorcycling

If not a GoPro is your best bet.

It’s been a few weeks and the fun has not worn off. This little thing is my daily now.

I filled up today what I thought was a little less than a half tank but it only took .85 gallons yet again and again my fill up cost less than $4. It would have been cheaper but I only put 90 octane ethanol free gas in my motorcycles.

This bike is stupid inexpensive to own and operate. The full gas it requires in fist second and third just to get up to 45 mph is glorious.

I am now VERY SERIOUSLY considering going to my local Honda dealership and putting down a deposit on a new Honda Monkey. The Honda sales rep I spoke to last week said more monkeys should be in by September. Hmmmmmm. It would be the first motorcycle I bought new.

Monkey Pros:

Better mpg’s 160+ vs 130
Higher top speed
5 speed gearbox vs my Kawasaki’s 4 speed
Classic/retro styling
Better name

Monkey cons:

Not sure there are any…

It's great you're enjoying the Z125, the little mini motos are cool looking little bikes and can be fun to ride. The Monkey I had was bought on a whim. I was admiring (what I thought was) a new one at the dealer when they told me no it was just traded in and had 260 miles. I told them "at the right price" maybe I could find use for it. He said "how about $2,700?" I said "sold, assuming it includes your $85 doc fee throw it in my truck".

The Monkey was cute as heck so I rode it 25 miles to Barb's to show her. She had been wanting to learn to ride, but something small. She loved it, hopped on to see how it fit, and couldn't wait to try riding it. This image is just that, she wasn't dressed like that when she started riding it but you can tell she was excited.


After a few lessons she was riding fine and did putz around my driveway and couple local roads when she was at my house. But I had to find a use for it too and that's where it came up short. The seat was nice but its suspension was harsh on the gravel roads here and it was barely able to keep up on the small 45mph paved roads where most people drove 55. So pretty much wide open I was ok...... until I came to a hill. Then it struggled to go 35-40 while the truck behind me still wanted to go 55.

The suspension on dirt roads (rear in particular) was harsh so I put a set of YSS shocks on which helped some. But looking at it objectively it just didn't fit a need for me. I had an XT250 that worked better on pavement and gravel, wasn't much heavier, and had double the power, 19hp vs 9hp. So I sold the Monkey for what I paid for it minus the shocks I added. Since I've always been a slow learner I made the same mistake a year later buying an almost new Trail 125. It didn't work for me either.

IMO these little bikes are in their element on smaller paved, level or rolling roads, where traffic is generally 50 mph max. On the slower gravel roads where their power is adequate they're hampered by their budget suspension. There are any number of scenarios where they can work, take along in the truck when you go camping, urban riding, racing around a vacant parking lot, etc. Unfortunately it doesn't work for me and I've finally come to realize for a 250# up to 300# little bike I want at least around 20hp.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ridewv,

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Originally posted by stickman428:

This bike is stupid inexpensive to own and operate.

In theory. Just stay away from Youtube and the aftermarket websites.

I have both a 2024 Kawasaki z125 Pro and a 2015 Honda Grom. The Grom has had a flash, performance cam, sprockets, intake, and exhaust exhaust mods. All that work and it gained me hardly anything in performance. But at least it was fun and interesting to do.

As for the z125 Pro, I kept it completely stock, except for a tail tidy and rear Xitomer rack (sold on Amazon and Ebay for cheap. The rack SUCKS! Don't get it! If you want a rack, I suggest this one from Japan Rack. Yes it's expensive with shipping costing as much as the rack itself, however I have not been able to find a similarly reinforced to rear peg style rack anywhere else. I'm going to try and reinforce my crappy Xitomer rack in the same way, but my tail tidy will probably interfere..

Neat bike for sure. For me at age 74 my motorcycle experiences are just fond memories of the past.

quote:

Originally posted by grumpy1:
Neat bike for sure. For me at age 74 my motorcycle experiences are just fond memories of the past.

Why would being 74 hold you back, grumpy1?

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Originally posted by ridewv:

quote:

Originally posted by grumpy1:
Neat bike for sure. For me at age 74 my motorcycle experiences are just fond memories of the past.

Why would being 74 hold you back, grumpy1?

This is true. I’m in my 40’s, there are guys in the bike shop where I work that are in their 60’s AND 70’s who workout every day, cycle 20-60 miles almost every day and could kick the ABSOLUTE shit out of me on a mountain bike or road bike.


Age is just a number.

Really like the z125 and grom type rides. If i hadnt bought something else less than a year ago, these would have been an option. But after setting on one at the nearby used bike repair shop, i got a different perspective. Reminded me of the old cab over semis. You will definitely be the first one to the scene of the crash! These would be so much fun!