I love My Trail125, but I am still trying to like it.

[Chatham125]

I have noticed more and more Trail 125's up for sale with under 500 miles. I can understand this. They bought the bike thinking it wa just like the famed CT90/110. They found out early that it does not behave the same. It has no dual range transmission which makes it not so grand on the trail with it's gear ratio combined with the factory tires and doesn't perform well as a street bike. I am always looking in my rear view mirror on the road watching for the next vehicle wanting to pass because I can't meet the local speed limit.
I have a 1982 CT110. The obvious solution for me would be to turn this bike into a trail only machine with a top end of say 40-45 miles an hour at 7500RPM. I have replaced the stock 14t with a 13t front and am sable to hit 48 to 50mph with balls to wall throttle. What good is that? So I am looking into Shinko 241, 244, tires, larger rear sprocket and being stuck with trailing the bike out to any real trails. It looks like I jumped the gun for $4874.00 for this bike. I told the dealer that since I was first on his list and have purchased (2) 2022 Honda from him, Please make me first on the list for a dual range 150CC trail in the future. He said I am, locked in if they ever produce one.
I just turned 316 miles on the bike today.


Here is what I do love about the bike.
The fact that forty year later I have a brother for my 1982 CT100
The look.
The quality finish.
The electric start(although I always kick it over just for fun)
The smoothness of the engine.
The fuel injection.

 

[dmonkey]

I imagine there are also plenty of folks who bought the bike but don't have experience with the CT90/110 or other small bikes, think it's a great looking retro bike, and are then disappointed when they ride it and realize it's essentially a battle scooter in terms of capability and performance. I personally enjoy that a lot about it. I am up for the challenges of having to plan a route, taking back roads, getting creative with hauling items on the bike, etc. The CT125 has already proven its capability on the Trans America Trail and Scooter Cannonball, the rest is the desire and adaptability of the rider, how much time you have, and whether or not you enjoy working within its limitations.
Enjoy putzing around!

 

[MisterB]

And, just like that, dmonkey has given me a new name to call the Trail. the Battle Scooter!

I'm approaching 60 so I grew up in a time when you could get the old Trails for next to nothing, I passed because of youthful foolishness in thinking I had to have something bigger. And looking back I probably DID need something bigger because there's lots of highways around here and I never had extra cash to license and insure a recreational vehicle. Now I'm a mile from work and lots of small town fun so it's perfect. Fortunately the internet enabled me to do a deep dive while I waited so I knew what I was getting.
It brings joy to my daily commute! Also did something yesterday that I would NEVER even try on the Gold Wing: buzzed down my back yard then cut over and back up a steep grass hill in my neighbors side yard. I'm no dirt-bike rider but it's certainly fun to have a vehicle that is not as road surface restricted as the Gold Wing.
Hope you find a niche for it Chatham, but now you've got me wondering....150?
Nah, hopefully THIS is my last motorcycle. (I said that about the last two).

 

[SLO]

I have noticed more and more Trail 125's up for sale with under 500 miles. I can understand this. They bought the bike thinking it wa just like the famed CT90/110. They found out early that it does not behave the same. It has no dual range transmission which makes it not so grand on the trail with it's gear ratio combined with the factory tires and doesn't perform well as a street bike. I am always looking in my rear view mirror on the road watching for the next vehicle wanting to pass because I can't meet the local speed limit.
I have a 1982 CT110. The obvious solution for me would be to turn this bike into a trail only machine with a top end of say 40-45 miles an hour at 7500RPM. I have replaced the stock 14t with a 13t front and am sable to hit 48 to 50mph with balls to wall throttle. What good is that? So I am looking into Shinko 241, 244, tires, larger rear sprocket and being stuck with trailing the bike out to any real trails. It looks like I jumped the gun for $4874.00 for this bike. I told the dealer that since I was first on his list and have purchased (2) 2022 Honda from him, Please make me first on the list for a dual range 150CC trail in the future. He said I am, locked in if they ever produce one.
I just turned 316 miles on the bike today.


Here is what I do love about the bike.
The fact that forty year later I have a brother for my 1982 CT100
The look.
The quality finish.
The electric start(although I always kick it over just for fun)
The smoothness of the engine.
The fuel injection.

I hated mine until I bent the heel shifter out of the way,and moved gear shifter up one notch on spline.I put shinko 244 on rear,and went back to stock on front due to drag. I put a little windscreen on front that helped speed, as well as a 13 tooth on front. I don't believe mine was broken in until well over 1500 miles,as it has increased in power. I live in mountains and I am certain it runs much better now than when I bought it.Any time I buy something ,I want new, because how it is broken in means everything! It would not have taken as long if I hadn't changed oil at 150 miles and switched to synthetic oil. Park it and wait. Have you seen prices of your 1982 ct 110?

 

[Zeke]

I never take mine on a road with a posted speed higher than 60MPH. Even then I keep to 55MPH roads mostly. I was originally concerned with the slow uphill performance near top speed, but after taking it down the highways on the way to the national forest I have realized that at least where I live, most people aren't riding my fender. In fact I think they give me more room than on my Shadows. The most fun on this machine for me is when you hit the byways and unpaved roads and trails. The fun begins where the pavement ends, although hitting 64MPH rolling down a giant hill fully tucked brought quite a smile to my face!

 

[AZ7000']

the heel shifter

#notaheelshifter

 

[SLO]

I never take mine on a road with a posted speed higher than 60MPH. Even then I keep to 55MPH roads mostly. I was originally concerned with the slow uphill performance near top speed, but after taking it down the highways on the way to the national forest I have realized that at least where I live, most people aren't riding my fender. In fact I think they give me more room than on my Shadows. The most fun on this machine for me is when you hit the byways and unpaved roads and trails. The fun begins where the pavement ends, although hitting 64MPH rolling down a giant hill fully tucked brought quite a smile to my face!

I am pretty sure I hit 67 mph, and I was just trying to get the RED ROCKET to loosen up. White Top mountain down to hwy 58 from Elk Garden. I do believe it helped the little fella out, since I don't believe it was quite broken in before those times I have done it. SteppenWolf, Golden Earring, yeah , I EYES WIDE OPEN. SLO STOPPIN
DOWN DOWN singing sumtin or another. I think it hit 68 mph, but I quit looking down and not ahead.

 

[SLO]

I am pretty sure I hit 67 mph, and I was just trying to get the RED ROCKET to loosen up. White Top mountain down to hwy 58 from Elk Garden. I do believe it helped the little fella out, since I don't believe it was quite broken in before those times I have done it. SteppenWolf, Golden Earring, yeah , I EYES WIDE OPEN. SLO STOPPIN
DOWN DOWN singing sumtin or another. I think it hit 68 mph, but I quit looking down and not ahead.

Probably hit 69 mph, It may have liked it, I did not.

 

[dmonkey]

I've had mine up to 62-63mph on GPS and that was enough. I could see wanting to be able to maintain 55mph, but IMO the bike is just too sketchy in size, weight, suspension, etc for comfortably sustaining much faster for the rider. We have rain grooves on some highways in CO, neither the stock tires or the knobbies are comfortable above 45mph on those, the tires track too well with the road grooves and steer the bike all over the place with a wobble.

 

[Chatham125]

I've had mine up to 62-63mph on GPS and that was enough. I could see wanting to be able to maintain 55mph, but IMO the bike is just too sketchy in size, weight, suspension, etc for comfortably sustaining much faster for the rider. We have rain grooves on some highways in CO, neither the stock tires or the knobbies are comfortable above 45mph on those, the tires track too well with the road grooves and steer the bike all over the place with a wobble.

Good info. My trail 125 would be perfect if I didn't live off a 2 lane 55 MPH road. I am out in the boonies but still have to make a safe passage of 4 miles without being run over. After that it is only 3 miles to town in a 45 mph limit. I really have no cool places to trail ride near enough to chance a highway run. I have been riding a lot on the hills on my place. The bike performs well on my hills with the 13T front but I am not really able to put her to the test on a real trail. Some time this summer I am going to trailer the bike to the NC mountains.

 

[Rider]

My main issue the few times I have taken it out this spring is that I get little or no respect, room, or consideration. If I am honest, I don’t get much of those things in my truck and didn’t on my Harley either, but my truck would crush you, and my Harley would impale you. I am riding very, very, very defensively, but still find people on my tail a lot.

Aside from that, I really enjoy the bike so far.

 

[SLO]

The area you are riding in is no place to ride.

 

[Rider]

The area you are riding in is no place to ride.

Yeah, I know. That is a big part of why I didn’t enjoy my Harley, or my KLR, or…. Eastern MA. The only thing worse than the weather is the drivers.

My fond remembrance of riding is from when I lived in Las Vegas and you could ride year round on clean, open, flat roads. I need to move…

 

[SLO]

Yeah, I know. That is a big part of why I didn’t enjoy my Harley, or my KLR, or…. Eastern MA. The only thing worse than the weather is the drivers.

My fond remembrance of riding is from when I lived in Las Vegas and you could ride year round on clean, open, flat roads. I need to move.

 

[SLO]

How far are you from Meadowview Va. 24361 I rode from the house to Lebanon Va. over Hayters gap on Rt 80 then thru scenic Elk Garden to eat lunch at Pat's Country Diner.. 66 mile round trip, going as fast as ROAD would allow , average about 26 mph. Nobody behind me except short strtch on hwy 19, and that sole car was a half mile behind me.

 

[SLO]

Good info. My trail 125 would be perfect if I didn't live off a 2 lane 55 MPH road. I am out in the boonies but still have to make a safe passage of 4 miles without being run over. After that it is only 3 miles to town in a 45 mph limit. I really have no cool places to trail ride near enough to chance a highway run. I have been riding a lot on the hills on my place. The bike performs well on my hills with the 13T front but I am not really able to put her to the test on a real trail. Some time this summer I am going to trailer the bike to the NC mountains.

DELORME Atlas & Gazetteer for North Carolina was less than 20 bucks on Amazon. Go ahead and get Virginia, as well as Tennessee. You will probably be in all three states in same day when you do. I have on less than 70 mile trip. I have been meaning to get West Virginia as well.First couple weeks in October would be unbelievable, even if you been here before. I might be 40 miles to NC. border, probably less.

 

[SLO]

DELORME Atlas & Gazetteer for North Carolina was less than 20 bucks on Amazon. Go ahead and get Virginia, as well as Tennessee. You will probably be in all three states in same day when you do. I have on less than 70 mile trip. I have been meaning to get West Virginia as well.First couple weeks in October would be unbelievable, even if you been here before. I might be 40 miles to NC. border, probably less.

I was going to tell all of you you could pitch a tent out here if not for bears that the TWA relocates at the state line, about ten miles away. Gattlinburg nuisance bears with an education, let out in numbers at the same time.

 

[SLO]

I am pretty sure I hit 67 mph, and I was just trying to get the RED ROCKET to loosen up. White Top mountain down to hwy 58 from Elk Garden. I do believe it helped the little fella out, since I don't believe it was quite broken in before those times I have done it. SteppenWolf, Golden Earring, yeah , I EYES WIDE OPEN. SLO STOPPIN
DOWN DOWN singing sumtin or another. I think it hit 68 mph, but I quit looking down and not ahead.

55 mph top speed limit , and only if I don't see anybody coming, and it would be for a few minutes at most to get to side road. mile at most unless it was early Sunday am, or like situation.

 

[op46]

55 mph is it. If you have to go faster you are on the wrong bike in the wrong place. Luckily for me I live on a mountain (Grassy Mountain) over looking Lake Guntersville near the the northeast Alabama town of Grant. We have a lot of 55mph and less country roads that wind their way up and down the last vestiges of the Appalachian mountains that go to ground down in Birmingham. Many run along creeks and small rivers in pocket valleys before climbing up a ridge-line and down again into another one or go along the ridge for a view of the valleys on each side. Some of these roads have trees growing over to meet in the center to create a green tunnel for miles. I am constantly taking a road I never traveled and find another one that is fun to ride at a speed the CT125 likes. I am always reminded of the Cher song "I Got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates" and the lyric "I don't go to fast but I go pretty far....." when riding the CT125. I really should make a riding trail map of the roads around here for other to enjoy. Some have discovered them but not very many based on the lack of traffic both cars (usually locals) and the very rare motorcycle. A Harley now and then, a zoom splat on the twisties and a occasional dual sport. A friend of mine from the Atlanta area who comes to ride with me on my spare CT125 or his Harley has always wanted to do the Dragons Tail but after watching several videos about the traffic and accidents he said riding here is probably as good, way less crowed and certainly safer. Still we going to make that ride someday soon, just once, like a Muslim going to Mecca I suppose?

 

[m in sc]

they are what they are... that's for sure. maybe i went in with more realistic expectations than most, and never had a desire to own a ct90 or 110. it is, after-all, a dolled up super cub in off road clothing. anything can be ridden off road, doesn't mean its good. Hell, i took my cb1100 up on a treacherous 7 mile off road trip a few days ago (by accident) 2 up. Ive seen people adventure tour on ex250's. Id -never- consider a trail 125 if I wanted a serious tool for the off road scene. Its like using a screw driver as a chisel. it can work but, ffs, buy a chisel. lol.

Fire roads and field riding, i can see for sure. as far as the speed thing, I regularly do over 80 on my grom. they are stable at speed, and that's on 12" rims. Ive had the trail well over 60 a few times legit, and they're fine. But 55-60 is about all its happy doing engine tune/ecm wise.. thats just my .02