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GB350S Or CB125F?
Blog Date 18 August 2026
Having recently had a test ride on a GB350S I published my review. Comments on this page and comments on my review of the CB125F have raised a very interesting question, and one I've asked myself a few times.
Would I get a GB350S or a CB125F?
Before everyone gets all excited and carried away - I'm not in the market for a new motorcycle just yet. The CB500X now has 71,700 miles on it so while it's "getting on" there's life in it yet (although this does raise other questions I may cover another time). I am pondering the 350 v 125 question philosophically at present.
Let's compare some stats first.
| |
GB350S |
CB125F |
| Seat Height |
800mm |
790mm |
| Kerb Weight |
178kg |
117kg |
| Engine Power |
15.5kw (20.8bhp) |
8kw (10.7bhp) |
Let us ask why anyone would consider either or these bikes in the first place when you can have a Z1000SX or a CB1000GT, perhaps a Ducati Multistrada or a VStrom 800. It's patently obvious any of these bikes (and many more) will be faster than the GB350S or the CB125F. And we all know motorcycling is about going fast, as well as getting your knee down, popping wheelies at 100mph, and racing through the countryside. Durgh!
125? 350? Nah, what you really want is 1000cc of pure performance.
Or maybe not. With a blanket 70mph speed limit across the UK and most of the world applying similar limits the notion of a motorcycle that can cruise at 100mph feels irrelevant to me. There's a speed camera on every straight, you can be prosecuted from DashCam footage now, and even your phone can give away your average speed. Plus there's a lot of people for whom motorcycling is not about getting your knee down and popping wheelies.
125? 350? Nah, when everywhere is a 20 limit you'll be wanting a 50cc.
I'll be honest, I like going fast. I also like having a licence, I like affordable insurance, I don't like dealing with legal matters, I don't like hurting myself, I don't like spending money on petrol or fines or solicitors, and I do not like hassle full stop. This is a dilemma. Going fast is fun but it comes with a great deal of physical and emotional risk, and fiscal cost.
I also enjoy riding at sensible speeds. I will cruise along a motorway just following lorries because I can relax and enjoy the breeze, the surroundings, and my thoughts without fear of a nasty NIP in the post. I love to potter down narrow back lanes at 20, looking at the nice houses and tractors and cows, I pull in to let faster vehicles by. Even on the faster primary routes I'll keep to the limits and enjoy the views. Life's just easier that way.
Both a GB350S or a CB125F can do all the normal riding just fine. But...
Having covered 100,000 miles on a CBF125 (not a CB125F) I am acutely aware that a 125 can struggle with strong headwinds on a motorway. This is fine if you can find a truck to draft but I've been down to 45mph before now. I've been there at 2300 hours in the dark with heavy rain. I was a sole taillight, barely visible, doing 45 when traffic around me is doing 60-70 in poor conditions. I was an unexpected anomaly and at great risk of being rear ended. I'd like to think the GB350S would be capable of roughly 60-65 in these conditions, making it less of an unexpected anomaly.
I will NOT have it said "you can't take a 125 on the motorway" but I would agree that while the GB350S is not a laid back motorway cruising machine, if you ride the motorways regularly the 350 is a better option than the 125. I was surprised at how well the 350 got up to and maintained 70, I'd suggest it'll be happier and more frugal at 55-60 though. At that pace with the tall 5th gear it'll be barely above idle.
Touring? I've been to Scotland, Ireland and The Netherlands on the CBF125. It can be done and in many ways it's a lot of fun doing it on a small bike. Neither of the bikes in question lend themselves by design for carrying luggage but we adapt and we overcome. While you can tour on a 125 (people have travelled the globe on pedal cycles) I suspect the extra grunt from the 350 might pull you and your luggage a little easier.
125? 350? Hardcore touring 125 style can be fun!
Easier you say? 2 points. The 350 is 60kg heavier than the 125! That's a lot more heft to manage over soggy grass leading to the camping pitch. A lot more to control on slippery ferry ramps. A lot more to heave up when you've dropped it down a dead end. Secondly easy isn't always better. Any fool can blast around Europe at 80 on the Autobahns, it takes a special kind of fool to tour down all the back lanes and side roads wobbling along on a fully laden 125. It depends on your definition of fun.
Economy? Both the 350 and 125 are economical, but there's little doubt that the 125 will be MORE economical. The 125 will use less fuel for sure, not that the 350 is a serious drinker. Parts such as tyres and chains will be cheaper for the 125. Heck the 125 holds only 1 litre of oil compared to the 350's 2.5l. I can see both the 125 and 350 have a 4000 mile service interval, admittedly I'd be tempted to change the oil in the 125 a little more often due to the higher revving nature of the engine.
If you're going to service either bike yourself they both look easy to service with screw and locknut tappets that are (fairly) readily accessed.
Fun? Fun is a very personal thing. I said above that in spite of myself I like to ride fast occasionally. The 350 will be quicker, the 125 will FEEL quicker as you scream the engine and flick up and down the gearbox. If however the mood is more relaxed the 350 will put-put-put along at a healthy pace. I love exploring - back streets, narrow lanes, odd villages, and even the odd trail. I'm sure the 350 is just fine but the 125 is so light and easy to manage it may have the edge here.
125? 350? 125s are ideal for exploring those lanes less often travelled.
Style? Currently the 350 is enjoying a zeitgeist of retro cool, the 125 is a fine looking machine but it's not exactly en-vogue at the moment. None of the one piece leather racesuit crowd will give you a passing look on either bike, I keep on hearing 350 owners complaining of being accosted and questioned wherever they go. It depends on how delicate your ego is if style is important to you.
This whole choice thing is about what would work for me (or you). I'm more focused on touring at the moment and I've toured and enjoyed touring on my CBF125. Presently though I'm finding it easier on the 500 due to the ability to get places I want to be in a more timely manner. I suppose for me it comes down to if I'm time poor money rich - then the 350 would be the better option. If I'm time rich money poor then the 125.
If I were fortunate to be both time and money rich? Well then I'd have both and choose merely depending on my mood.
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Reader's Comments
Ian Soady¹ said :-
But if course a 250 is the best of both worlds. Isn't it?
18/08/2026 16:29:14 UTC
Martin said :-
Hi Ian,
I pretty much agree that a 250 is probably the sweet spot. There is not currently much choice in 250s new though other than chinese makes which I am very reluctant to get involved with. The exception is the Kawa W230 which is a good option being a lot lighter than the Honda or Enfield 350s but is expensive. The Kawa is also a square cylinder design, the recent Honda offerings have gone for a long stroke giving better torque and economy. According to the UMG the 1960's Ducati 250 singles did 85 mph and 95 mpg. Their 350 of the same era doing 100 mph and 85 mpg. Weight 300 lbs. If some maker was to offer comparable performance to those bikes in a similar package that might be attractive to a lot of people.
18/08/2026 18:34:33 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I have not owned either of these bikes, but I have owned a 350 Enfield and a 125 Lexmoto.
I found where fuel consumption is concerned the 125 was better but only if you were travelling below 45 - 50mph if you travel faster than this then the 350 would give the same mpg or sometimes better mpg.
If I was looking for a small bike to tour on, and Honda seems popular (although I have never owned one), then I personally would have to test ride the 125 super cub. It has some weather protection, a fully enclosed chain, and is light if you need to ride into the woods for a wild camp.
I still find low powered bikes a challenge, and find touring on them more of an endurance test than an enjoyable tour.
As I have said before, more powerful bikes are not about more speed. It's the way they do everything without effort and the relaxed ride without all the revs.
18/08/2026 18:58:20 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Back in the day Martin Ducati et al didn't have to contend with strict emission regulations. The reason the GB350S is comparatively "underpowered" compared to older bikes or indeed modern liquid cooled engines is keeping those emissions in check.
250 Ian? Sharon's Z250SL was a lovely and lively bike to ride. It was able to maintain and exceed motorways speeds and returned about 95mpg, but that was with a hobbit riding it. It was great fun to ride. However being a typically square bore and stroke, and liquid cooled it was a revvy thing. As such it couldn't match either the GB350S nor the CB125F in either economy or simplicity.
It seems you've had little chance to ride the Herald 250 much. I'll be interested to hear your fuel economy results as and when you do get to play on it. Hurry up and sort that knee out - we need data!
The 125 Super Cub would certainly be an option ROD. Bogger's got one and happily thrashes it around Europe with nary a care in the world. They're also economical - unless Bogger's riding it. He's a big chap and I doubt that throttle is ever at less than 90%.
19/08/2026 08:19:37 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
What makes you reluctant to get involved with Chinese makes Martin? The fact is that Chinese engineering has come on leaps and bounds over the last 20 years and many "mainstream" manufacturers have bikes or parts made there or in other far east countries like Thailand.
The build quality of my little Herald isn't brilliant but is as good as many older Japanese bikes. Frame welding is bit lumpy (but still miles better than mine), paint is just a thin blow over but the fit and finish of important components seems fine. We'll see.
19/08/2026 09:54:40 UTC
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