rereradu

Greetings everyone, I'm new to this forum and relatively new to bikes. I learned to ride while volunteering in Mozambique 10 years ago - I rode a Lifan 50cc but also a 250 Honda XL and a 250 Yamaha XTZ mostly on unpaved roads/trails through the Mozambican bushes for about 5 months, but haven't been on a bike since. Fast forward to present day & a new job in central Oxford with a 30-mile round-trip commute (and no parking space) made me think about getting back on a bike again. So now I'm set on getting my CBT and a 125 bike in the next month or so. I'll probably get a full licence in time, but for now I'll stick to an economical 125 for my daily commute. The route to work is mostly an A road, with a 50mph limit most of the way and two faster stretches of 60 and 70, respectively. That's why I've narrowed my search to bikes that can do 65-70 fairly easy, so I can keep up with traffic. Because I'll probably be riding it all year long, I'm also looking only at bikes with ABS and in general with as much rider assistance as possible - I know these are only 125 bikes, but I'd rather have the extra peace of mind. With all this in mind, I've decided to go "used premium" and I am now trying to decide between a Honda CB125R and a KTM Duke 125. I'm still exploring other options (like the Yamaha MT125) but these two bikes have so far ticked all the boxes for me in terms of safety and rider assistance, performance and styling (yes, I do want a 125 with a "big bike" feel...). So here come my questions: Does anyone have any experience with riding both of these bikes and could spare an insightful comparison between the two? I'm hoping to get a test ride with each before actually deciding to buy one, but I was wondering if more experienced riders have more insights about what sets these bikes apart. I favour the CB125R because of its looks and "smart" brakes, but I also like the Duke's extra bit of power. But does that one extra horsepower make any difference in real life? Is the Honda the easier bike to live with? Or will I enjoy the Duke's "temperament" more once I get a bit more experience? I hope these questions make sense (sorry if they don't) and I'm looking forward to hearing the community's thoughts & posting more once I get on the bike. Regards, -- R