[2021 Latest] The Appeal of Popular 110-150cc Motorcycles! From Pros and Cons to Recommended Models by Class

【2021最新】大人気110～150ccバイクの魅力！メリット・デメリットからクラス別おすすめまで

Features of 110-150cc Motorcycles

Source: https://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/mc/lineup/cygnus-x/feature.html

Small motorcycles from 110cc to 150cc have been gaining attention in recent years as easy-to-ride options.

Their lightweight and compact body size makes them easy to handle, even for smaller riders, so women can ride them without hesitation.

This time, we'll provide a comprehensive overview of these increasingly popular small-displacement motorcycles, covering everything from their features and maintenance costs to their advantages and disadvantages.

With engine power that can be fully utilized, you'll feel less like you're holding back the power of the bike, unlike with mid-size or large motorcycles.

The characteristics of this class include their light weight and easy handling, along with a manageable engine, low maintenance costs, and good fuel economy, making them highly practical for daily use.

Maintenance Costs for 110-150cc Motorcycles

Source: https://pixabay.com/ja/photos/%E9%9B%BB%E5%8D%93-%E8%A8%88%E7%AE%97-%E4%BF%9D%E9%99%BA-%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%8A%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9-1680905/

Next, let's look at the maintenance costs for 110cc to 150cc small motorcycles.

Understanding maintenance costs will make it easier to estimate your budget after purchase.

To give you a clearer picture of maintenance costs, we will compare 125cc, 150cc, and 250cc classes.

Displacement	Light Vehicle Tax	Compulsory Liability Insurance	Weight Tax	Voluntary Insurance	Total
125cc	¥2,400	¥7,500/year	None	Family bike rider	¥9,900 + Voluntary Insurance
150cc	¥3,600	¥8,650/year	¥4,900 (at new purchase)	Standard Voluntary Insurance	¥17,150 + Voluntary Insurance
250cc	¥3,600	¥8,650/year	¥4,900 (at new purchase)	Standard Voluntary Insurance	¥17,150 + Voluntary Insurance

Looking at this, the difference between 125cc and 150cc is ¥7,250, while there is no difference between 150cc and 250cc, meaning 150cc offers little advantage in terms of maintenance costs.

Additionally, 125cc bikes are eligible for family bike riders.

If you have voluntary automobile insurance, you can add a family bike rider for motorcycles 125cc and under, allowing you to join voluntary insurance for a small additional fee.

For 150cc bikes, like 250cc bikes, you need to join voluntary insurance, and depending on your age and years of coverage, you will likely need to pay an annual premium of approximately ¥50,000 to ¥80,000.

As such, there is a significant difference in voluntary insurance premiums between 125cc, 150cc, and 250cc, and if you can join family bike rider for a 125cc bike, maintenance costs will be even lower.

Do 110-150cc motorcycles require vehicle inspections?

110-150cc motorcycles do not require vehicle inspections.

Under the Road Transport Vehicle Act, vehicles with a displacement of 250cc or less are classified as light vehicles exempt from inspection, meaning they are not required to undergo vehicle inspections.

What is the fuel efficiency?

Taking the Honda Grom, a 125cc class bike, as an example, its WMTC mode fuel efficiency is 68.5 km/L.

For Suzuki's racer-type GSX-R125 ABS, the catalog figure is 45.1 km/L (WMTC mode).

WMTC mode is a fuel efficiency measurement method tested under everyday riding conditions, including city, suburban, and highway driving.

It is said to be close to real-world fuel efficiency, and in recent years, Japanese motorcycles have primarily published their fuel efficiency using the WMTC mode.

The average fuel efficiency for the 125cc class in WMTC mode can be said to be around 50 km/L.

Advantages of 150cc Motorcycles

Source: https://www.honda.co.jp/CB125R/equipment/

What are the advantages of a 150cc motorcycle?

In summary, the main advantages are:

Can ride on highways
Easy to handle even for women
Can carry two people
Relatively affordable vehicle price

Let's explain each of these in detail.

Can ride on highways

150cc motorcycles can be ridden on highways and other motor-vehicle-only roads.

Being able to ride on highways is one of the major differences compared to 125cc bikes in the same class, as only motorcycles 125cc and above are permitted on highways.

Surprisingly, Japan has many motor-vehicle-only roads and highways, but if you mistakenly enter a highway with a 125cc bike, it will be considered a violation of traffic regulations, resulting in 2 penalty points and a fine of ¥6,000.

The ability to ride on highways and other motor-vehicle-only roads is an advantage of 150cc motorcycles.

Lightness that makes it easy for women to handle

150cc bikes are lightweight and compact, making them easy to handle, even for women.

For example, the Honda CBR150R weighs 135 kg, and the Suzuki Gixxer (150cc) weighs 139 kg, which is more than 30 kg lighter than 250cc class bikes.

(The CBR250RR weighs 168 kg)

Being lightweight means it's easy to push when dismounted, and maneuvering for U-turns and such is also easier, which is an advantage of 150cc motorcycles.

Can carry two people

While two-person riding is possible on motorcycles 51cc and above, a 150cc motorcycle, with its larger engine displacement than a 125cc, offers more power to spare.

If you ride with two people on a motorcycle with less engine power to spare, you might find yourself being overly careful when starting, or unable to accelerate sufficiently to keep up with traffic. However, with a 150cc, you should be able to ride with two people in urban areas without any issues.

Two-person riding is illegal if one year has not passed since obtaining the relevant motorcycle license.

Relatively low vehicle price

150cc motorcycles are generally more affordable than 250cc models, making them more accessible.

While 150cc displacement is not yet very common in Japan, it is a dominant displacement in Southeast Asia and other regions.

Therefore, many 150cc bikes sold in Japan are manufactured in Asian countries like Thailand, which leads to lower manufacturing costs compared to production within Japan.

Previously, bikes from Asian countries had a strong image of being cheap and of poor quality, but now, some European bikes like BMW and KTM are partially produced in Southeast Asia, and the quality is on par with those made in their home countries.

The advantage is that you can buy a 150cc motorcycle of good quality at a lower price.

Even cheaper when bought used

While new 150cc motorcycles are already relatively inexpensive, you can get an even better deal on a used one.

Some models are not officially sold by dealers in Japan, so it's a good idea to consider whether maintenance and inspections will be available.

If you buy a motorcycle from a less common manufacturer in Japan, it's rare, but possible, to wait several months for replacement parts if something breaks.

Disadvantages of 150cc Motorcycles

Source: https://pixabay.com/ja/photos/%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%83%90%E3%82%A4-%E6%9C%9D-%E6%A3%AE%E6%9E%97-%E5%85%89-1953342/

What are the disadvantages of a 150cc motorcycle? A commonly cited drawback is the feeling of insufficient power.

Feeling of insufficient power

One disadvantage of 150cc motorcycles is the feeling of insufficient power.

Compared to mid-size motorcycles like 250cc or 400cc, the lack of power will be noticeable.

You might feel an even greater lack of power when touring with bikes of the mid-size class or larger.

Is 120km/h cruising possible?

Since 2020, the legal speed limit on highways has begun to be raised to 120 km/h in some sections, such as on the Shin-Tomei Expressway and Tohoku Expressway.

While 150cc motorcycles can reach 120 km/h in these sections, sustaining a cruise at 120 km/h on a 150cc bike will be difficult.

For bikes like Honda's ADV150, the limiter activates around 115 km/h, making it difficult to even reach 120 km/h.

Furthermore, because 150cc motorcycles are lightweight, they can wobble due to crosswinds or slight bumps in the road. Therefore, even if you can reach 120 km/h, it would be difficult to maintain that speed consistently for cruising.

As speeds increase, vibrations and metallic noises also become more prominent, so if you want to cruise at 120 km/h on the highway, a higher class motorcycle would be a better choice.

【American Type】Recommended 110-150cc Motorcycles

Here, we also introduce recommended 150cc motorcycles by type.

If you're considering buying a 150cc motorcycle, whether you're new to riding or looking to add a second bike, please use this as a reference for choosing a model.

1. Kawasaki Eliminator 125

#ShowYourKawasakiHistory
My first Kawasaki.
Eliminator 125. Compact yet the coolest travel companion.#Motorcycle pic.twitter.com/PRf0SdcwIp

— ロン△ ロンの旅 (@rontuber) May 4, 2020

Source: https://twitter.com/rontuber/status/1257260572141162498

The Kawasaki Eliminator is a motorcycle with a tough, drag-style image.

With a total length of 2,150mm, it has a size that doesn't feel like a 125cc, offering a stable ride.

It has a tough yet beautiful body design and a strong fan base.

2. Suzuki Marauder 125

Source: https://twitter.com/BUELL_____BUELL/status/1030286586842210304

The Suzuki Marauder 125 is an American-style motorcycle with a body size that, despite being a 125cc, feels a class above.

While its body is large, it's characterized by light and easy handling, and its straightforward steering is highly regarded.

3. Cleveland Heist 125

Source: https://www.bikebros.co.jp/vb/fifty/fguide/fbg-81/

The Cleveland Heist 125, by Cleveland from Ohio, USA, is a sibling to the Heist 250, a motorcycle built by its creators to be a bike they themselves would want to ride.

The wheelbase and components are shared with the 250cc model, with only the engine being 125cc.

It features a minimalist, simple exterior, pursuing the essential joy of motorcycling.

4. Yamaha DragStar 125

Source: https://twitter.com/Yoshi2_ej1/status/1224698649185341441

The Yamaha DragStar 125 is a model equipped with a very rare V-twin 125cc engine.

Its generous size, unusual for a 125cc, allows for a relaxed ride.

Due to its larger body, it causes less fatigue during long rides, making it an American-style motorcycle suitable for touring.

Despite being a Yamaha, it is not officially sold in Japan and is only available as an imported vehicle.

5. Honda Shadow 125

Source: https://twitter.com/The1736/status/561514541985456128

The Honda Shadow 125 is an American-style motorcycle specifically for the European market.

As expected for the well-built Europeans, it has a large and stable body that is comparable to a 250cc motorcycle.

Equipped with a liquid-cooled V-twin engine, it delivers a class-leading 15 horsepower, though the stock muffler's sound is a bit underwhelming.

【Naked Type】Recommended 110-150cc Motorcycles

Next, let's introduce naked style bikes.

1. Suzuki Gixxer

Source: https://www1.suzuki.co.jp/motor/lineup/gsx150rlzm1/?page=style

The Suzuki Gixxer is a motorcycle produced by Suzuki Motorcycle India, Suzuki's Indian subsidiary.

Originally sold in India and Southeast Asia, it has been available in Japan since 2017.

Its size is suitable for Japanese city streets, and with a 150cc engine, it is very easy to handle.

2. Yamaha M-SLAZ

Source: https://twitter.com/883rjp/status/671683250645893120

The Yamaha M-SLAZ is based on the YZF-R15 and features a stylish streetfighter design.

It's a 150cc model that offers powerful engine, nimble and light handling, and the joy of cornering.

It's equipped with inverted forks with gold outers, and 17-inch front and rear wheels give it an aggressive look.

3. Honda CB125R

Source: https://www.honda.co.jp/CB125R/type/

The Honda CB125R is a 125cc motorcycle with a moderately sized body, making it a reassuring choice even for female riders.

Equipped with a DOHC engine, it offers excellent responsiveness and a comfortable riding experience.

Its ease of use for daily commutes to work or school is also a key selling point.

4. KTM 125 DUKE

Source: https://www.ktm.com/ja-jp/models/naked-bike/ktm-125-duke-2021.html

The KTM 125 DUKE is a 125cc motorcycle from Austrian manufacturer KTM.

Its aggressive street fighter design and effective use of color blend well with the bike's overall aesthetic.

KTM models are generally characterized by their lightweight and powerful performance.

The 125 DUKE also delivers a model that offers nimble handling.

5. Honda Grom 125

Source: https://www.honda.co.jp/GROM/type/

The Honda Grom 125 is a 125cc motorcycle characterized by its compact body and meticulously designed details and functionality.

Equipped with an air-cooled single-cylinder engine, it offers brisk riding enjoyment.

It also boasts a sporty appearance, featuring telescopic inverted forks with gold outer tubes.

Recommended 110-150cc Off-Road Motorcycles

Next, we will introduce three off-road models in the 125cc and 150cc classes.

1. Honda CRF150L

Source: https://www.honda.co.jp/CRF/crf150r/type/

The Honda CRF150L is a trail bike featuring a compact body and distinctive gold inverted forks.

Developed for Southeast Asian markets where there is high demand for 150cc motocrossers, this model is not sold in Japan.

2. Kawasaki KLX150

Source: https://twitter.com/hamtan1300/status/1351413644622352384?s=20

The Kawasaki KLX150 is an off-roader sold by Kawasaki Thailand.

It's popular as a bike that can handle both off-road and city riding.

It's a versatile machine that can freely navigate any terrain, from paved roads to gravel paths.

3. Honda CRF125F

Source: https://www.honda.co.jp/CRF/crf125f/

The Honda CRF125F is an off-road model sold in Japan.

It offers powerful performance across all speeds, allowing riders to fully enjoy the thrill of control.

With a refined styling that follows the CRF450R, it is also a visually appealing off-road bike.

Recommended 110-150cc Scooter Bikes

Here are five scooter bikes in the 110-150cc class.

1. Honda ADV150

Source: https://www.honda.co.jp/ADV150/type/

The Honda ADV150 is a stylish scooter designed for urban comfort.

It features a somewhat futuristic design and a multi-functional, easy-to-read meter.

Equipped with the "Honda SMART Key system," which allows you to unlock the handlebar and turn the ignition ON/OFF without taking the key out of your pocket, it is a very user-friendly scooter.