With incredibly low running costs, modest but useful urban performance and funky retro looks, the Suzuki GN125 is an ideal about-town motorcycle or learner bike.
Incredibly easy to ride, with a reliable engine and minimal maintenance, the Suzuki GN125 is forgiving and a great confidence-builder. Lousy brakes and finish let it down a bit but, for a real world workhorse, it is a bargain. hard motorcycle cover
The natural riding position means the Suzuki GN125’s comfortable, even over longer distances. Suspension is on the soft side but manages to deal with everyday roads but the brakes (especially the front) lack bite. Handling’s light and the ride’s confidence-inspiring and stable. The GN125 can get vibey at higher revs, however.
The Suzuki GN125 engine’s taken from the earlier GS 125 machine which came out in 1984, so it’s safe to say it’s proved itself. A simple but reliable single, it’s nippy enough in town although runs out of breath on the open road and hills can present a problem if you’re in a hurry. It can be stroppy when starting from cold. Needs plenty of revs.
The Suzuki GN125 is a tough little bike with a trusted engine and chassis. The finish isn’t marvellous: rust around welds and shoddy paintwork are common complaints. However, the styling’s cute and nice touches include chrome indicator stalks and mirrors. A lack of cheap plastic gives the Suzuki GN125 some retro appeal.
A good, no-frills budget learner/commuter motorcycle. The best bargains can well be ex-training Suzuki GN125s where any damage is cosmetic but engines are sound. Parts are cheap, insurance is a giveaway and mind-boggling fuel consumption figures mean the Suzuki GN125’s ideal as an inexpensive runaround.
If you're after a cheap, no-nonsense 125 there are other used examples out there such as the Honda CG125 or Yamaha YBR125. If you fancied a new bike, Chinese imports like the Herald Brat 125 can be picked up from £3000.
The Suzuki GN125's clocks are simple and, bizarrely, there’s a gear indicator but no fuel gauge... There’s also a long, comfy seat, with plenty of pillion space, and a grabrail. The mirrors are good but almost too wide: Owners complain of hitting cars whilst filtering! A few car drivers complain too... There’s also a small tool kit with the Suzuki GN125.
14 owners have reviewed their SUZUKI GN125 (1994 - 2001) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your SUZUKI GN125 (1994 - 2001)
Good points The bike is very nimble and it a very good beginner bike.The bike is very confidents expiring the bike can also handle light off roading.The bike is also very light and feels of good quality.The bike is also fast in acceleration as it’s faster than a 125cc pit bike and a Honda cbr 125.There’s also a lot of aftermarket support for the bike.Bad points The bike is fairly hard to start when it’s cold.The vibration of the engine is insane more than a 650 single.It’s also fairly loud louder than most sport bikes the gauges break a lot.The brakes are horrible.It’s also not very stable at high speed
Your hands hurt from how much the motor vibrates
Good cheap engine fairly powerful
I had carburettor problems and I had problems with starting it but it could have been just my bike
Parts for this bike are very cheap
Very comfy ride and perfect for town riding. Brakes are not great so its lack of top speed is actually somewhat welcome.
Ride quality great. Brakes are awful.
Great little chugger. Can drop out for the first mile or so until engine is warm. Never bothered me much.
No problems so far. Starter motor was broken when I aquired bike. Aftermarket replacement was peanuts and a doddle to fit.
Fuel economy is good. Centre stand makes oil changes easy.
gear indicator is very useful when first learning to ride.
Not exactly one for setting your pants on fire but a bit of a laugh and so cheap it's absurd.
It's comfy. low seat height is good if your pillion is a shortarse but the front brakes are woeful so just be wary when you're diving for gaps in traffic.
It's a 12hp motor. Perfect for town, but you'll be on the back foot in the countryside.
For an under stressed lump, it doesn't like cheap fuel, weirdly. Clocks have broken but i paid £800 for the whole bike so what can you do. Easy to fix.
Sips fuel, insurance is minimal, tax for the year is £17. Or the same price as using my local bus service to work for 4 days.
Well that's just the clocks and they're broken. New ones are pending. But all the lights work, so does the horn and the engine still plods on.
A favourite among riding schools. Easy bike to learn on, maybe not the best to actually own. Genuine retro styling is attractive though.
Very comfortable seat and riding position. Light weight and low seat height make it very easy to handle, offsetting the long wheelbase. Brakes are barely acceptable, the rear being pretty much useless except in traffic. Vibrates a lot at higher speeds.
Good low end pull and midrange, but lacks top end and vibrates a lot over 7000 RPM. Fuel efficient, reliable and easy to service. Gearbox on the other hand is poor. Shifter has a long throw, downshifts are stiff and false neutrals happen too often.
Finish is marginal, with thin paintwork and fragile switchgear. Prone to rust if kept outside in wet weather. Otherwise reliable and easy to fix thanks to its simplicity.
Cheap and easy bike to run and service with low fuel consumption.
Basic but efficient with a small toolkit, but lacks a fuel gauge. Could do with better brakes.
Buying experience: Used it for lessons and for my test, got me through on the first try.
I loved the bike from the first minute I saw it. Also, being my first bike I had a close connection to it! Unfortunately I sold it to buy a new one but I reallly miss my beauty.
really enjoyable bike suitable for the average daily commute
100 kph and over it gets a bit 'vibratey', and riding in the wet is a terror, as the bike is so light. I've come off several times through no fault of my own due to the wet road
the bulb fittings for the rear brake light and front light were a bit shoddy and cheap, but easily and cheaply fixed
Buying experience: bought it fairly new from a private dealer for a grand, it's been a worthwhile investment definitely
Hi guys, I need your help. Firstly my bike's details: Suzuki GN125, 2004 year, chinese version, 120,000 km done Carburettor Mikuni: http://www.brooksbarn.co.uk/GN125-CARB-NOT-H-MODEL-SILVER-TOP-DIAPHRAGM-TYPE_ART61.aspx Now the problem. Engine won't start from electric ignition when cold but it does start when pushed and it does start when engine is warm. New battery, new spark plug, fuel is going to carburettor freely (checked fuel tap filter), there is a good spark (taken spark plug out and touched to engine and pushed the ignition, good spark) So, there is a fuel going freely to carburettor and there is a spark. I have cleaned the carb, but to be honest there was no rubbish in it. There was some white stuff in the rubber hose which is going from air filter to carb, like soapy stuff. Adjusted a fuel/air mixture as was told by friend that maybe there is too much fuel and not enough air- when cold and rainy outside (live in Scotland) maybe the air filter is getting wet and there is not enough air going to carb? When trying to start the engine there is an explosion sometimes. Trying to start it with and without choke which is manual of course. Another thing, the fact is that the engine starts sometimes even when cold, I just observed that there is a problem when is wet outside (keeping the bike outside) The problem started recently, but as I said it sometimes starts, sometimes not. I use the bike everyday for going to work which is 8 miles one way. After 8 hours of work it starts most of the time, but after night it doesn't. Almost always it starts when pushed and from the 2nd gear. By the way, I don't know if that's normal but when I start the engine on the choke and it starts the revs are around 4000rpm but sometimes after 30secs, sometimes after 2 minutes revs going down to 1000rpm-1500rpm - does it mean that engine adjusting the choke automatically when warm? Doesn't it suppose to have big revs when choke is fully open, even when engine is warm? Now few possible reasons (in my opinion): Wrong fuel/air mixture (even after adjusting it- half rotation on the mixture screw) Bad compression Wrong valve settings (gaps) Ignition settings Blocked fuel stream from carb to engine (?) Choke problems Any ideas??? please email to madmadig @ gmail.com Thanks in advance, Martin
this is the best bike ever i love the suzuki gn125. i have owned two of them and will have this bike for my children to own has a great engine and i have got it to a top speed of 110mph so a quick bike o-60 in under ten seconds so a very quick bike starts no matter how cold it is 10/10 form me
i have had my suzuki gn125 forabout 12 years now on a model 1999 it is very easy to maintane and look after it has never let me down i rain snow or any weather thya are a very good all round bike for learning on i have done up to 120 miles and not change over to the reverse i have never used sins i have had the bike i would not sell itfor nay money
I bought a 2000 reg 17000 mile for £475. It was pretty corroded but I tidied it up a bit. Hammerite and high temp spray paint can do wonders. When they say stroppy from cold it really is. Will start in even the coldest of temperatures on choke but then won't tick over til warm. I found starting it then riding it down the road and just having to hold the throttle open when in neutral or stopped etc til it's warm is better than just sitting there revving it til it's warm to set off. The engine is quick enough around town, but anything over 45 is painfully slow progress, the engine vibes make you think you're ragging it more than you are. I saw 70mph down a hill with a tailwind and my chin on the clocks. Top speed of 60/65 is realistic. Compared to the CG125 and YBR125 it is a bit slower. Neutral can be a bugger. Fuel economy, 100mpg all day long. One thing I never noticed before getting my 600, is how bicycle light it is. Suspenion is bouncy but fine for a budget 125. All day long comfy. Finish is good enough. Servicing can be done by a ham fisted ape. The front brake is good enough for a 124 (just), but the rear drum is awful, totally lacking in feel. But despite all these things I found it easier to ride than the CG125 I did my test on and the YBR125 I did my CBT on. It's the aslmost the perfect learner bike. Cheap, economical, nice looking, crashes well (whoops) and will sell on easily when you've moved on to bigger and better things.
ive had my 06 gn for nearly 6 months and i love it, according to the clocks it does 85 but i think its probably just over 70. i hate hills and its bugs the hell out of me not being able to overtake. i was worried when i found out it didnt have a fuel guage but only a monkey would let a bike that uses so little fuel run dry. i love the bike to bits, i just wish it went a bit faster. it starts first time and is realy reliable, ive only come off once on black ice and it cost peanuts to repair.
ive had my 06 gn for nearly 6 months and i love it, according to the clocks it does 85 but i think its probably just over 70. i hate hills and its bugs the hell out of me not being able to overtake. i was worried when i found out it didnt have a fuel guage but only a monkey would let a bike that uses so little fuel run dry. i love the bike to bits, i just wish it went a bit faster. it starts first time and is realy reliable, ive only come off once on black ice and it cost peanuts to repair.
Good reliable motorcycle as a first bike for a learner. But sadly lacking in the speed department I got my up to 53 mph once when going downhill but usually it was 45 - 48mph and at 50mph you could hear the engine struggle and had to quick shift down. Using the bypass was a bit dangerous as well because the traffice moves so quickly and cars tend to cut you up if they can, I used to stay firmly in the middle of the lane to combat the bully car tactics, you do need nerves of steel for this, but then when a good car driver came along I didn’t mind moving over to let them pass. Going up hills was a big problem, we have quite a few in Lincolnshire & my favourite riding place is the wolds. Overall it was a good reliable motorcycle. (If you don’t have hills to contend with).
Iv had my GN for around 3 years now, its been a good little bike with plenty of go for learners, iv had a few problems with mine as it was 11 when i bought it and had been a little neglected. overall the bikes a very useful tool for new riders. A good No Frills bike. cheep on the consumption at around 75 to 85 mpg and possibly more. Easy to ride. Keep on top of the maintenance and everything should be trouble free. oh and its easy to work on for a novice (hanes is essential)
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