Answering the Internet’s Most Burning Question about the Trail 125
One of the top questions I have been asked after acquiring Booger is ‘I am [X] tall and weigh [Y]. Is the Trail 125 too small for me?’
The answer is maybe.
This question isn’t limited to the little MiniMOTO. Go online anywhere on a motorcycle-focused website, blog or forum and you get this question about all sorts of bikes. These questions come from new riders primarily. ‘Is an R6 too small for a beginner rider or should I just get an R1 so I don’t grow out of it too soon?’ ‘I can’t ride a 300cc bike. I’m ‘X’ feet tall. I’ll look ridiculous, right?’
Sure, you could argue the question regarding a 9hp bike is more reasonable than asking about some supersport. It isn’t even interstate-legal. My Ural is technically legal on the interstate but I’d never take it there unless I had a death wish that day.
You need to ask yourself a few questions first…
How tall are you?
I am 6’2” with a 35” inseam and my shirt sleeves are 37”. My Aerostich R3 is a 46L. If you are of a similar build, you’re going to end up sitting on the grab bar on the rack behind the seat if you sit in your most natural position. I added 2” Rox Risers and moved the handlebars forward. That helped. I couldn’t move them as far forward as I would have liked because the bars would block the key hole. You could live with it in stock form. Some people cover the grab bar with a pool noodle and sit on it. Others buy longer seats limiting functionality of the rack. Life is full of compromises.
Unless you like looking at your shoulders, you’re absolutely going to need new mirrors. Maybe not if you are 4’6”. I don’t know anyone that tall to test it out.
How much do you weigh?
The Trail weighs 256 pounds. It has a stated payload capacity of 265 pounds. If you want to stay within the manual’s weight limit, that’s the answer. Of course, your riding gear isn’t weightless and your farkles aren’t either. I weigh 220ish pounds. With gear and accessories, I’m close to the limit without carrying anything on the rack. A case of beer, a typical payload, weighs 20lbs or more.
If you think the stated capacity is something Honda’s lawyers required them to put in the manual for liability purposes, you can disregard that number. I didn’t tell you to do that, though. If you’ve ever seen a modified/accessorized Jeep Wrangler, you know that people really don’t pay attention to payload ratings. If I still weighed over 300lbs like I did when the Trail was first announced, I would have ignored them, too.
I can reach 53mph downhill. 40 is about what I can do regularly in the mountainous region I call home.
What altitude do you plan on riding?
As mentioned above, a Trail 125 is roughly 9hp (more like 8.7 but lets say 9). Those horses escape as you rise above sea level at about 3% per thousand feet. At my home location (4700ft), that 9 is now 7.7. If I ride it to my dad’s house (6200ft), it is now 7.3. Camping in Big Bear (7100ft)? Booger’s output is barely over 7hp.
If you live in Florida or Iowa (where it is so flat, you can watch your dog run away for three days), your experience is going to be significantly different from mine.
What are your expectations?
A Trail 125 isn’t a dirt bike. It isn’t an enduro. It isn’t even a TW200. You aren’t going anywhere fast. Mine is going to live (and has lived so far) at full-throttle. Hills may require a running start, a push or duck-walk. Almost any other bike you can buy will perform better. A CSC TT250 is nearly half the price and close to double the power if you are just looking at price performance. That isn’t going to change regardless of how big or small, tall or short you are.
I had never seen a Trail 125 until I showed up at the dealership to pick mine up. The first time I ever sat on one, I was riding it in the dealer parking lot after I paid for it. Purchasing a motorcycle, big or small, is an emotional decision. If you live in the USA, there is really no logical reason to buy a Trail. A Grom is significantly cheaper and the entirety of aftermarket support isn’t located in Thailand.
I see only three reasons someone would buy a Trail.
You have a serious case of FOMO and want what you see other people have on YouTube or Instagram.
You are a scalper speculating that you can resell it for a profit to people from #1.
The bike speaks to you on some level you can’t quite describe.
I fell into camp 3 and then camp 1 while I couldn’t find one to buy.
I’ve never owned a motorcycle that didn’t require some level of modification to dial into my particular body size and use case. The Trail is no different. It also isn’t the slowest bike I own. I am fairly certain my Ural is slower. At least it feels that way. And the Trail doesn’t try to kill me every time I take it out for a spin.
What was the original question again?
Oh, right. Is it too small for you? The answer is still maybe. If it is going to be your only bike, you don’t have room in your budget or don’t like looking ridiculous, size isn’t really going to matter. The bike is a lot of fun. It might be the most fun I’ve had on two wheels. Your definition of fun may be different from mine. If you can find or make a friend who would let you ride theirs, great. If not, just imagine riding a BMX bicycle at 50mph. If that doesn’t interest you, you already have your answer.
