Honda Wave 125

Previously, I intimated that the wife and I are torn between three choices for a family bike, one that could be used – and enjoyed – by both of us.

The wife wants a scooter. She wants to ride on it with our daughter to school, scoot with it to the community market or just leisurely tour with it to the kubo at the small farm about 500 meters away. But the man in me scoffed at the thought of being seen straddling a lady’s bike. I want to ride on a real motorcycle when I am in my usual trekking mood – which always makes me long for my mountain bike that I left in Iloilo – or when I have to accompany Bunny to school, go to the talipapa or just visit Tatay at the kubo.

And because two motorcycles would be too much on the budget, we decided to meet halfway: we would buy an underbone motorcycle. The limited knowledge I have about motorcycles tells me that an underbone is a cross between a scooter and a real motorbike, and that the best underbones around are the Yamaha Sniper 135, the Honda XRM 125, and the Honda Wave 125. Frankly though, I am clueless as to which of the three is the best for our purpose.

Three days, two motorcycle dealers and one bank later, we learned that the Sniper 135 is somewhat too expensive (PHP84K) for our intentions, and the XRM 125 does not really look that good as it does in pictures. So we decided to buy the Wave 125, which is our first choice, actually.

Behold our new Honda Wave 125!


Specifications:

• Engine Type: 4-Stroke, OHC, air-cooled


• Bore x Stroke (mm): 52.4 x 57.9


• Displacement (cc): 124.9


• Compression Ratio: 9.3:1


• Gear System: Rotary 4-gear


• Ignition System: DC-CDI


• Starter: Electric and kick starter


• Front Brake System: Hydraulic disk


• Rear Brake System: Mechanical leading trailing


• Dimensions (LxWxH) (mm): 1889x706x1076


• Dry Weight (kg): 100.7


• Fuel Tank Capacity (liter): 3.7