Honda CRF125F 2022 — Specifications

What machine should you get for a young rider who has already worn down their knobblies on a 110 and is craving more thrills in the dirt? Honda answers with the 2022 CRF125F, a dirt bike designed as a stepping stone toward larger displacements. Not a toy bike, not yet a competition machine. Rather a serious training tool, calibrated to teach riders to go fast without scaring themselves.

Under the bodywork, the 124.9 cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine isn't trying to impress on paper. Its 8 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 10.2 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm look modest — and they are. No, the Honda CRF125F is not a fierce two-stroke like the Yamaha YZ125 or the KTM 125 SX that flirt with 110 km/h. Here, the engine is all about progressive power delivery. The Keihin electronic fuel injection provides a smooth throttle response, with no surging, regardless of which of the four available gears is engaged. The 9:1 compression ratio and the 52.4 x 57.9 mm bore and stroke dimensions produce an undersquare, long-stroke character — flexible down low and forgiving of beginner mistakes. Top speed can be expected to sit around 90 to 95 km/h, more than enough for the intended purpose. The electric starter, backed up by a kickstarter for when the battery acts up, spares riders the sweaty warm-up routine.

On the chassis side, Honda had the good sense to borrow the steel diamond-type frame architecture from the CRF 250 R and CRF 450 R. The frame strikes a solid balance between lateral rigidity and torsional compliance, which reassures lighter riders. The 31 mm inverted fork, paired with the Pro-Link rear shock, does an honest job over rough terrain without pretending to rival high-end adjustable suspension. At 88 kg wet and with a seat height of 739 mm, the Honda CRF 125 F big wheel suits young riders who have outgrown smaller bikes as well as smaller-framed adults looking for an off-road starter machine. The 1,219 mm wheelbase and 211 mm ground clearance allow for genuine off-road use — not just laps around the backyard.

The braking setup — a hydraulic disc up front and a drum at the rear — remains basic. It's the weak point on the spec sheet. A dual-disc setup would have been welcome, even on a learner machine. The 4.5-liter metal fuel tank, protected by the frame in the event of a fall, also limits longer sessions. Four and a half liters is about an hour of easy riding, hardly more. The low-fuel warning light that comes on at the last liter is a nice touch for riders who forget to check the gauge. The wide handlebar and waffle grips, sized for slender hands, round out an ergonomic, no-frills cockpit.

Priced at 3,099 euros, the 2022 CRF125F positions itself as a safe bet in the 125 cc beginner off-road segment. It won't deliver the thrills of a competition two-stroke — that's not its job. Its strength lies in Honda's mechanical reliability and a power curve that lets riders progress without skipping steps. If you're looking for a used Honda CRF 125, previous model years such as the 2019 offer very similar performance — only the graphics really change. For a young rider ready to take the training wheels off in motocross or a compact adult wanting to discover enduro without pressure, this little CRF fulfills its brief with conviction.