Hyosung COMET 125 2008 — Specifications

When Hyosung introduced its Comet 125, the question arose immediately: what’s the point of building a V-twin roadster if it’s going to be restricted to 15 horsepower? The Korean response is clever, almost provocative. The brand has built a vertical range around the same steel double-spar frame, shared between the 125, the 250, and the 650. The result: a small displacement engine that carries the dimensions of a real motorcycle, with wide tires, a 17-liter tank, and a silhouette that looks nothing like the Japanese roadsters tailored for the A1 license.

The 75° V-twin of 124.7 cc, air- and oil-cooled, develops 15 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, with a torque of 9.8 Nm reached at 10,000 rpm. These figures say everything about the engine's character: you have to keep it high in the rev range to get anything out of it. Below 7,000 rpm, the twin is bored, it pushes without conviction, and the rider finds themselves frequently upshifting in the 5-speed gearbox to maintain momentum. Top speed flirts with 120 km/h, which remains honest for riding on open roads without blocking traffic, but with 150 kg dry weight to pull, the power-to-weight ratio leaves little margin for brisk overtaking.

What strikes you more is what the Comet 125 achieves visually. The frame identical to the 250, the 17-inch wheels shod with 110/70 tires at the front and 150/70 at the rear, the 34 mm telescopic fork with 130 mm of travel: the whole ensemble gives a presence that few 125s can claim in 2008. Disc brakes at both wheels complete the picture and prove to be truly effective, well-calibrated for the weight of the machine. It’s a motorcycle that impresses at first glance and is perfectly suited to a young license holder wanting to ride something that doesn’t betray its age in car rearview mirrors.

Faults exist, and it would be dishonest to minimize them. The rear tire of original fitment lacks grip, a simple problem to fix but annoying on a new motorcycle at €3,490. The chrome parts resist humidity poorly and oxidize quickly, which raises questions about the rigor of quality control at the factory. More serious still: the supply of spare parts poses recurring problems, with delays that can discourage owners during a common repair. Hyosung sells visual dreams but the after-sales service doesn’t always keep pace.

For a beginner who wants to learn to ride on a motorcycle that doesn’t look like a 125 and has a contained budget, the Comet 125 constitutes an original choice compared to the usual Japanese single-cylinder engines. The V-twin brings a distinct sonic character, a more engaging architecture, and a look difficult to match in this category. However, you will have to accept its mechanical limitations and plan to change the rear tire fairly quickly. It’s not a perfect motorcycle, but it’s a sincere proposition in a segment where originality is rare.