Hyosung COMET 125 2003 — Specifications

Look at it and tell me you didn't have a doubt. This V-twin nestled in a double steel spar frame, those generous proportions, that 17-liter fuel tank that swells the silhouette: the Comet 125 deliberately plays in the big leagues. Hyosung didn’t cobble together a motorcycle for its entry-level segment. The Koreans simply slipped a 125 engine into the frame of their 250, itself a relative of the 650. The result is unsettling, and that was intentional.

On paper, the 75-degree V-twin, air and oil-cooled, announces 15 hp at 10,500 rpm for a torque of 9.8 Nm at 10,000 rpm. Honest figures for the displacement, but which clash with a concrete problem: the machine weighs 150 kg dry. That’s heavy for 124 cc. Below 7,000 rpm, the engine spins in the void; you have to work the 5-speed gearbox to keep the motorcycle alive. Past that point, the whole thing wakes up and pushes to a top speed of 120 km/h, sufficient for secondary roads but leaving little margin on the highway. Faced with a Honda CB125F or a Yamaha YBR125, noticeably lighter, the Comet takes the hit as soon as the terrain becomes complicated.

This size does have its advantages, however. The beginner who looks at it doesn’t see an ordinary 125, and that’s psychologically important when you’re just starting out. The braking, with a disc at each end, is biting and inspires confidence well beyond what one expects from a machine of this price. As for the 17-liter fuel tank, it allows for stress-free excursions without refueling, a significant argument for those planning real journeys.

Failures are not long in appearing with use. The rear tire of original fit lacks grip, and replacing it urgently can turn into an ordeal as spare parts take time to arrive from Korea. Chrome elements rust quickly, a sign that the finish is not up to the aesthetic ambitions. At 3,490 euros in 2003, the Comet 125 positions itself at the top of the segment’s price range, and this price is hard to swallow when you add up the compromises.

It is aimed at a specific profile: the young A1 license holder who wants a motorcycle that commands attention, who prefers looks to lightness, and who is prepared to accept an undersized engine for its frame in exchange for an assumed roadster look. It’s not the most rational 125 on the market, far from it. But among the machines in the category, few manage to turn heads with this conviction.