The baby Honda CL125, perfect for darting around the city…

When I was a kid, my friends and I coveted a mini-bike.  At the time, I think anything with 2 wheels and a motor would have sufficed, but we ended up nabbing a Honda Z50, which to us, surpassed sliced bread on the cool scale.  While the little Honda Z50 was the Toyota Corolla, this Honda CL125 would have been the Cadillac of small displacement fun…

Honda CL125: Baby Scrambler

A mint-condition Honda CL125…

Fast forward to 2013, and despite owning several bikes (none of them a Honda Z50!), all with their own unique features and uses, I still love the small displacement bikes.  Small in physical size, lacking power, and probably stressed to carry my current weight, I still find these bikes incredibly attractive.

This Honda CL125, the smallest of the scrambler models at the time, is in mint condition.  Some lucky soul has a cherry ride, perfect for scooting around the city, and small enough to park like a bicycle on the sidewalks around town…

The Honda CL125 was produced between 1967-1974, but the engines changed once from twin to single cylinder during it’s manufacture.  The classic scrambler styling remained however, which includes the upswept pipes and braced handlebar.

This little 4-speed monster weighs in at under 200lbs, sports a single CV carb, and has a top speed of about 70mph (not with me on it!).  Dual drum brakes keep the speed in check (if needed).

This Honda CL125 has been well cared for, if not restored, and makes us just a little bit jealous, and longing for the simpler times…

What’s the best small bike you ever owned?