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2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS | First Ride Review

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review
Photos by Drew Ruiz.

Nostalgia is a powerful thing and the folks at Honda know it. With the kind of rich history that Big Red has, we can hardly blame it for periodically plucking an iconic model from Honda’s extensive backlog, tarting it up with all of the modern technological fixings and using it to tug our heartstrings. And my, oh my, does the 2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS give those yarns a yank with its $3,899 MSRP.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review
New meets old: A 2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS posing with an original 1986 Honda Trail 110.

Dating back to the early 1960s, these lovable motorcycles initially became popular with outdoorsmen, much lauded for their user-friendly semiautomatic transmission and centrifugal clutch combo, as well as their off-road capability. What also helped propel these bikes into the limelight was their affordability, and many CT/Trail saw duty as faithful grocery-getters strapped to the back of RVs, or as stout compatriots on the farm and ranch. They were everywhere and many still are.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

During its nearly three-decade tenure, the CT/Trail series saw several revisions and sold more than 725,000 units in the U.S. before being discontinued in 1986. Globally, the CT/Trail lived on in many other markets, further solidifying its grand legacy. Mention the CT/Trail to anyone hailing from New Zealand or Australia and they’ll recognize it as the “Postie Bike” of their neighborhood postal carrier.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review
A centerstand is standard on the Trail 125, just like the good ol’ days.

More than 30 years later, the Honda Trail 125 has come home to the States. What better way to welcome it back than with a collapsible fishing kit strapped to the rack and Lake Cuyamaca in our sights, tackling the fire roads and mountain twisties surrounding Julian, California.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

Just like its forefathers, the 2021 Honda Trail 125 proudly carries on the tradition of being a quaint and understated dual-sport machine. The steel backbone frame, upright handlebar, square turn signals, upswept exhaust, high-mount snorkel and luggage rack have all been transported into the 21st century, and so, too, has the go-getter spirit of the original CT. It’s a charmer, having the same adorable qualities seen in a variety of fluffy creatures. Sadly, the spare fuel canister didn’t make the cut, while it does one-up its ancestors with an accessory charger, fuel injection, disc brakes and LED lighting.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review
Honda’s design team is paying attention to the details, even going as far as making the hubs appear to be drum brakes. Take a peek near the snorkel air-intake and you’ll spot the handy tool kit. It’s accessible with Allen key found under the seat.

Part of the rambunctious “miniMoto” lineup, which also includes the popular Honda Grom and Monkey, the 2021 Honda Trail 125 is an offshoot of the Honda Super Cub C125, sharing its frame and engine. However, there are several crucial updates to suit the Trail’s off-road proclivities.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

Toss a leg over the reshaped 31.5-inch seat, grab onto the upswept handlebar and let those sentimental feelings percolate. A comfy upright seating position awaits and my 32-inch inseam can get boots on the deck confidently. The vintage-styled LCD display needs to be a little brighter and when standing, the heel-toe shifter will cause you to go a bit pigeon toed. Luckily, the foot controls don’t feel clumsy when seated.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

The Trail’s frame and swingarm are reinforced in critical areas like the head tube and suspension mounts. To increase stability, the wheelbase has been lengthened by 0.5 inches to 49.4 inches. Front suspension travel grew to 4.3 inches, 0.4 more than the Cub, and ground clearance is hoisted to 6.5 inches. The cast alloy rims were ditched in lieu of wire-spoke 17-inch wheels and IRC GP-5 dual-sport rubber with inner tubes. Lastly, fuel capacity is upped 0.4 gallons to 1.4-gallons total — it’s a fuel sipper, too.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

To say that riding the Trail 125 is “easy” simply doesn’t do it justice — M class license tests don’t stand a chance against it. Powering the Trail is a 125cc single-cylinder engine equipped with a 4-speed semiautomatic transmission and centrifugal clutch. Fire it up with the electric or kickstarter, give the heel-toe shifter a tap into gear, twist the grip and let the big dog eat! Arooo! Power delivery is as welcoming as can be and it has enough pep to playfully zip around in traffic. I managed to achieve a blazing 55 mph, as indicated on the basic LCD instrument panel. Land speed record setter it is not, but it is a silly amount of fun and with modern fuel injection, it wasn’t wheezing at 4,000-plus feet while exploring the Cuyamaca Mountains.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

The rear sprocket gets an additional three teeth for a little extra oomph in the dirt and the fuel tuning is optimized for low and mid-range power. Also, the upswept pipes and high-mount intake will allow a modest water crossing.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

Where the twist-and-go philosophy pays off is on the trail. With no clutch to feather, stalling in tricky sections is impossible and all one needs to do is manage the throttle, which reinforces the ease-of-use ethos that Honda injects into many of its models. However, there is a downside — downshifting without rev matching results in a jarring ca-chunk, since you cannot slip the clutch manuallyA properly timed blip of the throttle circumvents the issue. Also, the auto-clutch can struggle when starting out on steep inclines, something that the dual-range transmission of the original Trail probably wouldn’t have been fazed by.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

The Trail’s beefed-up chassis and non-adjustable suspension perform admirably on the street. Adequately sprung and damped suspenders keep everything balanced well. It’s light, agile and incredibly easy to maneuver, with a wet weight of 258 pounds. That gives the bike a load capacity of 264 pounds against its 522-pound GVWR. Neither a passenger seat nor footpegs are available, so don’t plan on carrying a co-pilot unless it’s furry and fits in a milk crate on the giant luggage rack.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

Off-road, it’s a similar tale, as long as you respect the CT’s limits. Attempt the same amount of hang-time you would on a dual-sport and you’ll quickly bottom the suspension out, although it doesn’t become squirrely. The Trail 125’s suspension and 17-inch wire-spoke wheels gobble up obstacles respectably well and it won’t deflect erratically in rocky terrain.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review
That’s a whole lotta luggage rack and you’ll have a 44-pound weight capacity.

Compared to a traditional ADV or dual-sport motorcycle, the Trail has an advantage due to its simplicity and low center of gravity, making quick recoveries a snap. This is as unpretentious as it gets, so, sit down, relax and amble along to your campsite or watering hole.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

A single caliper and 220mm hydraulic disc, featuring non-switchable ABS in the front, handle braking duties. There is plenty of stopping power and it has a soft initial bite. In the rear, a single caliper and a 190mm disc without ABS offer decent feel and unmitigated fun while in the dirt.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Price

As a successor, the 2021 Honda Trail 125 does right by its ancestors, providing the same fun, casual riding experience that the original CT/Trail built its famed reputation on. It isn’t quirk free, namely in respect to the awkward foot controls, but in every other way, the Trail 125 impressed me with its can-do attitude. At long last, Honda’s prodigal son has returned and the loveable scamp is still making us smile.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Review

Nic’s Gear:
Helmet: Arai Defiant-X
Gloves: Velomacchi Speedway
Jacket: Fuel Division 2
Pants: Pando Moto Steel Black 02
Boots: TCX X-Blend WP

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Specs:

Price: $3,899
Website: powersports.honda.com
Engine Type: Air-cooled single, SOHC, 2 valves
Displacement: 125cc
Bore x Stroke: 52.4 x 57.9mm
Transmission: 4-speed, semi-automatic centrifugal clutch
Final Drive: Chain
Wheelbase: 49.4 in.
Rake/Trail: 27 degrees/3.1 in.
Seat Height: 31.5 in.
Wet Weight: 258 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 1.4 gal.
Avg. MPG: NA

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Photo Gallery:

The post 2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS | First Ride Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Announced for U.S. Market

The famed Honda Trail/CT is returning to the U.S. market. Honda has announced its new 2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS, based on the Super Cub CT125. The Honda Trail/CT series of motorcycles rose to popularity in the 1960s due to its light off-road capabilities and affordable price point. MSRP is $3,899.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS

From Press Release:

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS

If there were ever a motorcycle made for casual trekking on- and off-road, one that harkens back to the golden era of motorcycling while incorporating the joys of modern design and technology, the 2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS is it.

Debuted in 2019 as a concept model at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show, the CT125 received rave reviews, along with requests for a production model. That wish is now granted with the introduction of the 2021 Honda Trail 125.

Much like Honda’s fun and nostalgic Monkey and Super Cub miniMOTO models, the new Trail 125 resurrects a time-honored brand by injecting a healthy dose of practical design and hassle-free technology to create a machine that honors the past while adapting easily to modern lifestyles.

Whereas the 2019 Super Cub C125 sought to serve the casual daily needs of urban riders, the Trail 125 expands that scope by providing features that make it just as capable in rural settings and on two-track roads and trails. This was accomplished by strengthening the chassis, increasing suspension travel, improving range and updating the electronics for virtually maintenance-free operation.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS

DESIGN / STYLING

The many improvements to the function and capability of the original CT series have not detracted from the distinctive CT design, which is carefully preserved in the modern Trail 125. With the goal of balancing the image of a tough-yet-modern machine, Honda’s designers simplified the surfaces of each part on the frame while preserving the symbolic elements such as the upswept muffler, air-cleaner cover, fuel tank, rear carrier, steel front fender, turn signals, footpegs and handgrips. 

A 3-D emblem of the signature original Honda wing logo represents the traditional series model while the drop-shadow Honda logo, reminiscent of the CT-series, is attached on left and right side covers.

Electronic features include the following:

  • 190 watt generator output
  • Accessory charger
  • LED lighting
  • Large, square turn signals mimic the look of the older CT models and are durable for off-road use
2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION

Compared to the Super Cub, the wheelbase of the Trail 125 has been lengthened .5 inches to 49.4, the front-suspension stroke increased to .4 inches to 4.3, ground clearance upped 1.1 inches to 6.5, and the seat height raised .8 inches to 31.5. Together with the following upgrades, these changes allow the Trail 125 to readily traverse uneven road surfaces and challenging terrain while still providing ample rider comfort and control:

  • The head pipe is reinforced and the triple clamp redesigned to ensure a balance between frame rigidity and flex.
  • An upswept bend enables the handlebar to be turned 45 degrees in each direction so that the rider can easily make course corrections at low speed.
  • Dual-sport-style knobby tires mounted on 17-inch rims with stainless-steel spokes offer traction and long life.
  • Disc brakes front and rear ensure excellent braking power even when luggage is loaded; ABS is standard.
  • The reshaped seat is narrowed at the front to facilitate foot reach to the ground.

Enlarging the fuel-tank capacity to 1.4 gallons (.4 gallons larger than the Super Cub) increases range when fuel stations are few and far between. The high-mounted air intake and upswept exhaust enhance low-end power and are consistent with the CT lineage, and the engine guard adds protection from obstacles like large rocks and tree stumps. 

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS

ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN

As with the Super Cub C125, the Trail 125 engine is a 125cc four-stroke, single-cylinder overhead-camshaft design operating two valves. Programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) with automatic enrichment and electronic ignition ensure trouble-free starting and efficient operation in every conceivable condition. The Trail 125 has a longer intake and tuned exhaust for enhanced low- and midrange power, as well as a three-tooth larger rear sprocket (39 teeth) for lower gearing—all changes that are ideal for trekking and touring on forest-service roads and trails. Like the Super Cub, the Trail 125 uses a four-speed semiautomatic transmission. 

As a package, the Trail 125 pays tribute to the original CT line while embracing the convenience and performance of modern technology, making it a great tool for riding around town or exploring the wilderness.

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS

2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS Photo Gallery:

Source: RiderMagazine.com