The phenomenon of riding the 2021 Honda Trail 125 ABS off-road is that everyone you see looks like Captain Overkill.
Even that rider I saw on a Yamaha WR250R. “NICE BARGE, BRO! SEE YOU AT STARBUCKS.”
I didn’t actually get quite that wound up. It’s simply that the Trail 125 brings the off-road chill, like, “Why do you need a 5,000-pound lifted Silverado with 37-inch tires and 4 billion LED lumens of light bars?” You just don’t. I’m not knocking giant trucks (OK, maybe a little), or remarkable dual-sports (I own and enjoy a 2013 WR250R), or adventure bikes. But the simple, light fun of a motorcycle like the Trail 125 makes you feel good in a pure way not matched by many vehicles. It’s the combination of its handy, agile chassis, automatic clutch, and a demeanor that says, “Relax and enjoy the scenery.”
Which is exactly what I did with our early-access test bike. Sure, I rode around town—to and from the office, on errands, etc. It’s fun for that, and a little more rough and ready than the Super Cub (see page 54). But the Trail 125 is the kind of bike you want to wake up to on a Saturday morning, walk out to your yard in a heavy riding flannel, hiking boots, and an open-face helmet, wipe the dew off the seat, fire up the bike, and go exploring.
I am fortunate to live near motor-legal national forest trails that wind their way around and over mountains more than a mile high. It’s mostly bumpy fire road with a few short technical single-tracks here and there. Perfect for wandering around, and just technical enough to see what this Trail 125 was up for.
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KENNY CUMMINGS
The BUILDER
WORKING FOR THE READER
On 58 years and a new start
WRITING BY ACCIDENT
Learning to get solidly behind every word
LITTLE HERO
The Honda Trail 125 faces Captain Overkill and comes out humbly victorious
CREATIVE TOOLS
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THE SUZUKI HAYABUSA
Suzuki said the first Hayabusa invented a new category called Ultimate Sport. We said, “Yeah, right,”…until we rode it.
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ASSAULT ON PIKES PEAK EXPEDITION II
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ALTERED STATE of ADVENTURE
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ADDING A DIMENSION
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