Zontes 125 Roadster R vs Honda CB125R: is a €1,850 gap worth it?

In the 125 class, two neo-sport roadsters compete for learner riders and new A1 licence holders: the Honda CB125R, one of the best-selling 125s in Europe, and the Zontes 125 Roadster R, which the French site Motoplanete describes as well placed among the top-selling 125s. Of the whole Zontes range, it's the closest to the Honda: same roadster format, same audience, same liquid-cooled single. One big difference: a €1,850 price gap in France. In the UK, both can be ridden on CBT L-plates or an A1 licence; check UK prices with your dealer.

Specs side by side

Two things stand out. The Zontes is far better equipped: keyless start, tyre pressure monitoring, electric seat release — things you won't find on a Japanese 125. And the Honda is much lighter: 20 kg less on a 125 is huge, in town and when manoeuvring. Power is identical, right at the A1 ceiling.

On the road: what the tests say

• Zontes 125 Roadster R: Motoplanete's review calls the equipment "incredible" for the price and segment, praises a solid finish, easy handling and a low seat (785 mm) that reassures. It notes a power-to-weight ratio that "betrays a bit of a paunch" and a compact bike, "almost a little too much so for tall riders".
• Honda CB125R: the press highlights its lightness, finish and "big bike" chassis: for its Euro 5+ update, Honda fitted the CB650R's Showa USD fork and a colour TFT. Honda says it rose to second place among 125 sales in Europe. For 2026, only the colours change.

In town, the Honda's weight advantage is felt at every U-turn and every push across a car park. On the open road, the Zontes compensates with a lower seat and a bigger tank (more range). To place both in the wider offer, read the guide to Chinese 125s and first 125 motorcycles: buying guide.

Servicing

On a 125, servicing is cheap: oil, filter, chain, pads and a valve clearance check when the book calls for it. The exact intervals depend on the service book handed over at delivery for each bike; we found no published schedule reliable enough to compare line by line. Two rules:

• to keep the warranty, servicing must be done in the brand's network: Honda ties its 6 years in France to servicing in its official network, and Zontes operates its warranty through its own;
• a 125 lives high in the revs: good oil changed on time is the best investment, especially as a 125 takes a litre or not much more.

Our annual 125 servicing checklist applies to motorcycles too. And don't forget the MOT from three years old.

Warranty and reliability

• Honda: in France, 6 years with unlimited mileage since 1 April 2025, transferable, provided servicing is done in the Honda network. UK terms are set by Honda UK.
• Zontes: 3 years parts and 2 years labour in France, honoured only through the Zontes France network; one clause limits labour cover to the first year in some cases. Read the terms before signing — and the UK importer's.

On recalls, none concerns the 125 Roadster R or the CB125R in the French RappelConso database at the time of writing (in the UK, use the DVSA recall lookup). The only Zontes recall listed concerns the 350 range (oil hoses, 2023), covered in Zontes 350: reliability and servicing. The CB125R has a track record since 2018 with no notable documented series defect.

Value and resale

Dealer listings on Motoplanete (2025-2026):

The CB125R holds remarkably well: a 2024 bike with nearly 10,000 km is listed at 81% of its new price, and a 2019 still around €3,500. The Zontes 125s sit more between 67 and 80% of their new price at one to three years old, with one complication: Zontes list prices are falling (the Roadster R was listed at €3,799 in 2025, €3,299 today), which mechanically pulls used prices down.

Over 4 years, though, the Zontes remains cheaper: the purchase gap is too big to claw back. On our assumptions (5,000 km a year, one service a year, resale at 50% vs 60%), it costs about €2,250 against €2,660 for the Honda. The detail is in Chinese or Japanese motorcycle: the total cost.

Verdict by profile

• Your budget is tight or you want the most equipment: the Zontes 125 Roadster R. At €3,299 it offers what no Japanese 125 does, and it stays the cheapest over 4 years.
• You're a smaller rider: the Zontes, for its 785 mm seat — bearing in mind its extra 20 kg.
• You ride a lot in town and manoeuvre a lot: the Honda CB125R, for its lightness and chassis.
• You want an easy sale in two years to move up to an A2 licence: the Honda, whose value is among the strongest in the class.
• You want long-term peace of mind: the Honda, as long as you stay in its network.

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