Buying a secondhand Honda CBR 150R

The Honda CBR 150R in the eyes of many, this 150cc motorcycle is the finest of Honda's old style aluminum-framed motorcycles for sale. It doesn't look too different from its 2-stroke predecessor, but it got a very reliable four-stroke 150cc DOHC four-valve power plant.

It's plenty fast, we recorded speeds of above 120km/h, and despite its old -tech chassis, still handles brilliantly. So it's a rock-solid, beautifully carburettor engine in a chassis that allows you to commute, tour and play. One of the very best real sportsbikes on offer in Thailand. The closest competitor, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R costs twice as much. On the secondhand market you can also find the Suzuki Raider R 150, but while the engine specifications a very similar to the Honda CBR 150R, the Suzuki's underbone frame type make it less attractive as a sporty bike.

The Honda CBR 150R was introduced in 1998 and has since then seen not much changes, here and there some small changes in the fairing and the yearly color changes. Whichever of these you look at, it'll be getting on a bit.

The Honda CBR 150R is build to a very high standard, it's nearly identical brother the CBR 125R is build from the same production line, so any strange panel gaps mean it's been dropped and the fairing mounts are bent. Check the lockstops for signs they've been bashed - if they have, be very careful. Also Thai teenagers are not famous for taking care of their motorcycle, so listen for a rattle on start-up and for weird sounds at all speeds. Parts to check are the steering head bearing, wheel bearings.

Some people say "don't buy a Honda CBR 150R with race-replica or later model paint: get one as original as possible."

The Honda CBR 150R is a really hard bike to improve significantly without splashing out a lot of money. A typical bore-up kit can cost as much as the price of the CBR 150R secondhand. But a aftermarket end can and some small modifications to the air-filter seem to be the universal mod of choice.