One of Honda’s most enduring motorcycles is also one of its most incognito. The Honda CG125—a petite single-cylinder commuter—has been in constant production since 1976, winning hearts and minds through its durability and affordability. Even though it’s no longer in production in Japan, it lives on in countries like Pakistan, Brazil, and China, manufactured by various Honda subsidiaries and partners.
This peppy Honda CG125 is a Chinese-made model, built under the Wuyang-Honda label. It’s been masterfully tweaked by Jesse Liu of Kicker Garage, influenced by the popular brat style established by the legendary Go Takamine.
The delightful simplicity of Kicker’s CG125 belies the amount of work that Jesse has poured into it. Through a host of subtle, yet well judged, changes, he’s turned the humble commuter bike into a handsome café hopper.
Starting with the chassis, Jesse cut and looped the rear frame, then lifted the tail with a set of longer-than-stock adjustable shocks. The front forks are stock, but the rims are new. Jesse retained the OEM drum bake hubs, but laced them to 19F/18R hoops, opting for a classic H-shaped design.
Moving to the bodywork, Jesse swapped the CG125’s fuel tank for a classic CB100 unit. Next, he replaced the bike’s triangular side covers for a more bubbly set, adding more vintage style to the bike. With the Honda’s airbox gone, there’s not much going on behind the covers—but Jesse fitted them anyway, so that the bike wouldn’t look too skinny.
For the lighting, Jesse deliberately went with fairly standard vintage fare. A 5.75-inch headlight with a yellow lens does duty up front, with a Lucas-style taillight perched atop a trials-style fender at the back.
The rider triangle features a set of seagull-style handlebars, a mini-loaf seat, and the original Honda foot controls. The bars are kitted with fresh grips and micro-switches, with all of the wiring hidden inside. A chromed off-the-shelf speedo sits front and center.
Under the hood, Jesse rebuilt the CG125’s motor and ditched the fuel injection in favor of a Keihin carb. A handmade exhaust header is matched to a stylish aftermarket reverse cone muffler.
When it came to the livery, Jesse settled on a timeless metallic red paint job for the fuel tank. But although it was inspired by Honda’s traditional hue, it’s not an exact match. “Customers still love Honda Red,” he explains, “but Honda Red is still associated with motorcycle taxis locally—so Mazda’s ‘Soul Red’ was used instead.”
The red base coat is broken by white scallops with gold striping. The side covers are wrapped in a glossy checkered flag motif—a cheeky addition, given the size of the CG125’s engine.
Kicker’s custom Honda CG125 isn’t going to break any land speed records, but it has style for miles. And with nowhere to put a passenger, it’s in no danger of being mistaken for a taxi.
Kicker Garage Instagram
