We review the latest offering from AJS in the 125cc motorcycle category.
Motorcycle reviews. I have no idea how many motorbike reviews I have read in my 35 years of riding motorcycles. Have you ever had the feeling that something may be missing? I mean, most of them seem to concern themselves with the same stuff year in, year out. The latest offering from BMW, Honda or Ducati, yadda yadda yadda…same old, same old.
Now there is definitely a place for keeping updated with what’s happening in the world of the aspirational dream motorbike but what seems to be missing is good honest reviews of the most important motorbike, that is, the first motorbike and, for most people, that’s your humble learner bike.
You may be thinking of taking your CBT or, perhaps, you have just completed it and now you’re thinking about buying your first dream machine. You look around and…well, not that much out there is there? Most magazines and publications tend to ignore what is actually one of the most important sectors in the motorcycle universe.
The thing about learner bikes is that they’re not glamorous are they? They don’t set the world alight with performance or glamour. They may not be aspirational but your first bike is probably the most important bike you will own and you will never forget it. It’s the bike that makes the motorcycling dream real, the start of the biking obsession, the machine with which you first experience the thrill of being on the road, on your bike.
The other massively important fact about learner bikes is this. Today’s learner rider is tomorrow’s big bike rider. New customers are the lifeblood of any industry. To ignore the new customer is to ignore the future. The learner rider is the future of the motorcycling world. At ACBT London, as a motorcycle training school, we are very aware of this and part of our motorcycle training method is to educate, support and encourage new motorcyclists. We have no axe to grind and we are not bound contractually to any manufacturer so we are free to offer you impartial advice by way of our training courses or via our forum where our customers still have access to advice and guidance even after the training course is finished. We also have an information blog where we can offer guidance to those that are beginning their motorcycling journey. It makes sense, we want to be part of your motorcycling journey from initial interest, through CBT and then onto DAS or PAS or post test.
With that in mind we are publishing unbiased reviews of motorcycles we think offer a great introduction to the world of motorcycling. We have already published an article about what it is that makes a good learner motorbike and a review of the legendary Honda CB125F. In this article we are concentrating on the AJS Bilston 125.
About AJS
The AJS story goes back to 1909. The name was at the forefront of the British Motorcycling industry, through it’s glory days and is one of the few survivors of its demise. At one time it was part of one of the largest British motorcycle corporations, together with Norton and Matchless.
Today, most people are surprised to find they are still operating, manufacturing great quality and value for money light motorcycles. They are built in China like many other manufacturers these days but with proven mechanicals and components.
We have several AJS motorcycles and scooters in our CBT training fleet so are very well qualified to assess their quality and attest to their undoubted value for money.
A motorcycle training school is dependent on its collection of motorcycles. If they don’t work neither do we. We first gained an interest in AJS because the factory used to be in Plumstead, Royal Borough of Greenwich, approximately ten minutes ride from our training area. This fact together with the fact that we love classic bikes meant that AJS was a great stating point. It made historic sense to use AJS motorcycles in this area of London.
The AJS Bilston 125cc
In late 2023 the company released the Bilston 125cc motorcycle. Most first bike buyers in the UK probably had absolutely no idea a new motorcycle had arrived.
It is named after the steelworks in Wolverhampton that used to supply materials to the original AJS factory. We bought two of them and named them “Eric” and “Ernie”. All our bikes have names and those of a certain age will recognise the origin of the chosen monikers.
The Bilston is aimed at the commuter sector. It has a single cylinder balance shaft four stroke engine and is equipped with a rear rail, bash plate, a digital multi function speedo, LED lighting and a very useful 19 litre fuel tank with both electric and kick start. Styling wise I guess you could call it “modern classic”. It is a handsome machine with classic lines with modern touches. What struck me initially was that in profile it offers a resemblance to the Triumph Speed 400 which was released at roughly the same time.
The idea behind the Bilston 125 is for an easy to ride, comfortable, practical, simple and efficient commuter motorcycle. The good looks were combined with an attractive price tag of £2349. The specs claim a fuel efficiency of 128mpg. On paper this would appear to be a superb package. An equivalent rival with this level of equipment would probably cost north of £4000, for example such as the Yamaha XSR 125.Remember the old saying though, “quality ain’t cheap, cheap ain’t quality”…so let's look at what quality we can expect for £2300.
Fit and finish
We have owned our Bilstons for approximately one year now and they are holding up well. Training bikes work hard and if anyone can find quality shortcomings trainees can. The finish appears to be good quality. Painted surfaces are well finished. Decals are under the lacquer which appears to be well applied. Chromed surfaces look decent quality and are still in great showing after a British winter. Frame welds look to have been well tooled. The electrics and electronics function as they should. In short, we have found no issues with the quality of the finish. It looks as good in the flesh as it does in the images.
Engine and performance
The idea of the Euro 5 compliant balance shaft engine is for a smooth ride. This is a commuter motorcycle therefore will be operating in the heaviest of traffic, at the busiest times, on the worst roads. Claimed power is 8.5Kw (11hp) at 9000rpm. This is around average for a bike in this sector. A Honda CB125F by comparison has 10 hp.
At normal town speeds the engine is super quiet and smooth. The clutch is light and the five speed gearbox is easy and smooth allowing for efficient progression in traffic. This changes on faster roads however where at higher revs the engine can seem to be working overly hard and starts to sound harsh and the limitations of the engine begin to show. This is not a bike to be thrashed within an inch of its life however it is possible to make good progress.
First engages easily and short shifting to second sees the bike leaving traffic behind from the lights. Third gear provides a good responsive release of power on the throttle and fourth at town speeds sees the bike settling into a super smooth cruise. Claimed top speed is 60mph. Not going to set the pulse racing but, this is a 125cc commuter after all and roughly the same in real terms with the CB125F we used to own. A CB125F however costs around £400 more than the Bilston.
“Performance” is not just about top speed however, it is about the bigger picture. The question with the Bilston is, is this an effective motorcycle to get around the city to work and back with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency? Looked at in this light the bike does it’s job very well indeed.
Fuel economy is claimed at 128mpg. The 19 litre fuel tank is a superb addition to a commuter bike’s arsenal meaning the rider will not be a slave to the fill up. In practice we have not achieved the claimed 128mpg but we consistently see a return of more than 110 mpg.
Ride quality is good. The sculpted saddle is well finished, supportive and is comfortable enough for the length of the average commute. It does become a bit hard over prolongued periods in the saddle.
I used the bike for a three hour CBT road ride and I was glad to get off the bike by the end of it. For most riders however, the commute is realistically around one hour and the saddle is perfectly comfortable for that length of ride.
Suspension is on the firm side, especially at the rear and this can result in some jarring over potholes but other than that the suspension units cope well enough. Remember, this is a bike that retails for less than £2500. Tyres and cast wheels handle and grip well.
Brakes are more than up to the job of stopping a 130kg machine with the power available. The bike is fitted with a combined braking system consisting of discs front and rear. From 2017 Euro regulations called for Combined Braking Systems (CBS) on all bikes up to and including 125cc. All bikes above that capacity must have ABS from that year.
CBS is a system whereby operating the rear brake pedal also applies a degree of stopping power to the front brake. Many experienced riders dislike this and prefer independent braking front and rear however in our CBT and other courses we have developed a riding system and braking technique specifically designed for this type of brake system. As a new rider therefore you will learn to use CBS brakes efficiently and safely.
Lighting on a commuting motorcycle should be an important consideration. The rider will need to see and be seen for safety riding in the most demanding traffic environments, the city rush hour.
Visibility is an important aspect of motorcycle safety, as we discuss in our training courses. The Bilston is equipped with LED lights throughout, indicators, front and rear and I was impressed at how bright the headlight was on a recent dark dreary morning.
Full beam turns night into day. The builders have done a great job in designing the lighting system of the Bilston and it is immensely more efficient in comparison with standard Halogen headlights of other training bikes.
Ergonomics are also important for a commuting motorcycle. The handlebars are wide and reasonably straight. The switch gear and levers are easily accessible with no fuss. Absent is the “passing” light fitted to many bikes. I guess it isn’t necessary on a bike with modest performance. In its place is a switch operating the hazard lights. My only gripe is the OEM mirrors fitted to the bike. They are copies of the Yamaha YBR Custom units but finished in gloss black and they are, frankly, terrible. The Yamaha units were terrible and these are just as bad. They are overly fussy to adjust, requiring spanners, and I am unable to get a decent view to the rear. Not a biggie though as easy to replace with something more sensible.
The centrally mounted multi-function digital binnacle is clear and easy to read with a pleasing blue backlight. The colour of the backlight can be changed by the user. The outer ring carries the warning lights whilst the central unit displays battery level top left, fuel gauge top right, odometer, speedometer and gear indicator.
Speedo and odo are switchable for reading in miles. The lower display is a graphic rev counter. It’s a shame that with this level of information they didn’t think to include a clock, useful for a commuter.
Riding position is upright with a comfortable, relaxed reach to the foot controls. Together with the handlebars this results in a very relaxed riding position, even for taller riders. I am just under 6f but we have had taller and short trainees on the Bilston and all have been comfortable on the bike.
The 130kg mass is manageable and whilst a tad heavier than some other learner bikes is not intrusive. The bike can easily be maneuvered by hand by most people. Side and main stands are a useful feature which is sadly missing from many modern motorcycles and the main stand is a cinch to operate.
Verdict
Motorcycle verdicts are definitely subjective. Let’s face it the Bilston is not exciting, it’s not high performance, it’s not glamorous, even though handsome in its own way, it’s not even as good looking as other AJS motorcycles and it certainly isn’t as sought after as similar offerings from other manufacturers. On those grounds it’s desirability is definitely compromised but, let’s put things, and the Bilston, into context. It is not a small capacity version of a glamorous bigger model designed to offer a minor nod and generate interest in the big bike, such as the KTM Duke 125 at £4800. It isn’t a small capacity version of a performance bike such as the Yamaha YZF125R at £4800.
What the Bilston is, is a modern commuter motorcycle, unspectacular maybe but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It depends what you are after. It is a great first bike for new riders. It is well made and put together with quality components and finish. Spare parts are readily available and reasonably priced.
An efficient, smooth ride within its comfort zone with excellent fuel economy. Comfortable and easy to ride and control, ideal for first time riders.
Good safety features, great equipment, and a fantastic British badge on the tank with unquestionable heritage and history. And the cherry on top? £2349. It may not have the polish and razzmatazz of some other, more trendy 125s, Mutt 125s are around £3000 with similar performance for example, but what the Bilston does it does really well indeed. And the price? £2349? You decide!
Do you ride a Bilston? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Technical Specifications
Engine type: Euro 5 124cm³ 4-stroke, OHC, air cooled, single cylinder.
Max. power: 8.5Kw @ 9000 rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 19L
Transmission: five speed, chain drive
Mass in running order: 132kg
Starter: electric and kick
Brakes: (Combined Braking System)
Seat height: 780mm
Fuel consumption: (as recorded on the COC) 128mpg
Colours: Foundry Black, Ember Red, Steel Blue
Price: £2349 inc vat
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