Needless to say, cruiser motorcycles play an important role in the culture surrounding motorcycling. Many of us were captivated by cruiser motorcycle culture while growing up, with Hogs and their low-displacement choppers turning heads wherever they went. Nowadays, cruisers continue to be a part of motorcycling culture and, interestingly, many manufacturers are making them more accessible to beginner riders.
I’m not just talking about bikes like the Honda Rebel 300 or the Kawasaki Eliminator 400. In fact, there are even lower-displacement bikes specifically designed for beginners, especially in Europe and Asia. Take, for example, the new GV125R from the South Korean motorcycle brand Hyosung. The Hyosung brand has been around for some time and was even available in the US market at one point. Currently, it continues to be present in the European and Asian markets, periodically releasing new models.
The Hyosung GV125R is based on the engine inspired by American Cruisers. Yes, it has a twin-cylinder engine, although with a tenth of the capacity of engines like the Harley-Davidson Sportster. The GV125R has a 125cc twin-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 13.3 hp and 10.2 Nm of torque. The result is a surprisingly light machine, weighing only 182 kg with a full gas tank. Power is sent to the rear wheel through a five-speed manual gearbox.
As for its equipment, the Hyosung GV125R features 35mm inverted front forks with 120mm of suspension travel. A double-sided steel swingarm with a centrally mounted shock absorber provides a small suspension travel of 38mm. As for the brakes, the beginner cruiser stops with a 270mm front disc, gripped by a radially mounted dual-piston caliper, and a 250mm rear disc. Dual-channel ABS is standard.
In terms of design, it is evident that Hyosung opted for a robust cruiser look, as the GV125R is equipped with fake air intakes on the side of the tank, a headlight fairing with windshield, and even brake cooling ducts integrated into the design of the front fender. It has a floating passenger seat that gives the bike a sporty and sculpted rear end, and of course, LED headlights and a digital instrument panel as standard. There is also a convenient USB charging port.
However, behind its muscular design, the GV125R maintains its completely accessible dimensions. It has a very low seat height of just 730 millimeters, as well as a surprisingly light weight of only 182 kg when its 13-liter fuel tank is full.
For more information, you can visit the official Hyosung website.
