Forza 125 reliability and cost of ownership

[iceman]

It seems many are finding the Forza 125 rather costly to keep running well due to one or more common faults, and this on a £5000 125 bike.
I'm part of the facebook forza group and many find the head bearings often need replacement, The head bearing problem is a concern for anyone thinking of purchasing one of these - the latest discussion involves people having them replaced under warranty at 8000 miles and now they are on their way out again at 12,000 (bike just out of the 2 year warranty period).
It's not just one or two people having the bearings go, many keep raising the same issue. Not good longevity on any bike, especially a Honda costing so much for what is basically a suped up 125.

[gn2]

Wouldn't surprise me if they had been assembled without any grease, also they are extremely vulnerable to damage from hitting potholes.
One big heavy hit and there's pits in the bearing races.
Real cheap and nasty ball bearing crap, taper rollers are vastly superior but Honda are too stingy to fit them.

[fish]

£5000 for a 125?
Sad purchase.
Fish

[gn2]

Actual out the door price is £4689
But can be had cheaper if you're good at haggling.

[iceman]

The Forza 125 surprisingly is a very big seller as many really like the bike, but not worth near £5000 in my books. Another post of FB shows the rear shocks being replaced - apparently they are not that great quality either for such an expensive scooter. The after-market replacements being fitted in that post cost near £500!

[gn2]

The price has to be compared with the cost of the competition.
And that's a rail season ticket.
Buy it on a PCP deal and suddenly it doesn't look as expensive.

[HondaForza125]

It would be quite easy I reckon to get one for £4k new in the UK pre reg or similar.

So £1k to £1.5k more than a PCX depending on what you could haggle a PCX for.

[40jack]

The Forza 125 surprisingly is a very big seller as many really like the bike, but not worth near £5000 in my books. Another post of FB shows the rear shocks being replaced - apparently they are not that great quality either for such an expensive scooter. The after-market replacements being fitted in that post cost near £500!

The forza suspension is terrible, I'm 17 St and soon as I sit on the bike it bottoms out. The UK roads really give it hell. Problem is there isn't much out there to upgrade it with.

[gn2]

The Forza 125 surprisingly is a very big seller as many really like the bike, but not worth near £5000 in my books. Another post of FB shows the rear shocks being replaced - apparently they are not that great quality either for such an expensive scooter. The after-market replacements being fitted in that post cost near £500!

The forza suspension is terrible, I'm 17 St and soon as I sit on the bike it bottoms out. The UK roads really give it hell. Problem is there isn't much out there to upgrade it with.

Does the 125 suspension have adjustable pre-load?

[Haarek]

Yes, it does.

[gn2]

Have you tried adjusting it?

[Haarek]

Me? Yes. I think the suspension on my forza is perfectly allright for my riding, both with and without my wife riding pillion. But preload will have to be adjusted (obviously)

[40jack]

Yes, it does.

Yes I have adjusted the pre load made little difference for me. I'm nearly 18st and when I sit on the bike it basically bottoms out. The roads round us are atrocious and when the bike hits the pot holes it feels like a hammer hitting an anvil. I find the suspension to be very soft.

[40jack]

The Forza 125 surprisingly is a very big seller as many really like the bike, but not worth near £5000 in my books. Another post of FB shows the rear shocks being replaced - apparently they are not that great quality either for such an expensive scooter. The after-market replacements being fitted in that post cost near £500!

The forza suspension is terrible, I'm 17 St and soon as I sit on the bike it bottoms out. The UK roads really give it hell. Problem is there isn't much out there to upgrade it with.

Does the 125 suspension have adjustable pre-load?

Adjustable on the rear not the front I should add

[gn2]

Adjustable on the rear not the front I should add

Front can be adjusted by adding washers on top of the springs to increase preload and/or using heavier fork oil and/or varying fork oil level.

[40jack]

Adjustable on the rear not the front I should add

Front can be adjusted by adding washers on top of the springs to increase preload and/or using heavier fork oil and/or varying fork oil level.

Ask that is interesting, thank you. Is this something you've done?

[gn2]

Yes, but not on a scooter.

[40jack]

Yes, but not on a scooter.

Roger that.

[Mister_Fube]

Wouldn't surprise me if they had been assembled without any grease, also they are extremely vulnerable to damage from hitting potholes.
One big heavy hit and there's pits in the bearing races.
Real cheap and nasty ball bearing crap, taper rollers are vastly superior but Honda are too stingy to fit them.

I am considering a new (or close to new) 22-23 model Forza 125. I am interested to know more about the head bearings issue, but I can't seem to find it on this forum. Is there any improvement in the quality of these bearings for the newer models, or is the problem still quite common?