HERALD BRAT 125 (2020 - on) Review

At a glance
Owners' reliability rating: | |
---|---|
Annual servicing cost: | £160 |
Power: | 10 bhp |
Seat height: | Medium (32.3 in / 820 mm) |
Weight: | Low (324 lbs / 147 kg) |
Prices
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesThere is a lot to like about the Brat 125 and its cool styling and accessible price tag make it worth considering. That said, the paltry performance of the air-cooled engine is a huge let-down to the point it limits its target audience.
- Related: Best 125 motorbikes of 2020
- Related: Herald Brat 125 news
City dwellers won’t find it too much of an issue, but if you want to use the Brat for a longer commute it is a real, off-putting struggle.
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineDespite its 125cc motor, the Brat is pleasingly large and feels like it's built for taller riders. Its high bars are comfortable and although the seat is fairly firm, that’s not too much hardship on a bike that is destined to spend much of its time in the inner city.
The bar-end mirrors buzz and blur, but that’s as much to do with the motor needing to be continuously thrashed to its redline than any inherent unpleasant vibrations.
The chunky Cordial tyres do make the bike feel a bit awkward to turn, but that’s the payoff you get for buying a bike with urban scrambler styling.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityThe Brat uses a generic Chinese-built 125cc air-cooled SOHC two-valve single cylinder motor with fuel-injection, which while acceptable for urban use really starts to struggle once you get above fourth gear.
On A-roads the engine, which only makes 9.5bhp, labours to pull fifth or sixth, meaning your speed is limited to an indicated 50mph with 60mph only showing on downhill sections.
This is just too slow to keep up with the traffic (dual carriageways are particularly daunting) and makes taking the Brat out of the city’s restricted speed zones a worry. And in the wet it is even more concerning as traffic often fails to take into account your lack of speed.
Its technology is so tried and tested that reliability shouldn’t be an issue, and it is frugal with 85mpg easily achievable, but when you are facing up against other traffic it feels woefully underpowered. Herald are altering the Brat’s gearing to increase top-end speed on future production bikes, but MCN tested an early model without this gearing change.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueThere have been a few issues in the past with the quality of Chinese-built small capacity models, but Herald’s warranty is reassuring and it is hard to see that motor going wrong as it is in such a low state of tune.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentIt is hard to argue with a brand new bike that costs less than £3000 and comes with 24-months RAC cover as well as a two-year parts and one-year labour warranty.
Yes, it is Chinese-built and is a touch basic in some areas, however it is designed in Britain and there is no way you could hit that price point if it was made elsewhere.
Equipment
Considering the Brat costs a budget-friendly £2999 it has some lovely details. The firm’s logo is on the engine cases as well as the inverted forks’ tops and the LCD dash has a fuel gauge and gear indicator.
The lights and indicators are LED, the exhaust is made from stainless steel and there are neat aluminium features such as the rivetted hugger, chain guard and infill panels. It lacks ABS, which is a shame, but the spec is impressively high.
Specs |
|
Engine size | 124cc |
---|---|
Engine type | Air-cooled, SOHC, two-valve, single |
Frame type | Tubular steel trellis |
Fuel capacity | 10 litres |
Seat height | 820mm |
Bike weight | 147kg |
Front suspension | Inverted forks, non-adjustable |
Rear suspension | Single rear shock, adjustable preload |
Front brake | Single 270mm disc with two-piston caliper. Linked brakes |
Rear brake | 220mm single disc with single-piston caliper. Linked brakes |
Front tyre size | 110/90 x 17 |
Rear tyre size | 130/80 x 17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
|
Average fuel consumption | 85 mpg |
---|---|
Annual road tax | £25 |
Annual service cost | £160 |
New price | £2,999 |
Used price | - |
Insurance group |
- How much to insure? |
Warranty term | Two years |
Top speed & performance |
|
Max power | 10 bhp |
---|---|
Max torque | 6.5 ft-lb |
Top speed | 60 mph |
1/4 mile acceleration | - |
Tank range | - |
Model history & versions
Model history
2020: Herald Brat 125 launched.
Other versions
A larger-capacity Herald Brat 250 is planned, however at the time of writing
Owners' reviews for the HERALD BRAT 125 (2020 - on)
2 owners have reviewed their HERALD BRAT 125 (2020 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your HERALD BRAT 125 (2020 - on)
Summary of owners' reviews |
|
Overall rating: | |
---|---|
Ride quality & brakes: | |
Engine: | |
Reliability & build quality: | |
Value vs rivals: | |
Equipment: | |
Annual servicing cost: | £160 |
Year: 2022
It’s a beautiful bike to look at and really fun to ride on short trips. Great corning on country lanes but quite slow on long main A roads.
Bobbly tyres make themselves known but brakes are really good.
It’s quite slow! You have to go down a gear (or two) to get any acceleration after cruising along.
It’s been recalled twice. But other than that no issues. Apart from the engine temp light coming on too frequently but the in line resistor was changed as part of the recall and it’s fine now.
This is my first bike and it’s a load cheaper than a car but wouldn’t want to give advice on relative costs as I haven’t had a bike before. But £120 a year to insure and a small service cost to date - it seems cheap to me.
Rev counter. 6 speed. Wide mirrors. All good.
Buying experience: £3250 a deer tides and that’s what I pad for a 1 Sept 2022 delivery. 72 plate.
Year: 2022
Annual servicing cost: £160
I wouldn't recommend
The seat is uncomfortable after 30 minutes or so,The fuel consumption is decent enough for city commuting but anything father and the bike over heats, I'll also mention my version of the brat is the liquid cooled version. The brakes are as you'd expect a light 125 bike to be, they do the job but not much more can be said.
The engine is the most disappointing part of this bike as its lacking in power at low and high revs, having to be at the red line every time to barely keep up with traffic and is stuck at 45mhp at any Hill it comes across.
The bike it's self isn't really reliable as I've only had it 6 months and broken down 6 times or more,First time riding it from the store and the clutch lever decided to fall apart while at 45mph which was pretty daunting.2 months down the line with only 500 miles ridden and the exhaust bolts fall off and the exhaust then separated from the engine.5 months on and 1600 miles later the front forks have failed and now leak so they are needing replacements.6 months and 2200 miles later and the engine now has starting issues and electrical faults, I am currently in the process of finding out what the exact issue is.
It costs around £10 ish depending on fuel costs to fill the tank and riding back and forth every day it lasts around 3 days per fill.
The bike it's self is pretty basic, the tires are nobbly and make it awkward for turning, I'd advise getting normal road tires.
Buying experience: I bought it from a dealer as first owner for £3400