AJS 'Cadwell' 125

[SteveC#222]

This bike has been mentioned in another thread but rather than hijack that I thought it worth starting a thread of it's own.



I've always been a bit wary of Chinese bikes, some are good but more aren't really but this ones seems to be one of the better ones.

OK, it's not a 'real' AJS, just a small Chinese bike with an AJS badge but they have actually managed to build a bike that looks, to my eyes, a million yen! Proper Cafe racer styling, wire alloy rimmed wheels, lovely lines, disc brakes all round - you would have killed for this when you were 17!  Handling is apparently pretty good, maybe better with decent tyres, performance is OK for a 125cc ( but I've found on the web that you can get big bore kits of 150, 175 and 200CC!!) All this for under £2k new! I'd really like to try one.

AND....best news of all, the rumour is that a 400cc version is in the pipeline!!

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bikes/ajs/cadwell-125

[manxie]

Yeah, I think I mentioned it in a previous thread. I know what everyone is saying about Chinese stuff, and I`m certain lots of the stuff is sh!te, but I think the British boys also laughed when Mr Honda first brought his bikes to the TT ?? I remember buying the wife a new bike, a Qujang or something ..... a Chinese Yamaha from memory? It was red rusty within six months, absolute rubbish. Even the first India Enfields were the same, but great now! I suppose time will tell but they look fantastic!! 

[SteveC#222]

I'm sure there is enough room in that frame to fit something a bit bigger....RS250 maybe?  That would make a nice little bike.

[CrazyFrog]

I ran a Huoniao HN125 (think CM125 styling with a CG125 lump) for a year and rode it daily through the winter too. I did about 5000 trouble free miles on it commuting to work and then sold it for only £50 less than I paid. In real terms, probably the best value motorcycling I've ever had. I fitted a 150cc big bore kit too - Oh, the power!

The quality wasn't quite up to Japanese or European standards, but certainly wasn't too far behind. A good sousing with ACF50 in the Autumn, and it cleaned up good as new in the spring. I only paid £550 for it when it was two years old, and it was worth every penny, but then I was prepared to throw it away after a year it self destructed. I wouldn't have been quite so sanguine if I'd paid £2k plus though....

[manxie]

I'm sure there is enough room in that frame to fit something a bit bigger....RS250 maybe?  That would make a nice little bike.

Oh yes!! 

[OZ]

I've used AJS 125's for the last several years for CBT training. They are supplied as demonstrators by a local bike company Pure Adrenaline here in West Wales. I've had no major problems at all with them. Issues have been faulty side stand cut out switch X 2, warped front disc X2 and an intermittent electrical fault on my current Eco3 model. For the money - literally half the price of a Yamaha, they're pretty good. Chrome is crap, fasteners are rubbish, paint is good, plastics are terrible, engine and clutch seem good. The latest model is way better than previous ones in virtually every respect. They have improved and will continue to do so. They also have some really cool looking models.

[Steve Lake]

got a good write up in MCN (if that is useful depends on your feelings for MCN)... but the bike is a very good attempt at a rideable café racer style and at less than £2K, competitively priced.... I agree ... a 250 lump would be a big improvement on the overall performance.