Honda FES125 Pantheon

I've owned my 2003 fes125 4stroke for about the last 6 years . Reliability has not been any problem although I replaced the rear (EXTREMELY RUSTY) shocks with after-market ones purely for cosmetic reasons. A great deal of plastic had to be temporarily removed to achieve this! Indicated mileage is now 18 thousand. Rear- drive belt dealer-changed at 14k as a precaution due to wanting to do LONG trips.

Top speed (indicated) is an absolute 67/68 mph (both on the flat OR down-hill) after which it seems to hit a rev-limiter and will misfire. Accelleration up to 40mph is remarkably good, 40 to 50 is more leisurely but still acceptable. 50 to 60 (and above) does eventually happen but is measured with a calender rather than a stopwatch. In practice, if you are behind a large lorry travelling at 55mph and you want to overtake it, you need a VERY long straight to do so safely.

I actually use the scooter to, regularly, do fairly long (200 miles)each way camping holidays and it will cruise(?) at a steady 60mph on 1/2 to 3/4 throttle depending on gradient/headwinds achieving about 85mpg. LONG motorway stretches are a no-no due to the restricted top speed. No comment as to handling as it's a typical scooter rather than a race bike but it's OK. Comfort is fine. Brakes are excellent!

greet bike to run its had me all over Scotland petrol is great tax and insurance is aslo good I had my speed up to 75 mph on duel carrway sadly I had to stop driving it as it's needed a bit of work doing to it and was not working so I am working now and way to be getting it back on rd so can't wait

Well, after 20 years of riding "real" bikes of 500cc upwards, I can't believe that I'm riding a) a 125, b) a scooter, and c) really enjoying it! I bought this scooter, for the same reason as many other people I expect, because I'm so fed up with choice between wallet-emptying cars or impractical bikes as my everyday transport. I've had my 13 year old Fes 125 for a whole day so am merely giving my initial reaction with hundred or so miles' experience.

It's modern maxi but already looks dated with sharp, mk1 Ford Focus styling but at £1150 with full service, warranty and new MOT it's definitely a barg. It's done 17000 miles.

First impression was that it was flippin noisy, with a rather harsh, irritating squeal on top of the usual four stroke chug-chug..first job when got home was to remove the belt drive cover and chuck talc over the belt and pulleys. It's an old, old trick and WORKS! I will be changing the belt as soon as as they're cheap and it's an easy-peasy job. Compress the clutch with a three legged puller and there's enough slack in the belt to lift it away from the pulleys.

Handling is safe n steady in keeping with the bike's character. Brakes are great as multi-pot calipers on both ends should be. Performance: typical 125, it gets up to fifty really well, two way top speed of sixty-five. I've decided to keep to sixty as I learnt back in my CG125 days that what turns a 100mpg bike into an 80 mpg bike isn't red-lining it to get up to speed but constantly squeezing out that last 5mph. On the topic of red-lining, I'm pleased there's no rev counter .. 125s generally pull just 7mph per 1,000 rpm and I don't need a graphical reminder!

So, a very happy customer so far for the reasons already cited - comfort, style, storage, presence, brakes, respectable performance given its bulk, and two-up ability. We've already found that the easiest way to get on back is to get into the rider's seat and shuffle backwards while the rider holds the bike, then gets on last. Great mirrors too.

A couple of minor grumbles lose this scooter a star. The battery seems very dainty, I don't like the always-on headlight. Too easy to accidentally leave on the ignition for a few minutes and flatten the (small) battery. You have to pull REALLY hard on the brake whilst starting, or it won't.

Low comsumption ultra-white daytime lights would've been nice but hang on, this is an old bike!

Well, that's it for now, I'll report back in few months.

I have owned the bike for 2 years second hand 600miles on the clock now 5000 its comfortable, stable, cruises at 55mph tad over60 flat out average mpg 85 got 79mpg on 125 mile round trip 2 up hard riding onboard mpg calculator not working properly. British winter has caused rot around tail end of exhaust and shock springs. bike would not start after visit to supermarket, no bloody kickstart! got it home removed starter motor stripped it down found stator magnet had come loose and broken in two dislodging all the rest. stator plates were just glued on!. phoned friendly Mr honda dealer 140 notes for replacement ouch. so I cleaned it up, using metal epoxy re-glued magnets back on and it did the trick back on the road.

(lovely engineered starter apart from cheap assembly using glue). apart from that lovely bike to ride economical, lots of storage under seat, with top box added can get most of shopping, saves using the car and fuming in traffic jams would recommend ordering exhaust gasket remove exhaust de-rust and use high temperature paint rustproof exhaust if you do not want to faint at replacement cost even without vat. heavy bike for a 125 but recommended.

this is my lads 1st scooter we got it on ebya for £500 and that was for 2of them well almost all the bits and bobs we got with it might as well have been, got it home and off he went to work cut out and would not run,popt it up to DIT locall bike garage, had it up and runing in 40 mins was juat a bloked fual pipe, he lovels it, got me thinking about looking at them we are bouth 6ft 5/6 and have no problem on it so go get ya self out on the road i am .

great bike need more time and miles good fuel con etc

I've had my Honda FES125 for a few years now and its by far the best investment I've ever made.

Thsi is a superior scooter - well designed and easy to ride, especially in city traffic. Starts on the button every time and has adequate power for nippy take offs. The large storage bin under the seat is a real plus point although its a tight fit for the helmet. I have added a buzzer to the indicator lights as its easy not to cancel them + an alarm system - as its my second Pantheon. Wouldnt mind the 150 but never seen one in UK.

I've had a FES 125 S-wing from new and never had a problem with it.

My commute is 3 miles through country lanes and the 8 miles on a very busy A road(A38 in the midlands)

Great around the country lanes and enough cruising speed to just keep ahead of the "artics"

Plenty of room under the seat for stuff.but some helmets won't fit.

A great scooter to ride, not to nippy, but comfortable, stylish, and handles like a dream.

Having had motor bikes for years ended up with a big 1300 yammy which i could not put on centre stand so it had to go and i always fancied a twist and go scooter so i ended up with the Honds Pantheon 125 FES with the 4 stroke injection engine,Mileage is now 7k and it runs great does about 65mph and with tailwind 70mph,MPG is around 70 to 80,Brakes brilliant, headlight at night superb not suprising its the same as on big honda motorbike.Always starts straight up off the button.Cannot fault the pant even 2 up its pulls well up hills one of the best 2 wheeled transport scooters you can own.The build quality is typical Honda and is excellent,good switchgear etc,Storage under seat very good and i have an additional rear top box so ample storage for shopping etc,i love this scooter,I wash it and give it a polish with pledge and it comes up like new,I must agree with other owners that the rear suspension units will corrode if not given protection so i spray mine with WD40/3 in 1 oil which prevents this.Overall an exccellent scooter which looks big for a 125,highly recommended.Upgrade for me would be the SH300i which go like stink.

after 12,000 miles the engine suddenly blow....no comment, don`t buy is rubbish