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hi, im from the Philippines. I will take delivery of my z125 next week. In the Philippines we don't have the manual version, only the semi-automatic which i don't really mind as i prefer it over the manual version. 
I have owned 2 dirt bikes before a Honda XR125 and a Kawasaki KLX150S but I seldom use them ( less than once a month ) and I got tired having to call a mechanic to clean my carbs so I disposed them. I was informed that If you seldom use your bikes ( meaning once a month or less ) its better to buy a fuel injected one rather than one with a carbs so recently I bought a 125cc Yamaha Fino Fi scooter and is expecting delivery of my Kawasaki Z125 next week.Welcome to the club.
What bikes have you owned in the past and what made you want the Z125 over anything else... like the Grom? Didn't the Phillippines get the Grom?
Grey or gray market are products that are imported by the non-official distributor.What's a grey market?
Can't wait to see you mod the Z125 into a scrambler! What mods are you planning? Some nice knobbies with spoke rims, maybe mount the exhaust higher for more ground clearance?
This would be an awesome round led headlight on a Z125Grey or gray market are products that are imported by the non-official distributor.
knobbies, change headlights to round, retro-fuel tanks, and retro seats and probably higher exhaust.![]()
Nice!My Z125 was delivered just awhile ago.![]()
I think the semi-automatic version will be the version sold in most Asian countries because the primary use for small bikes (250cc or less) in those countries is for commuting, where there's lots of traffic. Not having to use a clutch is a benefit for that use.I am looking at my Z125 and built quality is better than my other previous bikes.
It took me sometime before I realized that the compartment opener key hole was under the seat. picture d.
A view of whats inside the seat compartment picture f
And a view of the underside of the seat, where I placed a photocopy
of my invoice and DR. Its nice that the motorcycle came with standard basic tools.picture g
Philippine version comes with a 4 speed semi-automatic transmission which I prefer versus the full manual.
To Change gear you have to push up N-1-2-3-4 (picture g)
To change down you have to press 4-3-2-1-N
Since it does'nt have a clutch, you just release your accelerator to change gears. (picture h)
Also have a picture of display panel. Nice thing is that it has a gear indicator, So it will tell you which gear you are currently in. It has an Odometer and Tripmeter A/B . It also has a clock. Aside from the usual Speedometer and Tachometer. The Tachometer is not accurate at low rpms. Idling RPM as shown is at 1,500 rpm. I think this is too high. Besides I just can tell my motorcycle to be purring. (picture i)
You are absolutely right Fang Shui, the market for bigger bikes in the Philippines is still limited. Most of the people who buy motorcycles here buy it because they cannot afford a car. My estimate is 98% of all motorcycles sold in the Philippines are 125cc and below scooters or semi-automatic bikes. But the market for motorcycles in the Philippines is huge, about 6 million units a year. roughly 20X bigger than the car market.but people who can afford bigger bikes here would rather buy a car.I think the semi-automatic version will be the version sold in most Asian countries because the primary use for small bikes (250cc or less) in those countries is for commuting, where there's lots of traffic. Not having to use a clutch is a benefit for that use.
Here's the Philippines Kawasaki site. It shows the wide variety of Commuter Bikes available there, almost all of which are not sold in North America.
Larger bikes in the Philippines are considered Leisure Bikes.
Kawasaki Motors Philippines | Commuter Bikes - Leisure Bikes
You are absolutely right Fang Shui, the market for bigger bikes in the Philippines is still limited. Most of the people who buy motorcycles here buy it because they cannot afford a car. My estimate is 98% of all motorcycles sold in the Philippines are 125cc and below scooters or semi-automatic bikes. But the market for motorcycles in the Philippines is huge, about 6 million units a year. roughly 20X bigger than the car market.but people who can afford bigger bikes here would rather buy a car.
One big factor preventing people from developing an interest in riding a bigger bike for leisure is the weather. During summer in the Philippines, the temperature index soars to 51 degrees centigrade or 124 degrees farenheit, too hot to do leisure biking and during the rainy season, of course you know how inconvenient it is to ride a bike when it is raining.![]()
KawiGirl, I am not thinking of anything radical for my build. I have also no intention of modifying suspension or bike geometry except for replacing the 12" Front wheel with 14" to make the stance bolder.Can't wait to see your build thread. I guess you're going for a Scrambler orientated build?
If Grom parts would fit the Z125, I think you can get Ohlins suspension parts for it.
You might at least want to consider an aftermarket rear shock, especially if you ride it off-road.KawiGirl, I am not thinking of anything radical for my build. I have also no intention of modifying suspension or bike geometry except for replacing the 12" Front wheel with 14" to make the stance bolder.![]()
Seems to be a very goog idea FangShui. Is this the shock that has an overflow tube? Do you happen to know the exact part number? Do you think its a bolt-on thing, no modifications needed? There are so few Z125 here in the Philippines, I don't think they would know if i tell the store it is for a z125. As I don't intend to bring the motorcycle when I go to Caloocan as it is too far from here. The heat would give me a heat stroke .You might at least want to consider an aftermarket rear shock, especially if you ride it off-road.
I recommend a Racing Boy adjustable shock (pre-load and rebound, maybe add damping, too). I put one on my Grom and it made a huge difference. Should be easy to find one in Caloocan. I saw signs for them on many shop fronts on Google Street View....
Racing Boy doesn't make a Remote Reservoir shock like you mentioned but there are other companies that do, like YSS, Marziano and GAZI. They're all good quality and all are made in S.E. Asia, so you should be able to get one in the $110 to $140 USD range (c. 5000 to 6500 Pesos). Maybe less....Seems to be a very goog idea FangShui. Is this the shock that has an overflow tube? Do you happen to know the exact part number? Do you think its a bolt-on thing, no modifications needed? There are so few Z125 here in the Philippines, I don't think they would know if i tell the store it is for a z125. As I don't intend to bring the motorcycle when I go to Caloocan as it is too far from here. The heat would give me a heat stroke .
Yesterday I went to a motorcycle store, less than a kilometer from my residence and discussed my desire to replaced my front tires with a 14" mags rims. They said it can be done with some modifications on the rims.
There are no available 14" mags rims for the kawasaki. A lot are available for the Yamaha Mio, but the axle of the Yamaha are smaller than the Kawasaki. So machining is needed on the mag rims to increase the hole so that bearings for the kawasaki would fit and of course the axle. I would also need to change the disk plate for the brakes, I can't use the old disc plate because there is a difference in the mounting hole.