125cc motorbikes in Portugal: best models, used prices and costs

Before you close the dealCheck the vehicle history by its chassis number, confirm ISV and IUC in the calculators, and compare the asking price with the live adverts for the same model.

The most popular 125cc bikes in Portugal are scooters such as the Honda PCX 125 and the Yamaha NMAX 125, and entry-level naked bikes such as the Yamaha MT-125. On AUTO.MOTO.pt, a used 125 costs about €3,000 in the middle of the market. New, the Honda PCX 125 starts at €3,199.

They use around 2 litres per 100 km, they are allowed on motorways and they have no periodic inspection. In 2026, the IUC road tax on a 125 is not collected either, because it falls under the €10 minimum.

In this guide we compare 125cc scooters and motorcycles, the models most often for sale, real used prices, fuel use, yearly running costs and what to check before you buy. The figures come from the adverts live on 11 October 2026.

Who can ride a 125

A motorcycle of up to 125 cc and 11 kW (about 15 hp) can be ridden on an A1 licence, available from age 16, or on an A2 or A licence. A car licence, category B, is also enough for anyone aged 25 or over. Under 25, a B licence only counts if you also hold a moped licence.

This is a Portuguese rule. In other countries a B licence may not be enough for a 125. We explain the ages, tests and prices of each category in our guide to the A1, A2 and A motorcycle licence.

125cc scooter or 125cc motorcycle: which to choose

The first decision is the type of bike. Both options have the same engine size and the same power limit, but they suit different uses.

125 scooter: automatic gearbox, a flat floor, room for a helmet under the seat and some protection from the rain; the choice for commuting in Lisbon or Porto;
125 naked or sports bike: manual gearbox, larger wheels and a proper motorcycle riding position; the choice for learning to ride before moving up to an A2 licence;
125 trail or enduro: longer suspension and dual-purpose tyres, for gravel and dirt roads;
125 custom: a low seat and relaxed riding, for short rides.

Illustration of four 125cc motorcycles seen from the side: a scooter, a naked bike, a trail bike and a custom — The four most common kinds of 125: scooter, naked, trail and custom.

Best 125cc bikes in Portugal: the most popular models

There is no single best 125. There is the one that fits your use, your budget and the dealer network near you. We have picked the most searched-for models in Portugal and those that appear most in the 125cc adverts on AUTO.MOTO.pt.

125cc scooters

Honda PCX 125: the benchmark city scooter. The 2025 version has 9.2 kW (12.5 hp), a claimed fuel use of 2.1 litres per 100 km and an 8.1-litre tank;
Yamaha NMAX 125: the PCX’s direct rival, with similar wheels and size;
Honda Forza 125: a larger scooter with more wind protection for longer trips;
SYM: the brand appears with several models in the 125 adverts, such as the Jet X, the HD 125 and the Symba.

You can see the Honda PCX 125s for sale and the Yamaha NMAXs for sale and compare year, mileage and price.

125cc motorcycles with a manual gearbox

Yamaha MT-125: one of the most searched-for 125s in Portugal, alongside the Honda PCX 125;
Benelli BN 125: a cheaper naked bike, with several adverts between €2,200 and €2,700;
Honda Monkey and Honda Grom: small bikes on small wheels, for the city and for fun;
recent Chinese brands, such as Zontes, Cyclone and Kove, with adverts for recent bikes at about €2,800 to €3,200.

How much does a used 125 cost

We counted 70 live adverts for road bikes of up to 125 cc on AUTO.MOTO.pt, leaving out 50 cc mopeds, motocross bikes and classics from before 2000. The median price is €3,000. Half the adverts sit between €2,400 and €3,500, and the cheapest asks €850.

2025 and 2026 bikes: 33 adverts, median price €3,190, many from dealers selling new or zero-mileage bikes;
2020 to 2024 bikes: 19 adverts, median price €2,900;
bikes from before 2020: 18 adverts, median price €2,200;
125cc scooters: 14 adverts, median price €2,500.

Among the adverts up to 2024 that state the mileage, the median is 8,500 km. A 125 often covers few kilometres a year, so a five- or six-year-old bike can be close to new.

Among the best-known models, most Honda PCX 125s asked between €1,750 for a 2013 bike and €3,300 for a 2025 one. The two Yamaha NMAXs asked €1,600 (2017) and €2,650 (2025). To see what is available now, browse all the scooters for sale and the used and new motorcycles for sale, with filters for price and region.

How much does a new 125 cost

According to the Honda PCX 125 specification page on Honda Portugal’s website, the 2025 PCX 125 starts at €3,199 and the DX version at €3,510, as checked on 11 October 2026. Honda notes that this price excludes paperwork and pre-delivery charges, IUC and the tyre eco-fee. Always ask the dealer for the final price, as promotions change during the year.

Fuel consumption and top speed of a 125

A modern 125 scooter uses little fuel. Honda claims 2.1 litres per 100 km for the PCX 125, measured on the WMTC cycle. With 8.1 litres in the tank, that is about 385 km between fill-ups. In real traffic, expect a little more.

The same specification page gives a top speed of 98 km/h. A 125 is allowed on motorways: article 72 of the Portuguese Highway Code (Código da Estrada) only bans motorcycles of up to 50 cc from motorways. But at close to 100 km/h a 125 has no margin for overtaking, and national roads are often the better choice.

What a 125 costs to run each year

Apart from the purchase and the fuel, a 125 has few fixed costs. These are the main ones:

IUC road tax: for a 125 registered after 1996, the table value is under €10. The IUC Code says no payment is due when the tax is under €10, so in 2026 you effectively pay nothing;
inspection: Law 25/2025 scrapped mandatory periodic inspection for motorcycles, which had never come into force and did not even cover bikes of up to 125 cc;
insurance: third-party liability insurance is mandatory. Premiums vary a lot with the rider’s age and experience, so get several quotes;
maintenance: oil, filters, tyres, brake pads and, on scooters, the drive belt; follow the service intervals in the maker’s handbook.

Many riders miss one point about insurance. According to the ASF, the insurance supervisor, on its motor insurance page, the mandatory policy pays for injury and damage caused to third parties and to the people carried, but it does not cover the driver of the vehicle. On a bike, if you cause the accident, your own injuries are left out. Ask the insurer about optional rider cover.

From 2027, IUC will be assessed per taxpayer, with all the vehicles in your name in a single bill. We explain the new calendar in our article on the new IUC payment rules for 2027.

The €10 rule stays in the IUC Code, but because the bill now groups all your vehicles, a rider who also owns a car may see the bike’s roughly €6 added to the total. Check the assessment on the Tax Portal.

What to check when buying a used 125

Buyer crouching next to a grey 125cc scooter on a Portuguese street, checking the front tyre — Tyres, brakes and papers: the first things to look at on a used 125.

A used 125 is a cheap purchase, but a mistake is expensive. Before you pay, check these points:

engine size and power on the registration certificate: to ride on a B or A1 licence, the bike must have up to 125 cc and 11 kW. Some adverts list bikes of 200 cc or more as 125s by mistake, and those need an A2 licence;
registration and debts: make sure the seller is the registered owner and that the bike has no liens or retention of title;
mileage and servicing: ask for the service invoices and be wary of very low mileage with no history;
scooter belt and clutch: noises and judder when pulling away may point to a worn belt or clutch;
tyres and brakes: check the tread, the tyres’ production date and that the brakes neither squeal nor shudder;
falls: scuffs on the bar ends, mirrors and footpegs show the bike has been dropped.

Always take a test ride with a cold engine. A 125 that starts badly from cold or smokes when pulling away deserves a trip to a workshop before you buy.