i got my coguar about two or three months ago. it is a 2001 model ad so far ive been very impressed. sure its never going to win any TT's and the sunday racers aren't going to have to worry but for what it is it is excellent. italian bikes allways have crap electrics and the chrome falls off as you ride out of the forecourt but that is to be expected and as long as you keep on top with maintenance it is fine. mine is used mainly around town and so far has drank 20 quid in fuel.. thats right just 20 quid in three months use....!!!! the ride is comfortable without being too squishy, the engine s an utter miracle and it looks pretty cool too. what more can anyone ask.
engine, looks, exhaust note
chrome is italian, electrics are italian, VERY hard to get parts
£500 for a W 2000. Had to replace wing mirror (£25), filters (30ish) and the fork seals, and tighten up the chain that was baggier than a clowns trousers...
Its fine - Its a budget bike with front discs and a good Honda engine. It will likely fall to bits and have to be tinkered with, but that comes with bike ownership - you can pay someone else fortunes to do it for you, or get your hands dirty and DIY - its not that technical and no special tools are required.
Mine is parked on the street, but have had no problems starting in the wet / cold - more reliable than my fiat... Front brake seems to loose stopping power in the wet.
Comfortable ride at most speeds (a bit twitchy steering at low speeds - apparently the steering bushes wear and are hard to get spares of as the bike is no longer in production - the main dealer is in Bristol / WSM).
It is a basic bike - no ones going to steal it, it looks like something out of the 50s, makes a nice noise but is going to be time consuming in terms of maintenance...
Cheap, good looks, reliable (when maintained) and comfortable.
parts availability, chrome goes nasty, constant tinkering
I have owned my gilera coguar now for over 4 years, its not my only bike but is my "daily driver". Sun, rain, wind and snow its never let me down, thanks mainly to the Honda engine i think ! I have always garaged it every night, and do my own servicing as per the manual supplied - am on my third chain and sprocket kit, the chrome looks a little tired, parts are available online but are sometimes pricey - i usually buy servicing items in advance before i need them as delivery and availability are not always instant - but overall i have been very happy with this bike - going to try to get another 4 years out of it at least !
Engine, the engine, oh and the engine !
chrome, who put the choke leaver there ?
Reviewing a 2001 model.
totally standard, and staying like it
Owned for 4 years.
cheap to buy, parts are variable in availability. Got a new hanger no prob but a rack seems an impossible accomplishment. Easy to handle, not as low seated as alot of cruisers but if you've short legs you'll appreciate it! Most Ive got out of it is 70mph. Good mileage to the litre, Im doing 45miles a day and filling up@around 150miles for £6. Definately a nice bike look whys, Ive been asked if its a 250. Ideal learner, could find yourself raring at the bit to keep up with the bigger boys before too long thou&two up is not comfortable!
Load of rubbish, but it is fun. I put in a big bore kit, a new pipe, ect, and it only make 95mph......Slow, Still girls love it, and insurance is cheap.
Just had it a couple of months. Looks a lot bigger than a 125, but very easy to handle. Comfortable ride. The Honda 125 engine is so simple to service.. you can see what everything is and easily get to the plug and filters. I'd say the build quality is pretty good however my speedo cable has just snapped and reading other reviews that seems to be a recurring fault.
I have owned a Gilera Coguar for 2 years & it is a god send all it needs is a bit of TLC and propper maintainence, never had a problem with mine and it still looks and runs like a dream I would recomend this bike to experienced and new biker alike.
i had this bike for 2 year now i was hit off by a car it cost a bit to fix but id does 120mph now i had some problems but it not the bike faut i need to get it servied by a good mechinic not a cow boy
Love this bike. Bought a 3 yr old in the summer. Was previously owned by some bloke in Newcastle who left it out in the rain for a year hence dodgy chrome but can be replaced. Mechanically sound, no problems. VERY economical (130mpg commuting)very comfortable ride, good lock on front wheel, needs choke on cold mornings. All in all, for what it is (Italian, 125 and 4 stroke!) a good bike. I think you have to remember, bikes are like people, individual. Some are crappy starters and others will go on what ever the odds. Its the luck of the draw
I spent weeks looking for a decent looking 125 to learn on. I was initially looking at getting either the SR or TW Yamaha then I saw the Cougar on the forecourt. Absolute head-turner... L-plates rather detract but hoping to remove them soon. Fellow learners... half the problems that I read about on these threads could be solved by half an hour talking to a decent mechanic - tightening and lubing chain mainly.
I don't care what all these people say the Gilera Coguar is a brilliant bike! If you maintain it properly then you will not have all the problems that these people are complaining about, i've had mine for a year now and not had a problem since I got it. Very ecomnomical (110mpg+) and pretty fast for a 125 (75mph+), all in all a very good bike.
Great little bike. Mates all jealous, one mate has a suzuki marauder 125 that has been in for repair 12 times in 14 months... mine no problem. Agree with fiddly choke lever, but who cares? I'm out and about on mine, he's on the bus! Peg-scraping, big-smiling, happy-riding FUN!
I bought a 2 1/2 year old Gilera Coguar for my girlfriend a couple of months ago, as her first bike after she passed her CBT. Firstly, I have to say that the chrome had suffered because of TOTAL neglect by the previous female owner, and her apathetic father. Otherwise, after a day of fettling, we now have the bargain bike of the year. It rides very well indeed, economy is outstanding, the engine (Honda OHC CityFly) is unburstable. Brakes are powerful for a small bike; and all those whinges about chains failing after 8000 miles... GET SOME CHAIN LUBE, DIMWITS! In any case, a new chain and sprocket set = 30 quid. Peanuts. Most 125 learner bikes are ridden by people with no mechanical knowledge, and expect everything to run on fresh air and no maintenance. Pathetic. Give this stylish bike the praise it deserves. This bike is a real head-turner, and is brilliant to ride. Any Italian machine is going to be a little short on finish, (especially chrome plating) so keep it clean, wax polished and all will be OK! I've ridden it many times, and it will do 65mph with me weighing nearly 100kg. Superb. Get a life, get a Coguar while they are cheap, and ENJOY! PS By the way, I also ride a Triumph Trident for touring, and commute using a Honda CG125 (which is gutless, styleless, nervous and has crap brakes compared to the Coguar)
I'm sorry so many people have had bad experiences with this bike. I bought mine at the beginning of the year - a brand new one for £1695..okay so its an import but it not made of cheese or anything! I've had NO problems with it, and i can really recomend it as a first bike. Okay you are not going to win any races on it, but zooming around town and to and from work its perfect. i love mine and i'm sorry everyone else seems to regret buying their's. May be buying an import is the clue??
Here's a positive note. I just got a used one. A 2002 model with 6000Km and upgraded to 250cc. HUGE difference with the regular 125cc. After driving it as a 250cc, I would have never bought the 125cc. It is true about the electrical parts. They suck. Stop and cross lights have a life of their own. Otherwise, the bike runs great, very easy to handle, more than enough HP with the 250CC in my hilly Caracas and for a nice city ride. The perfect bike to commute to work and it really has the looks. Very reliable. Very basic mechanics and easy to maintain.
Absolute nightmare - DO NOT BUY A COUGAR - YOU WILL REGRET IT!! One year after purchasing mine, and it has spent more time in the garage than out - has almost got me killed due to faults - and has been fixed time & time again - with all faults reoccuring. Dangerous, substandard trash. Get a pushbike.
Owned for 1 year.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed March 2004.
Performance
Reliability
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Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
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Hey people, im picking up my Cougar at the weekend, can anyone tell me what performance upgrades you can get for it, i.e exhauts ect. as I want to get a better top end. Thanks
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Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed October 2003.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
Overall I can't complain about the Cougar. First bike, nice looks and manageable, but does need close attention. Unwilling to start in the cold, dodgy electrics. Parts take an age to arrive. But has stood up relatively unscathed to a crash and hasn't cost too much. I wouldn't buy one new though, there's better out there. Now for Direct Access i think...
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