One fault with many Honda OHC engines of that era (generally denoted CB), was that they had poor cam-chains/tensioners and a tendency to wear the camshaft bearings if oil changes were skipped.

To make the bike more reliable with minimal servicing, the CG125 uses overhead valves (OHV) with pushrods, a washable foam air filter, and fully enclosed chain.

Illegal copies of the CG125 had been exported globally due to the high demand in the developing countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East, at a starting price of as little as $700 US dollars, while their reputation is mixed and generally not as good as the original.

Some of these clones came with updates and options that were never available in the original models, including front disc brakes, remote start and engines with a larger displacement of 175cc, 200cc or 250cc, along with water-cooled injection.

The classic CG125 design also spun off a variety of variants, including autorickshaws, sand bikes, and even half-tracked tricycles similar to the WWII German Sd.Kfz.

Both versions are modernized with redesigned fuel-injected engines with electric start and 5-speed transmission, fulfilling the latest emission standard, China-IV, while maintaining the classic appearance from the 1980s.

The Wuyang version had a redesigned engine with a compression ratio of 9.2:1, producing 10 hp (7 kW; 10 PS) at 8,000rpm and 9.5 N⋅m (7.0 lb⋅ft) of torque at 6,500rpm, with a fuel consumption of 1.8 liters per 100km and a maximum speed of 93 km/h (58 mph).

In the UK, the CG125 was popular with learners due to licensing laws which allow a rider to operate a 125 cc motorbike with L plates by completing a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course.