The Ice Bear PBZ125-2 Champion: Who Should Buy It, and Who Shouldn't
- on October 15, 2026
- Categories: Articles
Buy the Ice Bear PBZ125-2 Champion if you remember the original Trail 70 and want that shape back without the hunt for a used one. Skip it if you want a clutch lever, a dirt trail or a bike that arrives finished. The reviews split along exactly that line.
The short verdict
The Champion is a 125cc tribute to the old Honda CT70, listed at $1,249 against a $1,499 compare-at. It is not a Honda; the listing says so in plain words. What it is: a small, upright, forgiving bike with a semi-automatic four-speed, electric start with a kick-start backup, a carbureted engine and a 28.7-inch seat. Thirty buyers have rated it, 4.7 on average.
My position: for a nostalgic adult or a first-time rider who wants something gentle and good-looking, this is the right bike at this price on our shelf. For anyone who wants to learn a clutch, the Fuerza costs $150 more and is the better machine. For anyone who wants real dirt, neither.
What “semi-automatic” actually means
You still change gears with your left foot, one tap up, one tap down. You never pull a lever, so you cannot stall it at a stop sign. That is the whole appeal for a new rider, and it is also the whole complaint. One 4-star buyer put it plainly: “I’m not a real fan of the semi automatic, I like the control a clutch gives me.” If that sentence sounds like you, read the Fuerza section below before you add to cart.
Buy it if…
- •You want the look. A September buyer titled the review “I feel like a kid again.” Another wrote, “I can hardly believe for $1249 you can get a brand new electric start ct70 clone.” Neither is reviewing a spec sheet.
- •You are fine with a wrench. The same September review calls the assembly easy and adds: “if you’re unsure what to do watch a few YouTube videos!” That is the right attitude.
- •You ride a property or a quiet neighborhood road. A May buyer did exactly that, found the gas tank “totally clean and shiny inside,” and reported “It started up easy.”
Don’t buy it if…
You want to learn a clutch
The Ice Bear Fuerza is the same 125cc displacement with a true four-speed manual, dual disc brakes and a naked street-bike stance, at $1,399. Its rating is 5.0, but from only two reviews, which tells you almost nothing yet. The listing also gives it a lower rider limit than the Champion, so check that against your own weight before choosing it.
You want it finished on day one
It ships crated. The listing lists what you install: handlebars, mirrors, headlight, front wheel, front fender, shift lever and battery. A paid option on the listing has it delivered fully assembled. A 4-star buyer who assembled it wrote that the bike “arrived missing hardware like the axle nut and rear shock nuts and washers,” and that the buyer spent their own money on hardware to finish the job. That is the same buyer who prefers a manual. Here is what a seller knows that a photo will not tell you: the factory changes mirrors, tires and rims between production runs, and the listing itself warns that cosmetic changes are not grounds for a return. Your bike may not match the picture exactly. Colors are picked in order, first choice then second, so choose both.
You dislike fiddling with a carburetor
A 4-star review says it in one line: “Everything good except the carb need adjusted often.” Carbureted engines drift with altitude and temperature, and a small one on a small bike notices. If you would rather never touch an idle screw, the Champion will test your patience.
You are a heavier rider chasing speed
The same assembly reviewer calls the power “adequate” for a heavy adult and notes that “Someone lighter would get more speed out of it.” We do not publish a top speed for it because we do not have a verified one. Treat it as a neighborhood bike.
You want dirt
Disc up front, drum in back, small street-biased tires. This is a trail bike by heritage, not by build. For actual trails, start at the dirt bike collection. If you plan to put it on public roads, read your own state’s registration rules first; that is not something we can settle for you.
Same money, other bikes
| Bike | Price | Engine | Gears | Seat height | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Bear PBZ125-2 Champion | $1,249 | 125cc | Semi-automatic 4-speed | 28.7 in | 4.7 (30 reviews) |
| Ice Bear Fuerza PMZ125-1 | $1,399 | 125cc | 4-speed manual, clutch | 28.3 in | 5.0 (2 reviews) |
| TrailMaster Hurricane 200 Pro | $1,299 | 196cc | Automatic, twist-and-go | 28.4 in | No reviews yet |
The Hurricane 200 Pro has the bigger engine and no gears at all. It beats the Champion on displacement and loses on everything that made you click on a Trail 70 in the first place. It is a yard machine with a headlight. We list no reviews for it yet, so we will not tell you how it holds up.
The Fuerza is the more capable motorcycle. The Champion is the one people stop to smile at. Choose by what you want to learn, not by what looks better in the driveway.
Questions before you order, such as which of the colors you want or whether you would rather have it assembled? Call 877-667-6289. Browse the rest of the Ice Bear Champion and street motorcycle collection.
