The 2022 Yamaha YZ125 has just a couple of differences compared to the 2022 version, but they are pretty obvious. Firstly, the front number plate and side panels are blue plastic rather than white. In addition, the graphics on the plastic of the radiator have been changed, and the fork guard is made of black plastic instead of white. In general, despite the incessant jokes that Yamaha has been selling the same YZ125 model for 15 years, this is not entirely fair.
Yamaha YZ125 changes
Here is a list of changes to the Yamaha YZ125 since 2006:
2007: The fork stays have become thinner, and a thick Protaper Contour has been installed instead of a steel steering wheel. Where possible, steel bolts were replaced with aluminum ones. The perforated section of the muffler has been shortened by 75mm to improve response
2008: The YZ125 gets the front caliper, fork stays, chainguard and lower fork mount from the then YZ250F, as well as a new reed valve. The front master cylinder piston is 1.48mm smaller
2009: steel brake hose holder replaced with aluminum
2010: when there's no other update news, the makers say they've updated the graphics and made the decals on higher quality vinyl. This is exactly what happened to the YZ125 in 2010
2011: Yamaha made the perforated section of the muffler 75mm longer, but increased its diameter by 3mm to improve cross-country ability. The previous 410 main jet was replaced with a 430, and the 6BFY42-3 needle was replaced with a 6BFY43-3
2012/2013/2014: Games with colors and graphics, in particular, changing the color of the rear wing from blue to white and back
2015: Yamaha has updated the design of all the plastic, bringing it closer to the appearance of the four-stroke YZ-F, and in addition, the airbox has been updated
2016: gold chain, black rims, new graphics and higher quality vinyl
2017: the front brake disc has been increased from 250 to 270mm, and the brake pad material has been improved
2018/2019/2020: blue rims instead of black, and, of course, new bright graphics and higher quality vinyl
2021: blue front number plate and side panels, black fork guards and new graphics
And there will be a hole in the old woman
Yamaha YBR-125 review of identified jambs. Let's start with the tires: the standard “Sakura” on models up to the third version left much to be desired. During emergency braking, both wheels drag. The contact area with the road is very small. Therefore, the tires were changed to Michelin a week later. The ebrik holds the road much more confidently, both asphalt and dirt road. Simply great! By the way, since 2008, the motorcycle began to be equipped with five-spoke wheels and tubeless tubes.
It's better not to fall on the Yamaha YBR125. The first fall cost me three thousand rubles. The plastic shattered into pieces. Too fragile and unreliable, like the included tool. Screwdrivers break on first contact. It’s better to immediately assemble your own reliable kit.
The standard brake, in my opinion, deserves only a solid “3”. Emergency braking is possible, but only with experience, and only if you're lucky. Within a month, I replaced the flimsy original one with a reinforced brake hose.
The gearbox lug must be taken care of and tightened constantly. Otherwise it will get lost. From the second generation of ebricks, the problem was eliminated by changing the location of the paw. I had to tighten it every week until I had it redone over the winter. The box itself works flawlessly, and, in general, there are no particular complaints about the transmission. Only the chain constantly stretches and asks for replacement after 7,000 kilometers. In models since 2008, an oil seal chain appeared, its resource is indicated up to 18,000 km.
Autumn came, the Yamaha YBR125 carburetor began to act up. As the temperature dropped it was difficult to start. The closer it got to the cold, the more problems became. The Japanese solved this problem, and in the third generation, since 2008, the ebrik received a new heated Mikuni VM22 carb, front fork, brake discs, calipers, and pads.
Weak points, of course, were also found in the chassis. The front fork of the motorcycle breaks in places, causing the motorcycle to peck and dangle along the road. On the advice of experienced comrades, I filled the shock absorber with 15W oil and installed two additional valve springs from the VAZ engine. Now, from pit to pit, the shock absorber manages to decompress and adequately accepts the load even with the second number. I will give a table by year of production of 125s, it may be useful.
- 2004 – 2006 - first;
- 2007–2009 – second;
- 2009 – 2010 - third;
- 2010 – to date – fourth.
Yamaha YZ125. Well forgotten old
Of course, in an ideal world, the ideal manufacturer would monitor consumer requests and respond to them with new, shiny, chicly equipped and technologically advanced products every time someone on the Internet once again complained that a particular model has not changed in a long time. In the case of the Yamaha YZ125, the only thing that really needs improvement in the current version is the engine power.
Think about it: the Yamaha YZ125's aluminum frame is one of the best in its segment. It's as close to the feel of chrome-moly steel frames as you can get. Is it worth abandoning the proven design in favor of another rigid diagonal frame? Not really. Is it worth getting rid of the 2006 model fork and installing something newer? And there is nothing “newer” that works as well as the 2006 Kayaba SSS. Then maybe a narrower tank, solid side panels and more paint options? Why not, but there is still debate about the new 2022 Honda CRF450 - whether it looks better than the previous one, worse, or has become GasGas altogether.
And new technologies always mean a new price. In the end, it turns out that the Yamaha YZ125 is the proverbial “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”: the model is quite good in its current form, and one of the factors of its attractiveness is the simplicity of the device and the pleasant stability of the design and construction. Therefore, this model is valued quite highly in the secondary market, there are plenty of spare parts for it, and it copes with its tasks.
YAMAHA YZ125X OFF-ROAD 2-STROKE: Full Test
The 2020 Yamaha YZ125X seems like a risky move. This is a full-size 125cc off-road two-stroke engine. You have to go back to the 70s to find anything remotely similar from Japan. There was once a market for 200cc dirt bikes in the US, but that was a long time ago. However, it could be the answer in an industry that needs new entrants to replace aging ones. Yamaha seems to be rolling the dice as an investment in the future, but in reality there is no risk
big.
NEW THINKING, OLD TOOL
The 2020 YZ125X two-stroke is the off-road version of the YZ125 motocross bike. The YZ125X looks almost exactly like the 2020 YZ125, which in turn looks like the 2015 YZ125. This was when the bike received its final makeover, and even that was mostly superficial. The core tools and design have been around since 2005. All other Japanese manufacturers abandoned the 125 two-stroke during this period, but Yamaha saw nothing wrong with keeping the bike in line for the two-stroke faithful. This bike has been a solid seller ever since. In 2016, Yamaha actually expanded its two-stroke offerings with the YZ250X, which was the first off-road two-stroke since the 1998 WR250. Now 125 are receiving similar treatment. The exterior changes that turn the YZ125 into an X are the 18-inch rear wheel and stand. There are some significant other changes to the engine. The combustion chamber is larger (10.1 versus 8.4 cc). The power valve has been redesigned and its regulator has a stiffer spring, which allows the valve to open later and more slowly. Ignition timing has also changed, with a 5-degree increase at low and mid-rpm. The X still uses the same KYB suspension components, but the valving is lighter for off-road use.
The Yamaha YZ125X SUV looks almost identical to the motocross version.
The kickstand and 18-inch rear wheel are big giveaways. Unlike the 250X, the gear ratios are the same as on an MX bike. It remains a fairly close six-speed ratio, but final gearing is lower due to the 50-tooth rear sprocket. Another thing that is similar to the MX motorcycle is the fuel tank capacity of 2.1 gallons. Yamaha could have gone a little crazy with a bigger tank, battle rails, and maybe even a headlight, but that would probably have been a setback for the whole project. The price had to be low. The 125X retails for $6,699, which is $100 more than the MX bike. Recently, European manufacturers have returned to the 125 two-stroke category with their off-road bikes. There's the $7,999 Beta 125RR, the $8,399 TM EN8,695, the $8,399 Sherco SE150 Racing, the $8,899 Husqvarna TE8799, and the $8,399 KTM EXC. The last three have electric start. The Yamaha's price is a big part of the appeal.
Yamaha engineers made changes to the combustion chamber and power valve to make the X more capable off-road.
Scheme and cry
Riding any 125 on the trail is an adrenaline exploration.
You have to be excited and aggressive to keep it on the bubble. With X you can release the clutch for flat sections of the trail. It has a lower valuation than Yamaha stock and the hit isn't as strong. If the track turns and goes uphill, you need to be prepared for a downshift or some unusual clutch action. After that, you should be prepared to upshift quickly because the engine doesn't rev nearly as high as a modern four-stroke. The 125X is not for sleepy trail rides. This is for driving fast and playing racing. It suits almost everyone who rides it because the bike works like magic. It makes you want
to ride hard. In our scale, the bike weighs 204 pounds without fuel. It's only a few pounds heavier than the motocross version. Riding a bike that lights up makes you a superhero.
We got to ride the bike in the woods of South Carolina to test its true off-road capabilities, and then we rode it in Southern California.
It was fun everywhere. You can get away with almost anything. We spent a lot of time riding the 2020 KTM 150XC-W, which is a couple pounds heavier, but riding this bike is a completely different experience. In short, this is a more powerful and capable motorcycle. It has more torque, more average, and revs higher. Overall, the Yamaha has the upper hand because it feels much smaller and lighter. Additionally, the Yamaha's suspension is outstanding. It's well balanced and the overall action is super chic. This is
bland though. The bike is tuned for young riders. This would be a great bike for kids moving up from the mini motocross ranks. It's also a great car for older riders who don't want to carry around 450 on the track. Most 40+ off-road riders don't know this, but they'd be a lot happier on a 125. This particular 125 has the advantage of running very cleanly at low speeds. It still doesn't make much power, but you can't kill the motor by grabbing too much gas on the flat. It takes the stress out of your trip.
CROSSOVER FACTOR
The YZ125X has so many similarities to the motocross version that most riders would have a hard time telling the difference without a side-by-side comparison. You can take the X straight to the motocross track and race without sacrificing it. We know because we did it. Pete Murray raced his bike around the Glen Helen REM track. This particular track is so tight and technical that soft suspension doesn't make much of a difference, even for a 170-pound rider. At the Glen Helen National Track it's a different story.
Our test bike came with handcuffs, but the stocker did not.
We'll forgive that given the $6,699 price tag. The motorcycle is too soft, both in terms of suspension and power. In any racing situation, the 125X will likely find itself outclassed by the European 144cc two-strokes, and it even gives up a slight advantage to the YZ125 MX bike. Even though its handling is phenomenal, it would take a lot of work to make up for the 10 horsepower or so by simply diving into corners harder and braking later. The real thing about the YZ125X is that it's a fun ride. This is where it beats almost everything on wheels.
Dunlop AT81 tires are in stock. The rear is 18 inches.
We don't know if Yamaha's investment will pay off in the future. We know the off-road world as a whole just got a little better with the inclusion of the YZ125X. This is a bike that is so good that it makes dirt biking in general more appealing.
2020 YAMAHA YZ125X Engine Type: Kick-start, two-stroke, valve body Displacement: 124cc Bore and Stroke: 54.0mm x 54.5mm Fuel Delivery: 36mm Mikuni Carburetor Fuel Capacity: 2.1 gal. Transmission: 6-speed Light Coil: No Spark Arrestor: No EPA Legal: No Weight, without fuel: 204 lbs. Wheelbase: 57.3" Ground Clearance: 13.8" Seat Height: 37.6" Front Wheel: Dunlop AT81F 90/90-21 Rear Wheel: Dunlop AT81 110/90-18 Fork: KYB, adj. rebound, comp, 11.8” Shock KYB travel, piggyback, adj. preload, comp, rebound, 12.4” Country of Origin: Japan Price: $6699 Importer: yamahamotorsports.com
THUMBS UP
- Excellent overall handling
- Light weight
- Inexpensive
- Reliable
- Funny!
LETTERS DOWN
- Gives power up to 150
- No electric start
- No pens
- No spark arrestor
Yamaha YZ125 on the dyno
Let's compare the Yamaha YZ125 with the KTM 125SX. There aren't many two-stroke 125s on the market, and given that the Husqvarna TC125 and KTM 125SX are the same motorcycle, there are even fewer of them.
So, the peak power value from the wheel. Yamaha YZ125 2021 produced 33.53 hp. Not impressive considering the 2022 KTM 125SX produced 37.5bhp. Fortunately, on the track it is not so far behind the KTM, especially since both motorcycles need to be revved up well to make maximum power. From idle to 7800 rpm, the Yamaha produces more power, and from 7900 to peak at 11500, the KTM 125SX outperforms the YZ125 by 2 and a half horses. Bottom line, the YZ125 is excellent up to 8000, and the KTM is excellent beyond that point. The Yamaha YZ125 spins up quickly, but at a certain point it runs out of steam, while the KTM is just waking up at that moment.
Yamaha YZ125
Yamaha YZ125. Porting
Boring the cylinder windows will give more power, but it is better, in addition to boring, to also increase the compression ratio. In this case, you will have to ride on a racing mixture, which costs a lot of money, but the Yamaha YZ125 will ride much better.
There is one more nuance: simply sawing the window wider will not be enough; you will have to select the material for the cylinder base to make the windows lower, and then saw the head to match the piston stroke. If you don't lower the cylinder and don't saw the head, then don't waste time and money sawing windows.
Yamaha YZ125 exhaust
A regular Yamaha YZ125 exhaust from Pro Circuit, FMF, HGS or Scalvini will add about 2hp. But not all emissions are created equal. For example, take two Pro Circuit exhaust tracts. The first, standard, is the most popular option for the Yamaha YZ125. It's much better than stock, especially at high rpms. On a big, fast track, all riders prefer the stock Pro Circuit over the stock exhaust.
And the second Pro Circuit is a special version for the YZ125RV, named after Ryan Villopoto, who won races at the AMA National 125 All-Star with this exhaust. The YZ125R's exhaust is much stronger in the low end and midrange. The bike with it is not as smooth and torquey as with the basic Pro Circuit, but it goes great in clayey mud, on narrow trails, explodes sharply and shoots out of corners beautifully.
Reliability of Yamaha YZ125
The most unreliable components of the Yamaha YZ125 are the steering column bearings, front wheel wheel bearings, power valve and spark plug.
The steering column bearings are not sealed enough, so it is very advisable to fill them thoroughly with thick water-repellent grease and repeat this every six months. Otherwise, over time, the steering column axis will begin to move, and this will not go away on its own. Yes, and you just need to fill the lubricant - from a grease nipple, or if you find thick lubricant in the form of a spray. And make sure that the jet of a high-pressure washer does not enter the area of the steering column, not only from above, but also from below, reflecting from the wing.
The front wheel bearings are another area where you don't want to spray the washer. Changing them is easy enough, but you definitely don't want to do it somewhere at a race. Therefore, do this periodically during regular maintenance; bearings are a cheap item. Try to get by when removing and installing them without a hammer, just using heat - but don’t overheat, especially when installing new ones. And don’t expect that they have enough lubricant from the factory: the most hardcore mechanics even wash the bearings of factory lubricant and fill them with their own, and to the maximum.
A power valve is a fairly reliable unit , but in the exhaust tract of a two-stroke vehicle, even an extremely reliable mechanical element will clog over time. When changing the piston, remove the power valve and clean it.
The spark plug in modern four-stroke engines is not as critical as in two-stroke engines. Two-stroke engines are extremely sensitive to a high-quality spark, cleanliness of the spark plug and correct clearance. For maximum reliable operation, use iridium spark plugs and change them as often as possible.
Yamaha YZ125
How much does he eat? how long does it take?
The first gear holds up to 30 km/h without loss, the gear pitch is small: from 10 to 20 km. To achieve maximum speed you have to work hard. An experienced biker is annoyed by short gears. For the Yamaha Ybr 125, the maximum speed on a straight line is 110, you can’t squeeze more out of it. Although for him it’s fast. Fairy tales about acceleration to 120 km/h are just fairy tales. But the 125 turns into corners no worse than a “sport” and holds the road perfectly.
I’ll say right away that during the season, the equipment was not noticed with excessive oil consumption. In terms of average fuel consumption on the Yamaha YBR125, the reviews are almost the same, with a small dramatic difference. Outside the city I often lack power; I squeeze everything I can out of the engine. But more than 4 liters per hundred, at speeds above 8000, with such aggressive driving, the consumption did not rise. My usual consumption is 2.8 liters per 100 km. I am pleased with the omnivorous nature of the engine - my experiments with fuel from 92 to 98 over the course of the season had no effect on the engine’s performance. The mileage has already exceeded 30 thousand, but the consumption remains the same.
Jets
Over the course of 13 years, Yamaha has achieved the perfect mixture—as long as the engine is stock. It works cleanly and starts with one click. For a ported engine, with a higher compression ratio, with a tuned exhaust or with a crazy rider, there are racing blends. You can save a little money by mixing them half and half with gasoline. The motorcycle comes with two main jets - a richer one (440th) and a poorer one (420th). The current 6BFY43-3 needle produces a mixture half a notch richer than the old 6BFY42-3 used before 2011. Don’t be afraid to install a 440 jet and a slightly leaner needle. Experiment - that’s what replacement carburetor elements are for.
Advantages and disadvantages of Yamaha YBR 125
What allows a Chinese-assembled dairy road builder to remain stable on the Russian market for more than a decade?
The Yamaha YBR125 motorcycle has been produced from 2004 to the present, and is deservedly positioned as an inexpensive motorcycle for study, or as a light road bike for beginners. Let's take a look at the insides of the ebrik:
- Engine capacity – 125 cc;
- Number of cylinders – 1;
- Four-stroke engine;
- The gearbox is 5-speed;
- Drive system – chain;
- Length – 1980;
- The front tire size of Yamaha YBR125 motorcycles is 2.75-18 42P, and the rear tire size is 90/90-18 M/C 57P;
- It weighs 122-125 kg. depends on the model;
- Minimal body kit.
Everything is kept as compact as possible for its class: electronic and kick starter, air-cooled engine with a capacity of 10 horsepower. It will not look for surprises in the design and chassis - a diagonal frame made of steel, a telescopic front fork, with double shock absorber. The brakes are classic: front disc, hydraulic, and rear drum.
As a result of 4 generations, the result was an ideal device: reliable in operation, unpretentious in maintenance and repair, economical in consumption, maneuverable and easy to operate. Add the cost, which corresponds to the quality, and you will understand why demand does not fall, and the Yamaha YBR 125 technical specifications that we cited above remain on the assembly line for so many years. The Japanese concern's focus on simplicity has paid off.
It took me three days to write a review about the Yamaha YBR125 model, after three seasons.
Yamaha YZ125 Competitors
As I already mentioned, the Yamaha YZ125 doesn’t have much competition. The KTM 125SX is about $700 more expensive, but has stronger brakes, better steering, a hydraulic clutch, a better gearbox, more power, and a chrome-moly frame. For $700, a YZ125 cannot be brought to KTM condition - the clutch alone will cost almost twice as much, not to mention tuning to remove a comparable number of horses. But the advantage of the Yamaha YZ125 2021 is that for the money it is very balanced and does not have any frankly unsuccessful components that need urgent replacement after purchase. If you can't wait to invest some money in it, invest it in the engine.
