Yamaha YZ125 specifications
Yamaha · Motocross
Total Motorcycle lists the equipment as adjustable aluminum handlebars, a water-resistant PVC bar pad, wide foot pegs, a gripper seat, an adjustable clutch lever with a works-style cable adjuster and a lightweight rear sprocket, and says the lightweight, finely tuned chassis means nimble handling, more control and less rider fatigue.
The same source calls the liquid-cooled 125cc two-stroke engine impressive power and supreme usability. The YZ125X page describes the cross-country version, with a cross-country-focused suspension setup, optimized YPVS settings, lightweight Excel wheels with Dunlop Geomax MX33 tires, a sealed O-ring chain, a standard side stand and a fuel tank petcock with reserve.
Yamaha YZ125
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2027 |
| Engine | 125cc liquid-cooled 2-stroke; reed-valve inducted |
| Displacement | 125cc |
| Bore x stroke | 54.0x54.5 mm |
| Compression ratio | 8.2~10.1:1 |
| Transmission | Constant-mesh 6-speed; multiplate wet clutch |
| Front tire | 80/100-21 Bridgestone® Battlecross X20F |
| Rear tire | 100/90-19 Bridgestone® Battlecross X20 |
| Seat height | 38.6 in |
| Wet weight | 212 lb |
| Wheelbase | 56.9 in |
| Rake (caster angle) | 26° |
| Trail | 4.3 in |
| Ground clearance | 14.4 in |
| Length x width x height | 84.1x32.5x51.0 in |
| Starting MSRP | $7,199 |
| Class | Motocross |
| Fuel system | Hitachi Astemo® Keihin PWK38S carburetor |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front suspension | KYB® Speed-Sensitive System inverted fork; fully adjustable |
| Front suspension travel | 11.8 in |
| Rear suspension | KYB® single shock; fully adjustable |
| Rear suspension travel | 12.4 in |
| Front brake | Hydraulic disc, 270mm |
| Rear brake | Hydraulic disc, 240mm |
| Fuel capacity | 1.8 gal |
| Warranty | 30 Day (Limited Factory Warranty) |
| Destination charge | $675 |
What guides say
The YZ125 has a 54.0 x 54.5 mm bore and stroke and compression of 8.2 to 10.1:1 with the power valve, KYB inverted fork and shock, both fully adjustable, a 56.9 in wheelbase and 14.4 in of ground clearance. It rolls on Bridgestone Battlecross X20 tires, 80/100-21 and 100/90-19, and weighs 212 lb wet with a 38.6 in seat. The 212 lb weight is 15 lb less than the YZ250's 227 lb.
YZ125 against KTM and the four-strokes
At $7,199 the YZ125 costs $1,250 less than KTM's 125 SX at $8,449 and about $1,300 less than the 250cc four-strokes from Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki at $8,499 to $8,599. It has the smallest engine and lowest price.
Choose a YZ125 for the intended motocross class and rider requirements, not an assumed rider age or body weight. Its six-speed gearbox and two-stroke power delivery differ from the YZ250’s specification.
Riding a 125 two-stroke
A 125cc two-stroke makes its power in a narrow band. So the rider keeps the revs up and uses the six-speed gearbox, which is one gear more than the YZ250's five. The 212 lb wet weight is the lowest in Yamaha's motocross line apart from the small-bore bikes.
The 38.6 in seat is the tallest of the three larger YZs. The Bridgestone Battlecross X20 tires are a different make from the Dunlops on the larger bikes. It is a race-focused bike for a lighter rider or a beginner on a budget.
The $7,199 price is the lowest of the full-size YZ line.
YZ125 or YZ125X
Total Motorcycle describes the YZ125X as the cross-country version, with its own suspension setup, optimized power-valve settings, Excel wheels, a sealed O-ring chain, a side stand and a fuel petcock with reserve. Those are features for long off-road events, where a rider stops for fuel and needs the bike to stand. The motocross YZ125 leaves them off to save weight and cost.
If your riding is short motos on a track, take the YZ125, and if it is timed cross-country events, the X is the better fit.
YZ125 against the 125 SX and CRF250R
KTM's 125 SX is the other 125cc two-stroke, and Honda's CRF250R is a common alternative for a rider who wants four-stroke ease.
Yamaha YZ125 — specification referenceThe Yamaha YZ125 is Yamaha's 125cc liquid-cooled two-stroke motocross bike, with a constant-mesh six-speed gearbox, the Yamaha Power Valve System and a digital CDI. It has 11.8 in of front and 12.4 in of rear travel and a 1.8 gal tank, and Yamaha lists it at $7,199 plus $675 destination.
At $7,199 the YZ125 costs $1,250 less than KTM's 125 SX at $8,449 and about $1,300 less than the 250cc four-strokes from Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki at $8,499 to $8,599. It has the smallest engine and lowest price. A 125 two-stroke is usually a young rider's or a lightweight rider's bike, because it needs to be kept in the powerband to make speed.
- Model-year range
- 2023–2026
- Compared editions
- 4
- Specification entries
- 21
- Entries that differ
- 1
Six, in a constant-mesh gearbox with a multiplate wet clutch. The YZ250 has five gears. Yamaha lists a 212 lb wet weight for the YZ125.
Other models in this reference: Yamaha XT250, Yamaha YZ450F.