Yamaha's YZ125 must surely be regarded as one of its most successful models ever.
It's won five AMA National Motocross Championships in the USA and dozens of state and regional titles all over the world. It debuted in 1974 at a time when two-strokes were still well and truly the dominant force in motocross. The fact that it was a 125cc machine didn't alter anything and it quickly established itself as one of the front runners in a very competitive world.
The concept reached its peak with the models built between the mid-90s and 2000 and many an ex-racer will get misty-eyed about these models. Early bikes (up to 1980) had an air-cooled engine while later models used liquid cooling to boost power and durability.
Yamaha YZ125 On The Road
The YZ125 is still being made, meaning that there's now roughly 35 models to choose from (Yamaha has updated the bike every year). With that in mind, an early air-cooled bike will be a very different animal to a later liquid-cooled version which will have much better brakes and suspension and will be a fair bit faster. But even the original YZ125 should, if it's in decent condition, still have plenty of sizzle and while it won't be competitive in a race, it will still scare the pants off anybody who gets lairy with it. Those 1996-2000 models we were talking about just seemed to hit a sweet spot in terms of their balance and the way the engine made its power. The broad power-band was the real key to it, not something that other small-capacity dirt bikes manage to pull off.
What to look for when buying a used Yamaha YZ125
An old bike is likely to have spent at least a few years in a shed, hiding behind piles of firewood and old tyres, gradually gathering spiders. The best you can hope for is that somebody threw an old sheet over it before switching off the light. In the case of such a bike, it'll virtually need a complete rebuild to get it back to proper working order.
Newer bikes are less likely to have been shelved for long periods, but you still need to watch for crash damage, trashed suspension and worn out chains, sprockets and tyres. Check the steering head bearings for play because a lot of YZ125s have had big air under them at some stage.
Yamaha YZ125 Standard Specifications
Make: Yamaha
Model: YZ125
Years: 1974 - current
Engine size: 125cc
Fuel system: carburettor
Drive: chain
Standard transmission: 5/-speed
Yamaha YZ125 Final Verdict
+ Seminal crosser. Big street cred
+ Reliable and tough
+ Mid-90s models were real sweeties
- What's its history?
- Crash damage
Browse More Recent Ads
Browse through some of the recent adsBrowse By Category
Browse through some of the most popular categoriesAutomotive648688
- Cars385640
- Motorbikes256220
- Trailers4675
- Go Karts and Buggies1502
- Trucks and Buses651
House and Garden84359
- Furniture and Décor23714
- Tools and Equipment10119
- Homewares7596
- Outdoors5206
- Building and Renovations3074
- Food, Drinks and Groceries1499
- Horticulture450
- Medical and Mobility382
Real Estate74292
- Residential61470
- Residential For Sale42518
- Residential For Rent18935
- Commercial12815
- Commercial For Lease11302
- Commercial For Sale1510
- Houses For Removal7
Books and Publications37334
- Fiction Books18567
- Education and Reference Books11937
- Non-Fiction Books6161
- Comics and Cartoons393
- Gift Books and Accessories66
- Childrens Books45
- Magazines and Newspapers0
Sports and Leisure28731
- Clothing and Shoes16503
- Camping and Adventure10463
- Bicycles415
- Gym368
- Football305
- Cricket203
- Other Sports Equipment145
- Water Sports140
- Travel and Holidays48
- Luggage46
- Golf21
- Skating and Skateboards18
- Winter Sports16
- Tennis and Racquet Sports14
- Basketball10
- Table Sports8
- Martial Arts and Boxing6
Consumer Electronics25174
- Mobile Phones7699
- Gaming4617
- Audio Visual3834
- Accessories1301
- Wearables, Tech and Gadgets770
- Tablets376
- Cameras and Accessories318
- Electronic Components231
- Telephones and VOIP110
Caravans Mobile Homes and Motor Homes24580
- Caravan Parts and Accessories14108
- Caravans For Sale9585
- Motor Homes For Sale678
- Caravan Services and Repairs144
- Caravan Rental and Hire54
- Relocatables9
- Mobile Homes For Sale2
Fashion and Beauty22571
- Beauty Supplies and Equipment12905
- Baby4085
- Women1817
- Jewellery831
- Men675
- Health Care593
- Watches547
- Children68
- Girls52
- Boys29
- Face and Body Care15
General Merchandise14865
- General Merchandise14865
Boats and Marine14713
- Marine Parts and Accessories12529
- Power Boats2002
- Boat Services and Repairs64
- Jet Skis and PWC63
- Houseboats32
- Sailing Boats23
Industry10834
- Workshop Equipment8004
- Earthmoving Machinery732
- Industrial Machinery722
- Farming and Rural366
- Forklifts266
- Tractors225
- Generators and Compressors83
- Irrigation and Water Storage35
- Sheds and Buildings24
Appliances and Electrical4323
- Other Appliances1231
- Kitchen Appliances1213
- Refrigerators and Freezers600
- Cooling and Heating Appliances445
- Washing Machines and Dryers239
- Cooking Appliances176
- Cables, Parts and Accessories154
- Vacuums and Polishers66
- Dishwashers46
Business and Office3097
- Food and Catering Equipment2191
- Office Furniture780
- Shop Equipment58
- Printing and Signs30
- Photocopiers and Faxes28
- Storage and Shipping10
- Vending Machines0
Businesses For Sale1490
Family and Baby1363
- Baby and Childrens Needs672
- Maternity266
- Prams and Strollers207
- Baby Cots and Bassinets132
- Student Needs86
Services and Contractor1280
- Storage and Shipping818
- Storage818
- Handyman56
- Painting46
- Plastering40
- Carpentry36
- Cabinet Making35
- Electricians27
- Renovating26
- TV Services25
- Appliance Repairs22
- Tree Lopping21
- Tow Truck20
- Plumbing12
- Building9
- Shop Fitting7
- Roofing7
- Home Cleaning7
- Construction and Property Servic6
- Concreting6
- Other5
- Restumping4
- Computer Setup and Repairs4
- Pet Care3
- Landscaping3
- Fencing and Gates3
- Carpet Cleaning3
- Air Conditioning3
- Tiling2
- Turf and Synthetic Grass2
- Security Services2
- Glazier2
- Chauffer2
- Windows1
- Waterproofing1
- Stone Masonry1
- Swimming Pools and Spas1
- High Pressure Cleaning1
- Gardening and Lawn Mowing1
- Pergolas1
- Lighting1
- Hire1
- Gutter Cleaning1
- Flooring1
- Commercial Cleaning1
- Car Detailing1
- Bathroom1
- Advertising0
- Upholstery0
- Vehicle Rental0
- Window Tinting0
- Window Cleaning0
- Transport0
- Wrought Iron0
- Windmills0
- Wireless Communications0
- Windscreens0
- Test and Tag0
- Website Design0
- Telephone Systems0
- Water Drilling0
- Water Carting0
- Telecommunications Cabling and0
- Sustainability0
- Waste Services0
- Wallpaper0
- Steel Fixing0
- Steel Fabrication0
- Ventilation0
- Stainless Steel0
- Solicitor0
- Solar0
- Software for Service Businesse0
- Software0
- Shade Sails and Shade Structures0
- Signwriters0
- Traffic Management0
- Skylights0
- Sheds0
- Staircase Building0
- Promotional Material0
- Pollination Services0
- Scrap Metal0
- Mobility Equipment0
- Scaffolding0
- Services Locating Underground0
- Rural Services0
- Rubbish and Bins0
- Funeral Related Services0
- Reticulation0
- Rendering0
- Removalists0
- Moldings Concrete and Architectural0
- Refrigeration0
- Hay Bailing and Hay Contracting0
- Refinishing0
- Recruitment0
- Real Estate0
- Purchasing0
- Public Relations0
- Printing0
- Financial Services0
- Farm Services and Farm Contracti0
- Facility Maintenance0
- Patios0
- Photographers0
- Pest Control0
- Personal Trainer0
- Party Hire0
- Panel Beating0
- Outdoor Furniture0
- Mould and Mildew0
- Mechanics0
- Marquees0
- Marketing0
- Market Umbrella0
- Locksmith0
- Events and Function0
- Leadlight0
- Ducted Vacuum Systems0
- Kitchens0
- Land Surveying0
- Irrigation0
- Insurance0
- Home Care0
- Interior Design0
- Insulation0
- Hanging Services0
- Hairdresser0
- Heating0
- Drafting and Design0
- Double Glazed Windows0
- HSEQ Management0
- Gutter Guard0
- Graphic Design0
- Granny Flats0
- Glass Bricks0
- Garage Doors0
- Formwork0
- Florist0
- Finance0
- Floor Sealing0
- Floor Sanding0
- Fire Services0
- Fibreglassing0
- Canvas and Vinyl Specialists0
- Doors0
- Excavation0
- Driving Lessons0
- Deck0
- Boating and Marine Services0
- Clothing0
- Dressmaking0
- Demolition0
- Curtains and Blinds0
- Crowd Control0
- Clothes Lines0
- Catering0
- Cladding0
- Bicycle Sales and Servicing0
- Carpet Laying0
- Caravan Repairs0
- Civil Construction0
- Business Consulting0
- Business Coaching0
- Bricklayers0
- Brick Cleaning0
- Bookkeeping0
- Battery Supplier0
- Asbestos0
- Architects0
- Apprentice0
- App Development0
- Antennas0
- Assessing and Reporting0
- Accounting0
Musical Instruments1191
- Sheet Music404
- Pianos263
- Guitars130
- Keyboards93
- Organs60
- Band Equipment48
- Guitar Equipment47
- DJ Equipment44
- Wind Instruments29
- Drum Equipment16
- String Instruments10
- Drums and Percussion9
- Brass Instruments1
Notices and Announcements367
- Bargains230
- Miscellaneous91
- Notices and Announcements29
- Wanted9
- Auctions and Clearances5
- Garage Sales2
- Tenders and Quotes1
- Feebies0
- Lost and Found0
- Swapping0
Jobs and Employment8
- Construction Jobs2
- Other Jobs2
- Administration Jobs1
- Government and Defence Jobs1
- Science and Technology Jobs1
- Trades and Services1
- Accounting Jobs0
- Advertising and Entertainment Jobs0
- Banking and Financial Jobs0
- Call Centre and Customer Service Jobs0
- Consulting Jobs0
- Education Jobs0
- Engineering Job0
- Healthcare Jobs0
- Hospitality Jobs0
- HR Jobs0
- Insurance Jobs0
- IT Jobs0
- Legal Jobs0
- Manufacturing Jobs0
- Mining Oil and Gas Jobs0
- Primary Industry Jobs0
- Real Estate Jobs0
- Retail Jobs0
- Sales and Marketing Jobs0