YAMAHA YZF-R125 (2008-on) Review

Brilliant first motorcycle; looks looks like a real sports bike; and much admired by those not in the know. Read more

It's best features are the looks, style, brakes and sound of the bike with a custom exhaust, who would ever know a 125cc would spit flames! It's worst features are the plastics/fairings can brake very easily and there is no aftermarket mirrors and... Read more the stock ones are huge.

very comfortable ride, sporty looks but not too sporty in the way of riding position, which is perfect if youre like me and have legs equivalent to the size of the boom over the top of wembley stadium. Nubuck seat makes it easy to dry off after rain,... Read more as opposed to my last bike that soaked it up like a sponge.

the bike looks great and it has a smooth gearbox altho it has higher bars which make it less race focussed and it drinks engine oil like a dehydrated elephant, this is because of its small oil reservoir. But overall the bike is a great bit of kit for... Read more any 17 year old and with a good exhaust on it the bike it will growl..

A good bike ' very reliable and easy to ride ' I was so impressed it's the second one I'v had now :-) Read more

the sound of the bike is nice only if you buy a custom exhaust, whereas if you stay with the stock exhaust it doesn't sound the best. Read more

This has been my 1st bike, being 6'5" and 17stone, I should have picked a trails/adventurer bike, having said that I've wanted a sports looking bike for the past 17 years (that's right 40 year old born again biker) and this bike ROCKS. I have since... Read more passed my test and rode numerous bikes but i have to say she'll always be a favourite. Best features - looks, handling, sound (when kitted with a turbo kit exhaust she's LOUD! sounds better than an R6 and they're pretty much the same size.) Worst features - NO CLOCK!!!!

I have had this bike for about a month now, I bought it sixth hand and it has 20,000 miles on the clock but it has been looked after well and was in great shape when I got it. I bought mine for £2500 and by god it was worth it. I would say that this... Read more bike really is the premier 125 out there. It gets a solid 14.6 bhp which is right on the limit of 15 bhp. Its acceleration is really fantastic at the low end, I personally have reached 80 mph on it. The riding position is very comfortable and I have done a 100 mile journey on it with no problems. It also handles well in the rain I have ridden in all different types of rain on it. Finally its mpg is really quite impressive I was commuting it daily and it lasted 7 days before I needed to fill it up. Overall a great bike.

fantastic bike, have enjoyed riding it. i have taken mine up to 78mph Read more

Just spent a year with this bike while on my CBT. I'm in my mid 20s and finally free of parents and girlfriends stopping me getting a bike and the YZF R-125 has been fantastic as an induction to biking. It looks great and feels quality and non bikers... Read more get very confused about the L plates -- even a copper asked me why I have L plates on a 600). The engine is as good as you will find on a 4 stroke 125, I've had no problems in the 3,000 miles I've done on what is now a 12,500 mile machine. I rode it through winter and kept on top of the cleaning and the finish is still great -- no furry bolts. The ride and handling are good but the suspension is a little squishy sometimes when pushed hard. The frame is much better and more rigid than other 125s I've ridden, giving a much more planted and secure feeling. Overall the only gripes I have with this bike is the poor(ish)fuel economy (around 55mpg for me - not horrific but the CBF125 will do 135mpg) and the price. It's bloody expensive new and secondhand prices are still high but as long as you can afford the initial outlay it will give you the means to jump on a bigger bike without too much expense once you've passed your test.