Welcome to sportsbikes. And what a convincing and warm welcome the YZF-R125 is.
It looks the business, it certainly handles the business and, while it mightn't exactly go the business, ifs enormously economical and priced right, too.
It's powered by a four-stroke, four-valve singlecylinder 125cc SOHC short-stroke engine, led by fuel injection. The 11 kW of power demands precision timing of both braking and acceleration in a bid to retain that all-too-important momentum.
The single-cylinder will pull-well, it will accelerate -all the way to the 10,000rpm redline and with everything tucked in and with your mouth held right, ifs good for 131km/h.
And to get there, you need to rev it through to redline in all of the six gears, put your chin on the tank, tuck in and be patient.
I reckon ifs the best-looking four-stroke 125cc sportsbike, bearing more than just a hint of resemblance to Rossi's YZF-M1. Its styling is aggressive and believable. It boasts a good-looking Rb-style underslung exhaust, a sharp angular GP-esque design and sporty split five-spoke wheels.
Despite its looks, this thing ain't built for speed. It's built to appeal to the starting-out sportsbike lover and it executes that perfectly.
But it"s only the all-out performance that has you wanting more. Handling, braking and ergonomics are all up to big-bike standard.
The R125's brakes are fantastic - as you'd expect them to be on a Brembo-clad 138kg (wet) machine. And the Delta box chassis has you completely trusting the ride through the twisty bits.
On the move, and ignoring the sound of the lil' single, you'd swear you were riding something far more substantial than a diminutive 125cc bike.
This is because it has been constructed with a lullsized chassis and, as a result, full-sized ergonomics. It feels much more than the toy you expect it feel like before you throw a leg and the 818mm seat height backs this up, too.
The YZF-R125 definitely feels bigger than its 125cc competition, and it's really only the 100-section front and the 130-section rear tyres that give up its tiny capacity at first glance.
The nameless 33mm conventional forks and the single rear shock working via the aluminium swingarm are more than capable in providing a solid and confidence-inspiring ride in any conditions.
Yamaha offers a range of genuine accessories, too, including a double bubble screen, a carbon-look yoke protector, a rear seat cowl, crash knobs and a tank pad.
The YZF-R125's slimline design makes it a capable commuter, with the fairing-mounted long-stem mirrors the only thing stopping you from carving through any congested queue.
Its looks make the YZF-R125 appealing to the boy racer and its $6999 price tag makes it appealing to, well, just about everybody.
ENGINE
Oil capacity 1.15L
Configuration Single-cylinder
Cylinder head SOHC, four valve
Bore 52mm
Stroke 58.6mm
Capacity 125cc
Compression ratio 11.2:1
Ignition Transistorised
Cooling Liquid
Fueling EFI, 28mm Mikuni throttle body
TRANSMISSION
Type Six-speed
Primary drive Gear
Clutch Wet
Final drive Chain
CHASSIS
Frame material Steel
Frame layout Deltabox
Rake 24.2º
Trail 130mm
Wheelbase 1355mm
RUNNING GEAR
Suspension
Front: 33mm, 130mm travel
Rear: Monoshock, 125mm travel
Wheels Five-spoke
Front: 17 x 2.75 Rear: 17 x 3.5
Tyres Michelin Pilot Sporty
Front: 100/80-17 (52S)
Rear:130/70-17 (62S)
Brakes Brembo (front only)
Front: 292mm disc, four-piston caliper
Rear:230mm disc, two-piston caliper
DIMENSIONS
Weight 138kg (wet, claimed)
Seat height 818mm
Max width 660mm
Max height 970mm
Fuel capacity 13.8L
PERFORMANCE
Power 11kW @ 9000rpm (claimed)
Torque 12Nm @ 80000rpm (cliamed)
Fuel consumption 2.2L/100km
Top speed 131km/h (est)
PROS
GP-esque looks
Big-bike handling
Economical
CONS
Not-its-fault lack of power
Filtering-inhibiting mirrors
Long-reach side stand
