2019 Yamaha YZF-R125 test: a hell of a cost for young bikers
The third generation of Yamaha YZF-R125 will fracture the retina of all young A1 licensees, with its dream plastic and state-of-the-art equipment! But will the parental wallet crack as easily at its price of 5,299 euros ? Answers in our MNC essay…
Test YZF-R125 2019 Page 1: hijacking minors
Who hasn’t dreamed of one day reliving their 16-18 years? The time of the first emotions, the first revolts, the first decisive successes and the first bitter failures … The age, above all, of his first "real" 125 cc motorcycle via the A1 license accessible from 16 years old !
- MNC file : All the YZF-R125 news
- MNC YZF-R125 2014 test : mini sporty with big R
And if there is a motorcycle that makes you want to roll back the years, it is definitely the news. What a beauty ! Its devastating look adroitly mixes the features of the (stretched double optic) and those of the (openwork rear shell). The dummy air inlet under its slightly smoked bubble even evokes the MotoGP M1 !
Impossible not to succumb to the charms of this 125 cc sports car launched in 2008, then completely revised in! It is a stylistic flawless: only the comparison in terms of inspiration "Racing". The Yamaha also offers a polished finish, enhanced by high-end peripherals.
Its quality of production does honor to the MBK factory in Saint-Quentin (02) where it is assembled, while the eye stops with pleasure on its radial 4-piston brake caliper, its beautiful inverted fork with the sleeves. gold-plated or its aluminum swing arm. Also considering its new brake lever guard as standard, as on Grand Prix motorcycles ?!
Less radical, but not comfortable for all that
This intentionally sporty orientation is felt hard on the handlebars, despite the efforts made to improve ergonomics and comfort (details in. The inclination of the bust remains very pronounced on the half-handlebars, although they are higher and more open..
The wrists quickly cry thanks after only a few kilometers, while the important fold of the legs reminds our tester that his 16 years are far away (but not that much, Editor’s note)! Admittedly, it is less extreme than on, but the "de-radicalication" of the YZF-R125 can still continue before evoking the comfort. !
The Yamaha remains a pure and tough sports bike, more at ease on the track than in the city despite a very correct turning radius. His saddle painfully firm – and to say that his foam is advertised as "thicker"! – and high perched (820 mm) places pilots under 1.75 m on tiptoe. In time for adolescents whose growth is not complete !
The same will castigate the significant distance of the non-adjustable clutch lever: a colleague of 1.63 m had all the trouble in the world to catch it, then to play with the point of attachment also located quite far. At this price level (€ 5,299), adjustable levers are essential, as well as sufficient trunk volume to slip a yellow vest (but not one, a chasuble mandatory since)…
Mono switches to variable distribution
The other big novelty of this 2019 YZF-R125 is the adoption of variable valve timing on its 124.7 cc single cylinder. This Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) system is for the first time installed on a Yamaha motorcycle, after being introduced on certain scooters such as the and the Aerox 155 cc.
Concretely, the camshaft has two cams with a more or less aggressive profile: from 7400 rpm, the "high power" cam comes into action mechanically on the intake valve to boost mechanical efficiency. This VVA would make it possible to obtain "more torque from low revs and better performance at higher revs", according to Iwata engine manufacturers.
By comparing with the technical sheet of the old model, the Journal moto du Net nevertheless notes that the regulatory power of 15 hp is reached a little later (10,000 rpm against 9,000 in 2018) and that the torque is very low. slight decrease of 0.9 Nm (11.5 Nm against 12.4 Nm). Well, where is the progress ?!
MNC naturally asked Yamaha about this, but without a precise answer for the moment: stay tuned! Our little finger tells us that this tiny drop in performance has its source in the Euro4 standard, which affects all engines with its additional constraints in terms of pollutant emissions..
That said, MNC did not notice any transcendent differences with the old engine: the single-cylinder is still as flexible at low revs – if not very nervous – before offering solid revivals from 3000 to 6000 rpm . Then a power peak is felt up to 11,500 rpm of the breaker, thus brightening up an otherwise very linear acceleration..
The Yamaha block has retained a remarkable operating range with regard to its displacement. Others are more pointed, without equaling its performance: with enough flat space, the YZF-R125 is able to hang 138 km / h – counter – at the switch in sixth. Proof also of the intelligent staging of its box, otherwise rather pleasant to handle and now supported by an antidribble.
Its serious and rather melodious sound also contrasts nicely with the "tiller" soundtrack of certain low-displacement single cylinders. Its only mechanical faults are a certain roughness during the go-around and its vibrations in the feet at high speed. Rubbers on the footrests would partly solve this problem … !
A fantastic cycle part
The YZF-R125 was the benchmark in terms of chassis in 2018: nothing changed in 2019, on the contrary! The little Yamaha has a great chassis, both rigid and precise. In the winding as on the circuit, its 142 kg are damn easy to lead despite the widening of its rear tire from 130 to 140 mm.
Her agility touches the peaks, just like her balance: nothing seems to be able to fault her! Its optimized suspensions contribute to this admirable picture: the damping is rigorous, although a little dry on irregularities. As for traction, its oversized aluminum swing arm unsurprisingly has no trouble coping with the 15 hp !
The same goes for braking: the radial caliper is never caught off guard with its significant deceleration capacity. On the other hand, the right lever is quite responsive, offering immediate bite that must be taken into account in the event of emergency braking. We appreciate in this case the consistency and efficiency of the rear brake.
Verdict: sport at all costs ?
Yamaha has no right to make mistakes with this YZF-R125 model 2019, because it is quite simply the best seller in Europe of its entire series of "R" sports bikes: "36%" of the volumes go to it, against "28%" for the sculptural R1… and only "10%" for the R6! High stakes, considerable changes…
On this point, the contract is fulfilled: the little Iwata bomber is more refined than ever, its dynamic behavior is impeccable and its variable-valve engine is very successful. What a pity that the A1 license restricts the power of a motorcycle like the YZF-R125 to only 15 hp !
The arms race in which Yamaha is engaged seems almost futile in these conditions: admittedly, its sophistication and its line make young bikers dream, but that does not exempt from improving its questionable ergonomic and practical aspects, or its protection which is confined to the bottom of the helmet and the bust. On the contrary, given its price !
Because the Yamaha YZF-R125 is expensive, very expensive even: at 5299 euros, it significantly exceeds the (4599 €), the (4899 euros), the (4899 €) and the (4929 €). Clearly, it costs the price of a second-hand medium displacement (the new one is € 7,099) !
Not sure that this elitist positioning contributes to making the motorcycle popular in the eyes of the youngest, as all manufacturers say they want to achieve this to renew their clientele….
- All the details of our Test YZF-R125 2019 with our photos captioned in
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