Yamaha MT-125 motorcycle test

Menus

• Master Transform
• 125cc VAA single cylinder, A&S clutch
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• In the city
• Highway
• Departmental
• Braking
• Comfort
• Convenient
• Consumption
• MT-125 Video Test
• Conclusion
• Test equipment

Master Transform

125cc VAA single cylinder, A&S clutch

The 125, it is young people with the A1 license and B licenses who do not want to take the motorcycle license with a bloated offer and at all prices depending on the manufacturers. Moreover, prices have continued to soar on the rise, especially after the discontinuation of the small YBR-type 125s, notably at Yamaha, below the 3,000 euros mark.. In fact, the majority of the 125 took 2,000 euros from the Japanese, leaving a whole section of the 125 to small brands with prices around 3,000 or even 3,500 euros. But then why put 5,000 euros in a small like the MT-125, even if it is made in France as it is? Test of the Yamaha MT-125, the last offspring of the family Dark Side of Japan.

Yamaha MT-125 Roadster

Discovery

6 years since the release of the Dark Side Of Japan series at Yamaha in 2013, creating motorcycles with a dark look, more aggressive, even disturbing. A look assumed and which stands out against the neo-retro CB 125 R at Honda, more Manga at Kawasaki with the Z 125 and more traditional at Suzuki with the GSX-S125 or even vitaminized with the KTM Duke 125. In short, there is some choice and an additional reason not to seek to make a consensual motorcycle. And with more than 135,000 MT models sold in Europe since 2013, Yamaha seems to have hit the mark. And if the MT 125 has indeed aroused a reaction following its discovery at the last EICMA show, this is it: we like it or we don’t like it and the opinions are very clear.

Dual LED optics

But with that aggressive styling, reinforced by its dual optics and LED light, it stands out at least without falling excessively into the Transformers side of the MT-10. Moreover, as much the MT-09 and the MT-10 are clearly identified, as Yamaha signs a new style trend with the MT-125 by declining it on the MT-03 … enough to imagine a future application to the other two larger displacement models of the brand.

Length of 1,960 mm but wheelbase reduced by 30 mm

More aggressive but also more modern. Goodbye to the traditional headlight, welcome to the LED headlights both front and rear, not to mention the turn signals; we just regret not finding on the 125 the pretty indicators of the MT-03, much more aesthetic than their 125 version, more traditional. Say goodbye to the analog meter for an LCD screen. Welcome to a new, more efficient engine and a new frame, taken directly from the sporty R 125. And all with an excellent finish at all levels. No doubt, we get what we pay for.

On the other hand, the roadster offers a more upright driving position, in particular thanks to a raised handlebar, further back and wider (741 mm against 680 mm previously) while remaining close in height to the sport with a saddle at 810 mm. The rear has been shortened. The exhaust has been shortened. The result is a more compact and all the more sleek machine. Even the wider rear tire made in 140 gives an impression of bigger. And comparatively, the gap narrows in exterior proportions compared to the MT-03. It is in the high price bracket of the 125 but it imposes by the template.

Wider handlebars and 800mm total width

Under the plumage, we find a small single cylinder with variable distribution VAA of 125 cm3, the system based on two intake cams: the first operating up to 7,400 rpm and the second intervening thereafter up to 10,000 rpm. mn. The air box goes from 1.9 liters to 5 liters allows to better oxygenate the whole. Yamaha announces that it then worked on reducing friction at the engine level to extract as much power as possible from the engine and now have 15 horsepower (and no longer 14 as on the previous model) at 9,000 rpm. All of this also made it possible to reduce consumption by 5% and that’s a good thing because the tank also lost 1.5 liters to drop to 10 liters. But with a consumption of less than 2.5 liters, it retains an autonomy approaching 400 kilometers..

Then we find the Deltabox frame and the aluminum swingarm of the R 125 but here with a wheelbase of 1.325 mm reduced by 30 mm contributing to the more compact appearance of the machine. The arm has been reinforced to allow the use of a 17 inch rear rim. At the front, the suspension is now provided by a large inverted fork of 41 mm deflecting 130 mm. Finally, the front braking has also evolved with a front disc of 292 mm now associated with a radial caliper.

140 tire against 130 previously, with original Michelin tires

In the saddle

810 mm! The saddle is really high and closer to the height of a trail. Admittedly, it is lower than the old one (820 mm) and especially than the saddle of the sporty R125 (825 mm), but it is also much higher than that of the MT-03 which is only at 780 mm. But inevitably, the MT-125 comes directly from the sport 125. Fortunately, the saddle is thin and the tank narrow for the legs but especially the light weight at 140 kilos (2 kilos less than the sporty but two kilos more than the previous vintage). As a result, even if the 1.70m pilot will barely put the tip of both feet on the ground, the MT-125 remains accessible for small riders. On the other hand, if the saddle is thin, it remains a little wider at the crotch than that of the MT-03 and therefore slightly behind the comfort of the MT-03.

Under the eyes, we find this new fully LCD meter, with a permanently visible red area (including meter off), thanks to the trick of having two red lines painted under the meter. And the screen wakes up with a hello buddy. There is everything and it is readable, with counter, tachometer, partial double trip, clock, fuel gauge, gear engaged, average and instantaneous consumption. Too bad just to have to always press the two tiny pushers directly on the computer rather than via a button on the handlebars. Yes, at this price, we become demanding, even if the MT-125 vintage 2020 remains at the same price as the vintage 2019 with all its improvements. Likewise, a warning would have been welcome.

Easy-to-read LCD meter on black background

The handlebars fall well under the hands and we actually have a very upright position. The legs nestle neatly in the notch of the tank, with enough room for taller riders. It is also one of the 125 that will suit larger riders the most without giving them the usual toad look..

Yamaha MT-125 in town

And the rearview provided by the mirrors is good like the MT-03.

In the city

The new A&S clutch works wonders in the city, making the gearbox easy, precise and enjoyable. Lightweight, low width finish making the machine natural to squeeze dynamically between the lines. And if you get to the switch quickly in the first gears, with the secondary transmission ratios modified to offer better acceleration, there is less need to play with the selector than on the competition, with a very well-staged gearbox. In fact, the small mono works wonders even accepting to resume at 30 km / h on the sixth and last report. Admittedly, it is then very soft in recovery, but it does not hit in an exaggerated way either. The fact remains that we will favor the 3rd or even the second if the slope gets steep. Finally, the turning radius is excellent and associated with the featherweight and wide handlebars allows you to turn in a pocket square.

Maneuverability and agility in the city

Highway

The MT-125 takes its turns and quickly arrives at 103 km / h then nibbles a few kilometers hours to go tease the 111 km / h. Be careful, our models were barely 200 km when we took them and we almost felt better between the start of the test and the end, some having managed to get 118 km / h. And we know, a small mono is released gradually to find the maximum speed already experienced on the old model, then 138 km / h, unless the modification of the final reduction has reduced the speed. maximum, to be confirmed with a machine totaling more than kilometers.

11.0 kW (15.0 hp) at 9,000 rpm

At this speed, we would almost appreciate a heavier motorcycle for a front axle a little heavy and more in permanent contact with the asphalt..

Departmental

A 125 is always easy by definition but the MT-125 brings a surplus of ease in particular by the driving position and the fact of being able to tighten the tank well with the legs. The original Michelin Pilot Street tires also provide excellent grip and confidence, which are much better than the GPR 300 fitted on the MT-03; a feeling of comfort on the small winding roads around Malaga in the rain. The MT-125 goes up easily in the towers but an appreciable point does not require to stay systematically high in the towers to offer pleasure and sensations, despite a maximum power at 9,000 rpm and its maximum torque at 8,000 rpm. It even gives the impression of already giving it full at mid-range, where it is often necessary to whip the cavalry to eradicate a semblance of recoveries. Unlike other 125s, the MT-125 does not require you to use the selector as much as usual … even if it remains a 125 … and it prefers intermediate gears to the last and penultimate gear. which play more of a role of overdrive on the motorway.

Straight and natural driving position

Braking

The rear brake is a decent retarder, sufficient in town and manages to trigger the ABS, taken alone. The front light, on the other hand, is a tad violent and needs to be measured, even though there is only one 292 mm disc, which is more than enough.

Single disc, Ш 292 mm, radial caliper

Comfort

The position is comfortable, the saddle less. If this is not prohibitive with a sporty ride where you will move in the saddle, you can still feel it at the end of the day, with dry damping. The advantage is that the frame is particularly safe and rigid.

Refined rear saddle

Convenient

There is no place under the saddle, no more besides on the MT-03 than on the MT-125.

Consumption

Consumption on this well-conducted test ended between 2.3 and 2.4 liters per hundred, thus authorizing a range of 400 kilometers according to the on-board computer, consumption which increases to three liters if you leave the city and in particular high-speed journeys.

10 liter tank, smaller but lower consumption
Gray (Ice Fluo), blue (Icon Blue), black (Midnight Black)

MT-125 Video Test

Conclusion

A modern machine both in terms of look and engine make the MT-125 one of the most dynamic roadsters on the market, with real driving pleasure, where there is less rage against this limit of 15 horses, often anemic, here dynamic. The machine is also homogeneous and economical in terms of consumption. And if we welcome the fact that with all these improvements, the MT-125 is at the same price as the previous vintage, even a notch below after having gone to a period above 5,000 euros, 4,999 euros still remains a sacred budget for what remains a 125, as successful as it is and it is the case here. We still dream of the 4,299 euros of the 2014 launch price. In the meantime, it arrives in concession, the opportunity to go see it and if possible try it, whatever the color. Rather "ice fluo", "icon blue" and "midnight black" ?

Strong points

• Motor
• Behviour
• Consumption

Weak points

• price
• comfort

The technical sheet of the Yamaha MT-125

Test conditions

• Itinerary: small varied roads + interurban highways with a bit of town

Test equipment

• Shoei GT-Air II Helmet
• Jacket Tucano Urbano Urbis 5G
• Jean Alpinestars Oscar
• Forma Elite WP Boots

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