2004–2007 · Enduro · Buyer's Guide
Light Enough To Go Anywhere
The DT125RE closes out Yamaha's DT two-stroke line with a liquid-cooled 124 cc single that makes 15 hp at 7,000 rpm and 10 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm. It's a rev-happy reed-valve motor bolted into a steel diamond frame, and the whole bike tips the scales at just 269 lb (122 kg) wet. Long-travel suspension, a 21-inch front wheel, and 12.4 in (315 mm) of ground clearance mark it as a genuine trail tool. This is old-school enduro thinking: keep it light, keep it simple, and let the chassis do the talking.
On the trail it rewards a rider who keeps it spinning, because the power lives up top and the motor wants revs to stay clean. It's beginner-friendly in size and manners, cheap to run, and easy to wrench on in your own garage. The honest caveat is age and upkeep. These bikes are twenty years old now, the stator and head gasket can give trouble, and the tall 36.0 in (914 mm) seat asks for some inseam. Find a well-kept one and it stays faithful.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 15 hp (11 kW) @ 7,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 10 lb-ft (14 Nm) @ 7,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 124 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 230 mm |
| Front tire | 80/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 110/80-18 |
| Wheelbase | 55.7 in (1415 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 12.4 in (315 mm) |
| Front travel | 10.6 in (270 mm) |
| Rear travel | 10.4 in (265 mm) |
| Seat height | 36.0 in (915 mm) |
| Wet weight | 269 lb (122 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.8 gal (10.7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Throw a leg over and the first thing you notice is how little is under you. At 269 lb it feels like a bicycle with a motor, and lifting it, turning it around in a rut, or dabbing a foot costs almost nothing. The seat sits high, so shorter riders will tiptoe at stops, but once you're moving the narrow waist makes it disappear beneath you. Fire it up and the two-stroke fills the air with that sharp, ringing bark, a fine haze of blue at idle, and a buzz that comes up through the pegs and bars as the revs build. Standing on the pegs, the bars fall to hand naturally and the bike flicks side to side with a nudge of the hips. You steer it with your feet as much as your hands.
Steering headbearing play
MOT data shows 22.3% of tested vehicles had advisories for slight free play in the steering headbearing, indicating routine wear that needs attention.
Head gasket failure
Head gasket leak causes coolant pressurization, overheating, and coolant loss. Often traced to non-genuine or poorly installed gaskets, but can occur even with proper assembly. Symptoms include steam from the radiator and coolant in the combustion chamber.
Electrical stator failure
Some owners report repeated burning of the stator source coil, resulting in a loss of spark. The cause is often traced to a faulty voltage regulator/rectifier or simplified wiring loom.
Drive chain and sprocket wear
Due to the bike’s off‑road nature, drive chains and sprockets wear rapidly and are flagged as advisory in 37.3% of MOT tests; regular cleaning and adjustment required.
Front fork seal leakage
Some owners report premature failure of front fork seals, leading to oil leaks and compromised damping.
Where this Yamaha DT 125 RE pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the DT 125 RE is actually built for.
Straight talk: this isn't your BDR machine. It's too small, and too short on fuel, for multi-day backcountry logistics. A great trail toy, but the wrong tool for loaded, long-haul route planning.
Made for AZBDR — Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route · California BDR South · COBDR — Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Yamaha DT 125 RE. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
