2014–2019 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Big-Bike Style, Learner Weight
The MT-125 takes the look and attitude of Yamaha's MT family and fits it to a 125 cc liquid-cooled single making 15 hp at 9,000 rpm and 9 lb-ft at 8,000 rpm. That output puts it among the strongest bikes in its class. The hardware is better than a budget bike usually gets: a twin-spar frame, an upside-down fork, a six-speed gearbox and an 11.5 in (292 mm) front disc. It is not a toy. It is a proper small motorcycle built with real care, and it carries the attitude Yamaha buyers expect from the MT name.
On the road it is light and forgiving. It weighs 304 lb (138 kg) fueled, and the 32.2 in (818 mm) seat won't scare anyone off. It suits new riders, city commuters, and anyone who wants a stylish bike that costs almost nothing to run. It returns 84 mpg, and the running gear holds up well with basic care. The honest caveat is simple: this is a no-frills machine. The fork has no adjustment and the suspension is set up soft, so expect the chassis to feel basic when you push. You get the big-bike look, but the performance is still that of a 125.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 15 hp (11 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 9 lb-ft (12 Nm) @ 8,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 125 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 292 mm |
| Front tire | 100/80-17 |
| Rear tire | 130/70-17 |
| Seat height | 32.2 in (818 mm) |
| Wet weight | 304 lb (138 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.0 gal (11.5 L) |
| Fuel economy | 84 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
This picture comes from years of listening: paddock talk, owner chats on club nights, and the messages riders send me directly. On the 2014–2019 MT-125 the story holds steady. Owners praise a bike that stays dependable, looks sharp and treats its rider kindly. The complaints are fewer and come up less often.
Dependability is the theme riders return to most. Many owners describe year after year of daily commuting without trouble, and they mention maintenance bills almost in passing. The styling comes up just as often. Riders say the angular MT design gets noticed and looks like more money than they actually spent. On handling, the praise is about how forgiving the bike is, and newer riders in particular say it helped them settle in on busy city streets. A few owners also point out how rarely they need to stop for fuel.
The gripes are rarer, but they are there. Some owners say the buzz from the single wears them out once a ride runs well past the daily commute. Others find the suspension turns bouncy on broken pavement or when they pick up the pace, and they describe a pogo-stick motion the chassis struggles to calm.
Battery drain and starting difficulties
The battery is prone to draining if the bike sits unused for more than a week, causing slow cranking or a complete failure to start. Often traced to parasitic drain from the fuel injection system and ECU.
Oil consumption
Like many small-capacity singles that are frequently high-revved from cold, the MT-125 can burn oil between services, requiring owners to regularly check and top up the oil level.
Mirrors vibrating loose
The mirror mounts have a tendency to loosen over time due to engine vibration, requiring periodic re-tightening or thread-locking compound.
Where this Yamaha MT-125 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 MT-125 is actually built for.
For San Francisco commuting it is a great fit: light, frugal and sharp-looking when you park it. On the ridge roads you enjoy the curves at a gentle pace, but you'll be riding at the back of the group.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
Honestly, 15 hp won't satisfy a skilled canyon rider. It works as a cheap, light second bike for learning or city errands, but on the big canyon roads you'll be wishing for more motor.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If refining your technique matters more to you than speed, it's a good teacher. It is light, turns in easily and makes you carry momentum, but the long rides to get to the Dragon will feel slow.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2020–2025
Big-Bike Soul, 125cc Budget
Competitor · 2019–2026
Kawasaki's Smallest City Knife
Competitor · 2017
Light, Cheap, Surprisingly Capable
Competitor · 2017–2026
Big-Bike Soul, 125cc Body
Competitor · 2017–2024
Big Attitude, Tiny Engine
Same Platform · 2008–2014
Full-Size Soul, Learner Limits