2020–2025 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Big-Bike Soul, 125cc Budget
The MT-125 is Yamaha's smallest Hyper Naked, and it doesn't feel like a cheap afterthought. The 125 cc liquid-cooled single makes 15 hp at 9,000 rpm and 8 lb-ft. Its variable valve actuation (VVA) gives the engine a clear second wind above 7,400 rpm. That matters on a bike this size, because it pays you back for revving it, and that's the Yamaha character I want to find. The hardware around it is proper too: an upside-down fork, an aluminum swingarm shared with the YZF-R125, 17-inch wheels, a TFT dash and an LED headlight. ABS and traction control are standard. For a 125, this is a premium package.
On the road it's light and approachable. It weighs 309 lb (140 kg) wet and the seat sits at 31.9 in (810 mm). The upright, narrow stance makes city traffic almost relaxing. Reliability and build quality are real strengths, and running and maintenance costs stay low, so this bike ages quietly. It suits new riders, city commuters, and experienced riders who want a small, sharp tool for back roads. The honest caveat for a US rider is the 68 mph (110 km/h) top speed. That rules out the freeway, and it will shape your routes more than any other number on the spec sheet.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 15 hp (11 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 8 lb-ft (12 Nm) |
| Displacement | 125 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 100/80-17 |
| Rear tire | 140/70-17 |
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 309 lb (140 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.6 gal (10 L) |
| Top speed | 68 mph (110 km/h) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
This isn't my test ride. It's what I've picked up over years of paddock talk, club nights and the messages MT-125 owners send me directly. The pattern is clear: riders praise how it corners and how it pulls when revved hard. Their complaints are about comfort, fit for bigger riders and price.
The praise riders repeat most is about the chassis. Owners credit the light Deltabox frame, short wheelbase and Michelin tires with a nimble feel that stays planted once the bike is leaned over. The engine gets just as much affection. Riders describe a distinct surge when the valve timing switches over, and they say the bike rewards anyone willing to ride it hard.
The gripes come up just as often. Owners say the thin seat passes bumps straight through and gets punishing after about an hour, and many buy an aftermarket cushion. Riders over 6 ft (1.83 m) find the space between pegs and seat tight, which pushes their knees high. At highway pace the single buzzes through the bar, enough to make hands tingle and blur the mirrors. Price is the last recurring point: its list price sits above its direct rivals, and for learners on a tight budget that can decide it.
Weak battery causing cold-start failures
The OEM Yuasa YTZ7S battery loses charge when the bike is unused for a week or more, particularly in cold weather. The EFI system's parasitic draw exacerbates the drain, leading to a no-crank or very slow crank. Replacement with a higher-quality AGM or lithium battery, or use of a battery tender, is a common fix.
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
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the MT-125 is actually built for.
Around San Francisco and up on Skyline, it's light and easy and it looks the part. Just know the 68 mph top speed keeps you off the freeway, so plan surface-street routes to the ridge.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
Honestly, 15 hp won't satisfy an experienced rider on Angeles Crest, and the 68 mph top speed rules out LA freeway approaches. As a low-cost second bike for sharpening your lines, it's fun.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If you're working on technique at the Dragon, a light chassis you can use to the full is a good teacher. The catch is getting there: 68 mph makes the long run from Atlanta or Charlotte a slog.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2014–2019
Big-Bike Style, Learner Weight
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
