2019–2022 · Supersport · Buyer's Guide
The City Dart With Soul
The 2019–2022 YZF-R125 is a full-size supersport shrunk down to 125 cc, and it doesn't ride like a compromise. The engine is a liquid-cooled single with Yamaha's Variable Valve Actuation. At 7,400 rpm a second, high-lift cam takes over, so the engine keeps pulling through the midrange where most 125s go flat. It makes 15 hp at 9,000 rpm and 9 lb-ft at 8,000 rpm. The engine sits in a twin-spar frame with a 1.6 in (41 mm) upside-down fork and a 140-section rear tire. That is big-bike hardware, and it's why this generation sets the handling benchmark in its class.
At 313 lb (142 kg) wet on a 53.3 in (1,355 mm) wheelbase, it changes direction with almost no input and still stays settled as speed builds. That balance is exactly what a small sportbike needs. Running costs are low, reliability is solid, and the aftermarket support is deep, so it ages well and makes a good first project bike. It suits newer riders who want real sportbike geometry, and experienced riders who want to sharpen their technique at sane speeds. The caveat is plain: 15 hp is 15 hp. The only rider aid is ABS, neither the fork nor the shock has any adjustment, and on the open highway you'll feel the small displacement every mile.
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 | 140/70-17 |
| Wheelbase | 53.3 in (1355 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 313 lb (142 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.9 gal (11 L) |
Equipment check
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
Where this Yamaha YZF-R125 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 YZF-R125 is actually built for.
If you want to keep up with your friends on Angeles Crest, 15 hp won't do it. If you want a light, cheap and honest bike for sharpening your lines between LA traffic and the pass, this one works.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
For skill work on the Dragon and Cherohala, this is a smart pick: light, precise and slow enough to push hard without big consequences. Just leave extra time for the highway ride in from Atlanta or Knoxville.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
The Hill Country roads suit its light handling, but the long miles from Austin out to the Twisted Sisters show up the 15 hp and the 2.9 gal tank. It makes a fun second bike, not your only weekend ride.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2015–2018
The R1 Look, 125 Soul
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2023
R-Series Looks, Learner Reality
Competitor · 2019
The Full-Size Learner Starter
Competitor · 2017
125cc GSX-R Soul, Featherweight Body
Competitor · 2017–2023
Italian Style, Learner Limits
Competitor · 2016–2022
125cc Chassis With Real Bite
Competitor · 2025
Serious Corner Tool, Tiny Engine
Same Platform · 2022–2026
City Slicker, Featherweight Soul