2008–2014 · Supersport · Buyer's Guide
Full-Size Soul, Learner Limits
The RE06 R125 is a 125 cc sportbike that never feels like a beginner's compromise. It wears genuine R-series styling and rolls on full-size 17-inch wheels with a 100/80 front and 130/70 rear tire. A 292 mm (11.5 in) front disc does the stopping. The liquid-cooled, fuel-injected single makes 15 hp at 9,000 rpm and 9 lb-ft at 8,000 rpm, and it stays smooth and eager right up to its limit. The chassis is the real story, though. At 304 lb (138 kg) wet it steers with almost no effort. Big-bike looks plus featherweight agility made it the reference point for its class.
This bike runs on momentum, not muscle. Top speed is 80 mph (129 km/h), so you can ride the freeway but you have nothing left in reserve. There is no ABS and no rider electronics of any kind. Running costs are tiny at around 94 mpg. It ages well if you look after it. Keep the valve clearance checks on schedule, or cold starts get hard and economy drops. Expect the mild-steel exhaust to corrode in wet climates. This is a bike for new riders and anyone who wants to build real cornering skill on a small budget. Experienced riders chasing pace will outgrow it fast.
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 |
| 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 | 3.7 gal (14 L) |
| Top speed | 80 mph (129 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 94 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Over the years I've listened to a lot of R125 owners. Some of it came from paddock talk and club nights, some from parking-lot chats, and some from the messages riders send me after putting real miles on one. For the RE06 the pattern is consistent: owners enjoy living with it day to day, and the complaints only surface when the road opens up or the pace rises.
The engine's low-end pull gets the most praise. Owners say the single pulls eagerly from low revs, so city riding and passing feel brisker than they expect from a 125. They add that the fueling stays crisp when they rev it out. Comfort comes up just as often. Riders describe a fairly upright position and a well-padded seat that suit both the daily commute and longer days, which surprises people given how aggressive the bike looks. Many also say the full fairing turns heads, and they keep mentioning how little fuel it uses.
There are fewer gripes. A recurring one is that the engine runs out of steam at higher speeds, which riders find frustrating on multi-lane highways. One owner who rides hard adds that the low rearsets and the kickstand touch down early, limiting lean angle for more experienced riders.
Engine cuts out in wet conditions
Early bikes suffered from water ingress into the kill‑switch or sidestand switch, causing intermittent engine cut‑outs. Usually cured by cleaning and sealing connectors.
Neglected valve clearance leads to hard starting and poor economy
Valve clearances close up over time as the valves and seats wear. If the scheduled valve clearance inspection is skipped or delayed, the bike becomes hard to start when cold, idles unevenly and uses noticeably more fuel.
Fuel pump failure
The fuel pump is a known weak point, often failing without warning. Tell‑tale sign is absence of the usual priming whine at key‑on.
Exhaust system rots easily
The mild‑steel exhaust silencer and header pipes corrode quickly, especially in wet climates; many owners replace with aftermarket stainless systems.
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
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the YZF-R125 is actually built for.
If you already run Angeles Crest on something bigger, this won't satisfy you. As a light skill-builder for sharpening your lines it's great fun, but the freeway haul out of LA at 80 mph max is a slog.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
Skill over speed is exactly what this bike teaches. It's light and rewards clean lines on tight East Coast twisties. The honest trade-off is the long interstate run from Atlanta or Charlotte just to get there.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
For short local loops through the Hill Country it's cheap, easy fun. For real road trips and long Texas highway miles, 15 hp and an 80 mph top speed make it the wrong tool.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Successor · 2015–2018
The R1 Look, 125 Soul
Competitor · 2011–2016
Real Grip, Learner Displacement
Competitor · 2011–2016
Lightweight City Learner Done Right
Competitor · 2013–2016
Big-Bike Soul, 125 Plates
Same Platform · 2014–2019
Big-Bike Style, Learner Weight