By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Yamaha YZF-R125 (MY2019) vs Aprilia RS 125 ABS (MY2017)
Yamaha YZF-R125 vs Aprilia RS 125 ABS: one garage spot. Here's what should decide it.
Over a sharp ridge halfway through a bend, the Yamaha YZF-R125 stays planted and it's quick to steer again. On the Aprilia RS 125 ABS, the inverted fork takes that jolt in its stride. The bike doesn't twitch off its line.
So which one do you buy?
The YZF-R125 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
A touch ahead: YZF-R125
Day to day, the YZF-R125 works out slightly cheaper to own. The saving is small.
Daily commuting & city riding
Small edge: YZF-R125
Day in, day out, the YZF-R125 nudges ahead in traffic. Put it down to lower running costs. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
What makes each one tick
YZF-R125
There's a second cam hiding in the YZF-R125's single, and once the high-lift lobe takes over, the pull swells without a step. Mid-corner, it doesn't wander. In stalled traffic, the bike's easy to shuffle between cars.
RS 125 ABS
A balancer shaft spins inside the RS 125 ABS's single, and the buzz you'd brace for from a small single never reaches the pegs. The throttle brings an even climb in revs that runs out at a strict limiter. There's no drama in it. The aluminum beam frame holds firm at full lean.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The YZF-R125 makes more peak torque: 9 lb-ft (12 Nm) vs 8 lb-ft (11 Nm).
- The RS 125 ABS has the larger fuel tank: 3.8 US gal (14.5 L) vs 2.9 US gal (11 L).
- Quickshifter: option on the RS 125 ABS, not offered on the YZF-R125.
Which one for the way you ride
Count twisty roads and a first bike as a draw. The deal on the table and the condition of the bike matter more here.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
YZF-R125
What owners say
Strengths
- Class-leading agile handling
- Excellent VVA engine with strong mid-range
- Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre
RS 125 ABS
What owners say
Strengths
- Refined and smooth engine
Trade-offs
- Expensive for a 125
What they share
- Displacement
- 125 cc
- Engine
- Single-cylinder
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 15 hp (11 kW)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 100/80-17
Where the spec sheets split
| YZF-R125 | RS 125 ABS | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| YZF-R125 | RS 125 ABS | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak power at | 9,000 rpm | 10,500 rpm |
| Torque | 9 lb-ft (12 Nm) | 8 lb-ft (11 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,000 rpm | 8,250 rpm |
| YZF-R125 | RS 125 ABS | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 2.9 US gal (11 L) | 3.8 US gal (14.5 L) |
| YZF-R125 | RS 125 ABS | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 292 mm | 300 mm |
| Rear tire | 140/70-17 | 130/70-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| YZF-R125 | RS 125 ABS | |
|---|---|---|
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Option |
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
