By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Yamaha YZF-R125 (MY2019) vs KTM RC 125 (MY2025)
Yamaha YZF-R125 vs KTM RC 125: one garage spot. Here's what should decide it.
Turn the Yamaha YZF-R125 into a bend and it's steady on its line, even as the bars turn in quickly. The KTM RC 125 snaps over from lean to lean.
So which one do you buy?
The YZF-R125 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Small edge: YZF-R125
On upkeep, the YZF-R125 asks a bit less of your wallet. The difference won't change your life.
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: YZF-R125
Through rush hour, the YZF-R125 is a little easier to live with. Only a little.
What makes each one tick
YZF-R125
Halfway up the rev range, the YZF-R125's single switches to its high-lift cam, and there's no step in the pull when it does. A bump in the middle of a corner doesn't upset the upside-down fork or the stiffened aluminum swingarm. The chassis stays planted. In a parking lot, it's light to push around.
RC 125
The RC 125's single wants revs, and it doesn't give up its full power until you hold the needle high. Corner entry doesn't take much effort. The light trellis frame and sharp geometry drop the nose in right away. Through stop-and-go traffic, the nose darts from gap to gap.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The YZF-R125 makes more peak torque: 9 lb-ft (12 Nm) vs 8 lb-ft (12 Nm).
- The RC 125 has the larger fuel tank: 3.6 US gal (13.7 L) vs 2.9 US gal (11 L).
- TFT Display: standard on the RC 125, not offered on the YZF-R125.
Which one for the way you ride
They come out level on twisty roads and a first bike. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
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
RC 125
What owners say
Strengths
- Sharp, agile handling
- Striking MotoGP-inspired styling
What they share
- Displacement
- 125 cc
- Engine
- Single-cylinder
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 15 hp (11 kW)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
Where the spec sheets split
| YZF-R125 | RC 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 32.4 in (824 mm) |
| YZF-R125 | RC 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 9 lb-ft (12 Nm) | 8 lb-ft (12 Nm) |
| YZF-R125 | RC 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 2.9 US gal (11 L) | 3.6 US gal (13.7 L) |
| YZF-R125 | RC 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 100/80-17 | 110/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 140/70-17 | 150/60-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| YZF-R125 | RC 125 | |
|---|---|---|
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
