By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport vs Naked Bike
Yamaha YZF-R125 (MY2019) vs MT-125 (MY2020)
Yamaha YZF-R125 vs MT-125: where they split, and which one to buy.
On a tight run of bends, the Yamaha YZF-R125 tips in fast and doesn't budge from its line mid-corner. The Yamaha MT-125 flicks from apex to apex and stays settled.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the MT-125 if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Clear winner: MT-125
The MT-125 suits a daily commute clearly better. In traffic, it's simply less work.
The YZF-R125 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: YZF-R125
On a twisty road, the YZF-R125 edges ahead. The reason: a sportier chassis. Not by enough to settle it alone.
What makes each one tick
YZF-R125
With its steel Deltabox frame and upside-down fork, the YZF-R125 steers quickly and holds steady once the road starts winding. There's a real shove behind the throttle in the middle revs, where the single's high-lift cam takes over. The handover doesn't jolt. The stiffened swingarm keeps the rear end planted.
MT-125
High in the rev range, the MT-125's single wakes up as its variable valves swap cams, and the rush builds from there. There's little push needed at the wide bar to swing the short-wheelbase chassis into a turn. Its damping doesn't flinch mid-turn. The Michelin tires bite and hold on twisty roads.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The MT-125 has the lower seat: 31.9 in (810 mm) vs 32.5 in (825 mm).
- The YZF-R125 makes more peak torque: 9 lb-ft (12 Nm) vs 8 lb-ft (12 Nm).
- The YZF-R125 has the larger fuel tank: 2.9 US gal (11 L) vs 2.6 US gal (10 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Call it even on running costs and a first bike. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
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
MT-125
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile handling with high cornering confidence
- Excellent build quality and reliability
- Strong VVA engine with exhilarating top-end
What they share
- Displacement
- 125 cc
- Engine
- Single-cylinder
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 15 hp (11 kW)
- Peak power at
- 9,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 100/80-17
- Rear tire
- 140/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| YZF-R125 | MT-125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 313 lb (142 kg) | 309 lb (140 kg) |
| YZF-R125 | MT-125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 9 lb-ft (12 Nm) | 8 lb-ft (12 Nm) |
| YZF-R125 | MT-125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 2.9 US gal (11 L) | 2.6 US gal (10 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| YZF-R125 | MT-125 | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard (from 2023) |
| Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard (from 2023) |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
