Bike of the week Yamaha YZF-R125
Newly 'refreshed' for 2014
The Yamaha YZF-R125 has been refreshed and improved and is available for test drives now in UK dealers.
2008 saw the launch of the Yamaha YZF-R125 and since then over 45,000 have been sold - one might be justified in concluding from this that it is a popular bike. Due to its success it has now been given over 70 new components to keep it current.
Back in the day when the YZF-R125 was born there was a very good reason for it’s existence – the overwhelming popularity of bikes like Honda’s CBR125R and the need for a challenger.
So, stepping up to the plate came Yamaha with the YZF-R125. Designed and developed in Italy for coolness, the YZF-R125 entered stage left, sporting a liquid-cooled SOHC four-valve motor with a steel R-series Deltabox frame layout.
The R125 was designed for entry level riders who preferred a sports bike. Because it is the starter bike of a series, riders can travel up through the CCs with a bike for every level - the R6 is next then the R1 – the three Rs, you might say. Having said that the R125 is a full-sized bike, not as small as some of its companions at this level.
And the USP of this bike is really its similarity to the R6, it’s only 25mm shorter than the R6 in fact but with a dry weight of 126.5kg and wheelbase of 1355mm.
The YZF-R125 handles well on the road with a sportsbike stylie riding position and it feels like a much bigger bike than it is. The suspension has been redesigned front and rear to make it more comfortable both for the rider and the pillion.
The specs are:
Engine: liquid cooled 124.7cc four stroke single cylinder
Power: 14.8bhp (11.0kW) @ 9000 rpm
Brakes: Front-292mm hydraulic single disc, Rear- 230mm hydraulic single disc
Suspension: Front - upside down telescopic fork
Rear - Adjustable rear shock absorber
Seat height: 825mm
Wet weight: 140KG
Tank capacity: 11.5 litres
The redesign
Several countries in Europe organize an R125-cup race series which allows young racers to progress and develop their skills on a relatively affordable budget. These experiences have been fed back into the development of the new model.
The Designer Olivier Béboux says of the redesign:
“Our difficulty was to add even more sexiness to it. We paid a lot of attention to the components and detail finish. And we redesigned the front part with an aggressive air intake, like the 600 supersports R6.”
Here are some of the changes and updates which Yamaha have made to the new YZF-R125:
* New, upside-down type front fork: more rigid, gives better stability and better feel for the front wheel
* New design of the front handle crown: MotoGP style
* Radial front brake caliper, combined with a floating front disc: Strong braking power and a more immediate ‘first touch’
* Front fairing: redesigned with an air intake between the headlights
* Instrumentation: fully digital now. Includes extra functions such as fuel consumption (both average and instantaneous), oil change and maintenance intervals, double trip meters, average speed and time, shift light etc
* License plate holder: a shorter, 2-piece construction with a more appealing design
* New, lightweight wheels: race-inspired with thin Y-shaped spokes
* Tail light: redesigned with opaque effect – you don’t see the individual LED’s inside anymore
* Brake and shift pedals: more racy and lighter replacing steel with forged aluminum
* Passenger footrest brackets: also changed to aluminum
* New fuel injection system: for more efficient combustion, improves fuel efficiency by another 10%
* Rear suspension linkage: more progressive to combine good comfort in the initial part of the stroke while getting more rigid towards the end of the stroke
One somewhat surprising thing, is that despite its upgrade the price has not gone upl, it still retails at £4349. If you are tempted, go and try one out and see how you rate the improvements.
http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/index.aspx
Anyone ridden one? Email us at:
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