Garelli XR 125 Tiger 1985 — Specifications

A simple kick to the starter was enough to awaken this Tiger, and suddenly, the spirit of racing of yesteryear hung above the exhaust pipe. Garelli, in 1985, did not manufacture motorcycles for showrooms. The brand forged tools, and the XR 125 Tiger was raw proof of it, a machine built for trails where asphalt had no right of way. With its steel frame and 100 kilograms dry weight, it displayed a lightness that made the Japanese bikes of the time blush. It wasn't a showroom bike, it was a mechanical mountain pass machine.

Its heart beat to the rhythm of a 125 cm³ two-stroke single-cylinder engine, liquid-cooled, delivering 20 horsepower at 9500 rpm. These figures will not impress a modern rider, but in the 80s, on a rocky trail, they represented total freedom. The two-stroke offered that instant response, that ability to rev up with a single twist of the wrist, essential for clearing an obstacle or getting out of a bog. The six-speed gearbox allowed power to be dosed with the precision of a surgeon, whether in first gear for technical passages or in sixth for swallowing forest tracks.

The cycle part revealed a philosophy of no compromise. A seat at 83 centimeters and a wheelbase of 1380 mm offered a dominant riding position and reassuring balance at low speed. The tires, a 3.00-21 at the front and a 120-18 at the rear, were massive traction weapons. The braking, mixed with a disc at the front and a drum at the rear, did the job without frills. With a 15-liter tank and consumption approaching 6 liters per 100 kilometers, this Tiger had an autonomy that allowed it to really get away from any gas station, where the adventure began.

Today, the Garelli XR 125 Tiger is experiencing a well-deserved second life. It has become a collector's item for those who remember the smell of castor oil and the characteristic crackle of a well-tuned two-stroke. It no longer rivals modern KTMs or Betas, crammed with electronics and adjustable suspensions in all directions. Its value lies in its absolute simplicity, its unwavering robustness, and the smile it brings with every ride. It is the perfect motorcycle to introduce a young rider to the joys of off-road without risking seeing him disappear on the horizon, or to offer a veteran a return to the source full of authenticity. It doesn't make noise, it spits out its history.