KTM 125 EXC 2015 — Specifications

Eighty-four kilograms. That's the dry weight of this machine, and it's precisely that figure that summarizes everything KTM wanted to achieve with the 2015 125 EXC. Not a gram too much, an almost provocative lightness facing the four-strokes that clutter the starting blocks of E1 class races. The 124.8 cc, single-cylinder two-stroke engine turns short and fast, and its new 2015 carburetor tuning smooths a power curve that, on previous versions, could be capricious on slow corner exits. The result is a machine that responds instantly, particularly appreciated when the track narrows between the trees.

The steel chrome-molybdenum frame deserves attention, because KTM is making a deliberately counter-trend choice here. While Italian and Japanese competitors are betting everything on aluminum, Austrian engineers are defending their high-tech steel, announcing a 500-gram weight saving over competing frames. This is not insignificant when trying to stay under 95 kg. The wheelbase of 1471 mm and a ground clearance of 355 mm give a geometry frankly oriented towards natural terrain, which explains why the 960 mm high seat doesn't scare experienced riders but may cool the enthusiasm of smaller, less experienced riders. The road-homologated KTM 125 EXC is a tool designed to perform, not to reassure.

The suspension deserves an entire paragraph. At the front, a WP 4860 MXMA PA inverted fork, adjustable in rebound and compression high and low speed, is standard. At the rear, the PDS 5018 DCC shock absorber attacks directly onto the cast aluminum swingarm, without linkages, for a more direct transfer of shocks and additional weight saving. This PDS system is a KTM signature in enduro, and it divides opinion: some riders prefer the progressiveness of a linkage system, others appreciate the brutal reactivity of the PDS on rough terrain. The individually adjustable settings offered as standard allow you to choose according to your build and riding style. Brembo Wave disc brakes complete the package with a sharp bite, without being questionable in this segment.

At a new price of €7395, the new KTM 125 EXC is clearly positioned above a Husqvarna TE 125 or a Beta RR 125, but it includes a level of equipment that justifies the difference: CNC-machined Giant 7050 T6 rims, four-position adjustable Neken tapered handlebar, compact MAE dashboard. Those looking for a used KTM 125 EXC will find 2014 or 2015 machines at much more accessible prices, and the proven reliability of KTM two-strokes from that era makes it a rational choice on the used market. Some owners even push the concept by fitting a supermotard kit to transform the beast into a road-homologated KTM 125 EXC urban supermotard, a conversion that suits it perfectly thanks to its featherweight and lively engine.

The target audience is ultimately quite specific: a young competition rider looking to progress in E1, an enduro recreational rider concerned with the performance/weight ratio, or a two-stroke enthusiast impervious to the sirens of modern four-strokes. A KTM 125 EXC graphics kit changes the appearance, but not the essence: this motorcycle is a concentrated box of sensations in a minimalist format. It does not forgive technical approximations, it demands committed riding, and it generously rewards those who accept its conditions. A sharp, assumed character, typically Austrian.