Yamaha YS125 2018 — Specifications

So, Yamaha is bringing back the same recipe, but with a new name on the label. Do you remember the YBR 125, that little workhorse that toiled in cities for years? It returns today under the name YS 125, and it's more than just a facelift. For whom? For the budding motorcyclist who wants a frugal, economical machine with no complications, or for the city dweller looking for a reliable mount for their daily commutes. With a floor price of €2999, it directly positions itself as a rival to the Honda CB125F, the other benchmark in the affordable 125cc segment. The question is simple: should you buy the Yamaha YS 125, or look elsewhere?

Under this reworked bodywork, with a slimmer head and dynamic lines, the heart remains terribly conventional. A 125cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine delivers 11 horsepower at 7500 rpm and a torque of 10.8 Nm at 6000 rpm. Engineers have played with the bore and stroke to gain a little response at low speed, typical of a long-stroke engine, but it's far from a revolution. It will laboriously reach 110 km/h at maximum speed, a performance that aligns with its role as an urban and economical machine. Compared to the MT-125, which is much sportier and more lively, the YS 125 sticks to a utilitarian register. It does share its DNA with the Yamaha YBR 125 Custom, a more stylish version but based on the same robust technical platform.

In everyday use, its 129 kg when fully fueled and a seat height of 795 mm make it an easy motorcycle to tame. The steel frame, simple suspensions, front disc brake, and rear drum brake: everything is designed for simplicity and durability, not for thrills. The 14-liter tank promises serious range, around 300 km, which is a real asset for its primary use. The mixed dashboard, with an analog tachometer and a small digital window, is a step towards modernity without extravagance. This is the very character of this machine: it evolves without ever denying its original philosophy.

Why choose the Yamaha YS 125? If your number one criterion is price, and you are looking for a frugal, reliable, and unsurprising 125cc for the city or learning, it has arguments. Its proven engine, easy maintenance, and low purchase cost are its strengths. But if you aspire to a little more style, performance, or equipment, the competition, notably the Honda CB125F, can offer interesting alternatives. The YS 125 is not a motorcycle that makes you dream, it is a motorcycle that works. An honest tool, sometimes a little too wise, but which knows exactly why it exists.