Yamaha YS125 2020 — Specifications

When we talk about a simple and efficient 125, we often think of the competition, that famous Honda CB125F vs Yamaha YS125. Yet, the YS125 is the story of a discreet renaissance. It doesn't just replace the old YBR; it buries an era. Where its predecessor was content to be an anonymous utility vehicle, the 2020 YS dares to have a style. It displays a streamlined front fairing, almost feline, and a completely blacked-out engine block that gives it an unexpected presence. It's a motorcycle that wants to do its job well, but while taking care of its appearance. For those who want to buy a Yamaha YS125, it's often this little extra soul that tips the balance.

Underneath this retouched exterior, the soul remains fundamentally economical and urban. The 125cc single-cylinder engine has been extensively reworked, adopting a long-stroke architecture to gain torque where it's useful, namely from the first turns of the wheel in the city. The 10.8 Nm at 6000 rpm can be felt, and the 11 horsepower are enough to make it swallow the tarmac without complexes, with a top speed of 110 km/h. It’s tight, but that's the idea. The philosophy of the Yamaha YS125 Yamaha YBR 125 custom 2019 was absolute frugality. Here, we add a touch of character, without ever denying the DNA: a 14-liter tank for nearly 300 km of range, a contained weight of 129 kg and a 795 mm seat that suits most people. It's a machine made for everyday use, end of story.

The comparison is inevitable with the other city bikes in the segment. Faced with the Honda CB125F, often acclaimed for its legendary robustness, the YS125 plays the card of style and a slightly more lively chassis. Its back-bone frame and telescopic fork are of absolute simplicity, just like the braking system which combines a disc at the front and a drum at the rear, assisted by Yamaha’s UBS system. It's rudimentary, but remarkably effective for urban rides. What's surprising is the instrumentation, which swaps the old needle gauges for a modern analog/digital mix. A detail that shows that Yamaha wanted to evolve things, even on such a simple base.

So, who is it for? For the apprentice motorcyclist looking for a reliable and easy first bike, for the city dweller who is tired of traffic jams and wants an agile solution, or even for the veteran looking for a hassle-free motorcycle for short trips. Its Yamaha YS125 price, around 3000 euros at the time, positioned it as a safe and accessible value. It will never give you shivers in acceleration, and its rear drum recalls another era, but that’s precisely its charm: it’s an honest motorcycle, which fully assumes its role as a road worker without unnecessary frills. A solid base, with just enough spice to avoid being boring.