Great review. I am very happy to see that I didn't make a mistake buying this bike. I can confirm it is a very friendly and fun riding machine. I have the impact yellow with the rubber tank knee guards and led blinkers. Boy does she look good¡ Just had the first service and looking forward to pushing her a bit more from now on.
After months of research it came down to the XSR or the MT and I plumped for the XSR Legacy after watching 100's of videos...Then I watched this review and took the plunge. Absolutely no regrets, I've had so many bikes over the years, big and small but wanted a quick commuter and something to get me a bit further if needed. The VVA is an absolute gem of a design! Big bike feel and beautifully built. With economy in mind and how the cost of living is rising, this has come out at the right time for bikers of any cc or age. Perfect
just got the Yamaha XSR125 legacy three days ago and its a beast! if it wernt for the L plates people would think its a 250 and up, eats the hills , extra gear than my last bike. great handling still running mine in so not been up past 6000 revs yet
At 55yo, decided to scratch the itch. Did the CBT, and bought the XSR125. Love it. Gear changes so easy. Great looking bike. Biker friends who've had a go on it are impressed. "big bike looks and feels bigger than a 125 too". Can't wait for decent weather.
Man you bought the bike,so do the full license because at the end you will have to always renew the cbt,that is a waste of money,and also one day you may want to upgrade.....@@sevenrwy
I lv yr review im getting mine on Friday 15th December 2023 in yamaha blue its fantastic I just can't wait I'm 71 I did my CBT yesterday it just looks like a proper bike
Very good review, id of liked to see a walk round also a Top speed run, as every 125cc rider needs to know how fast it will go!( Ps I've had a full licence over 20 years, I'm just pointing out what most 125 riders want to know.)
@@michaelwade1092 Top speed is mentioned as 75mph, and look around first impressions video went live a week before this review which can be found here. hope this helps.. th-cam.com/video/hJ1tR0AKT5A/w-d-xo.html
@@BikeMatters Ok i apologise, i was stupid to even think you wanted any constructive criticism. Next time Top Speed is" Mentioned" i will believe it and add a few mph.
Im so behind the times, i just discovered this bike, an so second hand are becoming on the market. Bit of a come down from my previous XJ900, but im 30 years older, more broken, less able but can imagine doing some distance trips due to the economy. Its taken almost 40 years to learn to slow down.
Im 58 and 1. fell off a ducati at 180, 2. did a tank slapper at 180 on a CBR 650, 3. Did another tank slapper the next day on a ducati cafe racer. fell off once, survived the second two. I am still so juvenile if you put me on a powerful bike like a Ducati or my Harley, i always end up 'full throttle'. I just can't help it. Also when i imagine myself wrapped around a lamp post oblivious i just topped myself on a bike, compared to the image of myself in a hospital bed with a tube up my nose slowly dying, i think i prefer to maintain my juvenile attitude and allow myself to remain tempted to twist that throttle back and take those risks, just because it thrills me, and makes me feel like a seventeen year ld again. I just bought one of these XSRs (a 155 cc version), and its much smaller than mu 1200 Harley sportster LOL but i know i willl still be tempted on it. No A1-A5 rubbish here in Thailand (they say so but they dont restrict any bikes power really). The XSR 155 Thailand version does 135 kmh. Not very fast when I think that on my Ducati you change into third gear and think your toddling along and look at the tachometer and it says 170 and you never even noticed how fast you were going, but 100-135 kmh on a 155 cc bike feels very fast indeed
I had my new Yamaha XSR125 Legacy delivered 16 days ago, it has sat in my garage since then, however, tomorrow (17/10/2024) I will undertake my CBT and tomorrow evening I will be off like a rat up a drain pipe - the weather is to be dry here for the next three days and you know what I will be up to. I will be 71 in too weeks but I feel as excited as I would have been if I were turning 17 and getting my first real bike.
Great review! - Got mine a few weeks ago here in Germany and it's really brilliant. I'm an oldie and returning to biking after a break of many years. I have nothing bad to say about it apart from the seat feeling a little bit hard sometimes for my aging rear end! lol! It's ideal for the backroads here in the Saarland where portable speed cameras often pop up but if you want it to perform it will do just that and keep up with traffic in most situations. A beautiful looking machine as well that handles like a dream! Just looked at the performance figures and it's about the same as the new Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (0-60 and top speed), athough the 350 will beat it on low down grunt of course.....
As an experienced motorcyclist, was a 125 the best size for you to re-familiarise with bikes, or with hindsight, would a bigger cc have been better? I’m asking as an middle/oldie/newbie with many years of driving cars & vans (20-30k miles a year).
@@Pat19eighty4 Hi.....I think it was a good choice as I needed to gain confidence riding here in Germany. It really is a lively bike and I can't say a bad word about it! That's not to say I won't get an MT-03 in the future, but at the moment I'm over the moon with this bike!
@@stratshadow Hi, thank you for your reply. Yes, I guess building confidence before getting a bigger bike is important. It’s a lovely bike. I may make it my first too!
Hallo! Ich überlege zwischen Fantic Caballero 125 und XSR legacy. Die Caballero ist mächtig und sehr hochwertig ausgerüstet und mit dem gleichen Minarelli Motor. Auf der anderen Seite wäre eben die Marke Yamaha. Entscheidend ist eventuell die Körpergröße. Ich bin 185 cm . Wie groß bist Du und wie sind die Platzverhältnisse? Wäre nett wenn Du mir berichten würdest. Gibt es sonst was neues zur xsr? :)
Can always make a custom back seat - machen sie ein kustom sitz aus weichere schaumstoff. Thailand is billig fuer sowas weiss ich nicht BDR wahrscheinlich teuer.
Just got mine- Impact Yellow- looks really lovely- Always had Hondas before so will have to see how the bike and I get on - really good review lads- Thanks.
Definitely. But also it is the bike to take you from absolute beginner to intermediate, and you must still respect it, because despite the small engine, it has torque (acceleration power) throughout all gears and rev ranges, due the the twin valve profiles, and if you twist that throttle too quick in low gear you can wheelie, or if too fast and push the handlebars too much can do a tank slapper. Its a little wasp, but would be the bike you always love and remember if it is your first bike for sure, i could not think of a more recommendable option. This bike wil be remembered for many years as a historic bike
I can't chose between this and a CB125R. And the GSX 125S is significantly cheaper than both and has that great GSX 125R engine so it's appealing too. 125cc class is great these days.
I just bought an XSR 155 60th GP anniversary in Thailand after watching so many reviews, the conclusion is its a buyer. And that coming from an owner of a Ducati Scrambler 803 Cafe Racer (2020), Ducati Scrambler Nightshift 2022, Harley Sportster 1200, and Enfield Scram 411. This bike is so good i bought one despite it being the smallest engine in my stable right now. Thailand's 155 cc version is a corker.
I'm torn between this and the upcoming Honda Dax 125 for my first bike. This one's more of a bike, the other one is even more livable around town. I may be 48 but my love for speed means I will soon find myself hitting top speed so I guess I'm better off with the Dax, it's not as fast! Don't care what I can buy on the second hand market with the same amount of cash, you get what you pay for applies to that as well. I always buy new and keep for a very,very long time.
It reminds me too much of my previous Yammy 125 custom. It's more powerful, just wish it had been around back then. Kudos to Yammy for bringing another cruiser type 125 at max power in the segment. Darn it. I'll have a peak though.
Would you recommend for an older learner who's thinking about getting a 125 to use along side doing DAS? Would it be a bike I'd feel like keeping hold of once I get a larger second bike?
definitely. This would be a keeper even if you upgraded to a big bike, unless you budget forced you to sell one to afford the other. I believe you would not regret this bike at all, and that it is perhaps the best choice for all round, with both chilled riding style or sport style riding style possible, easy to ride and control, jst remember its a bit nippier than most other bikes in the same engine size and class, so just because its only a 125, does not mean it cannot race. It can
Agree with everything you said about this bike but. Yamaha haven't been very clever with the wiring to the handlebars with under wiring not covered. Removing the seat is not easy. The dash is hard to read in sunlight.
@@BikeMatters no worries mate, I'm an older 125 guy so the bigger looking bike helps not make me look so pitiful 🤣 I'd buy it based on that review, keep at it 👍
"It's got Yamaha's variable valve actuation, which was invented by some big brain engineers" YES, you're right, it was invented by some big brain engineers back in the 80's, by HONDA and it's called VTEC. That "brilliant" Yamaha VVA System works the same way as the VTEC-E or the VTEC HONDA used in their motorcycles.✌
I'm really torn. I want a "cruiser" style bike and I have been looking at the keeway RKV 125 but I think this Yamaha is clearly a better Bike, Speed doesn't really matter to me, and looks only matter a little. It is the riding position of cruiser bikes that I particularly like and I think I would find this Yamaha uncomfortable. That sucks. I wish we could get a premium 125 cruiser. What happened to the Shadows, Eliminators, Intruders, Rebels and VIragos? They were all available in 125...
I'm having same thoughts as you and have looked at the rkv and super light by keeway .. the keeway v cruise is stunning looks wise it's me all over however I'm also wondering should I go with Yamaha etc I'm 40 soon and never had a bike so going back and forth wondering what to do also do I do CBT and then full license straight away
I’ve not ridden for a 10 years now, the last bike I had was a customised 1981 Royal Enfield 500 and it looked sweet but the mother vibrated like a washing machine above 50mph. I’m 59 now and have a knackered back but I would consider this yammy to get the taste of the road again. If you can give my channel a squiz and sub, I need the subs 🤪 thanks buddy. Live long and prosper brother 🐸😎👍.
125cc bike is perfect for daily commuting with little to no highway drives. Id get a 50cc but its a bit too much of a toy for me now, and it cant legally drive on highways.
When i first saw this bike only a month ago it was in a petrol forecourt and i thought , jeez that looks like an absolute belter of a 125cc . Then i thought about low fuel cost as i was standing there fuelling up my van and spoke to the lad when he came back after paying for his fuel ... Long story short i went onto TH-cam and failed to see a a negative review ( this review being one of them ) in any of the reviews so i went in to my local dealership only yesterday and bought one in impact yellow .... 4 week wait but hey ho
I heard XSR155 has stiff rear suspension for 1 person cause 3 or 4 people ride in Thailand. I wonder if this 125 has softer suspension fit for 1 person. I'm curious cause this may come to Japan.
which do you recommend between XSR 155 (they sell 155 not 125 here) v MT 25 i live in jakarta. mainly urban road with heavy traffic . and motorcycle is banned in highway is MT 25 a bit of overkill in that situation? thankyou
If you have a full licence though a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is cheaper or the Himalayan scram is a similar price. I can only see this appealing to those with a only a cbt at this price.
@@avocados4all most of the “japanese” small bikes are not built in Japan at all. Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki all build bikes in India as well as many other places like Thailand or Mexico
@@sergentcolon1 sure, but the money must flow back to jpn eventually - an economy i would rather support than indias frankly the indians buying up bsa, enfield et al is just cashing in on boomer nostalgia before they all die off but i spoke with boomers who rode the original british built bikes back in the day, and they reckoned most of those bikes were crap anyway ppl who are allowed to drive 350s, why not just get a honda adv? honda are missing a beat not making a 70s/80s looking low power bike like yamaha have done here
@@avocados4all Royal Enfield India was set up as a subdivision of RE to build bikes for the Indian army in 1947. When the U.K. company went bust the Indian division kept going and was later bought out by Mehindra motors. I’ve owned two Indian made Royal Enfield bikes, a Bullet 500 efi euro 3 bike and a Himalayan euro 4 model. Both were fantastic bikes with great character and quality. I’ve test ridden the Meteor 350 and it is a nice bike totally suited to its design brief. RE’s models have been very popular in India since 1947, they’re not some Johnny come lately like the new BSA, they make up to 900 000 bikes a year, most of them for the Indian market. They are introducing new models like the Hunter and the Classic 350 as well as a water cooled 450 Himalayan soon, they took over Harris performance and their new models are designed in the U.K. I’m guessing you haven’t ridden any.
@@sergentcolon1 no i haven't, and never intend to - may as well be called Raj Enfield by the sound of it you should read the indian news sites when sunak got in - they hate us 100%, so stuff 'em last time i went to japan, i was always treated extremely politely no doubt when you were a lot younger, you could just hop on a 250 or whatever and be one of the 'ton up' boys, lol but now due to the crappy uk bike laws, many are stuck on 125 forever, so in that regard, this yamaha is truly one of the best to own and ride on the market, old or new i saw a new bike in a shop near me recently, 125 looked like marlon brando triumph job, pretty cool, but when asked further, turns out it's french owned, china made, yuck! the uk makes nothing of note anymore, only poor laws
this looks like a really nice bike. but wouldnt want to spend 4 and half grand on a 125. if i had that kinda money to spend then id just go and do the direct access, and get it out the way then get a bigger bike because for 2 or 3 grand you can buy a decent 2nd hand big bike and be with the big boys
Currently waiting for my XSR 125's extras to arrive from Yamaha! Take delivery of mine in March :) Super excited and this review just assured me i made the right decision!
i watched quite a lot of videos about the yamaha xrs 125. And there ist ine funny comparision to englisch and german tests. In every german video they start with "one of the cheapest 125ccm on the market". In the englisch videos they always say "but the price is quite high". This perfectly show how differenr the markets are. 😅
I just got a blue one I filled it up did 250 miles I filled it up with shell Vpower 99octane the petrol was for 2 gallons was 14.70 it.only took £12.70 that's 1.75.5 gallons so it must.have done around 130 miles per gallon happy days
@bobwhitton678 Well iv just had 80 mph as it just reves better I put it in my 2.cars it gives u the same power as the old ledded petrol as its 99 otane and it gives u more talk. Power but it will take maybe 200 miles for the ECU to adjust
Hi going to be new to bikes again after 30 years and want a 125 are these bikes worth the extra money over the Chinese bikes like the Zontes and Sinnis Terrain. Thanks for any reply.
Zontes have really upped their game over the last few years and offer some of the best quality coming over from China. The XSR is simply one of the best 125s going at the moment. While the Sinnis is the more budget option on this list and will lack some power especially compared to the other two.
What’s this bike like on hills I’m in two minds whether to go for a bigger bike or settle here with this Yamaha. Would need to pass my full test still as well
In the age were bikes are nicked so much, you could spend some time od showing other features: locks. You complained on LED display: I still don't know is it terrible? How about the front light in the evening? How tall you are? Some riders are looking for the features such as compatibility with the sat nav/phone, panniers, top box.. I don't give a f... about the top speed at all. Pot holes handling - that's interesting.
Roger is about 5' 10 I believe. Depends on how tall really, some Triumphs tend to do better for riders under 6', but as always with these things best to sit on one in a dealer's and see how you get on with it.
I bought the bike and have ridden about 250km. The only criticism is that videos on TH-cam indicate that you can go about 115-120km/h. Most of the time I ride it cautiously since it's new, but when I maxed it out , it stopped at 100km/h. Will this possibly increase any time soon?
@@MotorutasMLG I know its not recommended but in theory i should be able to reach 110-120 right now? Because as I tried it didnt go over 100. You think it will increase later on?
@@SG-cv4cb it should for sure...I noticed how the engine worked better with more km. I followed the rpm limits as they appear in the manual. From 500 to 1000 I never reached more than 7000 rpm (i was not worried about reaching a given speed, only focused on rpm). Then once I did the first inspection I started going to 8000 and up and every day I noticed the engine worked better and better and finally I could cruise at 100km with no problem, and if needed up to 110, 115 (but take into account that wind is a factor...as with all naked bikes).
Yeah, I can confirm what Sergio said. I have a XSR125 for 3.000 km now, and after the first 500 km you can feel a little boost in performance. After the first service and oil change at around 1.000 km (I did it at 1.700) the XSR really wake up. I’m 35 y.o., I weight 95 kilos, and can push this bike to 110/115 km/h on the plain. Really fun and enjoyable.
i dont know why yamaha dont make that bike with the engine of mt03???would be perfect deal.125cc???no ty i prefer nmax 125cc than this ,cheaper and plus big space under the seat for supermarket
Shame that the foot pegs and back brake lever are set WAY too far back as though you were on a sports bike. Crazy. Why do manufacturers keep doing this? It's plain stupid and turns an otherwise comfortable bike into a leg scrunching, tiring machine. I suppose it is to appeal to wannabe boy racers who want to fantasise that they are on a Fireblade. The pegs/brake lever need to come forward almost 12 inches. On a bike like this the knee angle should be as close as possible to 90 degrees.
Please help me tell them. That is a MAJOR sticking point for me and why I'm still thinking about a Keeway RKV. If this had the feet 12 inches forward (like you say) I would not hesitate to pull the trigger despite (perhaps because of) the price...
Don’t buy any accessories or packs from Yamaha for this model. Don’t get me wrong, I love my bike, but when I got my dedicated fly screen it almost scared me how shitty it is! It’s made in Thailand, so I didn’t expect top quality, but c’mon Yamaha! You can do better…
This guy doesn’t seem to understand why I’m buying a 125cc…. If I could ride a 300cc straight after my CBT I would if I wanted to (I don’t) but I can only ride a 125cc until I’m able to do my full test…. So please stop comparing this to other classes just stick to comparing it with other 125cc…. Also how tall the you does the bike fit you? How’s the reach?
Great review. I am very happy to see that I didn't make a mistake buying this bike. I can confirm it is a very friendly and fun riding machine. I have the impact yellow with the rubber tank knee guards and led blinkers. Boy does she look good¡ Just had the first service and looking forward to pushing her a bit more from now on.
Glad to hear it. Enjoy and ride safe!
After months of research it came down to the XSR or the MT and I plumped for the XSR Legacy after watching 100's of videos...Then I watched this review and took the plunge. Absolutely no regrets, I've had so many bikes over the years, big and small but wanted a quick commuter and something to get me a bit further if needed. The VVA is an absolute gem of a design! Big bike feel and beautifully built. With economy in mind and how the cost of living is rising, this has come out at the right time for bikers of any cc or age. Perfect
Thanks for the comment!
I’m in the position you were I’m buying either the mt or the xsr 125 in 1 month still don’t know which to buy very conflicted opinions
How does the xsr do on the motorway? (top speed and all) and how comfortable is it for a day to day basis
just got the Yamaha XSR125 legacy three days ago and its a beast!
if it wernt for the L plates people would think its a 250 and up, eats the hills , extra gear than my last bike.
great handling
still running mine in so not been up past 6000 revs yet
At 55yo, decided to scratch the itch. Did the CBT, and bought the XSR125.
Love it. Gear changes so easy. Great looking bike.
Biker friends who've had a go on it are impressed. "big bike looks and feels bigger than a 125 too".
Can't wait for decent weather.
Love it! Enjoy. Any thoughts on progressing to the full licence?
@@BikeMatters that's the question everyone is asking me. I'll see how I get on over the summer.
Man you bought the bike,so do the full license because at the end you will have to always renew the cbt,that is a waste of money,and also one day you may want to upgrade.....@@sevenrwy
I lv yr review im getting mine on Friday 15th December 2023 in yamaha blue its fantastic I just can't wait I'm 71 I did my CBT yesterday it just looks like a proper bike
this is a GREAT bike, I have already done 2000km in this one and it feels and drives awesome. Nice review btw!
Fantastic stuff! Thanks for your comment!
How is it on the highway? Does it have enough power?
@@frederikzarghetta2438 After 12000km i woud say yes.
How do you think roger did in his fist ever review? What do you think of the XSR125? LET US KNOW!
He did great! 😀 Very informative
@@DrAce46 We agree!
Very good review, id of liked to see a walk round also a Top speed run, as every 125cc rider needs to know how fast it will go!( Ps I've had a full licence over 20 years, I'm just pointing out what most 125 riders want to know.)
@@michaelwade1092 Top speed is mentioned as 75mph, and look around first impressions video went live a week before this review which can be found here. hope this helps..
th-cam.com/video/hJ1tR0AKT5A/w-d-xo.html
@@BikeMatters Ok i apologise, i was stupid to even think you wanted any constructive criticism. Next time Top Speed is" Mentioned" i will believe it and add a few mph.
Im so behind the times, i just discovered this bike, an so second hand are becoming on the market. Bit of a come down from my previous XJ900, but im 30 years older, more broken, less able but can imagine doing some distance trips due to the economy. Its taken almost 40 years to learn to slow down.
Im 58 and 1. fell off a ducati at 180, 2. did a tank slapper at 180 on a CBR 650, 3. Did another tank slapper the next day on a ducati cafe racer. fell off once, survived the second two. I am still so juvenile if you put me on a powerful bike like a Ducati or my Harley, i always end up 'full throttle'. I just can't help it. Also when i imagine myself wrapped around a lamp post oblivious i just topped myself on a bike, compared to the image of myself in a hospital bed with a tube up my nose slowly dying, i think i prefer to maintain my juvenile attitude and allow myself to remain tempted to twist that throttle back and take those risks, just because it thrills me, and makes me feel like a seventeen year ld again. I just bought one of these XSRs (a 155 cc version), and its much smaller than mu 1200 Harley sportster LOL but i know i willl still be tempted on it. No A1-A5 rubbish here in Thailand (they say so but they dont restrict any bikes power really). The XSR 155 Thailand version does 135 kmh. Not very fast when I think that on my Ducati you change into third gear and think your toddling along and look at the tachometer and it says 170 and you never even noticed how fast you were going, but 100-135 kmh on a 155 cc bike feels very fast indeed
This is going to be my starter bike at 16y/o I am really excited
Just had this in yellow to replace my 2012 CBR 125. The XSR is astoundingly better in every way, I love it.
Why not new cb125f ?
@@xxlalbatross3287 Very ugly
@@xxlalbatross3287 because its ugly
I had my new Yamaha XSR125 Legacy delivered 16 days ago, it has sat in my garage since then, however, tomorrow (17/10/2024) I will undertake my CBT and tomorrow evening I will be off like a rat up a drain pipe - the weather is to be dry here for the next three days and you know what I will be up to. I will be 71 in too weeks but I feel as excited as I would have been if I were turning 17 and getting my first real bike.
Its lovley. Plesure to open garage in the morning and jump on it and feel like a pro big bike- top class of Yamaha .
Great review! - Got mine a few weeks ago here in Germany and it's really brilliant. I'm an oldie and returning to biking after a break of many years. I have nothing bad to say about it apart from the seat feeling a little bit hard sometimes for my aging rear end! lol! It's ideal for the backroads here in the Saarland where portable speed cameras often pop up but if you want it to perform it will do just that and keep up with traffic in most situations. A beautiful looking machine as well that handles like a dream! Just looked at the performance figures and it's about the same as the new Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (0-60 and top speed), athough the 350 will beat it on low down grunt of course.....
As an experienced motorcyclist, was a 125 the best size for you to re-familiarise with bikes, or with hindsight, would a bigger cc have been better? I’m asking as an middle/oldie/newbie with many years of driving cars & vans (20-30k miles a year).
@@Pat19eighty4 Hi.....I think it was a good choice as I needed to gain confidence riding here in Germany. It really is a lively bike and I can't say a bad word about it! That's not to say I won't get an MT-03 in the future, but at the moment I'm over the moon with this bike!
@@stratshadow Hi, thank you for your reply. Yes, I guess building confidence before getting a bigger bike is important. It’s a lovely bike. I may make it my first too!
Hallo! Ich überlege zwischen Fantic Caballero 125 und XSR legacy. Die Caballero ist mächtig und sehr hochwertig ausgerüstet und mit dem gleichen Minarelli Motor. Auf der anderen Seite wäre eben die Marke Yamaha. Entscheidend ist eventuell die Körpergröße. Ich bin 185 cm . Wie groß bist Du und wie sind die Platzverhältnisse? Wäre nett wenn Du mir berichten würdest. Gibt es sonst was neues zur xsr? :)
Can always make a custom back seat - machen sie ein kustom sitz aus weichere schaumstoff. Thailand is billig fuer sowas weiss ich nicht BDR wahrscheinlich teuer.
Just got mine- Impact Yellow- looks really lovely- Always had Hondas before so will have to see how the bike and I get on - really good review lads- Thanks.
They look brilliant in yellow - enjoy it mate!
I really enjoyed your sincere take on the XSR 125
For a 125cc bike its a great looking machine 👌 impressed.
I was about to pull the trigger on the Husky svartpillen 125 but now seen this review I have to check out Yamaha looks amazing.
Thanks for the comment!
Same here
I'm 68 years old and i love it. mine is impact yellow. I'm about to have mine lowered 40 mm as i have a 29 inch inside leg
I ride the 155cc version of this bike. Very very good motorcycle.
i got mine, for more then a month now.. im verry happy with it!😍
Glad to hear it - enjoy!
as a beginner rider myself this bike is a sweet machine for sure..
Definitely. But also it is the bike to take you from absolute beginner to intermediate, and you must still respect it, because despite the small engine, it has torque (acceleration power) throughout all gears and rev ranges, due the the twin valve profiles, and if you twist that throttle too quick in low gear you can wheelie, or if too fast and push the handlebars too much can do a tank slapper. Its a little wasp, but would be the bike you always love and remember if it is your first bike for sure, i could not think of a more recommendable option. This bike wil be remembered for many years as a historic bike
@@AjarnSpencer agree with you as I come from big car that power doesn't scare me, as I understand the difference between bikes to cars power..
I prefer black as it resembles the old RD350LC.
What a two stroke gem of a bike. Rapido.
Just bought one for work. Got a honda nc700s for weekends. The yamaha is just fun. Cool review.
I love this bikes style, if i wasnt so in love with the cb125r i would definitely give this bike a thought!
I can't chose between this and a CB125R. And the GSX 125S is significantly cheaper than both and has that great GSX 125R engine so it's appealing too. 125cc class is great these days.
that honda fuel consumption is unbeatble but that yamaha is beautiful.
I just bought an XSR 155 60th GP anniversary in Thailand after watching so many reviews, the conclusion is its a buyer. And that coming from an owner of a Ducati Scrambler 803 Cafe Racer (2020), Ducati Scrambler Nightshift 2022, Harley Sportster 1200, and Enfield Scram 411. This bike is so good i bought one despite it being the smallest engine in my stable right now. Thailand's 155 cc version is a corker.
Thanks for the comment!
As a new rider this bike will be my 1st
I'm torn between this and the upcoming Honda Dax 125 for my first bike.
This one's more of a bike, the other one is even more livable around town.
I may be 48 but my love for speed means I will soon find myself hitting top speed so I guess I'm better off with the Dax, it's not as fast!
Don't care what I can buy on the second hand market with the same amount of cash, you get what you pay for applies to that as well.
I always buy new and keep for a very,very long time.
It reminds me too much of my previous Yammy 125 custom. It's more powerful, just wish it had been around back then. Kudos to Yammy for bringing another cruiser type 125 at max power in the segment. Darn it. I'll have a peak though.
What model did you have? SR125?
@@chucknorris7221 ybr 125 custom. A low slung xsr 125 with just over half the hp.
Getting mine tomorrow brill review
That's great to hear, hope you enjoy it - a cracking 125!
This would make a great city bike regardless of your licencing status.
100% - these aren't just for learners, they'd be a great bike for anyone!
Have ordered mine this weekend with the the black cowel which will complement the black and gold bike and got the knee guards aswell
Would you recommend for an older learner who's thinking about getting a 125 to use along side doing DAS? Would it be a bike I'd feel like keeping hold of once I get a larger second bike?
definitely. This would be a keeper even if you upgraded to a big bike, unless you budget forced you to sell one to afford the other. I believe you would not regret this bike at all, and that it is perhaps the best choice for all round, with both chilled riding style or sport style riding style possible, easy to ride and control, jst remember its a bit nippier than most other bikes in the same engine size and class, so just because its only a 125, does not mean it cannot race. It can
Agree with everything you said about this bike but.
Yamaha haven't been very clever with the wiring to the handlebars with under wiring not covered.
Removing the seat is not easy.
The dash is hard to read in sunlight.
Flawless review mate 👌
Not bad for his first one ey! Thanks for your comment buddy!
@@BikeMatters no worries mate, I'm an older 125 guy so the bigger looking bike helps not make me look so pitiful 🤣 I'd buy it based on that review, keep at it 👍
"It's got Yamaha's variable valve actuation, which was invented by some big brain engineers"
YES, you're right, it was invented by some big brain engineers back in the 80's, by HONDA and it's called VTEC.
That "brilliant" Yamaha VVA System works the same way as the VTEC-E or the VTEC HONDA used in their motorcycles.✌
You’re right, friend of mine had a Civic VTEC back in the day, boy was that a street sleeper for those that didn’t know …. 😉
I'm really torn. I want a "cruiser" style bike and I have been looking at the keeway RKV 125 but I think this Yamaha is clearly a better Bike, Speed doesn't really matter to me, and looks only matter a little. It is the riding position of cruiser bikes that I particularly like and I think I would find this Yamaha uncomfortable. That sucks. I wish we could get a premium 125 cruiser. What happened to the Shadows, Eliminators, Intruders, Rebels and VIragos? They were all available in 125...
I'm having same thoughts as you and have looked at the rkv and super light by keeway .. the keeway v cruise is stunning looks wise it's me all over however I'm also wondering should I go with Yamaha etc I'm 40 soon and never had a bike so going back and forth wondering what to do also do I do CBT and then full license straight away
Good review. It looks like a good commuter. 👍
Thanks mate! Yeah will be a fantastic commuting option!
I’ve not ridden for a 10 years now, the last bike I had was a customised 1981 Royal Enfield 500 and it looked sweet but the mother vibrated like a washing machine above 50mph. I’m 59 now and have a knackered back but I would consider this yammy to get the taste of the road again. If you can give my channel a squiz and sub, I need the subs 🤪 thanks buddy. Live long and prosper brother 🐸😎👍.
125cc bike is perfect for daily commuting with little to no highway drives.
Id get a 50cc but its a bit too much of a toy for me now, and it cant legally drive on highways.
When i first saw this bike only a month ago it was in a petrol forecourt and i thought , jeez that looks like an absolute
belter of a 125cc . Then i thought about low fuel cost as i was standing there fuelling up my van and spoke to the lad when he came back after paying for his fuel ... Long story short i went onto TH-cam and failed to see a a negative review ( this review being one of them ) in any of the reviews so i went in to my local dealership only yesterday and bought one in impact yellow .... 4 week wait but hey ho
Great story, and congrats on the purchase! Don't think you'll be disappointed, one of the best 125ccc bikes on the market.
What is the THE TOP SPEED. MPH_?
@@stuartanderson3228 70mph
Good review surprised at the negative remarks on the brakes
An important issue
Waiting for the XSR bikes since 1 year 8 months here in India 🥺
Wow this is quite a long time. I heard that the india market have the xsr with 150ccm and not like Europe with 125ccm?
@@MICHA3363 that's for South East Asian market, South Asian excluding the Bangladesh were not getting it.
great review format
I heard XSR155 has stiff rear suspension for 1 person cause 3 or 4 people ride in Thailand. I wonder if this 125 has softer suspension fit for 1 person. I'm curious cause this may come to Japan.
It sounds weird...a japaneese brand MIIGHT cone to Japan
That seat looks nice and comfortable
It really is! Very premium offer in the 125 market
which do you recommend between XSR 155 (they sell 155 not 125 here) v MT 25
i live in jakarta. mainly urban road with heavy traffic . and motorcycle is banned in highway
is MT 25 a bit of overkill in that situation? thankyou
If you have a full licence though a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is cheaper or the Himalayan scram is a similar price. I can only see this appealing to those with a only a cbt at this price.
some people prefer japanese bikes over indian ones
@@avocados4all most of the “japanese” small bikes are not built in Japan at all. Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki all build bikes in India as well as many other places like Thailand or Mexico
@@sergentcolon1 sure, but the money must flow back to jpn eventually - an economy i would rather support than indias frankly
the indians buying up bsa, enfield et al is just cashing in on boomer nostalgia before they all die off
but i spoke with boomers who rode the original british built bikes back in the day, and they reckoned most of those bikes were crap anyway
ppl who are allowed to drive 350s, why not just get a honda adv? honda are missing a beat not making a 70s/80s looking low power bike like yamaha have done here
@@avocados4all Royal Enfield India was set up as a subdivision of RE to build bikes for the Indian army in 1947. When the U.K. company went bust the Indian division kept going and was later bought out by Mehindra motors. I’ve owned two Indian made Royal Enfield bikes, a Bullet 500 efi euro 3 bike and a Himalayan euro 4 model. Both were fantastic bikes with great character and quality. I’ve test ridden the Meteor 350 and it is a nice bike totally suited to its design brief. RE’s models have been very popular in India since 1947, they’re not some Johnny come lately like the new BSA, they make up to 900 000 bikes a year, most of them for the Indian market. They are introducing new models like the Hunter and the Classic 350 as well as a water cooled 450 Himalayan soon, they took over Harris performance and their new models are designed in the U.K. I’m guessing you haven’t ridden any.
@@sergentcolon1 no i haven't, and never intend to - may as well be called Raj Enfield by the sound of it
you should read the indian news sites when sunak got in - they hate us 100%, so stuff 'em
last time i went to japan, i was always treated extremely politely
no doubt when you were a lot younger, you could just hop on a 250 or whatever and be one of the 'ton up' boys, lol
but now due to the crappy uk bike laws, many are stuck on 125 forever, so in that regard, this yamaha is truly one of the best to own and ride on the market, old or new
i saw a new bike in a shop near me recently, 125 looked like marlon brando triumph job, pretty cool, but when asked further, turns out it's french owned, china made, yuck!
the uk makes nothing of note anymore, only poor laws
this looks like a really nice bike. but wouldnt want to spend 4 and half grand on a 125. if i had that kinda money to spend then id just go and do the direct access, and get it out the way then get a bigger bike because for 2 or 3 grand you can buy a decent 2nd hand big bike and be with the big boys
Currently waiting for my XSR 125's extras to arrive from Yamaha! Take delivery of mine in March :) Super excited and this review just assured me i made the right decision!
Fantastic" You have definitely made a great decision! Enjoy your XSR!
Have you ever tried riding a 125cc motorcycle from bikes direct. If so is it worthwhile buying one or if you were on a low budget?.
Your feet seems to be kinda back.I mean looks like you have an aggressive pition.Is this uncomfortable if you drive much time?
i watched quite a lot of videos about the yamaha xrs 125. And there ist ine funny comparision to englisch and german tests. In every german video they start with "one of the cheapest 125ccm on the market". In the englisch videos they always say "but the price is quite high". This perfectly show how differenr the markets are. 😅
I just got a blue one I filled it up did 250 miles I filled it up with shell Vpower 99octane the petrol was for 2 gallons was 14.70 it.only took £12.70 that's 1.75.5 gallons so it must.have done around 130 miles per gallon happy days
Did you notice any difference with the power or speedwith the vpower fuel
@bobwhitton678 Well iv just had 80 mph as it just reves better I put it in my 2.cars it gives u the same power as the old ledded petrol as its 99 otane and it gives u more talk. Power but it will take maybe 200 miles for the ECU to adjust
Brilliant 125 wish I could find one hard to find
Do these bikes get faster through time mine has only done 1300 miles but I can’t get much more than 64 out of it. My yzf I see to get about 77
Do also a test on Yamaha SZ 150RR V3 that bike looks like a sport bike
Impressive wee bike 👍
Less is more.
waiting to buy when come's to india
nice review. thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Hi going to be new to bikes again after 30 years and want a 125 are these bikes worth the extra money over the Chinese bikes like the Zontes and Sinnis Terrain. Thanks for any reply.
Zontes have really upped their game over the last few years and offer some of the best quality coming over from China. The XSR is simply one of the best 125s going at the moment. While the Sinnis is the more budget option on this list and will lack some power especially compared to the other two.
great video!
Thank you!
What’s this bike like on hills I’m in two minds whether to go for a bigger bike or settle here with this Yamaha. Would need to pass my full test still as well
Just got one and it’s not as good as my yzf was on hills looses power
looks great in red, shame about the price though.
I need to see a review of the new zontes rocketman
In the age were bikes are nicked so much, you could spend some time od showing other features: locks. You complained on LED display: I still don't know is it terrible? How about the front light in the evening? How tall you are? Some riders are looking for the features such as compatibility with the sat nav/phone, panniers, top box.. I don't give a f... about the top speed at all. Pot holes handling - that's interesting.
Relax lad
@@Ciarageminibeauty 🤣🤣
Great review looking at getting xsr 155
*india NUMBER ONE JAKE PAULERS NUMBER JUANS*
Waiting for xsr launch in india
how tall are you and did you eat good for me who is 185 cm?
Yamaha Xsr provide Gtt technology features???? 🤔
but can you have 2 people on the bike??
How tall are you? Do you recommend this bike for the taller riders?
Roger is about 5' 10 I believe. Depends on how tall really, some Triumphs tend to do better for riders under 6', but as always with these things best to sit on one in a dealer's and see how you get on with it.
jakeys a funny lad
Yes, he is!
How tall are you Roger?
Would I be too tall for it @6’2?
India me Kab Aa Rahi Ha Yamaha XSR
I would like one
Can you comparé it to zontes 125
Yamaha Xsr provide auto Sail technology features 🤔
It's a lot of money for a bike most will own for a year, better of saving for your apre test bike.
If you want to see bike riding testing, watch videos from India
👍
Is this available in the Phillipines?
you have the XSR155 in Philippines
👍 👍 👍
Is this ok for tall riders, 188cm?
Best check it out in person, to try it.
I bought the bike and have ridden about 250km. The only criticism is that videos on TH-cam indicate that you can go about 115-120km/h. Most of the time I ride it cautiously since it's new, but when I maxed it out , it stopped at 100km/h. Will this possibly increase any time soon?
yes, after 1000km you must do the first inspection, then you can use the engine fully ( I reach from 110 to 120)
@@MotorutasMLG I know its not recommended but in theory i should be able to reach 110-120 right now? Because as I tried it didnt go over 100. You think it will increase later on?
@@SG-cv4cb it should for sure...I noticed how the engine worked better with more km. I followed the rpm limits as they appear in the manual. From 500 to 1000 I never reached more than 7000 rpm (i was not worried about reaching a given speed, only focused on rpm). Then once I did the first inspection I started going to 8000 and up and every day I noticed the engine worked better and better and finally I could cruise at 100km with no problem, and if needed up to 110, 115 (but take into account that wind is a factor...as with all naked bikes).
try to max out the rev range at each gears then it will go about 100kph in about 3rd to 4th gear in no time.
Yeah, I can confirm what Sergio said. I have a XSR125 for 3.000 km now, and after the first 500 km you can feel a little boost in performance. After the first service and oil change at around 1.000 km (I did it at 1.700) the XSR really wake up. I’m 35 y.o., I weight 95 kilos, and can push this bike to 110/115 km/h on the plain. Really fun and enjoyable.
i dont know why yamaha dont make that bike with the engine of mt03???would be perfect deal.125cc???no ty i prefer nmax 125cc than this ,cheaper and plus big space under the seat for supermarket
Very good shout
Coming from to India Lance
12 day to go for legacy
well happy with the bike
Hi, would this bike be suitable for a tall guy? 6.4ft /37 inseam?
Might be a touch on the smaller side but honestly couldn't say either way. You'll be best to go to have a sit on one!
Every 125 should be at 15hp minimum…I’m amazed they’re not…quite mad really
Old proverb say
dohc is bonkers
Shame that the foot pegs and back brake lever are set WAY too far back as though you were on a sports bike. Crazy. Why do manufacturers keep doing this? It's plain stupid and turns an otherwise comfortable bike into a leg scrunching, tiring machine. I suppose it is to appeal to wannabe boy racers who want to fantasise that they are on a Fireblade. The pegs/brake lever need to come forward almost 12 inches. On a bike like this the knee angle should be as close as possible to 90 degrees.
Please help me tell them. That is a MAJOR sticking point for me and why I'm still thinking about a Keeway RKV. If this had the feet 12 inches forward (like you say) I would not hesitate to pull the trigger despite (perhaps because of) the price...
Sana magkaroon dito sa Philippines.
Oo nga e, masyadong mahal yung 155
Don’t buy any accessories or packs from Yamaha for this model. Don’t get me wrong, I love my bike, but when I got my dedicated fly screen it almost scared me how shitty it is! It’s made in Thailand, so I didn’t expect top quality, but c’mon Yamaha! You can do better…
How can I get one in the fooking U.S.?? If you ride anything bigger than a 125 then you're a deusche.
I can't hear it ?
Think I spend to much time on 2strokes lol I can't hear a thing.
Looks ok tad expensive tho for a 125 but I guess they all are now, I'd prefer the yellow wrap I'm a bit to big for it tho , nice review 👍
Wery nice
Do you really want to spend that sort of money ?
The answer is NO NO NO
Hàng này mà về Việt Nam thì ngon
This guy doesn’t seem to understand why I’m buying a 125cc…. If I could ride a 300cc straight after my CBT I would if I wanted to (I don’t) but I can only ride a 125cc until I’m able to do my full test…. So please stop comparing this to other classes just stick to comparing it with other 125cc…. Also how tall the you does the bike fit you? How’s the reach?
It's not 125 cc That's why! It's 155cc
You’re talking about the XSR 155. It is a 125, it’s a new bike.
It's a 125 in the UK.
@@BikeMatters Sadly; I would find the 155 just right for all my fun and transport needs in this day and age.