Older Vet guys...and their 125's.

motomike894
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motomike894 11/19/2020 11:08am
11/19/2020 11:08am
I love riding my 144 I built this past winter, I wish we had a like 30 plus 125 class or something like that around here be fun as hell if everyone on them racing together.

I do have a new kx450 that I love, so thats what gets ridden the most and raced, minus modern vintage or 125 races.



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Scott Hartwick 11/19/2020 3:07pm
11/19/2020 3:07pm
Radical wrote:
The 2005+ YZ125's are lighter and faster than the 2001. The 2001 has a steel subframe, and it's noticeably heavier. The engine was also upgraded in...
The 2005+ YZ125's are lighter and faster than the 2001. The 2001 has a steel subframe, and it's noticeably heavier.
The engine was also upgraded in 2005.
Also, 2006 is the first year that the YZ125 has SSS suspension.
Newer KTMs are faster, but the YZ's handle very well.
I haven't ridden a KTM, so I don't have an opinion, but I can say this, that the 2005+ YZ125's are a blast!
If you get one, the one mod I would do is to upgrade your reed valve to a Vforce4. I could not believe the power difference. It's unbelievable.
Thanks for the input. I am pretty torn between investing in a newer and modded YZ125/144 big bore kit v.s. the KTM 150SX. Yamaha's are certainly a proven platform and I like that their maintenance costs would be slightly cheaper than KTM. Don't get me wrong, it really sounds like KTM's offer an exceptional platform but not 100% convinced that the long term reliability is comparable to the Yamaha. Many say that I really can't go wrong with either option and have been enjoying just getting out to my local vet track for now.
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SmokinJoe439 11/19/2020 4:48pm
11/19/2020 4:48pm
Radical wrote:
The 2005+ YZ125's are lighter and faster than the 2001. The 2001 has a steel subframe, and it's noticeably heavier. The engine was also upgraded in...
The 2005+ YZ125's are lighter and faster than the 2001. The 2001 has a steel subframe, and it's noticeably heavier.
The engine was also upgraded in 2005.
Also, 2006 is the first year that the YZ125 has SSS suspension.
Newer KTMs are faster, but the YZ's handle very well.
I haven't ridden a KTM, so I don't have an opinion, but I can say this, that the 2005+ YZ125's are a blast!
If you get one, the one mod I would do is to upgrade your reed valve to a Vforce4. I could not believe the power difference. It's unbelievable.
Scott Hartwick wrote:
Thanks for the input. I am pretty torn between investing in a newer and modded YZ125/144 big bore kit v.s. the KTM 150SX. Yamaha's are certainly...
Thanks for the input. I am pretty torn between investing in a newer and modded YZ125/144 big bore kit v.s. the KTM 150SX. Yamaha's are certainly a proven platform and I like that their maintenance costs would be slightly cheaper than KTM. Don't get me wrong, it really sounds like KTM's offer an exceptional platform but not 100% convinced that the long term reliability is comparable to the Yamaha. Many say that I really can't go wrong with either option and have been enjoying just getting out to my local vet track for now.
I owned for 15 years a 06 yz125 i bought brand new and 6 months after owning it made it into a 144. How your 144 performs will depend on what your after and ask for.

I had mine modded by Eric gorr and I asked for it to be ported for more mid/top style of power. I also specifically asked for it to run on trick 110 race gas.
So the compression was upped over stock. I also installed a vforce v3 reed block and a fmf factory fatty pipe with shorty silencer.

It required a larger main jet to a 450 and a richer pilot to a 50. It made more power off the bottom over stock and definitely had more mid n top.
So much better than stock i had to put a 14 tooth front sprocket on it.

With the stock gearing 13/48 it would accelerate to hard. 1st through 3rd gears it would run out of gearing before power. It was also causing more wheel spin. You would end up short shifting it through those gears really quickly. I finally settled on 14/49.

This fixed the gear ratio and brought it back to like how it was stock. Allowing for the lower gears to be used properly and let it rev out on top better. I mostly rode it for mx use. So lots of high rev's.

I also trail rode it and even with my more mid/top porting it was better than a stock 125. Reliability wise. It was like the 125 the only thing is that you need to be diligent on number of hours run and swapping your top ends. If you let the piston ring wear out too far it would be easier to seize up.

The negative of going with more mid/top like i did is it makes the exhaust bridge thinner. So it puts more wear on the piston ring. With the standard wiseco ring i could get just up to 25 hrs before the ring would start to get a flat spot from the exhaust bridge.

Wiseco used to offer but it looks like just recently this year. Discontinued the Ti nitrate coated ring for the yz 125 58mm piston. Which sucks because I could get closer to 50 hrs on those before having to swap it out.

How does it compare with my '21 150 sx. They were pretty close but the ktm has a bit more. But i only gotten 5 hrs on it. I'm finding that it's stock 13/48 gearing is also wrong. It too needs a 14 up front like my yz did. Because it too is not making proper use of 1st thru 3rd causing you to short shift too soon.

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burn1986
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burn1986 11/21/2020 6:40am
11/21/2020 6:40am
sandman768 wrote:
I have multiple bikes...this year I rode & raced a 1992 RM250, 1993 Cr125, 2018 Ktm250 Sx, 2019 Ktm450 and a 2021 Ktm 350. Looking at...
I have multiple bikes...this year I rode & raced a 1992 RM250, 1993 Cr125, 2018 Ktm250 Sx, 2019 Ktm450 and a 2021 Ktm 350. Looking at my hr meters from all them, I put around 180hrs of ride time on them all combined. That’s a good amount of riding for a 53 year old with worn out knees 😂
Okay, I’m definitely stand corrected. Nice collection!

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sandman768
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sandman768 11/21/2020 7:06am
11/21/2020 7:06am
burn1986 wrote:
Okay, I’m definitely stand corrected. Nice collection!
No worries...
Dale_Carmine 11/21/2020 8:13am
11/21/2020 8:13am
motomike894 wrote:
I love riding my 144 I built this past winter, I wish we had a like 30 plus 125 class or something like that around here...
I love riding my 144 I built this past winter, I wish we had a like 30 plus 125 class or something like that around here be fun as hell if everyone on them racing together.

I do have a new kx450 that I love, so thats what gets ridden the most and raced, minus modern vintage or 125 races.



When I race my CR125 in the +50 year old class the engine size is open so I'm against lots of 250s and a few open bikes....all 2 stroke.

When I race the 125 class the age is open to all. I run both classes but enjoy the competition in the +50 class the most.
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profeshenal125 11/21/2020 7:41pm
11/21/2020 7:41pm
Dale_Carmine wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/11/18/460077/s1200_received_431067617606249.jpg[/img]

Awesome pic, the 87 was my 1st Mx bike. Purchased 11-18-89 on my birthday. You posted on my birthday, perfect day.
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plano67
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plano67 11/21/2020 8:11pm
11/21/2020 8:11pm
My restored 2002 Honda CR125. Green sticker bike too.



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crowe660
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crowe660 11/21/2020 8:27pm
11/21/2020 8:27pm
There’s just something so cool about a 125 shorty silencer that I love.
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Ryan625
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Ryan625 11/21/2020 10:19pm
11/21/2020 10:19pm Edited Date/Time 11/21/2020 10:20pm
There’s no better feeling in the world than passing and pulling away from someone riding the same class when they are on a 450 and you’re on a 125 😂

Here’s my RM144 with RMZ Suspension swap



16
honda341
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honda341 11/22/2020 7:47pm
11/22/2020 7:47pm
plano67 wrote:
My restored 2002 Honda CR125. Green sticker bike too. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/11/21/460742/s1200_C3E93931_FB2D_40AF_9D64_6911F25B48BB.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/11/21/460741/s1200_2724D59F_6D33_40FE_9B80_F76ED22D041B.jpg[/img]
My restored 2002 Honda CR125. Green sticker bike too.



That is a FANTASTIC looking bike. My '01 sits in the garage waiting a new top end and I get wet just thinking about "if that were my bike!!!" So clean. Good job!!!
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moore433
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moore433 11/24/2020 8:05am
11/24/2020 8:05am
burn1986 wrote:
Only put 12 hrs on it, lol.
sandman768 wrote:
I have multiple bikes...this year I rode & raced a 1992 RM250, 1993 Cr125, 2018 Ktm250 Sx, 2019 Ktm450 and a 2021 Ktm 350. Looking at...
I have multiple bikes...this year I rode & raced a 1992 RM250, 1993 Cr125, 2018 Ktm250 Sx, 2019 Ktm450 and a 2021 Ktm 350. Looking at my hr meters from all them, I put around 180hrs of ride time on them all combined. That’s a good amount of riding for a 53 year old with worn out knees 😂
Dang Sandman, maybe we should hook a hour meter to you, I think you’d give the Energizer Bunny a run for his money!!!! Lol
You have a impressive collection of bikes... I had a 92 rm125 back in 92 and I loved it!!!!
Keep on riding buddy!!!!!!
moore433
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moore433 11/24/2020 8:08am
11/24/2020 8:08am
Wow!!!!! Thanks for posting all the pictures and details about your bikes guys, love seeing them all!!!!!
Also love being 54 and schooling some youngun’s at the track, especially when they realize they got beat by a old man, Lololololol!!!!!!
1
Freedom Mx
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Freedom Mx 11/24/2020 8:39am
11/24/2020 8:39am
moore433 wrote:
Wow!!!!! Thanks for posting all the pictures and details about your bikes guys, love seeing them all!!!!! Also love being 54 and schooling some youngun’s at...
Wow!!!!! Thanks for posting all the pictures and details about your bikes guys, love seeing them all!!!!!
Also love being 54 and schooling some youngun’s at the track, especially when they realize they got beat by a old man, Lololololol!!!!!!
Having so much more fun at 50 years old on my 82’ RM 125 racing some AHRMA events. Just doesn’t get any better

22
Swede
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Swede 11/25/2020 8:01am
11/25/2020 8:01am
I bought back my old ”project” a couple of months back, a bike I built back in 2010. The man who bought it from me is a collector, so it has only been sitting in his ”museum” all these years (togheter with some really cool bikes and excotic parts).

So far I have had the suspension rebuilt, installed a VForce4, made my own vented nr.plate, airbox and did the usual lookover.

So much fun to ride, even though (as we all know), it takes it’s man to ride these little 125’s hard and fast! 😊

A lot of really cool bikes in this thread!







17
moore433
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moore433 11/27/2020 5:49pm
11/27/2020 5:49pm
Here’s my ride...
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smashingpumpkins167 11/27/2020 6:01pm
11/27/2020 6:01pm
I finished her just in time to ride practice at Day in the Dirt today. The suspension is definitely not dialed, I have a stock rear shock, and forks off a 2007 YZ250f and I weigh 190, but this was just a test run to see how she did. It was a total rebuild down to the crank. I didn't have a way to mount the other hand guard, but I should have that figured out when my new perch arrives.


13
profeshenal125 11/27/2020 7:02pm
11/27/2020 7:02pm
Swede wrote:
I bought back my old ”project” a couple of months back, a bike I built back in 2010. The man who bought it from me is...
I bought back my old ”project” a couple of months back, a bike I built back in 2010. The man who bought it from me is a collector, so it has only been sitting in his ”museum” all these years (togheter with some really cool bikes and excotic parts).

So far I have had the suspension rebuilt, installed a VForce4, made my own vented nr.plate, airbox and did the usual lookover.

So much fun to ride, even though (as we all know), it takes it’s man to ride these little 125’s hard and fast! 😊

A lot of really cool bikes in this thread!







Very Sharp YZ, how is that Ohlins shock compared to the stock shock ? I had Jeff Wilohs national Noleen yz125 with a Ohlins shock. I have ice hail in my hand, riding a sand track in rain and hail storm, pic.
6

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Camp332
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Camp332 11/27/2020 7:02pm
11/27/2020 7:02pm
smashingpumpkins167 wrote:
I finished her just in time to ride practice at Day in the Dirt today. The suspension is definitely not dialed, I have a stock rear...
I finished her just in time to ride practice at Day in the Dirt today. The suspension is definitely not dialed, I have a stock rear shock, and forks off a 2007 YZ250f and I weigh 190, but this was just a test run to see how she did. It was a total rebuild down to the crank. I didn't have a way to mount the other hand guard, but I should have that figured out when my new perch arrives.


Came out awesome!

The single handguard is pretty gangsta Cool
1
Agent717
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Agent717 11/28/2020 9:10am
11/28/2020 9:10am
My 04 with SSS treatment. Currently under the knife for a 144 kit.



15
Freedom Mx
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Freedom Mx 11/28/2020 9:36am
11/28/2020 9:36am
Swede wrote:
I bought back my old ”project” a couple of months back, a bike I built back in 2010. The man who bought it from me is...
I bought back my old ”project” a couple of months back, a bike I built back in 2010. The man who bought it from me is a collector, so it has only been sitting in his ”museum” all these years (togheter with some really cool bikes and excotic parts).

So far I have had the suspension rebuilt, installed a VForce4, made my own vented nr.plate, airbox and did the usual lookover.

So much fun to ride, even though (as we all know), it takes it’s man to ride these little 125’s hard and fast! 😊

A lot of really cool bikes in this thread!







profeshenal125 wrote:
Very Sharp YZ, how is that Ohlins shock compared to the stock shock ? I had Jeff Wilohs national Noleen yz125 with a Ohlins shock. I...
Very Sharp YZ, how is that Ohlins shock compared to the stock shock ? I had Jeff Wilohs national Noleen yz125 with a Ohlins shock. I have ice hail in my hand, riding a sand track in rain and hail storm, pic.
Hell Yea ! Jeff was a bad dude, Kick Ass Bike 🤘🏼🏆
Teejay
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Teejay 11/28/2020 12:22pm
11/28/2020 12:22pm Edited Date/Time 11/28/2020 12:44pm
I’ve just picked this up, excuse the mess in the shop! 2005 125. Hoping to get out on it this week when the tracks re open.

8
Mx451
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Mx451 4/30/2021 3:49pm
4/30/2021 3:49pm
So this is the second year in a row that I'm considering going back to a 125 from a 450. Any vets make that switch lately?
1
toomanykaws
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toomanykaws 4/30/2021 6:39pm
4/30/2021 6:39pm
Sold two of my 125s. Still have one and an enduro 150. Still going to get another new 125. They are so much fun.
1
Motovet45
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Motovet45 4/30/2021 8:12pm
4/30/2021 8:12pm




53 yrs old, normally race a 2013 CRF450 but decided to pick up a clapped out 02 CR125 to play on. Still in the process of rebuilding it but it’s starting to come together. Looking forward to hitting LACR, Cal City and Glen Helen (REM) once it’s finished.
7
Scott Hartwick 4/30/2021 8:44pm
4/30/2021 8:44pm Edited Date/Time 4/30/2021 8:55pm
Scott Hartwick wrote:
New to this forum and thought I'd bump this thread since I am in the exact same position. Finally got around to putting together an older...
New to this forum and thought I'd bump this thread since I am in the exact same position. Finally got around to putting together an older 01' YZ 125 that I bought for cheap and think it is the perfect bike for just getting back into the sport. Grew up racing in Upstate New York's CNYMRA (District 3) on a YZ125 and YZ250 throughout the late 90's-early 2000's before getting hurt and heading out to college shortly after. I primarily stayed on the street during and after college but decided that getting back into a bit of MX would be a good way to stay in shape and bring back some fun.

I only been able to hit up Perris' vet track three or four times and trying to just focus on proper technique and getting my confidence back on a Motocross track. I will probably be looking to get a newer bike in February and debating between picking up a YZ250 to go along with the YZ125 or simply pick up a newer YZ125 or KTM SX150 while I work to improve my skills over the next year or two. Being 35 and 200 pounds, I know that a YZ250 would make a lot of sense but also looking to keep my options open. Looking to keep it fun and and bring back some of the good memories of tearing into a 2-stroke top end before race day along with all of the happy feel good's of mixing gas.

Open to input and looking forward to getting back into the MX community here in SoCal.



It is great to see this thread still up and running. I posted a while back while on the fence between picking up a newer YZ 125 or KTM 150SX and just wanted to let everyone know that I went with a 2019 KTM 150SX!

While the narrow powerband did take some getting used to, I have been having a blast racing some of the local OTHG races here in SoCal. Most of the folks on the gate are on 450's and the 150SX is certainly plenty competitive for those who can stay on the gas. Here are some fun little short clips of the racing season so far this year.

https://youtu.be/bN1gh4l31V4

https://youtu.be/Xn4lMu23ylg

https://youtu.be/XEA01THEELw

https://youtu.be/vBPcL0BnThs

https://youtu.be/cq8iyiaJyxw

Braap!

4
Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 4/30/2021 11:42pm
4/30/2021 11:42pm





34 yrs old

125 was just the cheapest i could snag. lots of fun still
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Ryan625
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Ryan625 5/1/2021 8:04am
5/1/2021 8:04am
I can’t even remember if I’ve posted in here before or not, I’m 33 and my favorite bike is a 125


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Skinz285
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Skinz285 5/1/2021 8:16am
5/1/2021 8:16am
My 150 (if it still counts) love this thing. Bought it on here about a year ago out of AUS, TX.



10
sandman768
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sandman768 5/1/2021 8:55am
5/1/2021 8:55am
The 93 is getting a new top end right now... love riding this so much that I will buy a 2022 KTM 125 when they are available.... had been looking for a clean older YZ125 but the prices of roached YZ”s is comical...
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