Edited Date/Time
1/7/2021 4:25pm
In the near future I would love to buy a 125 to restore from the frame up and was hoping to get some opinions on what would be the best bike to buy. Anything from the late nineties onwards is what I fancy and I'm not bothered at all about the colour of the bike. What are some good models and years to look out for and what are the bad ones to avoid and why for each?
I appreciate any opinions or help on these, my knowledge of older 125s is next to none and don't want to buy a turd of a bike.
Thanks in advance!
I appreciate any opinions or help on these, my knowledge of older 125s is next to none and don't want to buy a turd of a bike.
Thanks in advance!
But in reality any yz125 from anything after 2003 so easy to source parts for literally anywhere and let’s be real the bike is such a nice one to ride.
The Suzuki parts are kinda hard to source occasionally. Lots on back order and fulfillment is spotty sometime.
The Honda’s tend to be slower and the Kawasaki’s for whatever reason here locally are always totally roached out.
The 1997 model had a much faster motor.
1998 is when they went to Reflex blue instead of that dingy navy color; also a larger rear rotor.
'99-'01 are all excellent with minor tweaks.
'02-'04 have the new body style but they went with a 5-speed transmission. I owned an '03 and did not like the gearbox. It was too wide for a 125. If it were my money I'd avoid these models. Still a great bike, but not as easy to gear it correctly.
2005 was the massive redesign and 10-pound weight reduction. Aluminum frame, new motor, back to 6-speed.
2006 is when they went to SSS suspension. This is essentially the bike they sell today.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
My first bike I bought and restore was a 97 YZ125. Everyone talked about how fast that motor was, and yes, for a 125, that’s 1 year younger than me, it has no problem hauling my 6’3” ass around the track
can be made to work. Still can get parts easily. I admit to being partial to KTM. I like the way
they are made and like working on them. (Actually looking for a 250 from those years to rescue.)
03 + CR125
03 + RM125
any year YZ125
If I were you I would try to pick up something sooner if you can as the prices of 125's are starting to go a bit crazy here and getting hard to find. Keep an eye on FB marketplace in England as they come up for sale quite often over there.
Ive picked up an RM, KX but still on the lookout for a CR and YZ haha.
I've never met you at the track before but been keeping an eye on how you've been getting on since the end of last year, hope you're keeping OK all things considered and you've got a smashing attitude about it all. Keep up the good fight bud!
Thanks mate I appreciate that, pretty shitty situation but I'm making the most of it and doing everything I can. I'll be back punishing myself at the track in a year or 2 I reckon haha!
I’d recommend a 1997
Pit Row
Here is my bike. I did a quick makeover 2 years ago.
Before I sold my last RM, parts were expensive and hard to find.... just like a bike in decent condition
most any model can have suspension updated, the older models have crap forks compared to anything out here today.
older Kawi's didnt hold up to abuse that well, Rm's and Kx's have issues with parts availability
honda's are good and can be updated but the later motors were full of issues
Yz's all the way back to 98 are solid and still have good parts support
My brain and parts availability are telling me 2007+ yz125.
I do miss those steel frame bikes though. So damn comfortable and roomy.
99-02 kx's are super fun bikes.
04 sx 125 is a fun bike. I've rode it once
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