Best 125?

Kenzie_Hanson
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Kenzie_Hanson
Edited Date/Time 12/6/2019 9:28pm
Whats the best 125 2 stroke in your opinion and why?
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Uncle Tony
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Uncle Tony 12/1/2019 5:10pm
12/1/2019 5:10pm
YZ125 yeah it doesn’t have the power of the KTM or Husky but parts are cheaper and the suspension is tits
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kawboy627
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kawboy627 12/1/2019 5:36pm
12/1/2019 5:36pm
If I was buying a 125 I would get a newer ktm or a 2006+ yz125. The ktm is going to be a little better out of the box but you can’t go wrong with the yz.
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zehn
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zehn 12/1/2019 5:37pm
12/1/2019 5:37pm
Whichever one you feel most comfortable on
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cmotodad
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cmotodad 12/1/2019 5:44pm
12/1/2019 5:44pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2019 6:12pm
There is only one choice, CR125, Well built bike, great handling, awesome chassis and a motor you can build to suit.As fast or mellow as you want. Sorry for the original post.
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zehn
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zehn 12/1/2019 5:51pm
12/1/2019 5:51pm
cmotodad wrote:
There is only one choice, CR125, Well built bike, great handling, awesome chassis and a motor you can build to suit.As fast or mellow as you...
There is only one choice, CR125, Well built bike, great handling, awesome chassis and a motor you can build to suit.As fast or mellow as you want. Sorry for the original post.
Uh....
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Kenzie_Hanson
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Kenzie_Hanson 12/1/2019 5:59pm
12/1/2019 5:59pm
cmotodad wrote:
There is only one choice, CR125, Well built bike, great handling, awesome chassis and a motor you can build to suit.As fast or mellow as you...
There is only one choice, CR125, Well built bike, great handling, awesome chassis and a motor you can build to suit.As fast or mellow as you want. Sorry for the original post.
The only choice is not a cr125 by the looks of it
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UpTiTe
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UpTiTe 12/1/2019 6:11pm
12/1/2019 6:11pm
cmotodad wrote:
There is only one choice, CR125, Well built bike, great handling, awesome chassis and a motor you can build to suit.As fast or mellow as you...
There is only one choice, CR125, Well built bike, great handling, awesome chassis and a motor you can build to suit.As fast or mellow as you want. Sorry for the original post.
I’m really interested in a new cr125, tell me more about it.
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MCP486
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MCP486 12/1/2019 6:28pm
12/1/2019 6:28pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2019 6:29pm
The engine on the CR125R is so bad, it's almost not fun to ride for a rider over 170LBS...think about the feeling of your rear brake dragging out of every corner. The YZ125 has such a broad, easy to ride power delivery and the suspension is amazing. It will make you feel like a hero.
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cmotodad
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cmotodad 12/1/2019 6:39pm
12/1/2019 6:39pm
In the original post, I don't see the word stock or new? Comprehension skills if you're going to call someone out, A modified cr125 was 2nd at Red Bull straight rhythm. If it's fast enough for a straight line race for a pro. Michael Lieb, I'm sure it is fast enough for most.of us.
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MCP486
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MCP486 12/1/2019 6:42pm
12/1/2019 6:42pm
cmotodad wrote:
In the original post, I don't see the word stock or new? Comprehension skills if you're going to call someone out, A modified cr125 was 2nd...
In the original post, I don't see the word stock or new? Comprehension skills if you're going to call someone out, A modified cr125 was 2nd at Red Bull straight rhythm. If it's fast enough for a straight line race for a pro. Michael Lieb, I'm sure it is fast enough for most.of us.
I'd attribute the finish to rider skill...did you see the amount of work put into the bike? I'm sure Michael and Don would gladly admit that the power delivery still didn't compare to a KTM.
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cmotodad
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cmotodad 12/1/2019 6:53pm
12/1/2019 6:53pm
Agree, quite a bit of work goes into that much HP for a CR125. Varner said it is a 134 so that is an advantage. A well setup CR125 can be a very good bike even as a 125 .With the amount of money spent on a newer 125, a CR can be cheaper and have Honda reliability. Plus you have a bike very few at the track or elsewhere will have.
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MCP486
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MCP486 12/1/2019 7:03pm
12/1/2019 7:03pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2019 7:03pm
cmotodad wrote:
Agree, quite a bit of work goes into that much HP for a CR125. Varner said it is a 134 so that is an advantage. A...
Agree, quite a bit of work goes into that much HP for a CR125. Varner said it is a 134 so that is an advantage. A well setup CR125 can be a very good bike even as a 125 .With the amount of money spent on a newer 125, a CR can be cheaper and have Honda reliability. Plus you have a bike very few at the track or elsewhere will have.
I have three '05 CR125Rs and a '19 YZ125. The mod CR is putting down 39.6HP on good fuel, stock bore and stroke. It's technically "faster" than the YZ. My comment wasn't about power, but about power delivery. The stock CR powerband is completely focused in the midrange. You can move it around, but the delivery is never going to be as broad as the YZ. The Hondas collect dust these days...the YZ is just more fun. The KTM is going to be the fastest stock engine with the most potential, but I haven't gelled with the AER forks on previous KTMs.
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VetMX.com
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VetMX.com 12/1/2019 7:11pm
12/1/2019 7:11pm
Mod 2005+ RM125. 37RWHP and fun to ride and it turns AMAZING and the Showa suspension is plush. The inside line is usually the fastest. Definitely need to rev it. It is the bike I ride the most because it is the most fun.
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 12/1/2019 7:40pm
12/1/2019 7:40pm
VetMX.com wrote:
Mod 2005+ RM125. 37RWHP and fun to ride and it turns AMAZING and the Showa suspension is plush. The inside line is usually the fastest. Definitely...
Mod 2005+ RM125. 37RWHP and fun to ride and it turns AMAZING and the Showa suspension is plush. The inside line is usually the fastest. Definitely need to rev it. It is the bike I ride the most because it is the most fun.
When suzuki copied the ktm engine, they made a wolf in sheeps clothing for sure. It still won't hold a candle to a modern Austrian bike though.

Anyone that thinks any of the japanese 125 comes close to the austrian bikes needs a major rethink on rational thinking lol
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cmotodad
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cmotodad 12/1/2019 7:58pm
12/1/2019 7:58pm
Gotta love those Austrian air forks. The most expensive bike with the worst suspension, but we sell some good stuff for much more money. Not for me.
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Ryan625
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Ryan625 12/1/2019 8:35pm
12/1/2019 8:35pm
If I was going brand new I would get a TC125 and put the 150 BB kit on. I am a huge fan of the white KTM (as well as the 150sx) and have no gripes about the AER fork honestly. You can get them to work well enough for the average rider.

Me personally, I am building a 2004 RM125. 144BB, micro polished transmission, etc. etc. I can't wait for this thing to be done. I have always loved the RM even stock.
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jeffro503 12/1/2019 8:40pm
12/1/2019 8:40pm Edited Date/Time 12/2/2019 7:52am
cmotodad wrote:
Gotta love those Austrian air forks. The most expensive bike with the worst suspension, but we sell some good stuff for much more money. Not for...
Gotta love those Austrian air forks. The most expensive bike with the worst suspension, but we sell some good stuff for much more money. Not for me.
Edit : My post was long winded.

The AER's can be made to work very well , is all I wanted to say.
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 12/1/2019 9:08pm
12/1/2019 9:08pm
garagedog wrote:
The best 125 is a KTM150!
At 1/8 throttle, it has more power than a cr125 wife open.
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cmotodad
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cmotodad 12/1/2019 9:54pm
12/1/2019 9:54pm Edited Date/Time 12/1/2019 9:56pm
We seem to be going off topic about suspension. Many 125's can be made to work for some and not for others. Tiddlers are all about having fun.
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Motofinne
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Motofinne 12/2/2019 12:56am
12/2/2019 12:56am
KTM/Husqvarna 2016-2020. It's not even a competition between those and the rest.
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chuckdavies
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chuckdavies 12/2/2019 1:08am
12/2/2019 1:08am
I've had them all, including my previous Husky 125 with VHM Crank/head/12 degree piston, SCT Cylinder, Vforce4R, HGS etc, but after riding a new TM 125 I couldn't go for anything else.

Motor is the as-quick-as/if not quicker than my mod Husky, chassis is incredible, comes with KYB forks as in the yams (arguably as good as it gets in the sus department), Brembo brakes, lightweight billet clamps/hubs/brake pedal etc, hydraulic clutch.

Probably not the answer you were searching for but it really is the best 125 I've ever ridden and I've owned/raced most them all.
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Kelz87
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Kelz87 12/2/2019 1:09am
12/2/2019 1:09am
I mean, I like the KX125 (especially the last 2 designs ‘99-‘05) but I know they aren’t the “best” Lol

I see mostly KTM 125s racing so I’d have to think there’s a reason behind it. It’s all subject though tbh
Lasse
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Lasse 12/2/2019 1:16am
12/2/2019 1:16am
I really liked my TM125 2018, had a 2006 YZ125 months before, it was great too, but they were different indeed!
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FWYT 12/2/2019 1:18am
12/2/2019 1:18am
garagedog wrote:
The best 125 is a KTM150!
Or the KTM200!! LaughingLaughingLaughing

Personally, I'm planning on building an '04-'06 KTM125 in the near future.
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AH387
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AH387 12/2/2019 5:14am
12/2/2019 5:14am
The best 125, as in most competitive, is the 17+ Husky/KTMs, in my opinion. With the AER suspension that really put those bikes over the top. The engines are maybe a little more peaky but they make incredible power and handle awesome. That being said, even though I love my Husky (350), I couldn't pull the trigger on the Husky 125. I ended up going with the Yamaha this fall when I bought a 125. My reasons were that I have owned a bunch of YZ125s (a few of the 05+) and they have always been my favorite bike. The motor is very easy to go fast on, the handling is amazing, as is suspension. Also, I feel like the carb is usually pretty spot-on from the showroom and very easy to dial in with mods etc. I know some ppl seem to sometimes struggle with the KTM/Husky 2stroke jetting. Plus the YZs have a ton of aftermarket mods to choose from, where as the KTM/Husky model is cycled every 3 years or so, then changes. Obviously some good and bad comes with that. So for me, I got the YZ and am beyond satisfied, but I think the KTM/Husky is still a great choice.

I have to say that I do love the 01+ RM125s but I did have some reliability issues with them, compared to my YZs.
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seth505
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seth505 12/2/2019 7:42am
12/2/2019 7:42am
cmotodad wrote:
Gotta love those Austrian air forks. The most expensive bike with the worst suspension, but we sell some good stuff for much more money. Not for...
Gotta love those Austrian air forks. The most expensive bike with the worst suspension, but we sell some good stuff for much more money. Not for me.
Worst compared to what? The AER48 work really well. I can't really understand how people can't get them to feel ok, especially on a 125.

Having ridden most, the ktm/husky is easily the best out of the box. That said, I'd love to try a TM but can't comment on them.
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SrfNdirt
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SrfNdirt 12/2/2019 10:05am
12/2/2019 10:05am
Love my 2005 ktm. Only complaints are the notchy transmission and wish it cornered better, although that's probably rider input. Would love ito try a new gen TC or SX.
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591MX
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591MX 12/2/2019 10:48am
12/2/2019 10:48am
One man’s “best” is another man’s worst. I’d say it’s mostly just personal preference and depends on what you’re after. Being a father, husband, and working man, now I’m just after fun and I’d say they all meet that requirement. After years of four strokes I picked up a low hour ‘05 yz125 for $1600, did some refreshing, and have been having an absolute blast again. Reliability and parts availability/price are a nice bonus with the blue one though.
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