97 YZ125 Marketplace Find

That bike has low hours. Just a little neglected. You don't have to do much to have a competitive 125

Congratulations to a great bike at a fantastic price! 97 was a good year of YZ125, I have three of them Make sure jetting is right. Stock is 50, 350 but mine runs way too rich on that. Now I have 35, 350 but it still runs a bit rich so 35, 330 may be better.

I had my cylinder ported and found a different head with slightly wider squish with height 0.9mm and slightly higher compression ratio than stock. I also got a Jolly Moto pipe. It was strong in stock condition, now it is even stronger

Suspension is decent if setup right.

Hopped into the build a bit more, bike really does appear to be a low hour unit, just neglected. I threw a new plug, cleaned the filter and airbox, and put fresh gas in it and she started right up. Only two issues I’ve run into so far are a stripped insert and a stuck bolt in the gas tank and the kicker is not returning all the way. Hoping to find a 98 and rewer tank with the updated blue, so if anyone has one laying around, feel free to message me.

UGGH! I've been scouring the adds for a similar bike!!! What a find!!

It's the kick starter stop plate that's probably the problem. It cracks and messes up the return action usually when it cracks the lever flops forward into the pipe.

It's a common issue with this gen of engine I had it happen on my 02 only after 6 months from new.
It's caused by kicking the lever into the foot peg your supposed to kick so your foot hits the top of the foot peg first. Which keeps the lever from slamming into peg with full force.

Harding's park cycle!

Damn that's a great find!

Little update, starting tearing the bike down, the swingarm pivot bolt is frozen. Currently soaking it in penetrating oil for the next couple of days. Going to be cleaning up the remaining hardware and replacing all of the bearings over the next couple of weeks.

I’ve always dug the 96 YZ’s, and the frame/subframe needs to be recoated, so what better time than now. Happened to find some used OE shrouds with 96 graphics in the correct navy blue.

Good choice of graphics! I like the navy blue plastics of 96-97 but they are difficult to find.

Worked a little more on the bike this weekend. Got it stripped down to the frame. Swingarm pivot took a whole can of penetrating fluid and a torch to break it free. Pulled the side case cover off and SmokinJoe called it, broken kick starter stop plate. Not a big deal to replace or expensive. Started cleaning up linkage pieces as well.

Nice project bike there! I may have some new dark blue acerbids plastics for you if you need them, i will check it out. Good luck with the build, enjoy

NiekL wrote:

Nice project bike there! I may have some new dark blue acerbids plastics for you if you need them, i will check it out. Good luck with the build, enjoy

More than welcome to PM me, I may be interested.

Couple more updates: Got the cases cleaned up. I’m going to check the crank this weekend, but I’m hoping they don’t need to be split. Top End and head are in great shape, still appears to have an “A” group pistion in it. Also picked up some new takeoffs off a riding friends newer YZ with spokes and nipples for a steal.

Uggh.. I found a 99 YZ That needed love but was in a similar condition to yours, They were asking 800, I offered 500 then 600 then it was removed from the marketplace. Guessing somebody bought it for more... The search continues.
Your's is coming along nicely!!

I loved my '97 yz125. Great bike!

Great find! Please put a new piston in it!

Is the bike finished?

Here is my 97 in current state. I will paint the frame but haven't managed to find the colour code for the navy blue. Does anyone know?

Awesome deal and you can find trick parts on Ebay all the time for dirt cheap.

From this

To this

lostboy819 wrote:

From this

To this

Hnnnnngggg...

lostboy819 wrote:

Awesome deal and you can find trick parts on Ebay all the time for dirt cheap.

Agreed! Sorry I forgot about this thread. Bike was finished and made it through AMA Vintage Days. I absolutely love riding it. I never ended up splitting the cases as the crank seemed tight. Cleaned the powervalves, stuck a B piston in it to match the cylinder, and ran it.

Had a local company reproduce the 96 graphics for me along with some period correct KYB fork stickers. Also some action shots from VMD. Hoping to find a 99 YZ250 over the winter for next year.

Bike came out awesome!

Premix wrote:

Had a local company reproduce the 96 graphics for me along with some period correct KYB fork stickers. Also some action shots from VMD. Hoping to find a 99 YZ250 over the winter for next year.

LOVE it mate ! what top triple clamp is that ?

cheers

brad

bradpr32 wrote:

LOVE it mate ! what top triple clamp is that ?

cheers

brad

To be honest, I’m not real sure. I bought a skid plate for the bike off eBay and the seller had the top clamp as well so I made a deal for both. No markings on it that I could find. But it cleaned up nice and allowed me to run oversize bars a bit further forward.

Premix wrote:

Had a local company reproduce the 96 graphics for me along with some period correct KYB fork stickers. Also some action shots from VMD. Hoping to find a 99 YZ250 over the winter for next year.

bradpr32 wrote:

LOVE it mate ! what top triple clamp is that ?

cheers

brad

Premix wrote:

To be honest, I’m not real sure. I bought a skid plate for the bike off eBay and the seller had the top clamp as well so I made a deal for both. No markings on it that I could find. But it cleaned up nice and allowed me to run oversize bars a bit further forward.

all good mate ! looks like such a fun machine

cheers

Hardings Park Cycle sticker on the swing arm? That's where I met my wife
Nice build premix, bike looks stellar.