Best Older 125 For Project?

CarlinoJoeVideo
Posts
7331
Joined
11/30/2013
Location
Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
2298th
10/10/2016 10:03pm
Hey guys, I know tons of you are rebuilding or have rebuilt a 125.

What do you think is the best older 125, engine, handeling?

Or is it better to just put the whole rebuild budget into a newer bike?

I guess my questions is, do the old 2005ish bikes handel like crap? Or is there an older bike that would still ride well with today's standards?

Thanks in advance!
|
Bruce372
Posts
6342
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
10/10/2016 10:17pm
2005 and newer rm125 makes a great 144 big bore and handles great, problem is, there aren't many around that aren't clapped out plus spares are expensive.

I would go yz125, great bike and lots of parts.

BobPA
Posts
8023
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
10/10/2016 10:21pm Edited Date/Time 10/10/2016 10:22pm
My '03 Kawasaki handles great. I grew up riding the 2003+ Kawasaki chassis/suspension, and still 13 years later I feel as, or more, comfortable on the Kawasai then my modern KTM. All 125's of that era are all pretty good. The Honda is wayyyyy down on power, and the Kawasakis are not overly fast out of the box. The RM and YZ are great bikes out of the box.

It all depends on what your budget is. I recently rode a 2016 KTM 150sx and there is just no comparison. 10+ years of development are very obvious when riding my Kawi 125 back to back with the new 150
BobPA
Posts
8023
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
10/10/2016 10:27pm
What year YZ would you recommend?
2016+ KTM 150

The Shop

buick_gn
Posts
8
Joined
10/10/2016
Location
Langhorne, PA US
10/10/2016 11:40pm
2006 - 2017 yz125 are the ones to look for.

 photo Project144.jpg
I owned a 2001 eric gorr yz144 and it was one of my favorite bikes.

Currently have a 2006 and a 2001 Model year YZ125
cant tell a significant difference between both handle and ride nice.

my 2006 yz125
upload gif

my 2001 yz125
windows 7 screenshot
ricko
Posts
708
Joined
9/6/2011
Location
bfe, PA US
10/11/2016 4:46am
Id say probably a YZ, parts are easiest to find, Kawi is extremely hard to find anything anymore and from what I gather Suzuki is even harder.
LittleRed_14
Posts
14
Joined
9/22/2016
Location
Terre Haute, IN US
10/11/2016 10:36am Edited Date/Time 10/11/2016 10:40am
buick_gn wrote:
2006 - 2017 yz125 are the ones to look for. I owned a 2001 eric gorr yz144 and it was one of my favorite bikes. Currently...
2006 - 2017 yz125 are the ones to look for.

 photo Project144.jpg
I owned a 2001 eric gorr yz144 and it was one of my favorite bikes.

Currently have a 2006 and a 2001 Model year YZ125
cant tell a significant difference between both handle and ride nice.

my 2006 yz125
upload gif

my 2001 yz125
windows 7 screenshot
Did you have any trouble with your shift stopper in your 06?
BobPA
Posts
8023
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
10/11/2016 10:44am
ricko wrote:
Id say probably a YZ, parts are easiest to find, Kawi is extremely hard to find anything anymore and from what I gather Suzuki is even...
Id say probably a YZ, parts are easiest to find, Kawi is extremely hard to find anything anymore and from what I gather Suzuki is even harder.
Kawasaki parts are plentiful for the 2003+ bikes

The 99-02 era is starting to dry up
ricko
Posts
708
Joined
9/6/2011
Location
bfe, PA US
10/11/2016 10:48am
ricko wrote:
Id say probably a YZ, parts are easiest to find, Kawi is extremely hard to find anything anymore and from what I gather Suzuki is even...
Id say probably a YZ, parts are easiest to find, Kawi is extremely hard to find anything anymore and from what I gather Suzuki is even harder.
BobPA wrote:
Kawasaki parts are plentiful for the 2003+ bikes

The 99-02 era is starting to dry up
I beg to differ, look for triple clamps, foot pegs, linkage, frame guards, engine covers etc. Lots of plastics, exhaust and oem kawi parts yes. But aftermarket stuff is down to 1 supplier, anything pro circuit is pretty much gone except exhaust, yes you can buy some stuff but compared to what is still available for a yz 125 its minimal, not much selection.
buick_gn
Posts
8
Joined
10/10/2016
Location
Langhorne, PA US
10/11/2016 10:49am
buick_gn wrote:
2006 - 2017 yz125 are the ones to look for. I owned a 2001 eric gorr yz144 and it was one of my favorite bikes. Currently...
2006 - 2017 yz125 are the ones to look for.

 photo Project144.jpg
I owned a 2001 eric gorr yz144 and it was one of my favorite bikes.

Currently have a 2006 and a 2001 Model year YZ125
cant tell a significant difference between both handle and ride nice.

my 2006 yz125
upload gif

my 2001 yz125
windows 7 screenshot
Did you have any trouble with your shift stopper in your 06?
Yes I sure did. Changed it to the revised 2007+ part and its 100% now.
10/11/2016 11:43am
I've got 2 rm 125s which I love! I haven't struggled to find parts here in the uk. I have an 08 version which I've owned since new and totally rebuilt in 2015 with a crazy engine spec and I also bought an 02 model blown up at the start of the year and completely rebuilt for £1800 including the bike and I've raced it in enduro all season without fault... Just completed the Weston beach race on it! If you haven't heard of this event google it!!! Absolutely love the bikes, I've had Honda, Yamaha and ktm in the past but love the handling and power of the rm
MxKing809
Posts
6380
Joined
10/13/2013
Location
Big Sand Whoops, MI US
Fantasy
158th
10/11/2016 12:37pm Edited Date/Time 10/11/2016 12:39pm
I am partial to the 02-07 CR chassis.... but the 125 engines are less than ideal. I just went through the 125 project exercise and opted for a new 450 after a few weekends at the track.

IF you're serious about having a 125 to the level of what you would be happy with (I'm thinking of your van quality here) just spend the 6 grand on a new KTM.... you will be sooooo much further ahead.


Here is my 2002 CR125..... it's for sale in MI if you want a cheap starting point.



CarlinoJoeVideo
Posts
7331
Joined
11/30/2013
Location
Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
Fantasy
2298th
10/11/2016 12:43pm
MxKing809 wrote:
I am partial to the 02-07 CR chassis.... but the 125 engines are less than ideal. I just went through the 125 project exercise and opted...
I am partial to the 02-07 CR chassis.... but the 125 engines are less than ideal. I just went through the 125 project exercise and opted for a new 450 after a few weekends at the track.

IF you're serious about having a 125 to the level of what you would be happy with (I'm thinking of your van quality here) just spend the 6 grand on a new KTM.... you will be sooooo much further ahead.


Here is my 2002 CR125..... it's for sale in MI if you want a cheap starting point.



Yo man, I agree. I was looking for a bike to rebuild, but I feel like if I bought something for $1,500 I'd still spend another $1,500 between refreshing parts, suspension, wheels, tires. So total of $3,000. I found a good deal on a 16 KTM 125. Gonna try and get it for $4400 and doesn't need anything but tires. Whistling
10/11/2016 2:42pm
03-05 kx125, not overly fast oem, they do everything pretty well. Not everyone has them either so you wont have to worry too much about a bunch of other guys being at the track with one.

Post a reply to: Best Older 125 For Project?

The Latest