Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1214301
2020 YAMAHA YZ125X REVIEW R I D E R E V I E W P98 in tight and technical situations— for a 125, of course. Yamaha found the right balance between high-end revs and low-rpm con- trollability. Sometimes you do, however, have to plan ahead when exiting a tight turn that is followed by a steep hill or a stretch of soft sand; you need to think about keeping up your momentum, tapping down on the shift lever once or twice before the turn and slipping the clutch as you aggressively get on the throttle coming out of the corner. Oh yeah, and don't forget about having to change gears quickly and often right in the meat of the powerband as you ac- celerate out of the turn. Done correctly, and the X can hang with larger-capacity bikes, no problem. Done wrong, and you will pay the price big-time and get dropped bike the big bikes. The X forces you to be a better rider when it comes to turns and thinking ahead. Otherwise, the X is an adrenaline rush, for sure. The suspension and handling combo is pure magic. The X is so light and maneuverable it gives you tons of confidence to be super aggressive, and it makes you feel like a superhero. And the suspension soaks up everything in its path nicely. Riders over 170 or so pounds, however, will probably want to stiffen things up a bit, but for lighter riders, which this bike is really meant for, the suspension feels just about right, not too soft, not too stiff. We love the compliance of the X's KYB Speed-Sensitive Sys- tem fork (which is fully adjust- able) and the way it reacts to the smaller hits (such as small roots and sharp-edged rocks) at speed. The KYB single shock in the back has no problems keep- ing up. Everything about the YZ125X feels light and effortless. Clutch pull has almost zero resistance yet still has a good feel, chang- ing gears requires just a slight nudge from your left foot, the front brake is a one-finger op- eration, and getting the bike to change lines while zigzagging around a series of trees is an absolute breeze. However, all this happens quite quickly on the X, and all that activity can wear on you bit; in other words, you can't get lazy on the X and let the motor do all the work when you get tired. Riding the X fast, which is how it likes to be ridden, requires constant attention and a fair amount of concentration, work and energy. But there is no better motorcycle than a good 125cc two-stroke, like the Yamaha, to learn how to ride fast in the woods. The quickest way to the Pro class is spending a season or two racing a 125, the sooner in your career, the better. Yeah, so you might sacrifice a few trophies here and there, but you'll make them up, and then some, later on. The YZ125X has a lot of company in its class, but none of them are from its home country of Japan. KTM has the 150 EXC ($8799), Husqvarna has the TE 150 ($8899), and Sherco has That's a YZ125 motor that's been tuned–but by all means, not "de-tuned"–for improved bottom end and torque. The X is still plenty fast! (Left) The X uses the same fuel tank as the YZ125 but gets a fuel petcock with reserve.