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/127607
eTEST ~ Worth the wait Yamaha YZ125 0\ 0\ rl ... By Donn Maeda en Jeff Emig captured the 1992 . 125cc National MX ChampiI-l onship, die-hard Yamaha fans eli just couldn't wait for the '93 Yamaha ;:::l YZl25 to hit the showroom floors. Sure, !=: the stock '92 YZl25 was rather slow, but eli it was no secret that Emig's productionr--. based factory YZ125 was one of the fastest machines - if not the fastest - on the track. In addition, many hop-up shops across the country had found a way to squeeze a great deal more power ou t of the white and magenta motorcycles . Su rely Ya maha would apply the knowledge they gained in '92 to the '93 version, right? Wrong. Like most others, we were very disa ppointed with the power output of the '93 YZl25. After our initial ride on the machine, we quickly removed the seat, sure that the airbox lid had been left on . No such luck. The '93 YZ failed to excite anyone on our editorial staff. The lackluster power delivery felt flat, and at no point in the rpm range did it provide even the slightest hint of "get-up-and-go." But once again, Yamaha buffs continued to I.f) e-, w chassis in the class, th e '94 Yamaha YZ125 is the answer to many a rider's dreams. At the heart of the new YZI25 is a completely redesigned engine - and we mean completely. As a matter of fact, you can tell that the motor is all-new by just looking at it even th e external sha pe of the motor is d ifferent than it has been in past years. A new crankcase, cylinder and piston replace the old, and the end result is a motor that finally has a hint of the awesome power that piloted Jeff Emig to the '92 125cc National Championship. A guillotine-type power valve replaces The Yamaha YZl25 may look th e same as las t year's, b u t believe us ... it's a heck of a lot faster! 42 buy the mach ines, and, on ce again, hop-up shops continued to rake in the cash. . Then came the '94 YZl25. While Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki riders could be seen at the track aboard their new '94 125s as early as August, Yamaha riders had to wait until early November to get ahold of the all-new YZl25. "Yamaha must be having some real problems with that bike to be releasing them so late," said one competing factory representative, who shall remain nameless. They say tha t patience is a virtue, and while some Yamaha riders jumped ship and purchased red , green or yellow 125s, those who waited for the "late" YZ we re duly rewarded. Gone is the "Hooveresque" motor of the past, and in its place is - dare we say it - a motor that delivers power similar to that of the almighty Honda CRl25. Coupled with one of the best all-around last yea r's YPVS sys tem, and the intake tract fea tures a straighter design that directs the air-gas mixture into the cylinder wi th greater velocity. A new reedcage design is intended to better mix the air/gas solution. A hotter ignition, along with an all-new expansion chamber and smaller silencer round out the engine changes. Like the YZ250, the 125 re ceived a steeper steering head angle and the "reduced travel" Kayaba suspension units. Both changes were geared towards better turning characteristics. Small details in the chassis include a new alloy swingarm for reduced weight, as well as a one-piece solidmount top handlebar clamp. In the ever-changing world of brake rotor "holes," the new YZ rotors feature round holes, rather than last year's slots. A greater leverage ratio in the front brake lever provides better power up front, while a new lever improves rear bindin g action. Opinions m ust admit, I held m y b reath as I took to the track aboard our Yamaha YZl25 test bike. "Man, I hope I like this thing," I thought. After writing about the YZI25's lack of oomph for the past two years, I honestly ached to be able to write something positive about Yamaha 's eighth-liter machines. A smile quickly crept over my face as I powered out of the first tum. "This bike hauls," I thought. I'm su re that the other testers grew impatient waiting for their turns, as I rode the new YZ125 until I was on the brink of exhaustion. Power starts d own low and pulls well into the middle of the powerba nd before signing off into a somewhat flat top end. Had it not been for its lacking top, I would have sworn I was riding a white Honda. Yes, it's that fast. Powering out of comers, blipping over jumps and tearing off the starting line will leave YZ riders in awe. Unlike the past I few YZI25s that revved rather slowly, the new powerplant will scream with the best of them. The rest of the bike was equally as pleasing. Though I disliked the shortened travel design on the YZ250, the 125s Kayaba units feel like pure magic. Bo th the fork and shock soaked u p everything thrown their way, although I felt tha t the forks are set up too softly for hea vier or fas te r ri ders. A se t of s tiffer fron t springs should be th e answer. Never did the bike swap, kick o r glance off even the squarest of bumps. Th o u g h I have disliked Yamaha ergonomics in the past, I felt right at home aboard the new purple and whi te machine. Maybe it was because I was so . excited about the motor that I didn't notice any of the small things that I usually whine about. The fron t brake provided plenty of stop ping power in a predictable fashion, but at times the rear binder felt rather grabby. My on ly real co mplaint abo u t the YZI25 was its reluctan ce to shift under power. On several occasions, I found myself rolling off th e gas in order to grab a highe r gear. An d in th e fastp aced 125 class, every split-second counts. We tried changing the gear box oil, bu t the YZ still refused to deliver smooth shifting un der power. Maybe - if