2021 KTM 125 XC
R I D E R E V I E W
P72
companion—selfless. Numerous
times I decided to change lines
at the last minute, jumping out of
the woods outside the main line,
avoiding acceleration whoops,
and smoothly stacking gears as
I passed others mired in their
traction-sapping misery.
The same was true in the thick
of it in the trees. You're bound to
be behind a bottleneck or two at
a race with nearly 1000 others.
But a 125 makes for a very accom-
modating go-arounder. Don't like
where you're heading? Go around
it. Stuck behind some dudes in a
rut? Go around it. Stalled your bike
and have a bunch of dudes stuck
behind you? Hit the button before
they go around it. This bike just
doesn't really lose.
I can honestly say, and this just
isn't the post-fling euphoria talking,
that the engine characteristics and
chassis dynamics of the 2021 KTM
125 XC left me wanting nothing on
the course of the most difficult off-
road series in America. I never felt
like I was missing low-end torque
or top-end speed. I never hit a limit
where I felt I was at a disadvan-
tage, including a dead-engine start
with multiple manly large displace-
ment bikes on it.
And here's the real truth. I'm not
good enough to just make 125's
work like Shane Watts did in his
prime—probably still does today. I
don't have that. I have bad habits,
and I get freakin' tired. So, the
bike has a lot to do with how well
this race went for me. It made me
feel great. And it made me look
pretty cool, too.
Like I said, it's love! CN
SPECIFICATIONS
2021 KTM 125 XC ($7599)
ENGINE TYPE
2-stroke, single
DISPLACEMENT
124.8cc
BORE X STROKE
54 x 54.5mm
COOLING
Liquid Cooling
STARTER
Electric and kick
BATTERY
12.8V, 2Ah
TRANSMISSION
6-speed
FUEL SYSTEM
Mikuni TX 38
LUBRICATION
Premix 40:1
PRIMARY RATIO
23:73
FINAL DRIVE
13:51
CLUTCH
Wet multi-disc DS
clutch, Brembo
hydraulics
IGNITION
Kokusan
FRAME
Central double-cradle
type 25CrMo4 steel
SUB FRAME
Aluminum
HANDLEBAR
Neken, aluminum Ø
28/22mm
FRONT SUSPENSION
48mm WP Xact USD
fork
REAR SUSPENSION
WP Xact monoshock
with linkage
FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL
12.2 in.
REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL
11.81 in.
FRONT BRAKE
260mm disc
REAR BRAKE
220mm disc
FRONT WHEEL
1.60 x 21 in. Giant
REAR WHEEL
2.15 x 18 in. Giant
FRONT TIRE
90/90-21 in.
REAR TIRE
110/100-18 in.
SILENCER
Aluminum
STEERING HEAD
ANGLE
26.1º
TRIPLE CLAMP OFFSET
22mm
WHEELBASE
58.5mm
GROUND CLEARANCE
14.6 in.
SEAT HEIGHT
37.4 in.
FUEL CAPACITY
2.64 gal
WEIGHT (DRY,
CLAIMED)
194 lbs.
