Yamaha’s 2022 YZ125 is proof that there is still life in the 125cc two-stroke yet. This is the YZ125’s first overhaul in more than 15 years. (Yamaha/)

Ups

• Totally redesigned engine with more midrange to top-end power
• Refreshed and modern styling
• Updated suspension and brakes

Downs

• Missing the ring-a-ding sound bouncing off stadium bleachers
• Better relearn how to change jets and set your needle!
• Not always someone else to play with

Verdict

Yamaha didn’t just polish the old YZ125 by throwing on updated bodywork, even if that’s been the more common approach in recent years. In fact, the 2022 YZ125 is Yamaha’s first all-new 125cc motocrosser in 15 years.

Not only did Yamaha go to work on the engine, but it updated the suspension, ergonomics, brakes, and improved fueling and intake efficiency. If you’re trying to get more bang for your buck, it undercuts the European competition’s prices by almost a grand at $6,899, making the 2022 YZ125 a great option for two-stroke fans looking for a bike that’s modern, fun, and budget friendly.

Despite receiving a slew of updates, the 2022 YZ125 costs just $300 more than the 2021 model. Suggested retail price is $6,899. (Mason Owens/)

Overview

Young racers moving up through the amateur motocross ranks are still commonly raised and honed on two-strokes. At that level, like in the past, the perfect intermediate-sized machine is still a lightweight 125cc two-stroke that undercuts a 250 four-stroke by at least 25 pounds, has more forgiving power, teaches clutch control and technique, and is way less expensive to maintain.

The fact that Yamaha totally redesigned not only the engine in the YZ125, but modernized the bike in general proves that Yamaha agrees with that assessment and is focused on the future of motocross. Although the 125 class has evaporated from memory on the national level in Supercross and outdoor motocross, consumers obviously still have a place in their hearts for two-strokes in general. It’s nice to see Yamaha remains committed to them.

The 2022 YZ125’s increased power is noticeable on the track, and makes this latest two-stroke more forgiving when, especially if you are in the wrong gear. (Yamaha/)

Updates for 2022

Yamaha’s YZ125 gets a brand-new engine that delivers better midrange to top-end power. Improved fueling is provided by a new Keihin PWK38S carburetor in place of the 2021 model’s Mikuni, while a Moto Tassinari VForce4R reed valve system is now standard. Feeding that new fueling system is a revised intake with a straight shot into the intake tract.

Chassis improvements include revised suspension front and rear. The 48mm inverted KYB fork gets a leaf spring in the mid-speed valve for better damping, while an updated fully adjustable KYB shock with Kashima coated internals and separate high- and low-speed compression adjusters tames the rear.

The front brake boasts 30 percent more pad-contact area via a redesigned 270mm disc and more aggressive pad material. The rear disc has been reduced in diameter from 245 to 240mm, while retaining the same performance.

A flatter seat and narrower fuel tank design, together with reshaped bodywork and and updated radiator shrouds improve the rider’s interaction with the bike, while the styling and embedded graphics are modern and aggressive in appearance. The embedded graphics are more resistant to wear and tear too.

The 2022 YZ125’s silencer is 2 inches shorter and features a 6mm-longer outlet ring, while the expansion chamber has a narrower profile. (Mason Owens/)

Pricing and Variants

Keeping it simple, there are two colors and no options. The Team Yamaha Blue version comes in at $6,899, while the Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition is priced at $7,099.

Competition

Back in the day, we could have filled a box truck with all the competitors vying for 125cc two-stroke supremacy. But times have changed and the field has been whittled down to a pickup truck bed’s worth of adversaries, and they’re all European. The KTM group has three models all branded and spec’d slightly different: the KTM 125 SX, Husqvarna TC 125, and GasGas MC 125. Wander a bit further south and you’ll find the Italian TM MX 125 2T, and that’s just about it kids.

The suspension updates and bodywork encourage better riding form as the new platform makes it easier to stay on top of the bike than its predecessor. (Mason Owens/)

Powertrain: Engine, Transmission, and Performance

As mentioned, the 125cc two-stroke has been completely redesigned for stronger acceleration from mid-to-top as well as longer pulling power.

New cases house redesigned transmission gears, updated shifting mechanisms, and a high-inertia crankshaft assembly with an 8mm-longer connecting rod. There’s a new cylinder with relocated stud positions, increased port size and different shape, larger exhaust port, coupled with lower and wider transfer ports as well as a single rear transfer port. The head has improved combustion efficiency with an increase in volume and redesigned combustion chamber shape, while the new expansion chamber and 50mm (2.0-inch) shorter silencer provides a tone unlike any other YZ125. In short, almost nothing overlaps or interchanges with 2021 and prior machines engine-wise.

In its test aboard the 2022 YZ125, Dirt Rider wrote, “The new bike has better gear spacing, runs more cleanly, and feels more like a traditional 125cc powerplant. The newfound midrange to top-end power will be an eye-opener for longtime YZ125 fans.

“If there’s one downside to the 2022′s performance updates, it would be that the previous generation’s lower overall output and more manageable bottom-to-mid transition was more suitable for true beginner riders. However, most consumers will appreciate the 2022 model’s more competitive nature and recognize the performance updates as more than positive.”

Yamaha did a phenomenal job developing the 2022 YZ125 suspension. Front to rear balance is good, and helps keep the bike stable at speed yet turning predictably. (Mason Owens/)

Handling

The YZ125′s low, 209-pound claimed wet weight and nimble handling are a huge benefit on the track. In fact, it feels like you can cheat the track by carving really hard inside and outside of existing lines. “Simply put, riders can go where they want when they want on the YZ125,” Dirt Rider said.

Yamaha has been a class leader for years in the suspension department, and 2022 isn’t any different. The Dirt Rider staff added, “The KYB suspenders work even better than before, and shared componentry between the two-stroke and four-stroke models means that suspension tuners can now cross-reference settings to better suit more riders. The new machine has firmer settings, allowing an even wider audience to hop on, set sag, and go ride. In fact, the stiffer setup performed flawlessly for a handful of our test riders, even though we vary in weight from 145 to 185 pounds. There’s more balance than before, and the new bodywork further enhances the bike’s super-connected feeling between rider and track.”

Brakes

Yamaha spec’d the 2022 YZ125′s brakes from the updated 2020 four-stroke line, and they perform flawlessly. The front has improved feel and actuation thanks to increased caliper rigidity, bigger pistons, and new pads. The rear is less prone to locking up with a 5mm reduction in rotor diameter and an optimized disc profile.

Given that these are the same brakes used on Yamaha’s YZ250, YZ250F, and YZ450F, you can imagine how well they feel on the lightweight YZ125 platform.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

This is a question that no motocross racer running $20-a-gallon race gas has ever asked, right?

The YZ125’s lightweight feel helps with quick change-ups in line choice and even avoiding contact with other riders. (Mason Owens/)

Ergonomics: Comfort and Utility

“The ergonomics are the best they’ve ever been, and it’s one of the first aspects of the new machine that inspires confidence right from the get-go,” the Dirt Rider staff said after their first day aboard the 2022 YZ125. “The seat is flatter, the radiator shroud connection thinner, and the overall feel more modern than ever,” they added.

Electronics

Depends on your point of view, but part of the charm of a traditional carbureted two-stroke is that it’s almost totally analog except for the Digital CDI ignition. The only modes are WFO or stuck in a rut. That’s part of the fun when riding a YZ125.

The YZ125 Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition adds style and a few extra dollars to the YZ125 price tag. MSRP for the Monster Energy Edition model is $7,099. (Yamaha/)

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

As this is a competition machine, Yamaha offers a 30-day limited factory warranty.

Quality

Have you seen how many Japanese motocross bikes are still kicking around? After Armageddon, the roaches will be roosting on YZ125s.

2022 Yamaha YZ125 Claimed Specifications

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com