I may be biased as it was my 1st bike and loved it and still do (RIP in the scrapyard from the cager that hit it!) The bikes reliability is just...ridiculously phenomenal. Sure brand new vehicles rarely break down, but even the consumables and quality was just fantastic. I got 16500 miles on it before it died, and the engine was in tip top shape. I ran it to redline all the time on dual carriageways to reach 70mph, and always used fully synth castrol 10w40 oil. These bikes are unbreakable if you keep the servicing up which is minimal! Just keep an eye on that oil! Dropped it in the snow going 10-15mph. Dragged me down with it, got it back up, no frame bending, no snapping, and the crash bobbing took the brunt of the damage. Back on the road riding off again, excellent build quality. Even the fiat 500 that rearended me, I damaged her bonnet good and it didn't seem to do much other than crack my rear fairings...Unfortunately due to its age and mileage and worth it was considered a write off. The bike runs super smooth, easy to handle and move, brilliant cornering ability, absolutely fantastic mileage (80mpg) and looks and sized like an R6! It is the same size as an R6, just smaller engine. Gone up to a Suzuki GSX650F, and would kill to have the 125 back. Genuinely.

this is the best 125 out there big bike looks fat breaks. so much fun to ride had mine up to 79 mph flat-out

Not my first bike. And it sure as hell wont be my last! The only problem is I brought mine from a dealership second hand. And since ive had it ive had problem after problem. As the previous owner had about as much knowlage of bikes as a ferret. But I have put the scorpion carbon fiber heatguard exhaust on wich makes it sound alot better! Does cost a few buffers though!!

After 4 years of not riding, I finally saved enough pennies to consider getting a R1. Hoiking round the insurance sites though told me tales of woe, despite being in my mid 30s, they were looking for £7000 fully comp or half that for TPFT. Ho hum, so less enthusiastically I started looking at R6s. By chance on a visit to a chum, I was in this mbike shop, and asked to sit on an R6, try it for size etc. And was talking to the sales guy, and asked him about insurance, mentioning I had really wanted an R1 but was being ripped off by the quotes. He found me a better one. £1600 TPFT and knew of an R1 for sale. In the end I bought it, off this very Hell's Angel looking bloke. I took for a test spin down a country back lane, recognising its reputation, I was only tootling alone, feeling its swing in and out of corners. Then I got to an island, with a country lane on the other side with a LH bend uphill. On exiting the island, I opened the throttle a little. And GOD ALMIGHTY, it rocketed up the road from 30 to God know s what in less than a second. At teh apex of the bend I heaved ALL my 11 stone around onto the left hand side, keeping the throttle on but not accelerating. I went round the corner and a straight patch appeared. I took the bike down gradually and stopped. Got off, and would have had a slim panatella moment if I smoked. But I got off anyway and shook the fear from my body. That was close. I rode it back gingerely, pale but excited. I had bought a demon in wolf's clothes. 4 or so more years later its served me very well. Pretty reliable, do have to keep the battery topped up with a trickle charger as the alarm (worth its weight in gold, I've had to apply some heavy tactics to stop it being nicked once). Its been to Ireland, Germany, France. Served well as a commute, lies down and up nicely in bends. Is rock steady at any speed on the motorway. In Germany I had it up to 155mph. They say the 02 R1 has the best torque delivery ie completely linear of all. That's not strictly true. Around 145mph, a manic burst of power surges in pushing your neck down into your spine and your helmet onto your nose, even a tight fitting one. At 155mph, it wasn't even that high in the rev range and I feel it could easily has done a lot more. Still dead steady though. The only bad thing about it, which is dead obvious but not v practical is its hate for luggage, barr a rucksack and tank bag. Tried a ventura system on it which works, but compromises top speed on touring massively, catches cross winds which rucksacks do less. best compromises is a rucksack with an expanded bottom bit, stick all the heavy stuff down lower and the smaller stuff up top. That way the seat takes the weight rather than your shoulders. On a 1000 mile tour it makes a diff. Controllability - mines got a steering damper on it, stock suspension on the rear which is fine. However the one thing to watch is response at the lights. Don't give in to the temptation to storm away as the front will come up very very easily. And with a 1, you gets lots of triers onners, cars and bikes. The only time you can't loose them is if your steering's off eg low tyre pressure or some such. But let them them race away from the lights, otherwise you'll be trying to look through your petrol tank. But it lands well post wheelie with the Ohlins. I did take an an Audi R8 once entering an autobahn, left hand bend uphill. The two us were neck an neck with me on the outside of the bend and I changed the acceleration up a bit, just a bit. The back wheel kicked out (cold winter's morning, heavy dew on the tarmac) but recovered itself when I dropped the accel to where it had been. A second latter I was on the straight and nailed him anyway, easily. Tyres - i've got BT014s which are great. never tried Pilot powers but might do next. Bt021s ( I was being economic) not suitable, not confidence inspiring. But the BT016s are utter rubbish, take too long to warm up (in England anyway) and even when they do they are significantly less grippy than the 014s. The 016s I had slid in the dry, in the straight and of course in the wet and on bends. They even slid when I went on a free police riding riding assessment. They checked the pressure as I frequently do. They were fine. I used to have scooters undertaking me going around a long bend most mornings. Now that's not right is it. Just couldn't get on with those 016s. when I swapped back to the Bt014s, it was like having my spine reinserted. I was in control and could up or down the power round those bends, even on only semi-scrubbed in tyres. Better still the last set I bought was on offer £140 for a pair and I fitted them at a DIY garage. Well Ok I took them off and on the bike, a mechanic swapped the rubber, and balanced the wheels. Cost me £160 fitted. Ha ha. I like the clocks, simple. Wish the indicators were self cancelling but what the ... Mirrors could be a fraction longer and broader. Now you hav to set them either for commuting- higher body position or the motorway -lower body position. Wooukd also be nice to be able to adjust the angle of the handlebars or the strecth of them. Make town riding a bbit easier. Engine bullet proof although the EXUP needs attention/ maintenance to stop it seizing. Ditto the exhaust. Would recommend once a year anyway removing the rear and mid bits, giving them a light sand and oil, replace any gaskets/ joins. Otherwise you'll have to cut it off. Brakes are very good. Clutch for commuting is very heavy. I've had hulking blokes complain about its weight. I only notice on a particulalry slow commute eg bank hol weekend getting out of town. Fuel comsumption - terrible, small tank as well. 120miles safe limit. I'd say it currently does about 10miles/ L which is c 40mpg. Pillions - best have a short one as the rear seat is high and it be can windy at the back. Part why I fitted the renthal. Not an ounce of difference to the acceleration though. ah one bad thing about the rear seat is that it slopes forward. Now if you're a bloke carrying say a 9 stone pillion through a city with heavy traffic, highly junctioned or traffic lighted roads, your gonna suffer. Ooooh yes. So I bought a seat rubbery net thing so stop that pillion's rear end sliding around and crushing my err valuables. Worth it. But my boot lace lugs have ripped it a bit. Maintenance about £70-140 for a superficial one, oil change etc. Insurance in London £300 after 4-5 years (I forget how long I've had it!) no accidents. Not too bad. Riding position comfort - hmmm tricky. When I first got on it, it was like being imaginativeky combination tortured by the Spanish Inquistion. Your knees are compressed up, your back is stretched over the tank, your weight is one your wrists, your rear/ back are totally unsupported with enough room to insert another one of me on the rider's seat. In essence its a race bike. Designed to humiliate your body into submission. Now mine is, I find it OK. Occassionally I get a hideous pain in my hip sockets. Don't know why as its not some Blue Oyster bar tassled chap legs akimbo riding position or something. Perhaps its age. Wonder if they do an R1 zimmer?, get you to the nursey station in less time than it takes to drop a geriatric fly. Disgusting! Well you can get Land Rover bicycles and prams!?! Would I recommend it. Definitely. Still like to try a cross plane engine version though before the zimmer.

Im the proud owner of a yamaha yzf-r125 in white and red. I've had the bike just under 2 months now and it's a belting little bike haven't had a bike that turns heads soo much even other bikers who ride 600,750,900 even 1000's respect the bike with either a nod or a dropped clutch rev ( bikers know what it means ). There's soo many good qualities about this bike the handling the speed very quick acceleration the looks just everything. The only downside is the insurance is high for it at 23 years of age but to be honest the hours and amount of fun this bike is it's worth every penny including the price for a first time rider I would say don't get this bike start from a 50cc geared but give it 6 months to a year the. Buy this bike honestly couldn't be a better bike on the market, from it's r6 looks to it's reliability and pokey 4 stroke engine it's the doggs dangleys.

I bought my bike (yamaha yzf-r125) last weekend as i only had a 125 moped! excellent bike, quick for a 125 to. if you are thinking of buying 1 then get one! brilliant handling round bends and it has good exceleration
brilliant bike well recommended
ben from wales

brilliant bike for a 125cc i had a aprillia rx50 before i bought my yamaha yzfr 125 and it is a totaly different experience of riding because you can do the speed limits and not have everyone annoying you on the road because you are going that slow :L i have done 6500 miles on mile on mines so far and i have not had any problems with it at all and it has great sound totyaly because i put a scorpion exhaust on it and tbh it make the bike perform better and you get recognised as a biker. hundreds of people put up a goods argument tht it is a 600 and not a 125 even although it has L plates on it

Ive owned this bike for a couple of months now and i have to say it is still amazing.
it has a great top speed of 84mph which will easily overtake most f the traffic on dual carriage ways.
I went for a 150 mile round trip to eastbourne and back and i must say i only used half a tank of fuel which is very economical.
The riding position is comfortable even on long journeys.
Im still getting comments where ever i go saying "Thats a great bike, you wouldnt believe its a 125" because it honestly looks like a 600.
The acceleration from lights is great and the only bike that has beaten me is a suzuki bandit 600 and also a porsche.
The service cost is good also, i paid just £22.35 for the first service as the service book says i dont pay labour :D
Yamaha also send you a voucher for a free bottle of YAMALUBE which saved me a tenner and also 10% any parts :)
I would seriously recommend this bike to anyone.
it has been the best buy that i have made.

I was goin to buy a PUG STREETFIGHTER 3 SCOOTER, But ive been goin on the back of my brother inlaws 2002 YAMAHA R1, an i must say his bike is like showroom condition an he takes pride in it. His mate Kev as a R1 aswell an thas mint aswell. So ive been tempted to buy a bike, my brother inlaw said to me why don,t ya have a YZF R125, i asked him to show me 1, cuz i,m more into me cars than bikes, but since ive saw a R125 i,m more into me bikes now than me cars now.. We went an had a look at 1 an when i saw it i fell in love with it, but was,nt sure what colour to have, SPOILT 4 CHOICE, but i decided to have the BLACK & GOLD 1, an had some extras on it, SCORPION RACE EXHAUST, TITNTED DOUBLE BUBBLE SCREEN, SHORTER TAIL TIDY, SINGLE SEAT CONVERSION, an the bike looks well smart. For a 125 it looks like a 600 really, But i,m glad ive bought 1 an not a scooter, So i,d like to thank my brother inlaw MART, for his help an advice on finding the right bike tha suits me.. Thanx Bro.. An by the way ive retyped this cause of 1 stupid spellin mistake.. Happy now mart... P.s if ya gonna buy a bike buy a R125.. An i,ll see ya on the road.

I was lookin to buy a PUG streetfighter 3 scooter, until my brother in law took me out on his 2002 R1 he bike is mint an sounds beautiful, also my brother in laws mat Kev also as a R1 an i must admit, i,m more into my cars than bikes. But until ive started to go on the back of my brother in laws bike ive been tempted to buy a bike.. So ive been an had a look at a R125 in BLACK n GOLD, an decided to ditch the scooter an have a nice lookin R125, also to top tha, ive had the SCORPION RACE EXHAUST, DOUBLE BUBBLE TINT SCREEN, SMALLER TAIL TIDY, AN SINGLE SEAT CONVERSATION.. The bike is well tasty an gets a lots of looks to say its a 125, but really it looks like a 600.. Ive got to say though i take my helmet of to me Brother in law who as helped me find the right bike tha suits me.. Thanx Bro