YAMAHA SR125 (1982 - 2003) Review

Version: Custom

Year: 1991

Annual servicing cost: £45

Exactly as expected

Buying experience: Bought private for less than a grand, nearly didn't buy because it looked a bit shabby but it was easy to bring back to its former glory. I'm really pleased i bought it.

Year: 1989

I had two. Each for about three years from new. Both got nicked. Passed my test on it. love it. Went from Newcastle upon Tyne to Brighton twice and back Never missed a beat and no sore ass.

Year: 1997

When I bought this bike it was in a sorry state. Only paid £150. It would start and ride but the engine would frequently cut out when slowing down, it couldn't handle hills and a strong headwind would have the speed drop significantly. The only good thing about it was the seat was comfortable. After taking it to a mechanic and having him look it over thoroughly. I spent about £400 on original parts, Some new and some used. Then spent a long weekend taking it apart and installing the new parts. Which for a person who knew nothing about bikes was a good learning experience. I changed the carburetor, brake lines, exhaust, throttle cable, cleaned the entire engine inside and out and updated some of the wiring. Drained the tank, engine and brake resevoir and cleaned them too. All in all I spent £550 total on bike and parts And spent about 40 hours overhauling it myself. I'll admit my first impression of this bike was way off. When you get it fixed up nice and close to new again it goes like a bat out of hell. For an old bike that spent years in a storage container it now rides like it's new. Since it was fixed I've never had a problem with hills or strong winds slowing the bike down. The engine sounds beautiful (nothing like most 125's) and always starts first time. And no matter how hard I have ridden it, it just keeps on going. It's a stubborn thing that while I was riding with friends on their brand new 2014 onwards 125's sports bikes, just outmatched them. They have the acceleration but this bike just rides better and can go for longer at its top speed without struggling A couple of times on particularly good days in ideal conditions I have managed to coax about 70mph out of it which shocked me, I'll admit the engine was really struggling but it did it. Fuel consumption is good. For about £18 you can get almost 200 miles. And a big advantage of this bike is parts are cheap to get for the most part. And it can take all kinds of modifications if that's your thing. All in all its an excellent runner if you have the time and patience for it. Very reliable and it just keeps going. I would suggest it to anyone out there looking for a comfortable and reliable first bike.

Buying experience: I bought mine through eBay from a private seller for £150

Year: 1996

Annual servicing cost: £45

I would recommend to a Learner ,I have even seen Large Men on Them but for Me My Partner bought Me One for £300 off Ebay to learn on ,I could do anything on It but It was perfect because It was Low and I am Small .

Buying experience: I had had Bikes stolen when I was learning and was giving up when My Partner at the Time bought One for £300 off Ebay ,It was all different Colours and the First Time I filled the Tank ,Petrol spilled and all the Paint on the Tank Ran ,not original Paint Work .I am having physical problems riding My Suzuki Savage LS 650 now and I am looking for another SR 125 or 500 I do not want to give up riding .

Year: 2000

Annual servicing cost: £150

I've had my SR for two years now and I never fail to enjoy the ride! It might be slow, not reaching over 70 at all since I've had it, but for its age its no surprise! I got this as my first bike and I'll always have a soft spot for these models! Always getting compliments on it and really comfy ride, great for a first bike!

Buying experience: I payed around 450 for mine two years ago from a family relative and it is worth every penny

Year: 1999

Annual servicing cost: £20

cheap and reliable, underpowered but gets to 55 fairly easily, and I've had 70 a few times. An enjoyable bike.

Buying experience: paid £500 without mot, maybe a bit over priced but I got it mot'd easy enough and it just needed a clean up and oil

I bought this bike in May 2013 with many problems. It was SORN, had a copper nut in place of the left, rear wheel spacer. Seized front brake and a caliper in rough condition and no chain. Now it is August 2013 and I have got my cbt, MOT, insurance and tax. I managed to completely overhaul the front brake. Now I know this doesn't sound much but I have literally just started my level 3 NVQ in motorcycle maintenance and repair. I did all this so I could get to and from college/work. I have been extreamly pleased with how after about a year of not being started after a bit of tlc and petrol it fired after a few turns. Really pleased with the ride comfort. The cost of a full tank from empty for me was £13 plus some change about 50p. I will post further about how good the consumption is. But so far so good. Hope this helps Lee

i can see alot of you saying you can only get your SR`s to around 65 at the most iv had mine to 73mph on a flat streight road with tail wind, and can even manage to keep up with my friends cbf off the line most of the time, the reliability of this bike is probably the best i know of, providing its kept in the right way, i know its not the quickest of bikes for top speed compared to the cbf yzf ect but you can always buy new parts for the bike including sprockets with 2 less teeth ect, i gave it a 4 overall because its not the best looking of bikes but thats because its an older model and not exactly sporty haha, but the best learner bike you can buy for your money and will last you a very long time....almost bulletproof !

this is my current bike till August when my restriction is up its fantastic value for money and can reach 65 at a push. very lightweight and easy to manoeuvre

my first (and current) bike. cheap to buy and run, only one idiot light works (the neautral light), and it's slow. sometimes it revs freely and feels ok, but most of the time it feels restricted in every gear and usually tops out at 50mph. tried larger front cog, but still tops out at 50mph. i'm only 10stone too, so it's not good. can't wait to get rid for a faster, better handling bike

what the hell can only do 55mph bull had it at 65 and I aint a small guy. 130 mile tank range that is the biggest bull of all honestly double that and add some more I have no idea where you's got these figures from seriously I admit the engine was gutless and took a lot of pre planning and work to get it to top speed and slightest hill and it drops and I think it was more 9-10 bhp to be honest but it was one of the most indestructible bikes I have ever owned mines was a 1984 model which I got for a song and a dance in good condition. The thing was a tank came off it hit things with it the lot while learning and it kept going :) an to be honest think it had a bigger tank than 10 litres think it was more like 12and 1 for reserve

I've had my little SR-125 for 6 months now, and use it nearly every day. I chose this bike as I am a shorty, and find it really easy to handle. Yes, she's definitely NOT the fastest thing on two wheels, but great for city riding and I'm getting about 100mpg, so who can complain? She has occasionally made it to about 65mph, but it can't be described as comfortable! I will miss my wee bike when I can eventually afford to do my full test...

Got mine when i was 17 after doing my cbt on one. Basic is all i can really say, ok reliable it may be but gutless with it the honda cityfly i did my licence training on felt like it had double the power. ride and handling, well the bike came with a square back tyre. Fair enought i payed £450 for mine few years back and expect to pay double now.

I've had my SR125 (PRU) for about three years now. She has never let me down and always starts, even in the coldest weather. I got her as with rising petrol prices, I couldn't afford to line Gordon Browns pocket anymore. As has already been mentioned, it has all the power of a LadyShave and with a top speed of 55mph, won't forgive you for trying to make it go any faster. Side wind can be a bit scary as the slightest gust will blow you all over the shop. I'm 16 stone and it still carries my bulk without any problems. It's an ideal starter bike as it's low maintainence and easy to repair and isn't too hard to handle. It's a good little all-rounder with a relatively comfortable ride. I hope to get a bigger bike soon, but won't get rid of my PRU as she has become my dependable friend.

Fantastic little runner particularly round town, I had mine for 2 years when I was learning to ride and just after i passed my test. I found it VERY forgiving bike considering mine got little care, occasionally diesel in the tank rather than petrol and the oil level was allowed to drop way below the minimum mark. But all that aside I used to ride mine 150 miles to visit family and it if I stayed about 55-60 mph I could get at least 130+ miles out of 1 tank of petrol. Although I could get her to 70- slightly less economic. All that said I discovered the problem with a bike like this, the first time I encountered a small amount of wind- in stronger wind it was like trying to balance a surf board on a pole because it is so light. And it feels like your bones are rattling as much as the bike when you push it to higher speeds. It is a nippy little bike good for short commuting and town/city life is its natural habitat. but longer journeys will quickly take their toll on the bike. All in all I regretted the day I sold mine, it was dependable, reliable, if a little too light and if you do a lot of longer journeys these will take their toll if the bike especially if isn't looked after. But still ideal starter and short commuter bike who occasionally does longer journeys and has few maintenance skills.

Took my early lessons on the SR125. It's the cheese sandwich of bikes. Chances are given the choice you would take anything else on the menu but when it's take it or leave it, you take it. Nevertheless it does the job and is as forgiving as Jesus himself. Don't want to use the clutch? No problem, just give the foot pedal a kick and off you go into another gear. However, anyone over 15 stone will feel like an elephant sitting on a skateboard, but for that 1st gentle low risk introduction to motorcycling, you really need a forgiving pile of metal that can fall over, crash into fences, get thrashed a thousand times and get up again smiling, and thats the SR125 for you. As for top speed when pushed very, very hard it will scream its way north of 50-55 but then the slightest gust of side wind will make you soil your trousers. I think I made it to 60-62, just, not that you dare look down for a second to check as it feels like an Apollo rocket going into orbit when when you have lived inside large cars for 20 years. Anyway as you will already know, that first glorious, terrifying experience on a motorbike is almost as good as sex and if you have to eat a cheese sandwich to get it then fine. Goodbye poker and beer, hello the open road.

while I was training to ride, had it for around 3 months, sure I did more than 55mph on it though. Don't buy one to use past passing full test.