Retro and Stylish Are Coming | XSR125 and YZF-R125 – Yamaha’s Moped Models are Too Hot!

In recent years, the Honda 125 class has continued to gain momentum. Excluding scooters, there are now six full-size 125cc models, eight if the 110 is included. The DAX 125 was just added in September, and sales of the CT125 Hunter Cub have exploded to 15,000 units per year.

Yamaha, on the other hand, has zero 125s with transmissions in its lineup. The gap with Honda in this class is only widening. According to Motorcycle News Japan, domestic shipments of 51-125cc class motorcycles in 2021 will be 19,500 units for Yamaha, compared to 77,000 units for Honda. Yamaha has also been overtaken by Suzuki with its GSX-R125 and GSX-S125 at 22,500 units.

But it appears that Yamaha is finally fighting back. The XSR125, which was introduced in Europe in May 2021, will apparently be available in Japan.

The XSR125 is a rare neo-classic in its class. Neo-classics are a trendy genre that embodies old-fashioned style in a modern motorcycle, but in the 125cc class, only a few such as the British MUTT motorcycle have such a lineup (the revived Honda Monkey 125 and DAX 125 could also be considered neo-classics, but somewhat different).

Prior to the XSR125, its sibling, the XSR155, debuted in Thailand and Indonesia in 2019.
A Japanese version has been long awaited, so it would be good news if it materializes.

Delta box and inverted, mixing retro and sporty appearance

The concept of XSR125 is The youngest Faster Son. It is a model that combines speed with a style reminiscent of the XS-1 of yesteryear.

The basic configuration is based on the YZR-R125 and MT-125 that exist in Europe. The engine is the latest liquid-cooled 4-stroke single-cylinder with VVA variable valve system. The frame, while made of steel, is a delta box in the tradition of Yamaha sports models. A ø37mm upside-down fork is used at the front, and a mono-shock is used at the rear.

The design, including the overall form, follows that of the first-generation XSR900. The CIRCLEdesign motif is also common throughout, and the single round LED headlight and taillight, aluminum side panels under the seat, and circular LCD meter are also retained.

Previously, the lineup included only cast wheels, but in May 2022, an XSR125 Legacy with spoked wheels was added to the lineup to take the classic look to the next level.

The Legacy has lightweight spoked wheels with gold-spec aluminum rims. The tires are Metzler Karoo Street with an off-road type block pattern. In addition, the exhaust system cover has a different design and is made of two-piece aluminum.

Rumored to be introduced in Japan in 2023, although it would be nice if the price would be around 3360 USD.

The XSR125's engine meets Euro 5 emission regulations. Since it is equivalent to the 2020 emission regulations in Japan, the hurdle for introducing it to the Japanese market is low.

According to sources, the XSR125 is expected to be introduced in Japan in 2023". In some cases, models planned in Europe, such as the XSR700 and Tenere 700, are sold in Japan after a considerable delay. Since the XSR125 is also a European initiative, it is possible that this will be a similar case.

The price of interest is 4,550 pounds for the UK version, about 5080 USD.
The XMAX125 in the same displacement range sold in Japan and Europe costs approximately 5775 USD at 5150 pounds in the UK and 4395 USD in Japan. Applying this price difference to the XSR125, the Japanese version would cost approximately 3860 USD. The price of its rival, the luxuriously equipped CB125R, is (approx.) 3175 USD, and we would like to keep the price down to about 3360 USD, but will it really be worth it?

In addition to the XSR, will the sibling models YZF-R125 or MT-125 land at the same time?

There is one more piece of good news. I have been informed that either the YZF-R125 or MT-125, the base model, will also be released in Japan!

The YZF-R is a supersport model and the MT is a hyper-naked model, both of which represent Yamaha's current brand.
The YZF-R125 is a competitor to the Suzuki GSX-R125, the only full-cowl model in the moped class in Japan. The MT-125 is a rival to the Suzuki GSX-S125 and Honda CB125R.

Horizontal development into the same displacement range utilizing a common platform has been actively introduced by other companies, and Yamaha is also good at this. The naked MT-09 was developed as the base for the XSR900 and Tracer 9GT. The MT-07 and YZF-R7, YZF-R25/3 and MT-25/3, and many more are in the pipeline. Furthermore, there are rumors that a full-cowl YZF-R9 based on the MT-09 will be announced in the near future.

In any case, the addition of the YZF-R or MT's youngest brother to the XSR's lineup would round out Yamaha's 125 manual model lineup. Yamaha, which has had a difficult time in this class, will finally strike back!