Naked // Manual // 2024 // CBT Legal
Yamaha
MT-125
The Dark Side of Japan's smallest hooligan.
Power
15 bhp
Weight
140kg
Top Speed
80 mph
From New
£4,850
Profile silhouette
17" 10-spoke cast · seat 810 mm
Colour palette
- Icon Blue
- Tech Black
- Cyan Storm
Range & economy
The MT-125 brings the aggressive Master of Torque styling from its 700, 900, and 1000cc siblings down to learner-legal size. Sharp angles, twin LED headlights, and a class-leading TFT dash make it feel a generation ahead.
Who it's for
Riders who want street-fighter looks and Yamaha's renowned reliability. The MT-125 holds its value better than almost any 125 on the market.
Pros
- Aggressive MT family styling
- 5-inch TFT dash with smartphone connectivity
- Variable Valve Actuation for low-end punch
- Slipper clutch as standard
Cons
- Pricier than Chinese-built rivals
- Footpegs scrape early in spirited cornering
- Seat firm over longer rides
Suitability
commuter
7/10
sport
7/10
comfort
6/10
value
5/10
style
6/10
Full Specifications
- Engine
- Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, VVA
- Displacement
- 124.7cc
- Power
- 15 bhp @ 10,000 rpm
- Torque
- 8.7 lb-ft @ 8,000 rpm
- Top speed
- 80 mph
- Fuel economy
- 105 mpg
- Fuel capacity
- 11 litres
- Weight
- 140 kg (wet)
- Seat height
- 810 mm
- Transmission
- 6-speed manual with slipper clutch
- ABS
- Dual-channel ABS, standard
- Brakes
- Front: 292mm disc, 2-piston caliper. Rear: 230mm disc.
- Suspension
- Front: 41mm USD. Rear: monoshock with adjustable preload.
- Wheels & tyres
- 17" 10-spoke cast, Michelin Pilot Street tyres
- Service interval
- 6,000 miles / 12 months
- Warranty
- 2 years unlimited mileage
- Insurance group
- Group 11
- Available colours
- Icon Blue, Tech Black, Cyan Storm
- Price new
- £4,850
- Price used
- £3,200 – £4,100
- CBT legal?
- Yes
- Keepable post-licence?
- No — learners only
True cost of owning a MT-125
Estimates for a 25-year-old with one year of CBT licence holding, riding 4,000 miles a year in Zone 2 London. Adjust for your own circumstances.
insurance
£535 / year (third-party fire & theft, 25 yr old, London)
tax
£25 / year (motorcycles ≤150cc)
mot
£29.65 / year (compulsory from year 3)
fuel
~£251 / year at 4,000 mi (£1.45/L)
service
~£165 / minor service
Day-one essentials
ECE 22.06 full-face helmet
£120 – £400
CE Level 2 armoured jacket
£150 – £350
Disc lock + reminder cable
£35 – £75
Sold Secure Gold chain + ground anchor
£90 – £180
Tail-pack 25L
£75 – £160
All-weather cover + bike socks
£30 – £80
Best for
- Commuting
- Spirited B-road riding
- First step on the MT family ladder
Insider trivia
- — Built in Yamaha's Indonesian facility, finished to European spec.
- — Shares its R125 sibling's engine in a more upright chassis.
- — Most-stolen 125 in the UK — invest in a chain and ground anchor.
Owner FAQs
- Can I ride the MT-125 on a CBT?
- Yes — the Yamaha MT-125 is fully CBT-legal in the UK. With L-plates and a valid DL196 you can ride it for two years before progressing to A1, A2, or full A.
- What licence do I need to take L-plates off the MT-125?
- You need an A1 (17+), A2 (19+) or full A (24+) licence and Module 1 / 2 pass — this 125 itself is restricted to learners.
- Is the MT-125 reliable?
- Yamaha has a 2 years unlimited mileage warranty on the MT-125. Built in Yamaha's Indonesian facility, finished to European spec.
- What is the real-world range?
- Claimed economy is 105 mpg and the tank is 11 litres, giving a theoretical range of 254 miles. Real-world budget around 80% of that.
- What insurance group is the MT-125?
- Group 11. As a rough guide, a 25-year-old in zone 2 London with no claims pays around £535 per year third-party fire & theft.
- Is the MT-125 good for delivery / courier work?
- It's possible, but a scooter like the PCX 125 or SH125i is the standard courier choice. Manual gearboxes slow down stop-start delivery work.
Browse all CBT-legal 125s
Don't have your CBT yet?
You need a valid DL196 certificate before you can legally ride the MT-125 on UK roads.
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