Sport // Manual // 2024 // CBT Legal
Yamaha
R125
M1 styling. CBT-legal heart.
Power
15 bhp
Weight
144kg
Top Speed
82 mph
From New
£5,150
Profile silhouette
17" 10-spoke cast · seat 820 mm
Colour palette
- Icon Blue
- Tech Black
- Yamaha Racing Blue
Range & economy
Yamaha's R-series superbike DNA scaled to learner-legal displacement. The R125 inherits the central air intake, M1-inspired fairing, and the same VVA engine as the MT/XSR. Yamaha's most ambitious entry-level supersport.
Who it's for
Future Yamaha R-series owners who want the look from day one.
Pros
- Authentic R-family styling
- VVA engine and slipper clutch
- Adjustable rear preload
- Yamaha Y-Connect app
Cons
- Race-style ergonomics
- Pricier than non-faired siblings
- Heavier than naked rivals
Suitability
commuter
5/10
sport
9/10
comfort
4/10
value
5/10
style
8/10
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
- 82 mph
- Fuel economy
- 104 mpg
- Fuel capacity
- 11.5 litres
- Weight
- 144 kg (wet)
- Seat height
- 820 mm
- Transmission
- 6-speed manual with slipper clutch
- ABS
- Dual-channel ABS
- Brakes
- Front: 292mm disc. Rear: 230mm disc.
- Suspension
- Front: 41mm USD. Rear: monoshock with adjustable preload.
- Wheels & tyres
- 17" 10-spoke cast
- Service interval
- 6,000 miles / 12 months
- Warranty
- 2 years unlimited mileage
- Insurance group
- Group 12
- Available colours
- Icon Blue, Tech Black, Yamaha Racing Blue
- Price new
- £5,150
- Price used
- £3,300 – £4,300
- CBT legal?
- Yes
- Keepable post-licence?
- No — learners only
True cost of owning a R125
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
£570 / year (third-party fire & theft, 25 yr old, London)
tax
£25 / year (motorcycles ≤150cc)
mot
£29.65 / year (compulsory from year 3)
fuel
~£254 / 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
- Future R-series owners
- Aspiring track riders
- Sport-styled commuters
Insider trivia
- — First R125 launched in 2008.
- — Engine is shared across MT-125, R125, XSR125.
- — 2024 model added Y-Connect smartphone integration.
Owner FAQs
- Can I ride the R125 on a CBT?
- Yes — the Yamaha YZF-R125 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 R125?
- 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 R125 reliable?
- Yamaha has a 2 years unlimited mileage warranty on the R125. First R125 launched in 2008.
- What is the real-world range?
- Claimed economy is 104 mpg and the tank is 11.5 litres, giving a theoretical range of 263 miles. Real-world budget around 80% of that.
- What insurance group is the R125?
- Group 12. As a rough guide, a 25-year-old in zone 2 London with no claims pays around £570 per year third-party fire & theft.
- Is the R125 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 R125 on UK roads.
Find CBT training →