Retro // Manual // 2024 // CBT Legal
Yamaha
XSR125
Modern guts. Faster Sons heritage.
Power
15 bhp
Weight
140kg
Top Speed
78 mph
From New
£4,750
Profile silhouette
17" spoked-look cast · seat 815 mm
Colour palette
- Impact Yellow
- Tech Black
- Forest Green
Range & economy
The XSR125 wraps the MT-125's engine and chassis in Yamaha's award-winning Faster Sons retro bodywork: round headlight, brushed alloy tank panels, and quilted seat. Faithful to the heritage while keeping VVA-modern performance.
Who it's for
Riders chasing retro aesthetics without giving up modern dependability.
Pros
- Iconic Faster Sons design
- Same VVA engine as MT-125
- Slipper clutch
- Brushed alloy detailing
Cons
- Pricier than MT-125 for same hardware
- Limited colour options
- Footpegs scrape early
Suitability
commuter
7/10
sport
4/10
comfort
6/10
value
5/10
style
9/10
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
- 78 mph
- Fuel economy
- 105 mpg
- Fuel capacity
- 11 litres
- Weight
- 140 kg (wet)
- Seat height
- 815 mm
- Transmission
- 6-speed manual with slipper clutch
- ABS
- Dual-channel ABS
- Brakes
- Front: 267mm disc. Rear: 230mm disc.
- Suspension
- Front: 37mm USD. Rear: monoshock.
- Wheels & tyres
- 17" spoked-look cast
- Service interval
- 6,000 miles / 12 months
- Warranty
- 2 years unlimited mileage
- Insurance group
- Group 11
- Available colours
- Impact Yellow, Tech Black, Forest Green
- Price new
- £4,750
- Price used
- £3,200 – £4,000
- CBT legal?
- Yes
- Keepable post-licence?
- No — learners only
True cost of owning a XSR125
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
- Retro fans
- City + weekend riding
- CBT to A2 pathway
Insider trivia
- — Shares engine with MT-125 and R125.
- — Faster Sons range debuted on the XSR700 in 2015.
- — Won the 2022 Red Dot Design Award.
Owner FAQs
- Can I ride the XSR125 on a CBT?
- Yes — the Yamaha XSR125 Legacy 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 XSR125?
- 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 XSR125 reliable?
- Yamaha has a 2 years unlimited mileage warranty on the XSR125. Shares engine with MT-125 and R125.
- 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 XSR125?
- 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 XSR125 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 XSR125 on UK roads.
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