2005 Yamaha YBR125 review from South Africa

I bought the motorcycle when it was brand new.

The engine's cylinder head was replaced when the motorcycle had done 4000 kilometers, due to an oil leak resultant of a faulty aluminium casting.

The cylinder head was replaced free of charge courtesy of Yamaha, South Africa.

Afterwards for 33000 kilometers, I had no problems whatsoever, apart from replacing 2 spark plugs and 2 chains (doing routine servicing), as well as changing the front disc pads!

When sold during May this year, the motorcycle still had its original tyres.

The motorcycle was used doing approximately 30 kilometers of highway driving every day, 5 days a week, come rain or sunshine, winter and summer.

I must stress that it didn't had an easy life, because most of the time, it was driven flat-out and against a heavy South Easter wind (I live in South Africa, in Paarl 50 kilometers from Cape Town).

The speed the motorcycle was driven at, was approx 110 kilometers an hour most of the time (about the fastest as it would go), and the engine never ever overheated or missed a beat (even during summer with temperatures in excess of 38 grade Celsius)!!

It didn't use any oil (approximately 50ml) during service intervals, and its fuel consumption was excellent (33 kilometers per liter driving at top speed).

The motorcycle isn't fast compared to a superbike, but then it's only a 125, and it really does what it was designed to do very very good!

It's a comfortable motorcycle, but heavy winds take their toll as the motorcycle is very light, and this was the main reason why I sold it.

Maintenance costs are extremely low!!!

Driving in heavy traffic and on quiet windfree days on the highway, the motorcycle handled extremely well, and I would much rather drive this motorcycle on such days, than a superbike (for that matter). OK... I'll still prefer a superbike...!