Yamaha YBR 125

Quick Review by Maxabout Team

YBR 125 is an entry level 125cc bike from Yamaha which bridges down the gap between YBR 110 and SS. This bike has been launched for those who want to shift from their 100cc bike to an affordable 125cc bike. Let's get into the detailing of this bike. At first glance, this bike feels much more premium than YBR 110. It borrows most of the styling bits from its elder siblings like SS and SZ. The face specially resembles a lot to SS which is certainly a good thing. It has a big tinted visor which looks really stylish with an edgy cowl featuring sharp lines on it. The headlight of this bike is very similar to the one used in SS. There is slight alteration made to its front fender. The bike shares its rear view mirrors, silver finished alloy wheels and side covers with its younger sibling. Yamaha has worked on its up-swept muffler which gets a new chrome shield. The side look of this bike is really attractive thanks to its new fuel tank. Its new fuel tank with side extensions makes it look aerodynamic and features cool graphics on it. Rear cowl and grab rail has also been modified. The rear fender has been revised and looks really catchy with its tail light. Similar to SS, this bike also has integrated side indicators in its tail light which differentiates it from other regular 125cc bikes.

The bike shares its instrument console with YBR 110. There is an analogue speedometer, fuel gauge and odometer in this instrument console but lacks a much needed tachometer. You can also notice other indicators in this meter panel. Similar to its smaller sibling, YBR 125 also has an engine kill switch. An air-cooled, 4-stroke 123cc engine of SS finds its way to this bike. Technically, these both bikes are same. YBR 125 gets a power output of 11 bhp at 7500 rpm from its SOHC engine. This engine is mated with a four speed manual gearbox which follows the gear shift pattern of one gear down and three gears up-shift. The maximum torque output of this engine is 10.4 Nm which arrives at 6500 rpm.

The bike feels quite satisfactory in this department when compared to its rivals. The crispy gear ratios help it get off to a good start and after that the bike manages really well. It does 0-60km/hr in almost 6 seconds. The bike is quite nimble and responsive in city traffic. The bike gets enough torque at low rpms which avoid frequent gear shifts and gives you stress free rides. It can cross the speed mark of 100km/hr faster than most of its rivals. This engine feels less strained in comparison to Bajaj Discover. Noise and harshness level of this engine are also kept well under control. It makes very less noise at high speeds and feels much refined than Discover125. This is one of the most refined 125cc engines available in India. Its gear transitions are also very smooth and enjoyable which gives it an upper hand over others. The bike feels really confident on highways and from power supply to gear shifts everything seems quite perfect. YBR 125 may give you a mileage of around 60km/ltr in city conditions while you can expect anything around 70km/ltr on highways.

The high seating and riding posture offered by Yamaha YBR 125 is very comfortable. Even with a pillion rider, there is no need to worry about the space. Grip of handlebar is very convenient but the best thing on this bike is now the grip your knees get around its fuel tank. There is nice space around the fuel tank which even gets better with perfectly placed foot-pegs. It’s a comfortable bike which feels much spacious than others like Discover 125. Yamaha YBR 125 features under seat storage space and small space just between the meter console and visor. It has a powerful headlight for clear vision at night and comes with other standard safety features like saree guard and pass button.

YBR 125 loses out to Discover 125 in this department. Its poor suspension system is a let-down for this bike which also further affects its ride quality. The rear hydraulic suspension system with swing arm of this bike never feels as comfortable as the gas filled shockers of Discover. At front it has standard telescopic forks. Yamaha does not offer front disc brake on this bike and it comes equipped with drum brakes of 130mm on its both wheels.

Ride and HandlingYBR 125 has class leading wheelbase (1300mm) and ground clearance (180mm) which makes it better than most its competitors in this segment. Its rear tyre holds the road really well around corners and you will impressed by its stability. The bike doesn't feel much scary while frequent lane changing at high speeds. However, big potholes are a matter of concern for this bike. You can also take this bike off road as it has a very light handling and extremely high ground clearance which enables it to cross most of the obstructions easily. You will never find it hard to steer this bike on road as well as off road.