Yamaha MT-125
The MT-07's little sibling — Yamaha's 125cc naked that looks the part and rides above its capacity. Liquid-cooled DOHC single with VVA from 2020, ABS standard, sportier ergonomics than the YBR-derivatives. A1-license bike that doesn't feel like a learner-shape compromise. Strong choice for 17-year-olds who want street naked styling without the GSX-S125 sport-rep position.
- Engine
- 124 cc
- Power
- 14.7 PS
- Weight
- 142 kg
- Seat height
- 810 mm
- A2 licence
- —
Liquid-cooled DOHC single with VVA
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 55 · Insurance 63 · Theft 65
The Yamaha MT-125 holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 28% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and costs about average to insure (group 7). Theft risk is moderate.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: MT-125
Engine
Petrol · 124cc
Power
14.7 ps
Torque
11.5 Nm
Weight
142 kg
Seat
810 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
90 mpg
Volume MT-125. Liquid-cooled DOHC 125 with VVA, 6-speed manual, chain. 142 kg wet. 810mm seat — taller than the YZF-R125 platform sibling.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£3,491
Range £3,142 – £3,840
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£5,099
At 5 years
£3,161
At 10 years
£2,172
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£2,642
Per year
£881
Per mile
£0.11
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 7 of 17 (mid — mainstream) · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£380/ year
Roughly £32 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £627 | £836 | £1,170 |
| Age 22-29 | £385 | £513 | £718 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £285 | £380 | £532 |
| Age 40-49 | £251 | £334 | £468 |
| Age 50+ | £228 | £304 | £426 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
2/4Medium risk
Medium risk
Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
What this means for you
Less targeted than full-sized MTs but still a popular learner bike. Chain lock and disc lock advised.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Cam chain tensioner (pre-2020) any | £200 (Yamaha service fix exists) |
| medium | Chain stretch every 15k mi | £250 (chain + sprockets) |
| low | Side stand cut-out switch Known niggle 15k+ mi | £30 |
| low | Fork seals 20k+ mi | £100 |
| low | Battery every 2-3 years | £50 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Yamaha MT-125, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Variant comparison
Best-looking A1 naked. Cross-shop Honda CB125R (more refined, £500 more), Suzuki GSX-S125 (sportier, more cramped), KTM Duke 125 (most aggressive — but pricier insurance). MT-125 wins on styling-to-cost.
Known issues
- Cam chain tensioner (pre-2020 bikes) — Yamaha service fix
- Side stand cut-out switch fails (£30)
- Chain wear at 15k+ mi (£250)
- Fork seals at 20k+ mi (£100)
- Battery every 2-3 years (£50)
Strengths
- +Looks like an MT-07 — premium-feeling for an A1 bike
- +VVA engine (from 2020) — punchier mid-range than rivals
- +ABS standard
- +Adjustable upside-down forks — proper sport components
- +Light at 142 kg
Watch-outs
- −Cam chain tensioner issue on pre-2020 bikes — addressed in revisions
- −Side stand cut-out switch fails (£30 fix)
- −Chain wear at 15k+ mi
- −Slightly thirstier than CB125F (90mpg vs 140mpg)