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LearnerLicense A1 (16+)3,700/yr UK

Yamaha XSR125

Yamaha's retro-styled 125 — the MT-125 underneath with classic round headlight, bench seat and Deltabox frame. VVT (Variable Valve Timing) gives more torque below 7,400 rpm than rivals. A1 license, 11kW, 815mm seat. Sweet-spot bike for CBT graduates wanting style without sacrificing Japanese-build reliability. The Legacy spoked-wheel version adds another £150-200 and looks even better.

Yamaha XSR125
Photo: Nevilleg via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Engine
124.7 cc

Liquid-cooled SOHC VVT single

Power
14.8 PS
Weight
140 kg

wet

Seat height
815 mm
A2 licence

The short version

66/100

Forecourt score

Value 50 · Insurance 86 · Theft 65

The Yamaha XSR125 is cheap to insure (around £280/yr typical). Theft risk is moderate. We don't yet hold model-specific depreciation for the Yamaha XSR125; our default estimate is around 30% lost over three years.

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. The value pillar uses our default estimate for this bike, not a model-specific figure.

Variant: XSR125

Engine

Petrol · 124.7cc

Power

14.8 ps

Torque

11.5 Nm

Weight

140 kg

Seat

815 mm

Transmission

6-speed manual

Economy

120 mpg

Standard XSR125 — VVT 124.7cc single, 6-speed manual, USD forks, Deltabox frame. 815mm seat (tall for a 125). 11L tank gives ~290 mile range.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20212026
9,000 mi
0Expected: 9,00060k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.

Estimated market value

£3,325

Range £2,993 £3,658

HIGH CONFIDENCE

When new (2023)£4,750
Age-based value£3,325
Mileage adjustment+£0
Condition adjustment+£0

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

£5,199

At 5 years

£3,119

At 10 years

£2,184

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.

Years 0–3First-owner depreciation30% lost
Years 3–7Used-market sweet spot18% lost
Years 7–15Stable / vintage-cult zone26% lost
After year 3: 70% retainedAfter year 7: 52% retainedAfter year 15: 26% retained

UK new price by year

How we estimate this

We don't yet hold model-specific depreciation for this bike. The figures above are our default estimate for machines of this kind, currently applied to 34 models in the catalogue — treat them as a starting point, not a measurement of this model. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count and crash-damage signatures. Figures assume a clean, fully-stamped example.

What it costs to own

Over

Indicative running costs at 3,000 miles a year — the UK average from DfT travel and traffic statistics. 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

£1,411

Per year

£470

Per mile

£0.16

Servicing£480
Tyres (pair)£206
Chain & sprockets£90
MOT£89
Fuel / energy£546

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 the current DESNZ pump price of £1.60/L (week commencing 03/08/2026). Electric bikes are costed from battery capacity and published range at the current domestic electricity price; where a bike has no published range we show no energy line rather than guess. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.

Estimated insurance

ABI motorcycle scheme · 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 years
0 yearsBaseline: 5 years15+

Risk profile

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39

£280/ year

Roughly £23 per month

Typical

Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-21£462£616£862
Age 22-29£284£378£529
Age 30-39Selected£210£280£392
Age 40-49£185£246£345
Age 50+£168£224£314

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

1 — Low2 — Medium3 — High4 — Very high

Medium risk

Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.

Theft hotspot postcodes

ENSESW

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

Premium 125 with strong used demand — popular target. Chain + disc lock essential, ground anchor recommended for long-term storage.

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

SeverityPart / issueCost
mediumChain & sprockets

10-14k mi

£130
mediumCam chain tensioner (rare)

VVT-related — rattle on cold start needs investigation

20k+ mi

£200
lowFront brake pads

7-10k mi

£50-70
lowBattery

every 3-4 years

£60-80
lowTail-tidy bracket failure

Stock plastic bracket cracks; aftermarket alloy replaces it

any age

£35

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 XSR125, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Strengths

  • +VVT gives more torque below 7,400 rpm than other 125s
  • +Premium retro styling — Sport Heritage line look at 125 price
  • +Yamaha reliability + dealer network
  • +11L tank gives 290+ mi range — long for a 125
  • +Sportier handling than the MT-125 shared platform

Watch-outs

  • 815mm seat tall for shorter CBT riders
  • More expensive than equivalent Honda CB125R or KTM 125 Duke base price
  • VVT cam chain tensioner can rattle past 20k mi
  • Bench seat firmer than tourer-style seats — long-trip discomfort

Related bikes

Common questions

Yamaha XSR125, answered from the data

How much is a used Yamaha XSR125 worth?
A 2023 Yamaha XSR125 in good condition with around 9,000 miles is worth roughly £3,350 (typical range £3,000–£3,650). Dealer asking prices sit higher than private sales, and a full service history, no crash damage and an unbroken theft record are what hold a bike at the top of its range.
How quickly does the Yamaha XSR125 depreciate?
We don't yet hold model-specific depreciation for the Yamaha XSR125. Our default estimate for machines of this kind is a loss of about 30% over three years, against a 25–32% norm for bikes generally — treat it as a starting point rather than a measurement of this model. Bikes hold value considerably better than cars, which typically lose 40–50% over the same period.
Can you ride the Yamaha XSR125 on an A2 licence?
The Yamaha XSR125 is an A1 machine, so it suits a 17-plus rider on an A1 licence and is also available to anyone with A2 or full A entitlement.
How much does it cost to insure a Yamaha XSR125?
Expect around £280 a year to insure a Yamaha XSR125, typically £200–£420. That assumes age 18-19 CBT, no NCB, urban postcode. Bike premiums move far more on licence tier, rider age and postcode than car premiums do, so treat this as a starting point rather than a quote.
What goes wrong on a used Yamaha XSR125?
The wear and failure points we track for the Yamaha XSR125 are: chain & sprockets (around 10-14k mi, £130); front brake pads (around 7-10k mi, £50-70); battery (around every 3-4 years, £60-80). We don't publish a reliability score for bikes — the MOT dataset behind our car scores doesn't support one at model level — so treat these as the specific things to inspect rather than a verdict. A full service history and a fresh MOT without advisories remain the best protection.
What does a Yamaha XSR125 cost to run?
Expect around 120 mpg, about £182 a year in fuel or energy, £160 for an annual service, £160 a pair for tyres every 7,000 miles, £180 for a chain and sprockets every 18,000 miles. Figures assume 3,000 miles a year, the UK average from DfT travel and traffic statistics, and current DESNZ pump prices. The cost-of-ownership table on the profile breaks this down per year and per mile.
Is the Yamaha XSR125 likely to be stolen?
The Yamaha XSR125 is a moderate theft target. Premium 125 with strong used demand — popular target. Chain + disc lock essential, ground anchor recommended for long-term storage. Theft is concentrated in E, N, SE, SW postcode areas. A Thatcham-approved chain and ground anchor, a disc lock and a tracker are what insurers look for, and secure overnight storage moves a premium more than almost anything else.

Answers are generated from this bike's Forecourt data — curated specifications, our valuation model and the week's DESNZ fuel and energy prices — and update with the weekly data refresh.

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