First Ride: 2022 YZ125

Three weeks ago Yamaha Motor Canada held their annual Media Ride Day at one of the most famous tracks in Canada, Moto Park. This fun get-together has been going on for five years and even with the Covid-19 restrictions, the fine folks at Yamaha, as well as the crew at Moto Park, haven’t skipped a beat. With this year’s event being late in the season there was the risk that Mother Nature would not cooperate, but that wasn’t the case and we ended having a perfect October day for riding. As always the Moto Park crew had the track in excellent condition and after an in-depth presentation on the new 2022 YZ models, it was time to ride.

Much to our delight, Yamaha had brought out their entire line-up of 2022 YZ’s including the YZ250F, YZ450F, YZ125, YZ250, YZ85, as well as the all-new YZ85LW. With numerous changes to all of the new Yamaha two-strokes, it was great that we had a chance to try them out. Other than a brief break for a delicious homemade lunch made by the talented MP kitchen staff, this day featured non-stop riding and testing of these new models. Today we will focus on the YZ125 as this new model features multiple changes for 2022. Two-strokes are back and in recent years they’ve become more and more popular with consumers. Whether you’re a dedicated racer or a rider that just likes to have fun riding, a two-stroke is a perfect option for you with its lightweight package and overall low maintenance costs. For 2022, Yamaha took notice that their already popular YZ125 needed some upgrades so they made some big changes to the engine, the brakes, the carburetor, as well as the ergonomics. All these changes are a welcomed commitment by the Blu Cru to improve the YZ125 and keep this bike as a leader in its class. To test this new two-stroke model we also invited 14-year-old Ayrton Pomeroy who has spent the past six weeks riding and racing one of the other brands of 125’s. Since many racers feel like the Austrian two-stroke’s have been a step above the Yamaha for the past few years, we thought Ayrton’s input would be extremely valuable.

Powerful New Engine

A completely redesigned liquid-cooled 125cc two-stroke engine boasts increases to mid-and top-end power over the 2021 model. For 2022, Yamaha has completely redesigned the YZ125’s engine with almost every functional part being new. This bike features a new cylinder, head, piston, rod, crank, as well as new cylinder timing. Yamaha has also added V-Force Reeds as well as an all-new 38mm Keihin Carburetor to give the new cylinder all the air and fuel it needs. Yamaha has most certainly done their homework with this 2022 YZ125 engine as all of these changes have added up to exactly what this model needed, more horsepower.

On The Track:

From the moment this new YZ125 starts the engine feels like it’s alive and ready to go. With a new cylinder, porting, V-Force Reeds, as well as the new 38mm Keihin Carburetor, from the moment you hit the track you feel like you have plenty of horsepower. This is one area where the YZ125 was lacking simply because the overall powerplant hadn’t been updated in years. Well, we’re happy to report that it’s not lacking anymore as the new YZ125 performs well on every part of the track. This new engine not only features more torque and bottom end but also transitions well through the mid-range and into the upper RPMs. The new YZ125 will get you holeshots and it will also pull you around the track and onto the podium with no issues.

New Brake System

To match the increased engine performance an updated lightweight braking system was added featuring larger front pistons, a more rigid caliper, a redesigned 270mm front rotor with a 30% increase in pad contact area, and higher friction pad material, all combining to provide exceptional braking power and feel. The redesigned rear rotor maintains the same braking power while dropping the outer diameter from 245mm to 240mm, further reducing unsprung weight with no compromise on performance.

On The Track:

Over the years Yamaha and their YZ models have always had good brakes, but they’ve never been known as the best. Well, for 2022 the YZ125 has received a braking makeover and when you combine these changes with the lightweight of this bike, this new 125 stops on a dime. These new brakes have a good strong feel and even during a long moto when brakes begin to heat up and sometimes fade, these remained consistent and powerful.

Improved Rider Ergonomics

A new flatter seat and more narrow fuel tank design, along with smoothly integrated body panels and slimmer shroud width combine to enable greater freedom of movement forward and back, allowing the rider to easily shift body weight for increased control and confidence.

On The Track:

With the flatter seat, the 2022 YZ125 is extremely easy to move around on. This means that when entering corners you can easily move forward on the bike and then on the exit of the turns you can slide back without any troubles. Generally speaking, 125’s have always been relatively easy to control as their lightweight feel doesn’t demand a lot of body movements to make them go where you want. But with the updated ergonomics of this new YZ125, it’s easier than ever to control and point in the direction you want to go on the track.

Revised KYB Suspension 

Taking the YZ125’s class-defining suspension and handling characteristics to a new level, the front, and rear suspension has been revised to further improve bump absorption and cornering performance. KYB® inverted front fork now includes a leaf spring in the mid-speed valve for increased performance and comfort.

On The Track:

Yamaha models have always had good suspension and for 2022 the YZ125 has received updated KYB Suspension on both the front and the rear. Although the suspension wasn’t quite set up for each individual rider during this test, the action of both the forks as well as the rear shock was smooth and predictable. Overall, the handling on this new 125 was great, and like I said, with a few small adjustments it would be great on any type of track.

Improved Fueling

The new high-precision Hitachi Astemo® Keihin PWK38S carburetor features a power jet, throttle position sensor, and 3D-map-controlled CDI unit for precise ignition timing. The result is clean, crisp throttle response, superior rideability, and excellent over-rev character.

On The Track:

I mentioned the new PWK38mm Keihin Carburetor above but since it’s one of the biggest improvements on this new YZ125 I will talk about it again. The throttle response is terrific on this new 125 and that is due to this new carburetor as well as the V-Force Reeds. From the moment you twist the throttle this bike comes alive as you can hear the bike ‘snap’. As you transition through the powerband the new carburetor and intake provide the cylinder with plenty of fuel to keep the bike pulling. A new carburetor and some new technology with regards to how this bike gets its fuel is exactly what the YZ125 needed and for 2022 that is what it got.

Final Thoughts:

Overall we loved this new 2022 YZ125 as all of the updates and modifications have turned this bike into a front runner in its class. The power is great compared to previous models and the overall handling is both predictable and precise. For 2022, the YZ125 is also slimmer through the tank and seat area as has a new front and rear fender design. These changes don’t necessarily increase performance, but it does make the bike a little easier to ride. If we had to find any faults with the 2022 YZ125 it would be with the Bridgestone tires as well as the fact that it doesn’t feature a hydraulic clutch. The clutch part we can understand as none of the 2022 YZ models feature a hydraulic clutch, but the Bridgestone Tires don’t have the overall durability of the Dunlop Tires that come stock on all of the other YZ models. However, tires can be changed easily and the Bridgestone’s most certainly doesn’t take away from how awesome this new 2022 YZ125 is. All of the new YZ’s are at your local dealerships so now is the time to go out and become a member of the Blu Cru for 2022. In closing, we would like to thank everyone at Yamaha Motor Canada for having us out and also to the crew at Moto Park for providing us with an incredible track to ride on. It was a great day and that we won’t soon forget.