Hey, new here.

[notbike]

Hey everyone, I'm new to riding and this forum so thought I'd start off by introducing myself. I'm 20 and got my cbt back in feb, got a pizza delivery job, and saved for the bike that I've been riding for a couple of weeks now.
It's a 2nd hand YZF R125.. I been lurking here for a while and seen a lot of people don't like them, but I'm really happy with it tbh

So I got my first noob question. I only got one key for this bike and I tend to lose things (already lost my spare fuel cap key) so where can I get a spare key cut?
I went today to my local key shop thing, and they said they can usually can cut any key but for some reason they didn't have a blank for my key..

Do I have to ask a Yamaha dealership or something (no idea how to go about this at all)

Cheers, nice to meet you all.

[hedgehugger]

I seem to remember buying a blank Yamaha key on ebay and taking it to the key cutting place.

This kind of thing

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Blank-uncut-key-Yamaha-V-Star-YZF-FJR-FZ1-FZ6-R1-R6-GTS-XJ-R1-fromU-K-/281291235245?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item417e439fad

[-Matt-]

Hi, welcome

Used to have a R125 Quite liked it as a learning bike, very overpriced for what it is in heinsight, but don't have much bad to say about it particularly

As Hedgehugger said you should be able to get a blank Yam key, about 15 quid from local dealers IIRC. Take that and your original to a key cutters and they should be able to copy it.

[notbike]

Ah I see thats a good idea I'll probably get one of those blanks off ebay then, hope I get the right one lol.

Yeah I'm keeping the r125 for a while cause I'm 20 (21 november) I dont think it'd be worth getting my A2 license or a medium bike only to do DAS a year or two earlier, might as well ride this till im 24, itll make up for its cost in the longrun.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[Polarbear]

The big gripe on here against the YZF125 is it's a commuter engine in wolfs clothing. It costs a lot and most people will say it's better to get your licence than an expensive 125.

All that said it is the biggest selling 'sports bike' so Yamaha have done nothing wrong.

Good luck and I really hope you enjoy it enough to progress to a bigger bike in the future.

By the way, when I was young I had an FS1E and everyone took the piss out of them, they don't now.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[notbike]

Tbh im really having a lot of fun on it and that's what counts I guess. I've already made a few mistakes on it that wouldve been a lot worse on a big bike, I have a lot to learn yet haha so Im glad it's not as powerful as it looks. in a way thats a plus for me but would be boring for more experienced riders so I can understand where it comes from.

[Rogerborg]

Eh, since you're 17, you'll be stuck on a 125 for 2 years anyway, so you might as well spunk silly money on the best of a bad lot rather than spending a fraction of that cost on doing an A2 test and getting access to bikes that offer vastly more performance and value for money.

[notbike]

Ahh reckon I should've just gone straight for the A2 then? I wasn't sure, a lot of people told me to just stick to a 125 cause I wouldn't be able to handle anything bigger at first, and they said it'd be easier when it comes to mod1/mod2 cause I can get used to riding before i do it with a 125. Ehh I guess we all take different approaches

[-Matt-]

It all depends on you really. Personally i thought similar spending a fair bit too much on my r125 as i thought i'd get on with it happily for a few years until i could do DAS, learn well for my tests and get my moneys worth.

What actually happened was i learnt well on it, but got bored of it, did my test way earlier than planned after barely owning the R125 18 months, and got a ZX6 (restricted for 2 years - sadly no longer possible ).

I would personally consider doing A2 and getting a bigger bike though even if its a tamer 500 you dont know what youre missing until you move up, even if it isnt as shiny and styled a bike as the r125 at first.

[notbike]

Yeah that's true haha, for some reason what you're saying really does sound like something that's gonna happen to me XD well I've heard that you can't really lose money on a used 125 though, so any money I've invested in this thing I can get back (at least most of it) so I guess that means I'll just have more money left when I sell it and get a bigger bike, eventually.

[-Matt-]

I hope you didnt buy new ?

I lost about 250-300 on mine in 18 months IIRC.

Keep it maintained and ACF 50 it if youre wet and winter riding to keep the corrosion off and it should be fairlyyy stable.

[notbike]

Nope second hand haha I wouldn't buy new, and what's ACF 50? 'll have to google all this I've no idea on the upkeep and all that. Hmm maybe I'll youtube some motorcycle maintenance videos and whatnot.

[-Matt-]

Do essential checks regular oil level, chain, brakes/fluid.

Maintenance wise is occasional oil and filter change (check manual i forget recommended interval on the r125) probably every few 1000m. Easy to do yourseld with few youtube videos.

Then clean/lube and occasionally adjust chain. Tons more you can/should do over time but those are dead simple. ACF 50 is a rust/corrosion protection spray, worth its weight in gold. Nice shiny bikes can rust quick over a bad winter

[-Matt-]

https://www.automotivespartsshop.com/file-download/YAMAHA-YZF-R125-SERVICE-MANUAL.pdf

Will teach you a lot and potentially save you a fortune after a bit of expense getting tools together initially Good fun too mainly

Just double check its correct/same as your years model, expect it will be.

[notbike]

Wow nice one mate, quality. Really appreciate that thanks Yeah I plan to ride in whatever weather cause it's my main mode of transport anyway. Nothing much to do before work tomorrow, might get my hands dirty then

[-Matt-]

Start off slow and basic - you'll likely get put off/botch stuff up if you dive into the harder stuff off the mark but it gets easier. Ive been working on mine near 2 years now. Would say ive done most things upto 'medium difficulty' that dont require taking the engine apart. Spent 200-300 on tools. Saved near a grand on servicing.

[Dave70]

[notbike]

Yep true matt, tbh I don't wanna risk messing anything up so I'll start off basic like you suggest.

Hi Dave yeah I won't drop it, I don't think.. I'm not that clumsy haha. I've accidentally got it up on one wheel a few times, but never come close to dropping it.

About tyres, I have really leaned this thing over in some corners and at one point I felt some slippage (dry weather) and it was on warm tyres and whatnot.. I dunno if it was the tyres that caused it or just I wasn't going fast enough for the angle or what. I have ridden this thing in the wet also, and the tyres are really slippery then.

I've heard good things about the pirelli sport demons, so I might invest in some. One question about that though, I see there's loads of different sizes for that tyre.. I know it matters but in what way, like what's the rule with things like that? Fatter tyres = more stable?

I got this one with 4200 miles on the clock and only put 300 more on it.

[-Matt-]

Your bike will have recommended size tyres - you would be looking to replace with the same sizes you have now or it can cause handling issues with minor changes/be dangerous/unrideable if really mis-sized.

[notbike]

Haha oh, right, makes sense, can't just slap on random ones then. It's a 2011 model. I'll check what sizes to go for. Also on another note I've heard that you can make your exhaust louder by removing something in the exhaust.. I dunno if I should do that? I was told my exhaust is dangerous because it's quiet, and it kinda makes sense.

Haha thanks for putting up with these questions btw guys, I'm pretty clueless.

[-Matt-]

Probably the baffle - not clued up too much with exhausts to advise on that one.

It may be louder although probably not lots, usually people put on aftermarket exhaust cans/systems when you see really loud bikes. Not all of those are legal on the road though and even removing the baffle might make it an MOT fail so something to look into with your bike specifically.

Its potentially useful having a loud exhaust but id never want to rely on sound for safety - observations and defensive riding is priority - sound getting you noticed is a nice bonus IMO

[Dave70]

The tyre sizes you want are as follows: Front, 100/80-17. Rear, 130/70-17. Some people have put a larger rear on but, as Matt said, it can affect the handling and personally, I wouldn't recommend it either. The above sizes are what the bike's designed for.

Also, your tyre pressures should be: Front, 25psi. Rear, 29psi. It's worth keeping a check on these.

[-Matt-]

Good point on the tyre pressures should of mentioned them on the essential checks i listed, derp

[Dave70]

As for the exhaust. There is a mod you can do but, I'd just fit a different aftermarket one on tbh, if you wanted a louder one. If I remember correctly, the mod involves cutting apart of the metal out, rather than simply removing a baffle and so can't be reversed. I'm not too clued up on exhausts either, so that could be complete bollx.

[Dave70]