I own a 2005 Yamaha YZ125 as my main motocross bike. Now having ridden just about every motocross bike built over the last 20-years, that bike choice says a lot about me and a lot about how good the YZ125 really is. I chose the 2005 for a couple of reasons. I got it used in 2013 and it was basically the same as the current year model. I upgraded the suspension (mine does not have the SSS fork) with stiffer springs and I just ride it. I don’t need to go too fast around the track and the 125 keeps me in line. Plus it makes me feel like I’m riding it fast, just listen to it!
The new YZ is a fresh looking bike and it makes my bike look old and tired. I know that I can upgrade the plastics, if I feel the need. Yet the 2015 YZ has a fresh and new feel compared to mine and a crispness to the carburetion that was amazing. It was that new bike feel, some of it at least. I have easily been getting 20-30 hours on a top end running pump gas at 40:1. The YZ is simple to work on and it hardly wears out tires. But really the biggest reason I ride the 125 is for the pure fun of it. We have a group of buddies who all have 125s so I even have company. Affordable and fun with a performance that rivals the newest bikes out there. What is not to like about that?