Yamaha Low-Key Designed the Best-Looking Beginner Motorcycle Maybe Ever

With two new treatments only adding to its appeal, the XSR125 makes a helluva case for good things in small packages.

Published March 26, 2025

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

When I bought my first motorcycle nearly a decade ago, I was unhealthily obsessed with specs.

Indeed, the biggest draw of a new Triumph Bonneville over a used one was the appeal of a jump in engine size from 865cc to 1200.

Thankfully, my personal moto guru was there to say “Dude, you don’t need a 1200. You probably don’t even need an 865.”

yamaha xsr125 hero — The new Light Bluish Gray Metallic 9 colorway in all its sleek silver glory.

That advice saved me a ton of cash and looking back, I could have saved even more, sweated less and had more fun on a bike with much less displacement.

That’s part of what makes a significantly smaller Yamaha bike, the XSR125, so compelling.

Berry Dark Orange Metallic 1 is a deep shiny brown with gold decals that I imagine smells of rich mahogany. It reminds me of the classic woodie car body style that I believe you are legally required to mount a surfboard on — giving this edition a throwback energy that’s simply infectious.

But in addition to being incredibly approachable for just about anyone, the bike now comes in two new hues for the Japanese market that are downright gorgeous.

So let’s examine what is quite possibly the best-looking bike for new riders ever made — and then shout out the closest thing to it you can actually get in the USA.

Style for miles

Created in the image of its bigger siblings, the XSR700 (more on this one later) and XSR900, the XSR125 rocks similar retro styling cues, including a scooped-out gas tank and round LED headlights and gauge.

Complementing a generally streamlined silhouette are unfussy touches, such as a flat, passenger-friendly saddle and blacked-out mechanical components and exhaust pipe.

yamaha xsr125 beauty berry — Berry Dark Orange Metallic 1 sounds as dangerously delicious as the bike itself looks.

The two new Japan-only colorways are dubbed Light Bluish Gray Metallic 9 and Berry Dark Orange Metallic 1.

They may sound a bit like food coloring dyes, but they both pop in their own ways. The former surfaces mostly in the fuel tank, almost a matte silver that gives off a sleek and futuristic vibe.

yamaha xsr 125 full duo — Both options boast more style and personality than you typically see in beginner bikes.

The latter, meanwhile, is a deep shiny brown with gold decals that I imagine smells of rich mahogany.

It reminds me of the classic woodie car body style that I believe you are legally required to mount a surfboard on — giving this edition a throwback energy that’s simply infectious.

Small wonders

Of course, looks that leave most entry-level bikes — and to be honest a lot of bigger more advanced motos — in the dust aren’t the whole story.

What really grabs my attention about this bike is the one-two punch of style and approachability, the latter of which the XSR125 has in spades.

yamaha xsr125 tank — The XSR125’s tendency toward retro roundness is hard to miss in its headlight, gauge and fuel tank.

The engine itself is a purposefully unintimidating 124cc liquid-cooled single cylinder making 14.8 horsepower. That’s not a ton, and I certainly would not recommend hitting a larger highway on this bike.

However, with Yamaha’s variable valve actuation, you get a steady, fuel-efficient flow of juice all along the power band and can most definitely dart through city traffic and negotiate twisty two-lane roads.

Adding to the overall nimbleness and approachability is mid-controls, which translates to a comfortable upright riding position, and a relatively light overall weight.

yamaha xsr125 action — The upright riding position is typically the most comfortable and stable for newer riders.

Thanks in part to that compact power plant, the XSR125 tips the scales at just 302 pounds. Compared to the 506-pound curb weight of my 2014 Bonneville T-100, that sounds like an absolute dream.

It also makes the seat height of just over 32 inches a little easier to stomach for newer riders — and for the truly short of inseam there is a dedicated accessory package with a lowering link and lower seat.

One other benefit of such a small-displacement bike is price, and this bike is no exception in that the MSRP is roughly equivalent to $3,060 USD.

Domestic detour

I say “roughly equivalent” because, unfortunately, there is no US pricing for this bike. Like many smaller bikes, it’s only available in Asia and Europe.

I am hopeful the drum I and others have been beating — bigger is not always better — will eventually get so loud that the US market must take notice and become more accessible to not only newbies but also shorter riders and female ones.

yamaha xsr700 — The closest thing to an XSR125 in the US is this much bigger XSR700, which isn’t bad looking itself.

In the meantime, the closest you can get to this bike stateside is the aforementioned XSR700.

It’s not what you’d call small, but with an engine displacement of 689cc, a curb weight of 410 pounds and a starting price of $8,599, it has much to offer if you’re just getting started — or anyone who understands that big numbers can be overrated.

Because as a wise man once said: “Dude, you don’t need a 1200.”

Availability and pricing

The two new colors of the XSR125 will be available in Japan only beginning April 16th. The base price is 460,000 Japanese Yen, which at press time is ~$3,060 USD.