Yamaha has been on a spree of upgrading its MT street-fighter range globally and the latest model to receive the update is the MT-125. The entry-level naked motorcycle in the Yamaha MT line-up now comes with new colours including the Storm Fluo that incorporates matte white and red accents on the alloy wheels and fuel tank. There’s also the blue paint job borrowed from the larger MT-09 and MT-07 nakeds in the brand’s stable, and gets a mix of blue and grey colours. And, then there’s the Tech Black shade that brings a sharp look with the blacked-out paint scheme.
In addition to the new colours, the 2021 Yamaha MT-125 also gets a larger 11 litre fuel tank replacing the smaller 10 litre unit on the older version. Interestingly, the bike does not get the new cyclops-inspired styling that debuted on the 2021 MT-09 and MT-07 and the baby MT continues to sport the alien face with the projector headlamp and twin LED pilot lamps on top.
The new Yamaha MT-125 will be drawing power from the 124 cc single-cylinder, fuel-injected engine in Europe. The motor has been upgraded to meet Euro5 emission norms and now produces 14.9PS at 10,000rpm and 11.5Nm of peak torque at 8000rpm. Yamaha claims a mileage of 47.6kmpl, which is quite nice. Much like the larger MT-15, the motor comes with Variable Valve Actuation that helps deliver smoother throttle response. The engine continues to be paired with a 6-speed gearbox and also comes with an assist and slipper clutch.
Under all that bodywork, the 2021 Yamaha MT-125 gets a diamond-type frame, while the suspension work is handled by 41mm USD front forks with a monoshock at the rear. There’s an aluminium swingarm too. The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with a 100-section tyre up front and a 140-section tyre at the rear. Both ends use Michelin tyres in the European market. Braking power comes from a 292mm front disc and a 220mm rear disc, with dual-channel ABS as part of the standard kit.
Yamaha Motor India has no plans to introduce the MT-125 in the country anytime soon. However, KTM with its Duke 125 at RS 1.5 lakhs now paves way for Japanese manufacturers who already expensive motorcycles in their class. The bike maker is concentrating on its locally-developed models for now and won’t look at bringing a premium 125cc offering to take on the KTM 125 Duke. All the more, once you consider that the India-spec Yamaha MT-15 with more cost-effective hardware competes against the KTM in the same price range.
