The Yamaha DT125 is a two-stroke trail motorcycle that Yamaha launched in 1974 as the DT125A. It was still sold in some markets many years later, and its long life produced several distinct generations.
Yamaha DT125 at a glance
| Maker | Yamaha Motor Company |
|---|---|
| First model | DT125A, 1974 |
| Class | Two-stroke trail and enduro motorcycle |
| Engine | single-cylinder, air-cooled two-stroke |
| Frame | cradle-type tubular steel |
| Front suspension | conventional telescopic forks |
| Rear suspension | dual shocks, Monocross single shock from 1977 |
| Brakes | drums front and rear at launch |
| 1982 update | restyle and liquid-cooled DT125LC engine |
| 1984 update | 12 V electrics, YPVS, front disc, rising-rate rear suspension |
| 1987 update | DT125R with rear disc brake |
| US market | last DT125H sold in 1981 |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Yamaha DT125
The DT125 arrived in 1974 as a road-legal trail bike. The DT designation marked it as a two-stroke with off-road styling: a raised exhaust, handlebars with a cross brace, universal tyres and enough ground clearance for trail riding. The engine was a single-cylinder air-cooled two-stroke in a cradle-type tubular steel frame, with telescopic front forks, a dual-shock rear swingarm and drum brakes at both ends.
Yamaha updated the bike repeatedly. A single-shock rear swingarm, which Yamaha called Monocross, appeared in 1977. In 1982 the DT125 received a major restyle and a liquid-cooled engine to become the DT125LC. Two years later the electrics moved to 12 volts, YPVS was added, the front drum brake became a disc and rising-rate rear suspension arrived with the DT125LC mk3.
The final major change came in 1987 with the DT125R, whose most visible difference was a rear disc brake. The model stayed in production for a long time and was still sold in some markets in the 2000s. In the United States the last version was the DT125H of 1981.
Design and features
- Trail-ready layout: raised exhaust, braced handlebars and generous ground clearance.
- Monocross rear suspension: a single shock replaced the twin shocks in 1977.
- Liquid cooling: the 1982 DT125LC brought a new engine and bodywork.
- Progressive updates: 12 V electrics, YPVS and a front disc in 1984, a rear disc in 1987.
Yamaha DT125 versions
- DT125A (1974): the original air-cooled model with drum brakes.
- DT125 with Monocross (1977): single-shock rear suspension.
- DT125LC (1982): restyled with a liquid-cooled engine.
- DT125LC mk3 (1984): 12 V electrics, YPVS, front disc and rising-rate suspension.
- DT125R (1987): rear disc brake and the longest-running version.
Other Yamaha trail and enduro models include the IT175 and the TW200. More models are in the Yamaha collection.
Sources
- Yamaha DT125, English Wikipedia: launch, design, model updates, US history
