MAY 2016 / MOTOCROSS ACTION 141
O-STROKE SHOOTOUT
s.YAMAHA YZ125
picked the blue bike over the
KTM. Not because it was faster,
because it wasn’t. Not because
it was better looking, because it
wasn’t. Not because it handled
better, because it didn’t. We picked
the YZ125 over the 125SX because
it was a better all-around package.
Easier to ride, easier to live with
and superbly suspended.
Now the two bikes are back for
another round—only this time the
KTM lost weight and gained horse-
power, while the Yamaha just got a
year older.
BRASS TACKS AND
DOLLARS & CENTS
For some, it all comes down to
the best bang for your buck. These
are the people who wait a few
years after a new model is released
in hopes of picking a used one up
cheaper. They are okay with hand-
me-downs because the price is right.
For these types of buyers, a used
Yamaha YZ125 (built any time after
2005) is right up their alley. They
get the same engine, suspension
and chassis as the 2016 model for a
fraction of the price.
As for new bike prices, the 2016
YZ125 is $409 cheaper than the KTM
125SX, but for some reason the 2016
