Road test of YamahaYZF-R 125 2014 Selling the dream, but not only ...

Second test ride of the season, after the heartbreak of leaving the KTM duke 125 behind, I'm delighted to be told that for the first time I'll be testing a sportbike that looks as good as it sounds, both on paper and in its magnificent matte color.

There's no way it's a 125!

A little too optimistic on my part? Perhaps, but... But when you hear it over and over again, everywhere you go, you end up believing it!

Indeed, Yam has done a great job on the physique of this little monster. You can really feel the inspiration from the R series, and just one look at her from the front and you'll mistake her for one of her big sisters!

What also struck me was the fork! Inverted and, what's more, rigid (Ø 41 mm). Which means you can forget all those brake marks in your shorts, as you enter a bend and tell yourself it won't go through! The YZF reassures you that wherever you want to go, it'll go!

One last little detail: the air intake between the headlights... The only thing to say about that is that it adds another layer to the aesthetics!

Question: are we dealing with a pretty, intelligent blonde or not?

And then, big surprise, this single-cylinder really blew me away... Of course, it's still a 125cc, so you might think I'm being over-optimistic. Well, having already ridden a few bikes of this type, this is the first one to exceed 130 kph, the first to reassure me so much about braking, but also the first to convince me to leave my knee 2 cm off the ground (for lack of sliders).

The 140 kg wet weight really gave me confidence in the corners, but also the size of the rear tire and the lightness of the swingarm. All this combined to give excellent precision and perfect handling.

it's not the size that counts!

It's a sunny Sunday morning. Oli the Belgian and I get out our respective machines, which we're going to play with all day long. I'm talking, of course, about the Super Téneré and theYzf-r 125.

After a few kilometers, we land on a magnificent bend to take some pictures. And after seeing them, we're like 2 children at the thought that we're really going to make the most of this day!

To my astonishment, I realize that for once, I'm not dragging myself along with the 125. What a pleasure not to feel like the snail of the bunch!

We soon arrive in the Maredsous region, famous for its superb roads. It's time to take stock before setting off.

As I said earlier, the engine is very present for this little cube. And once again, I'm repeating myself, but the confidence is truly amazing. It's a delight to be able to link turns at high speeds, while still having plenty of power.

Unfortunately, my wrists and neck are already screaming at me, but the position, far from pleasant, allows me to forget the aches and pains by putting myself in the shoes of a GP racer!

Come on, let's go, the GoPro's are ready, so are the drivers, and the engines are running on idle, waiting for just one thing: the attack!

A real delight, corner after corner, mind-blowing braking, and it's with a big grin on my face that I realize I'm playing with a GSR 750 that's catching up with me in a straight line, but that I'm confidently keeping at bay in the corners.

Back in reality, or rather in the garage, it's time to take stock of this little gem.

" That's all well and good, Nico, but I'm sure it has its faults.

it's true, despite exceeding 130 km/h, 15 hp isn't much for a bike with a face like that. But we're still in the 125cc class, so it's debatable.

The main weak point of this bike, and I'd even say THE weak points because there are 2 of them, is the riding position, which is very tiring for a tall person. My wrists were happy to go home.

And secondly, the price: €4,599 for a 125cc, which is still very high for my taste, but it has to be said that it's got a lot going for it. And its confidence-boosting qualities are truly exceptional for a sportbike!

In short, she's a pretty, intelligent blonde, but as men, we all know that a creature like this is expensive, but there's a lot of fun to be had, even for the youngest ;-)

See you soon

Nico the Belgian