Yamaha has a long lineup of motocross bikes in its stable and for 2022, the Japanese giant is upping its game.

A case in point is their all-new Yamaha YZ125, the company’s first substantially revised 125cc motocrosser in..wait for it..15 YEARS!

2022 Yamaha YZ125 - What’s New?

There are a whole lot of practical changes under the YZ125’s familiar motocross-y looks.

The main update here comes to the 125cc, two-stroke, single-cylinder engine. Overhauled from the ground up, the engine now gets a new carburetor, gearbox, valve system, and a revised intake system to help it deliver more peak and mid-range power. You even get a slightly shorter under-seat exhaust along with a narrower chamber upfront.

In typical Yamaha USA fashion, the exact power figures are unknown but expect a two-to-three horsepower gain here.

Along with this, Yamaha has also improved the bike’s suspension. For 2022, the 48mm KYB USD forks and the fully adjustable KYB mono-shock, both get revised internals to them take on all sorts of terrains with even more ease.

Also, since the bike is now faster than before, the front braking setup has thirty percent more pad-contact and a redesigned 270mm disc to improve its stopping prowess.

Topping all these practical additions is a flatter seat, reshaped bodywork, and brawnier radiator shrouds, all enabling the rider to sit more comfortably. The bike’s graphics are said to be more wear-and-tear resistant too.

2022 Yamaha YZ125 - What Remains Unchanged?

What remains as-is for the MY 2022 is the bike’s chassis and wheels. The whole motorcycle is still built around an aluminum semi-double-cradle frame and continues to roll on 21/19-inch spoke wheels wrapped in off-road-ready Bridgestone knobbies.

2022 Yamaha YZ125 - Pricing

Despite these slew of updates, Yamaha has priced the new YZ125 at $6,899, making it just $300 more than its 2021 model. This makes it a great value for the money and a worthy option for upcoming motocross fanatics, especially for folks who are complete beginners.