Early 2000's 125

[thorns]

With the winter coming up and cold dark nights approaching, I'm thinking about a 125 project bike to keep me entertained over winter.
At this stage am thinking of a early 2000's 125, as still reasonably recent and common, and parts are still plentiful and easy to get.

Out of the bikes of this era, what's the pick of the bunch, and are there any to stay away from as they were just a dog from the get go?

I'm not in any major hurry, so just want to get an idea of best/worst choices, so any bargain that pops up locally I can jump on.

[fabbo]

Easy Yz 125 01

[scotty dog]

The YZ would be a good choice, maybe a KX aswell, I may be wrong but I thought they were pretty good too

[SachsGS]

I'd build a 144 RM or Husqvarna.

[gpnewhouse7]

KTM`s of that era were great bikes that I think look great but have very weak gearboxs, the others were all good bikes but if I was to build up a 125 project bike then that's what I would choose.

Just my opinion though.

[motoxr377]

I never liked the 5-speed YZ's.

[factoryX]

I second a husky, love those bikes.

[SwapperMX]

Gotta say, talking early 2000's, I wouldnt be going anywhere near a KTM or Husky from that vintage. Those bikes had serious problems. Cracking frames, snapping swingarms, etc type of problems. If you are limiting yourself to early 2000 model bikes, the YZ easily wins that race !!

[ford832]

Gotta say, talking early 2000's, I wouldnt be going anywhere near a KTM or Husky from that vintage. Those bikes had serious problems. Cracking frames, snapping swingarms, etc type of problems. If you are limiting yourself to early 2000 model bikes, the YZ easily wins that race !!

Never heard that and I had 2 of them-a couple issues with some later years though but covered under warranty.
My 02 SX had the motor of doom and would absolutely destroy any jap bike of that year-including the YZ.My buddies YZ was nowhere close.He had better suspension but I could typically pull a gear higher than him anywhere and had more bottom,mid and top.Both of mine were bulletproof reliability-wise.They had your typically niggly euro stuff that had to be sorted out from the get go but after that,I loved it-and wouldn't mind having it back.If you want the most bang for your buck and a quality machine,that's what I'd be looking it..followed by the YZ.The CR's,RM's and KX's of those years are nothing to write home about imo.

[Stusmoke]

I can tell you right now to avoid the 01 HOnda CR125 at all costs. I dunno if its just mine, but it is one of the most frustrating bikes to ride I've ever experienced. It refuses to lean over, jumps out of ruts and is stupidly loose on the front end. I've tried more setups than einstien could count and it doesn't help. AVOID

[ford832]

And yet my buddies '96 was freakin' awesome. It's hard to believe how the CR's went backward year after year when they had the benchmark to begin with. " title="Roll Eyes" class="smiley">

[Stusmoke]

I rode a..... 97?? That was the last year of the steel frame I THINK it might have been a 96. And yeah, it was the ducks nuts, straight as an arrow.

[ford832]

I was thinking more along the lines of the cats arse but close enough .
For years,when gauging a new bike-in my case RM,KTM's and his case subsequent CR's,his old 96 was what we compared them to when trying to decide how good new bike we had.They all came up short at least in some ways for years afterwards.

[SwapperMX]

Gotta say, talking early 2000's, I wouldnt be going anywhere near a KTM or Husky from that vintage. Those bikes had serious problems. Cracking frames, snapping swingarms, etc type of problems. If you are limiting yourself to early 2000 model bikes, the YZ easily wins that race !!

Never heard that and I had 2 of them-a couple issues with some later years though but covered under warranty.
My 02 SX had the motor of doom and would absolutely destroy any jap bike of that year-including the YZ.My buddies YZ was nowhere close.He had better suspension but I could typically pull a gear higher than him anywhere and had more bottom,mid and top.Both of mine were bulletproof reliability-wise.They had your typically niggly euro stuff that had to be sorted out from the get go but after that,I loved it-and wouldn't mind having it back.If you want the most bang for your buck and a quality machine,that's what I'd be looking it..followed by the YZ.The CR's,RM's and KX's of those years are nothing to write home about imo.

KTM were defintely good with their warranties, but the fact that problems of that proportion were occuring was scary enough. There motors were definitely fast. Definitely a stand out.

[ford832]

Problems like what? I know where my '99 and '02 are. 11 and 13 yrs later,both are still running strong with no issues-and get used a lot.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/motorcycle_recalls/07/2002/ktm/


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