Yamaha RD125

[2strokebloke]

I've come across somebody selling an older Yamaha RD125. Does anybody have experience with this bike? Need to know if anybody has anything to say. The guy only wants $200 for it, and it runs - although it needs some relatively minor mechanical work, as well as some cosmetic work too.

[MagicRat]

$200 for any bike is a screaming deal.
These bikes have not been sold for more than 20 years in the US. They were light, narrow, manoverable and great for zipping around the city (at 10,000 rpm) in a cloud of blue smoke.
They are fast enough for modest highway use, but don't count on maintaining the speed limit up a hill.

Even when they were new, not too many were sold here. Most guys who wanted a 2 stroke bike went for the RD400 and the later RD350LC.

So you may have a rare bike there, but parts are likely going to take a bit of work.

IMO call the dealer or look around and see what the parts supply is like. Chances are you might want a new piston, rings and a rebore.
Can the dealer get them? Can they get other common parts, like brake pads and shoes?

These bikes were much more common overseas, so parts will be avail. somewhere, you just have to decide if its worth the hassle.

[jeffcoslacker]

They were/are produced under license in China as well, so parts should be no problem, I would think...at least somebody's still making them...

[CreepingDeath94]

For $200, what do you have to lose? You could probably always sell it for that again if you had to.

[2strokebloke]

I'll see if he still has it. He told me he didn't have a title though, so I ought to get it checked out. I now have leads on a Suzuki T250 too, so I'll have to see about that as well.