Comments on: 1974 Yamaha YZ125 Vs MX125

By: johnny 6

johnny 6 — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:00:43 +0000

I’m building a 74 YZ125 for the 2012 season. It was my first REAL race bike and I wanted another one. It’s not a simple as it was 15 or 20 years ago to put one together. I found a good frame, and a set of 1974 YZ250 forks and triples, so that should fix the crappy front end this bike came with. In the rear I bought a set of good shocks that are an inch and a half longer than stock to level it out. I found 2 good lower ends, but not a cylinder. I found a good YZ125C jug and machined the bottom of the sleeve so it will fit into the cases. Just when I got to this point I came across a 1977 YZ125 motor that will slip right into the frame. I’m sure this would be a faster, better motor, and I can use the 74/76 as a back up. Now I’m looking into fitting the 1977 pipe to the bike. It’s been a interesting build, but I think it’s going to be worth the effort.

By: hoodrock

hoodrock — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:13:54 +0000

so i got a 74-75 mx yz im not sure the dealer can not tell me what it is it has a red an white tank but the sides are yellow im on the track of it being a 74 mx its got the tip on the ex. like in the pic above solid bike but can some one let me know how to decode the vin an what it would be worth just would like to know if i payed to much

By: mike young

mike young — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:40:10 +0000

i sponser a girl on a 74yz125.iv also been a yamaha guy since the early 70″s,and build(read heavily modify)all my bikes.she rides modern bikes so it took a little doing to get her to convert styles.the bike uses the yz250/360 forks and front wheel and modified early elsi rear shocks. she weighs about 110lbs and she and the bike absolutly haul.kills in the womens class and runs the front of the mens intermediate against fully moded out elsi,s.the engine rips with light internal mods.stuffed crank,third piston hole,30mm carb,dg pipe. im also running a cast iron cyl(the chrome stocker is being saved for when i restore the bike someday) with max overbore and will go this winter to a nicasil coated one which makes a huge diff in my opinion.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:25:07 +0000

I had a 74 YZ when i was 17 in 77,
It was a cool bike, but as you were saying?
It needed better handling,
i think the MX would be alot better too in the long run,
the engine was really good,
but it didnt turn too good,
that era was the most fun time in my life on bike’s,
Im 50 now and redoing a 73 TM 400 and im wondering why everyone put’s it down?
I dont like monoshock bikes
they are too tall,

By: Greg H

Greg H — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:09:53 +0000

I have one of the first 74′ ever built, bought in 73′ from Corporate, before I left the company. Lightly trail ridden, all orig, whadda ya think its worth??
Any thoughts = Thanks, GH

By: Vandy

Vandy — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:30:26 +0000

i currently race an MX125a in local VMX meets in Brisbane Australia and hardly anyone rides a stock 125 these days.
i really dig my little ride. it’s a ton of fun.
go the MX!

By: MotoManiaChronicles

MotoManiaChronicles — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:35:52 +0000

Currently have a 1975 MX125 that is really a 1974 but with red and white color scheme. Its a hot little number. Looking forward to racing VMX this Fall but will have to petition to race sportsman class. I will get killed if I have to race it GP.

By: Jerry Z

Jerry Z — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:47:56 +0000

I got a new 1974 YZ125 for Christmas, I was 16 years old. I am now 52 and wish I could find it. I would love to restore it. I raced motocross for two years with that bike, probally tore it apart a thousand times. Spent every dime I could make on racing. Those were great times. Motocross it the mid 70′s was the best.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:51:42 +0000

I raced a YZ125A for two years, 1976-1977, as a 125C rider on the East Coast. It was old and obselete, and need a ton of parts and t.l.c. to keep it going. It had white fenders, green number plates, Fox Shox with springs, and a Fox Fork Kit (which REALLY helped those forks-yuk! They were AWFUL stock!)It was not a terrible bike for a novice, and some of my most exciting MX days were on that bike. It would be a cool vintage bike to see today. Thanks for the great trip down my teenage memory lane.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:09:14 +0000

Once upon a time in the early 70s I raced a ’74 YZ125A at the Ascot TT. I recall it had an extremely peaky engine and went like the devil on meth as long as you were in the powerband. It was nothing but a pure racebike, unfit for anything else. Now have a ’74 MX125A that we are bringing back from a neglected state for vintage MX. One thing to consider now is that parts prices are reasonable for the MX and expensive for the YZ.