Kawasaki KLX 125 Assessment: Specs You MUST Know Earlier than Shopping for

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Seeking to get a Kawasaki KLX 125 however don’t wish to spend hours attempting to determine if it’s the fitting bike for you? Whether or not you wish to purchase your first filth bike or add to your present fleet, you’re in the fitting place!

On this article, I’ll present you what sort of bike the KLX125 is, why it might or might not be the greatest filth bike for you, and what to anticipate when shopping for and proudly owning one as a way to journey extra and work on it much less.

What’s the KLX125?

It’s a 125cc 4 stroke path bike made for rookies that wish to learn to journey a dust bike with a clutch. It’s air-cooled, easy, dependable, and straightforward to journey.

Stock 2006 Kawasaki KLX 125 4 stroke trail bike for kids, teens and short adults
2006 Kawasaki KLX 125

Is it the identical as DRZ125?

It’s the identical filth bike as Suzuki’s DRZ125, simply with totally different coloured plastics – this implies you’ll be able to technically purchase a model new KLX125 with yellow plastics in the event you purchase a DRZ125L from a Suzuki supplier 🙂

Who’s it for?

The KLX125 is a good first filth bike for adults, teenagers, and women for a a number of causes. For one, the seat peak is sweet and low – making it simple to the touch the bottom together with your foot and rapidly construct your confidence.

In the event you’re new to using and wish the quickest path to changing into a talented path rider, then a newbie path bike just like the KLX 125 mixed with correct using methods is the way in which to go.

Who’s it NOT for?

In search of a dust bike to leap and/or race? Then the KLX125 is NOT for you – a 125cc 2-stroke can be a more sensible choice.

In the event you’re an skilled rider, then the efficiency – most notably the suspension – will likely be underwhelming and downright harmful in inventory kind.

floor except you come to a cease.

Engine – what to anticipate

It’s a 125cc air-cooled, 4 stroke engine with a 5-speed handbook clutch transmission, however what does that imply for you? A 125cc air-cooled 4-stroke engine is fairly easy, low-performance and dependable – good in the event you’re simply beginning out and wish a low-maintenance bike.

The facility may be very clean and predictable. That is additionally good for studying the best way to journey with the clutch as a result of it received’t get uncontrolled in a short time in comparison with a high-performance enduro bike.

2005 Kawasaki KLX 125 2 Kawasaki KLX 125 Review: Specs You MUST Know Before Buying

Horsepower

The KLX 125 solely has about 7 HP in inventory kind. Which will sound fairly low, but it surely makes first rate torque proper off of idle, so that you don’t need to rev it up excessive to get it transferring.

I really get pleasure from using small and “gradual” bikes as a result of they’re enjoyable to journey “quick” and usually safer since you’re not as more likely to journey out of your consolation zone in the event you by chance twist the throttle too far. There are some easy mods to get it as much as 10+ HP if you wish to make it quicker, which I’ll go over later on this overview.

2004 Kawasaki KLX125L with a full pro circuit exhaust system

Prime pace

You’ll be able to attain a max pace of about 45 MPH on a inventory KLX 125 in the event you’re on flat floor, however that quantity is essential. In the event you’re critical about filth biking, you then’re in all probability not going to be using a path at that high pace.

Need to go quicker or speed up faster? Simply change the gearing (Amazon). Much less tooth on the rear provides you a better high pace, and extra tooth on the rear sprocket provides you faster acceleration.

Suspension

The inventory suspension is easy and tender – good in the event you’re a newbie as a result of it’s comfy using trails at low speeds to soak up the bumps. When you begin using quicker or in the event you weigh over 140 lbs, it’ll begin bottoming out simply.

When the forks and shock backside out, you’ll really feel and listen to a “clunk”. This may finally result in harm, however it will probably additionally trigger you to get uncontrolled as a result of the bike will bounce from compression an excessive amount of. 

2004 Kawasaki KLX125L 3 Kawasaki KLX 125 Review: Specs You MUST Know Before Buying

Are you able to do jumps?

The KLX 125 just isn’t good for leaping except you make the suspension stiffer. The body also needs to be strengthened in the event you’re a heavier rider or else the body welds can crack.

Entrance forks

With typical RSU (right-side-up) forks, you get simplicity and reliability. Sadly, there’s no exterior adjustability apart from transferring the entrance forks up or down within the clamps – this may elevate the front-end and alter the geometry to get a better-balanced really feel with the entrance and rear.

A very powerful factor is having the fitting fork springs to your weight. A inventory KLX125 is made for 80-120 lb riders for informal path using. In the event you’re lighter or heavier, you then need a totally different spring price (Amazon).

Rear shock

The inventory shock is simply as tender and may solely be adjusted with the preload, which is definitely crucial if you’d like the right journey peak. When the rear is just too low or excessive, your filth bike will likely be out of stability and received’t deal with as properly.

A correctly balanced suspension setup offers you probably the most traction, which ends up in higher consolation and confidence whereas using. If you wish to improve the rear shock, a heavy obligation spring is inexpensive and pretty easy to exchange.

Dealing with – what to anticipate

The KLX 125 has a low seat peak and a brief wheelbase in comparison with adult-size filth bikes. This makes it deal with properly at low speeds and in tight areas – an ideal recipe for studying to journey or beginning out path using.

The decrease heart of gravity makes it really feel lighter, particularly when you get transferring, and it takes much less effort to lean and switch even in comparison with the KLX230.

Seat peak – what dimension rider is the KLX 125 for?

The KLX 125 small wheel mannequin has a 30.5 inch seat peak, making it a great dimension filth bike in the event you’re 4’8”-5’2” tall. The KLX 125L massive wheel mannequin has a 31.7 inch seat peak – it’s higher in the event you’re 5’0”-5’4” tall.

2005 Kawasaki KLX 125 Kawasaki KLX 125 Review: Specs You MUST Know Before Buying

It additionally is determined by your inseam size. With the ability to contact the bottom together with your foot might help offer you extra confidence if that is your first filth bike. Nevertheless, you don’t want to the touch with each ft. What you actually need is to study the correct methods to stability so that you simply received’t want to the touch the

Weight – how does it evaluate?

The KLX 125 weighs 194 kilos, however what does that imply compared to different filth bikes? Nicely, it’s about 50 kilos lighter than a median full dimension bike, which suggests it’s simpler to deal with as a result of you’ll be able to lean and switch it with much less effort.

It’s additionally simpler to select up in the event you occur to fall over. It’s just a few kilos lighter than a TTR 125, however not noticeable sufficient to make a distinction.

Mannequin yr historical past & modifications

Kawasaki hasn’t made any main modifications to the KLX 125. There was a giant wheel and small wheel mannequin choice, however apart from that it hasn’t been up to date.  They discontinued the KLX 125cc path bike and began making the KLX140 in 2008.

Nevertheless, Suzuki nonetheless makes the DRZ125L, which is just about an identical to the KLX125L apart from the plastics and Suzuki model identify – the DRZ and KLX 125 are the identical bike.

Reliability – how lengthy will it final?

If you need a dependable engine that’s going to final for a few years, the KLX 125 is an efficient alternative. Every thing is constructed with sturdiness in thoughts, and the air-cooled engine is low-performance, which implies that you’ll be capable of journey it for much longer while not having a rebuild.

In the event you do easy upkeep, similar to oil modifications and holding the air filter clear, it’ll final a whole bunch of hours simply – probably hundreds in the event you listen when there’s an issue arising.

Any frequent points?

The KLX125 doesn’t have any main frequent issues that it’s essential be involved about. Most points are simply frequent to all filth bikes, similar to not beginning after sitting for months or years.

Additionally, for the reason that KLX 125 is such a sturdy filth bike, many house owners don’t preserve them very properly. So, once you’re going to take a look at one to doubtlessly purchase, you wish to watch out to search for indicators that it’s been abused or not.

2004 Kawasaki KLX125L 1 Kawasaki KLX 125 Review: Specs You MUST Know Before Buying
A KLX 125 that’s in all probability sat outdoors and never maintained most of its life, sadly…

Kawasaki KLX 125 Specs & Dimensions

These are the entire important specs and dimensions:

KLX125 / KLX125L
Producer Kawasaki
Engine 124cc air-cooled 4 stroke
Transmission 5-speed handbook clutch
Seat Top 30.5” (77.5cm)/31.7” (80.5cm)
Suspension Journey 6.9”/7.1”
Weight 194 lbs
Horsepower 7 HP
Prime Pace 45 MPH

KLX125 vs KLX125L – what’s the distinction?

The usual KLX125 has 14/16” wheels with a 30.5” seat peak, whereas the KLX125L has 16/19” wheels with a 31.7” seat peak, however that’s not the one factor you’ll discover.

Clearly, the massive wheel mannequin is best for a barely taller rider, however the bigger tires make it deal with higher off-road and on the paths. The larger circumference makes it simpler to roll over obstacles.

Extra stability?

Not solely that, however the barely longer wheelbase will make the Kawasaki 125 massive wheel extra secure at increased speeds and using over obstacles as a result of the bike received’t rock ahead and backward as a lot – a shorter wheelbase is extra more likely to wheelie or endo.

How a lot does a KLX 125 value?

It actually is determined by your native used market, particularly nowadays. I’ve seen used KLX125’s on the market as low-cost as $700, however some persons are asking $2000 or extra in the event that they’re in good condition. I’d say a great common worth is round 1200-1800 {dollars}.

2006 Kawasaki KLX 125 2 Kawasaki KLX 125 Review: Specs You MUST Know Before Buying

Is the Kawasaki KLX 125 a great filth bike for you?

In the event you haven’t found out whether or not or not this filth bike is for you, the lists beneath ought to make it fairly clear. 

You need to get a KLX125 in the event you:

  • Are a brand new rider
  • Below 5’6″
  • Favor reliability over efficiency
  • Simply wish to casually path journey
  • Want a spare filth bike to your girlfriend, spouse or teen
  • Want a low upkeep filth bike

You need to NOT get a KLX125 in the event you:

  • Need a excessive efficiency race bike
  • Simply wish to go quick
  • Need the most recent know-how
  • Don’t like inexperienced

KLX125 vs KLX140

The KLX140 is the up to date model of the KLX125, for my part. It’s a completely totally different filth bike, but it surely rides and handles nearly the identical. The most important variations are the ability an beginning.

2008 KLX140 1 Kawasaki KLX 125 Review: Specs You MUST Know Before Buying

The KLX140 is best than the KLX125 as a result of the larger engine provides you extra torque and horsepower. It additionally has electrical begin, whereas the 125 solely had kickstart.

The KLX125 weighs much less and will likely be cheaper to purchase on the used market.

KLX125 vs TTR125

These 125’s are very related in all features. The Yamaha TTR125 has extra mannequin choices, together with an electrical begin, so I give the sting to the TTR. With that stated, in the event you don’t thoughts a kickstart filth bike and discover a whole lot on a KLX125, it’s going to be simply as dependable and good for studying to journey on.

2003 TTR125 2 Kawasaki KLX 125 Review: Specs You MUST Know Before Buying

Greatest KLX125 mods

There are some efficiency mods you are able to do to make your KLX 125 fairly a bit quicker, but it surely nonetheless received’t compete with an MX or enduro bike.

Upgrades, similar to an aftermarket exhaust system and large bore equipment offers you extra torque, horsepower, and throttle response. 
Low cost KLX 125 mods embody:

  • Uncorking
  • Rejetting the carburetor to make it run properly and reliably
  • Stiffer fork and shock springs

Will the KLX125 make you a greater rider?

In the event you’re simply beginning out using off-road, the KLX 125 is a good bike to study on as a result of it’s simple to journey, however there’s one thing that may really flip you into a greater rider quicker. 

Studying to journey with correct method won’t solely make you journey with extra confidence, however you’ll be a lot safer, and I wish to assist you get began. Faucet right here for a sensible information to change into a greater rider. 

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