2023 Yamaha YZ125X vs 2023 KTM 125XC first impressions
Vložit
- čas přidán 3. 06. 2024
- 2023 Yamaha YZ125X vs 2023 KTM 125XC first impressions, heat cycle, and ride. HELP US OUT ** Click here - www.rockymountainatvmc.com/?r...
Logan and Sam head out to the desert to do some riding on the brand-new 2023 Yamaha YZ125x and the brand-new 2023 KTM125XC.
We kept these bikes stock right off the showroom floor. Stay tuned for more side-by-side comparisons and bike builds.
Quick Links
0:00 Intro
0:39 Our plan
1:31 Not in this video
2:07 1# Goal
4:50 Specs
5:24 Startup
8:03 First impressions and winner
#dirtbike #yamaha #ktm
_____________________
CONNECT WITH DIRTBIKE Sam
Website:
www.dirtbikesam.com
www.backcountrymtnlife.com
snow-machines.com
www.snowgroomers.net
backcountryutv.com
Facebook
/ dirtbikesam.official
/ backcountrymtnlife
Instagram
/ dirtbikesamofficial
/ backcountry_mtn_life
CZcams
@BackcountryLife
@SolelyRyobi
NOTE: This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!ks, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support!
![Eminem - Houdini [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/22tVWwmTie8/mqdefault.jpg)
Which one would you choose? Comment below!
I bought the 2023 YZ125x two weeks ago!
@@MountainStorz Smart move. You can't go wrong with a Yamaha (Mind you I'm a Honda fan and my sons riding a KTM)
Blu-Cru
I have been shopping for a 125xc or a 150xc-w and my brother has a 250sx-f so I’m part of a ktm family
yz
Nice comparison, I went from riding a 450exc to a yz125 and absolutely love it. Handles like no other.
That’s a huge jump!
Good to know. The price of the 250 is only $600 more. At 5’9” and 170lbs, is the 125 still the smarter/safer choice for my first dirt bike?
I absolutely love my 23 YZ125x, had it a few weeks now and ride primarily gnarly, tight mountain singletrack in western NC and eastern TN. The bike is shockingly good! Its jetted super rich from the factory, after some testing I've setteled on the follow
50 pilot
162 main
NYCG Needle 2nd clip
40:1 mix
Air screw 2 turns out
BR8ES plug
Bike is crisp and pulls awesome all the way through the rev range. My riding is all between 2-4000 feet
Sounds like it’s ripping! I’m in love with the suspension. Most our riding is from 4500-10000 feet. Yeah I am still working on the jetting
I have a '22 YZ125X.. manual calls for 30:1. By running 40:1 you've just richened the fuel by 33%. Regardless, I'd be wary of running 40:1 in a 125
40:1 :x so many people advise this for some reason. 32:1 will keep your engine safer, as the other guy says factory say 30:1, 40:1 makes it a 33% richer, your just begging your motor to wear faster and go boom faster. your bike though your choice!
What’s the top speed of the yz 125x?
Do you know roughly how many hours you have done on it ?
Never owned a KTM but I can say the 3 Yamahas I have owned have been nothing but great. YZ85,YZ250f & YZ125 all great bikes that gave zero trouble.
All solid bikes, I have loved my Yamahas as well
I got a brand new xc125 and I’ve had nothing but problems with it. I’m done. Trading it in for a yz125x soon! So happy to be getting rid of it. THE CLEAR WINNER IS THE YZ!
Man that sucks! You pay all that money and you would think your bike would work. Yeah while I like the KTM we had issues with the clutch. See our ridge trail video.
I have a 150 sx 2019 and it’s pretty relaibe but had to do top end cuz previous owner did not take care of it
That is a complete lie, can guarantee you have never owned a newer Ktm and just wants to give Yamaha a higher status
@@rileyvosper411 its so obvious lol
Subscribed.Choosing between this two!Leaning towards XC:
TBI,e-start,Brembo brakes,e-power valve(claiming more linear power),hydraulic clutch.
Thanks for the Sub
Thanks for the video!
You are welcome, thanks for the comment!
How do you feel about the stock forks? I’m finding it very stiff for my liking. Compression all the way out and still stiff. I have 20 hrs on my 23 125x so maybe they have to be broken in?? Crazy how stiff it feels even compared to air forks.
I rode cr 250’s my whole life… I’m 42. I stopped ridding about 8 or 9 years ago, about the time my son was born & he’s 9 now, I just bought my son a brand new ktm 65 & I bought myself a brand new ktm 125 xc the exact bike you guys just reviewed & like I said I’ve rode cr 250’s from 17 to about 30 & my Ktm 125 xc is as great or maybe even better than any bike I’ve rode.
Yeah both the KTM 125XC and the YZ125X are such fun bikes. Glad you are back riding again. My boy is now on a YZ85 and he is starting to be able to ride just about any of the tracks and trails we ride the big bikes on .
I just got my 23 125 XC and I love it. It’s such a step up from my old crf250f
Oh nice congrats!!
i’m going to be picking up a yz125x for my play bike and practice bike to help me get better at everything so i can start getting faster and faster on my kx250f track bike
Thats a great idea and similar to why we bought 125's
@@dirtbikesam I’m having reconsideration. yz125x, ktm 125xc, or tc125. I have no clue which one i am going to end up getting.
Its a tough choice for sure. Any option would be great it just depends on if you want to spend more or not.
I'm on a crf 450 rx its an absolute beast and wayyy beyond my ability to push it. I can't help but wonder if a smaller lighter bike wouldn't work better for me. Bikes have come a long way....
Yeah every time I ride a 450 I feel like I’m just trying to manage the bikes power. A smaller bike helps give me the confidence to push it more and work on my technique I bet the 459RX is fun though
Im liking this comparison and will be following the series. Was this done with Yamaha’s suggested 15:1 ratio break-in mix? You can probably figure which one I already own, but it was a highly debated decision!
Nope did a couple heat cycles and put 50:1 and rode it 😂 thanks for the follow
I’m seeing other videos, are you still following up this video?
Decider would be which one has the widest gearing?? What one will cruise the best?
The ktm will cruise the best
Carburetor and kick starter. Easy decision take the Yamaha every time
simple and reliable
Two things i'll never go back to. No e-start and no EFI, no thanks.
@@OtisFlint Yeah I like the estart and EFI
Hell know there both sick butkT😂M
@@seandaugherty2033 Yeah both are proving to be great bikes.
So witch one of the bikes are the best I’m deciding witch one should I get
We are still working on that, I don’t have a decision on which one we are going to keep.
HOW IS THE EFI ON THE 2STROKE
really really good.
Definitely the best entry enduro bikes.
But an option for a smaller guy would be the KX112
I really love my KX100 so far and for my size and weight it is more than enough power.
Thanks for your input, I am to KX 100 for a few years. It was a fun bike.
It's so unfortunate they don't make small enduro bikes. I tried a 125 but I really don't feel comfortable and confident on it because it's too heavy and tall for me. I was looking for a KX112 but since all dealers had sold them I went with a 85 bw and I love it! For sure it will need a couple of modifications to bring it closer to an enduro bike but I think it will be a nice learning machine for my size and strengh!
@@MiissSomeone Yeah there isn't really any solid enduro options for smaller riders. Unless you go with the heavy trail bikes like a 230. We only have the Motocross bikes that have better suspension, power, and balance. Do you plan putting fly wheel weights on it?
@@dirtbikesam Yes and those trail bikes are so damn heavy 🤣
Yes I plan on adding a flywheel weight, skidplate, pipe guard, handguard, probably bigger tank (so $$$ 😅), also looking for a kickstand maybe I'll see, at the end it will have cost me the same as the 125XC but the 125 is just too big I couldn't 🤷♀️
@@MiissSomeone Yeah heavy and slow haha. Yeah the 125's are full framed bikes. You ever take a look at the Beta Xtrainer 300 smaller frame and the 300 is a detuned 300 made to grip for enduro/trail riding.
Sweet! Just the shootout I've been waiting for. I've had 250 and 300 two strokes for years and recently became interested in these small bore bikes. Cant wait to pick one up!
They are really fun!!
Do it, I was riding 300s prior as well and the 125 is absolutely the most fun I've had on a dirt bike.
You might like the footpeg brackets that lower the pegs and move them back for standing up
Yeah I thought about that but I have made a few adjustments to see how it goes.
Put a lectron, or smart carb on the yz and a pc pipe. Never look back. Pick the standard YZ125 no x if you want more power. Ad a reserve petcock for safety sake. Someday we'll all be looking back at the kick starters and thinking how cool they are. The 125 starts so easy its hard to justify the need for e-start. 125 two strokes are so fun.
Not had very good luck with the Lectron, would go with a smart carb but it’s tough to spend $800+ for a carb. Yes, I actually agree the YZ125 simplicity is why I fell in love with 2strokes. We have gotten the YZ more dialed and it’s closing the gap
If you to use one of these as a road bike which would yous pick
KTM it already has pretty much everything you need for a street legal kit and headlight.
Dealer in my area has both bikes listed for same price $6999.
Whoa nice!!
thats a no brainer
Turning 34 this year, and in great physical shape. All of my bikes have been kickstart only or both, even the Harleys. That being said..... gimme that "Electric leg" 😂
Yeah kickstart isn’t a huge deal until you teetering on the side of a mountain trying to get your bike to start 😂
Im 42 wanting to get back onto 2 wheels after about 20 years of only quads. Which one of these bikes would be easiest to adjust the suspension for my weight at 6’2 215lb.
What type of riding are you planning on doing?
@@dirtbikesam Casual trail riding near my house primarily.
Really you could go with either bike but the KTM has a AER air for that makes it easier for adjusting the front forks
@@darkbikelife4270
I think its a spring fork now in the XC 125 for 2024
that is correct.
Ecxellent!
Thanks
I’m getting a yz125, what carb is best for pushing the most power out of it
If you tune the carb correctly then the one it comes with is fantastic, if you don’t want to tune it then the smartcarb or Lectron carbs are really high quality
@@dirtbikesam thanks bud
put the KTM motor into it
How tall would you say you would have to be at least to ride one of these bikes?
Really depends on your skill level, full size bikes can be intimidating if you can’t touch the ground 5’6 is about as small as you can go with barely tip toes touching the ground. However my 13 year old rides all my full-size bikes and he can’t even touch the ground
@@dirtbikesam ok thank you this really helped
I miss my 02 Honda CR125
Not having to mess around with a carburetor is a good enough reason to go with the ktm
Yeah that can be a selling point for sure
Most fun ove ever had wad on a 125
Yeah they are a blast
For my 125x it'll start first kick but it likes 10 pumps of throttle then 10 compression kick it'll start for kick
So far ours starts after a few kicks
If I was competing I'd buy the KTM. I'd buy the Yamaha if I just wanted to get out and ride, only. I would miss the button and EFI, on the Yamaha, but no big deal since I started riding when dirt bikes were kick start and carburetor, only.
Yeah the estart and efi is nice. Thanks for the comment
Carb is better competing and e start on a 125 is irrelevant. Ktm also exaggerates all their numbers hp and weight, and they're more expensive
Yeah the YZ is lighter for sure.
I got a YZ285 big bore kit and I’m gonna get the 300 XC TBI in 2024 because I never win Kyle’s giveaways 😂
Yeah if I get a 250xc I don’t want to ride anything else so I currently don’t own one haha
I got a 23 husqvarna tx300. Same as 300xc. They are incredible bikes..
@@tdubbs934 Yeah The TX300 is sweet!
Sam, is that Kyle’s 125 XC ? 🤔😏
Nope it’s mine
KTM all the way. Granted... have to lose the air fork on the KTM IMHO but there is no going back to kick start for me or changing jets on a carb.
Sure, I'll sub....
Thanks! 😀
Is KTM's durability now decreasing compared to before? 🤔
How hard is the KTM to work on, compared to YZ?
KTM is easy to work on.
Ktm makes more sense to buy, although I’ll never be able to get a bike as good or expensive as these, gonna be stuck on the drz400 for a while once I get one.
The ole DRZ400 super reliable
Grab an extra plug for the ktm if you chose that bike. All the reviews are true lol. Picked one up yesterday and it fouled at .5 hours during break in. I can tell it’s going to be a blast in the woods though!
No way!!! Crazy. Yeah I will have to get an extra plug.
I've learned to keep one or more plugs in my pack. Nothing worse than fouling out deep in the woods, and 2 strokes are notorious for it.
@@Kaltwasser45 In all my years of riding 2 strokes I typically don't have any issues with fouling plugs after my bikes are jetted correctly.
@@BackcountryLife Usually that's the case, but after having to push my bike a couple times, I try to cover the easy stuff. It's happened with my jet skis too. While jetting is the most common issues, others come up out in the woods.
It's happened to my friends and people in my group as well. It's just one of those easy points to cover if you ride a lot, stuff like this happens if you ride enough. Last time my Brother in law had to get a tow back because of fouled plug out in the woods, he got luck with that tow. Some of the stuff we ride in is nearly impossible to tow in or out of.
Water, couple tools, gopro, and plugs FTW in the pack.
Always a good call to be prepared.
Correctly jetting the YZ for the temp/elev/hum has to be a part of even a bone stock comparison. The bike is not going to run right with stock jetting especially at 6000 ft.
For sure, we have worked on the jetting and it’s running much better.
How many years have you been riding?
🤷 long enough that I know I’m not very fast 😂
@@dirtbikesam fair enough 🤓🤣🤙
The ktm 125 xc has spring forks, not air forks. correct me if I'm wrong
You are correct about the 2024 KTM125XC having spring forks but the 2023 KTM125XC has the AER air fork
Y’all are mentioning issues with the Yamaha and what they could do to make it better. Now the men that design these know everything and even do extensive testing constantly. I would think if these changes would make the bike better then they would do it. I don’t understand why Yamaha would not do fuel injection to have accurate fuel delivery when it’s not hard to do. I don’t like air in the front forks on the KTM unless there’s no chance it could leak out which could cause the bike to go out of balance and cause serious injury or death
The YZ is a solid bike and one of my favorite bikes. I do wish that Yamaha would put a little more effort into their 2-strokes. Our 2021 YZ250FX is my favorite 4 stroke I have yet to ride, I love it. I’ve owned a few KTM bikes with the air fork and never had any issues with them. However the front fork on the ktm is not as good as the Yamaha.
Yamaha, the brand that killed the 2 stroke popularity for a all mighty dollar. Doug Henry was on a motoGP level bike with AMA stacking the deck. I’ll stick with the company that stuck with 2 strokes.
Yeah they changed everything but it was also the AMA. I wish everyone made modern 2 strokes
Yeah KTM has such a wide range of 2-tuner’s
Ktm all day
A big diferenxe is also that Yamaha is probably gona be less to repair becaus is a simple design same already proven 20+ years old design while KTM have more expensive parts too
Yes that is something to to take into consideration
Its okay guys. You can say the KTM was the better bike. You can still do stuff to improve that bike as well.
Well, we have another video where the YZ125X beats the KTM. Both are really good bikes and I do wish that the YZ125X had E-Start but that can also be a negative as its one more thing that could break.
@@dirtbikesam I only rode Yamaha until I bought my first KTM. You definitley cant go wrong with Yamaha. Now that I am older and can afford KTM, I am very impressed by the engineering and performance, but Im also well beyond my racing years. Not really sure its entirely worth the price difference, but the KTM's are easier to get tagged, so its nice to not have to always truck your bike to a ridding destination or suffer the anxiety of trying to inspect and tag a Japanese dirtbike where I live.
Lol. You can start that yz with your hand!
I would joke with my riding buddies on rides with my 125X starting with my hand.
Great bikes.
Yeah its really really easy to start and man the YZ front forks!!!
Why is everybody on like 99% of CZcams channels always afraid to just admit when a bike is clearly a better bike!!! Just F%$King say it.. The KTM is the better bike go buy one.. always a bunch of reasons not to say it..I know a lot of it is personal preference and im sure they are very close but Again just say it the MTM is the better bike...Once upon a time the Yamaha was the better bike and it shined. But in this time and place its the KTM is shinning bright
For us we plan on doing a bunch more tests and have other riding buddies tell us what their favorite bike is. Right now the KTM is winning.
@@dirtbikesam order a top end for both and see which one is easier to get. Parts replacement test if you will 🤔 The YZ piston is easy to source but the base gasket is hard to find. Idk anything about KTM part sourcing but I’ve been hearing parts are hard to get.
@@russellgarcia8024 Interesting. I will have to ask my local shop if they are having a hard time sourcing parts for these bikes.
Yamaha
That yz could use some carb work…
Yes it does
KTM before you rode it . Or started it
People who sit with the 2 strokes on in the camp sites revving until the bike is warm are goobers.
Haha that’s all I do! Got to smell that 2T
For the same weight a 250 is the way to go. More power and more forgiving.
for sure
Beta or Rieju 200.
Yeah we have a 2020 Beta 200RR and I love that motor. I wish KTM would come out with a 200 2 stroke.
@@dirtbikesam they had one from 1998-2015. Legends.
I had a buddy that had a 2015 and I rode it and it was awesome, need a bit of help in the suspension department but man that was a great motor.
@@Dashriprock4 Ive got a 98 MXC. Was going to sell it, but after I got it running close to where it should be, I love it. Still need to fix a lot of stuff on it, but I can tell it's going to be a sweet bike.
@@ProjectWrecked I had a 99. Best trail bike ever!
YZ because it will last forever
For the longest time I used to think Honda was the most reliable Japanese brand….well I no longer think that. Yamaha it’s top tier
@@dirtbikesam you can’t go wrong with Japanese bikes for reliability. The KTM/GasGas/Husky bikes are nice and they certainly aren’t afraid of R&D with newer tech, but they always seem to have their issues. There’s a reason why Yamaha doesn’t change much on their bikes.
@@whiskeytango854 For sure, I would like Yamaha to throw on Estart and I probably would be riding Yamaha's more then the KTM's. We had a 2018 YZ250X that was one of my top bikes I have ever owned. Our YZ250FX is my favorite 4 stroke.
I’m cracking up at the sped up video. Come on man nobody cares about how fast you are, it’s about the love of dirtbikes!!!
Interesting, I didn’t personally edit this video one of the guys I pay did. Maybe he got bored 😂 it does look a bit sped up.
I can’t ride all the time and therefore I have an issue with the KTM relying on a battery for weeks and sometimes months 😒
Plus I can already see the dealer poking my eyes out on a regular service $$$$, that I won’t be able to do myself 🤷🏻♂️
Good point
My problem is I have already decided I want the tbi, but now am stuck on 125xc vs 250xc
Oh, thats a tough decision! I am a big fan of the 250XC.
@DIRTBIKE Sam I have a 200 2t currently looking to get s 2nd bike. I love light bikes, but unsure if the 125 is going to be underwhelming power wise. Going to use it for half mx half trail and race xc
@@Jbrady911 Yeah, so far the 125XC is solid in the fast flowy stuff but I will have to take it on more technical terrain to see how it does.
I feel like the 125XC has power its just made mostly on the top end which is great for MX but a bit harder in the really slow stuff.
I was in the same boat as you and I went with the 125xc. It has amazing power and is way lighter feeling than a 250. Ive had plenty of 250s so glad I decided to give the little 125 a shot. everybody I let ride it doesn't want to give it back!
as good as the yammi is, ktm has taken 2 strokes to a whole new level....the only constant is change, dinosaurs are relicks. what can I say
"Bolth"
Amen to that!
Ktm all the way
this is like saying whats more, a 20 dollar bill or two 10's and two 5 dollar bills lol they're the same but different.
Haha both awesome bikes
Always yamaha 😊
You'll be back on a 300.
Well, in full disclosure I do have a 2020 KTM 300XCW in the garage 😬 However, I still prefer the 250XC over any other 2 stroke I have ridden so far but I really wanted to try out a 125 as I am all about trying new things and seeing how fun they are.
The Yamaha sounds like a leaf blower.😂
I’d spend my money on a bike that is not made by a company in a country we are at war with . Electric start for girly men only .
Exactly somebody with some ethics and back bone! Yamaha all the Way
You are at war with Austria?
Can you give me one dirt bike for me plz btw I am from Sri Lanka
plz plz plz give me one plz
Yamaha YZ No#1!! KTM. Junk!! It's just has Plain and Simple has that!! Period!!
Ktm is better if your willing to spend more, I don’t see why the Yamaha would be BETTER when not considering money
KTM has horrible EFI!!
we are going to find out.
no it doesn't
lmao, no they don't. Newer model KTM EFI is fantastic.
@@OtisFlint even the older tpi fuel injection was good. I have one and it’s been great better than messing with jetting and carb issues.
With respect...you clearly haven't ridden the new EFI bikes.
There’s no way I would pay what they’re asking for 125 with zero new technology. That’s how I feel about the Yamaha. I mean seriously how crazy is it that in this day and age they don’t put electric start on a dirtbike. So it’s carb and a kickstart, which means this bike, could not be ridden throughout the country and raced without adjusting constantly. Yamaha really missed the mark on this. That’s why KTM is taking over the two stroke world.
You make some good points. It’s a big chunk of $$ for tech that hasn’t changed in quite sometime, but that’s also what makes it kinda fun and different. Not matter how you cut all new bikes are too expensive 😅
But, if you ride one, you may feel like it's the best, most fun bike you've ever ridden. So does the tech really matter if the experience is unrivalled?
Exactly, you also learn so much riding both 125’s back to back
How do you feel about the stock forks? I’m finding it very stiff for my liking. Compression all the way out and still stiff. I have 20 hrs on my 23 125x so maybe they have to be broken in?? Crazy how stiff it feels even compared to air forks.
Yes the YZ125X are stiff and your correct they are much more stiff the the AER air fork. I actually don’t mind them, gnarly Rocky trails do suck more but moto, fast flowly single track, and desert I actually like them.
@@dirtbikesam I wish they just valved it softer. Here in the northeast it’s hard to find a trail that isn’t filled with rocks. Looks like I’ll just have to get it re valved I guess.
Yeah they are a bit of a handful In rocks for sure