This 90’s 125cc Makes Modern Motorcycles Look Bad

This Aprilia RS 125 2-stroke will make any 16-year-old a better all-round biker than a comparable 4-stroke! Here's why.
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📖 CHAPTERS
0:00 Meet The RS 125
0:29 Current 125s
1:03 The State Of 400s
1:35 The Best Part Of The 2-Stroke 125
3:33 Why You Should Learn On A 2-Stroke
5:13 Why Doesn’t Anyone Ride One?

[@FdJ96]

The 15hp is the limit for A1 class bikes in a lot of country's in the EU unfortunately

[@tommo-motorsport]

Still you can have a 2-stroke bike that "has" 15 HP just on your registration, while in the reality you have 20 more horses under your seat 😂 (some of my friends are like this... registration says 15, reality says 35)

[@johnnyblue4799]

Fortunately in many EU countries you may ride one with a car license.

[@L4Z1C.]

@@tommo-motorsport until they come with a van and they take it to the dyno

[@tommo-motorsport]

@@L4Z1C. Very unlikely to happen unless something very bad happens (like you kill someone while riding the bike)

[@basicallyedward]

Duck that, it is a law, but everyone who I know doesn't ride a stock A1. 4t aren't that powerful but still they ride them like they are. 2t riders riding their 30hp unrestricted bikes and getting a ticket here and there. Some don't even get any tickets just because they have mastered spotting a cop car from miles away. Even an undercovered one. I personally think I am got at that, because I have probably one of the most illegal mopeds here in Finland (how many laws it breaks). But I don't ride it all the time like it is my last day. I ride it respectfully, do some speeding in quite places and enjoy the smell of 2t when I have under my butt a 11hp scooter. I have also a 4t Honda CBR 125 but that is just because if it's reliability. It going for a remote trip so all the reliability that it can have. It needs it.

[@elendshuraglump3620]

I agree 100 %. You really learn a lot with these 2-stroke-bikes. My bikes are Cagiva Mito Evo, Yamaha TDR Lightburner and Aprilia RS 125 MP (and a Suzuki RG80 Gamma) . Unfortunately i am not 16 years old, but 62 😞. Best regards from Germany 🙂

[@billybattsshinebox8559]

Would love to see a pic of the 80gamma shame youtube don't allow pictures in comments

[@peterdoe2617]

63yr old german, here. Yamaha RD125LC both types: 10W and 1GU.

[@elendshuraglump3620]

Hi peterdoe, eine Yamaha RD 125 LCII würde auch noch sehr gut in meine Mini-Sammlung passen, so als kleine Schwester zu meiner RD350LC YPVS. Gruß aus Bayern/Schwaben

[@elendshuraglump3620]

Hi mako, my favourites are definitely the Cagiva Mito and the Aprilia RS. They have very good power and already race-performance. A TDR125 is a good compromise of power an handling. But a RG125 is although a nice bike. I am from Germany and there the RG125 was never officially selled, only the RG80 . The RG80 has definitely not enough power ....

[@aurorajones8481]

eh... being 16 today would suck! Assuming you could take your mind maybe, but no thanks. The deck is stacked against you.

[@strangersgt5632]

Its a shame that most kids don't even know what a 2 stroke engine is.

[@wiktor4576]

It is shit :D ?

[@ramboairsoft9478]

Treu but its old-time and time goes on

[@vaibhavsharma7410]

why shame brother, why feed our brain with old information and which is irrelevant. Do you have full knowledge about first bikes and how they operate and what changes were brought with time such a shame

[@SRaven1]

@@ramboairsoft9478 and do you want electric bikes or 2 stroke ones? same with cars. we like oldschool more

[@Aditya_PS]

so just tell us? instead of shaming us becuase we werent born in the generation where we had knowledge about 2 stroke bikes

[@kittrainbow7]

I had 2 RSs: one rs50 and later a rs125, both same design as this video (different livrea), both 2 strokes. It was a very tecnical bike for the time, simple but still technical to drive. Used daily to go school, I was more prudent then most of scooters drivers... still was a blast of fun, good memories. 8 years of daily driving with both bikes combined. 🇮🇹

[@giannismentz3570]

Lucky you!!! 🙂 I wish I had that Aprilia RS50 when I was 16. I had a crappy looking 50cc utility scooter, I did put it through its paces and got the most out of it, but that RS50 2T with twice the power and racing looks, damn...!!! 🙂And those were made in Italy, which would made them a bit cheaper and more approachable, you people are really lucky!!! They don't make stuff like this here, and imports can be expensive, not to mention I don't think those RS were even available at all over here. They import only what sells the most and they wouldn't really, not at the import price tag. Those bikes are just a dream come true for any 16-18 year old. You people there have all the best bikes, motorsport heritage, plenty of racing tracks, I should've been Italian. Damnit. 😃 🇮🇹

[@nickg2431]

good one,always loved the RS bikes used to see them on the road on occasion in London where i was a courier for 22 years.

[@nurburgringbiker]

I had the same generation RS50 and RS125 too, and I regret selling the 125. Should have kept that one forever.

[@Timetofly8888]

I had 2 Suzuki RGV250's and an Aprilia RS250 with the RGV engine which wasn't a lot different with the Aprilia mods n tuning but the RS was a bit lighter overall. All 3 bikes were the most fun I've had. I less those 2stroke days.

[@hegamaddness]

I had an rs50 too the one with the silver and black tank look the shit. It ran out of oil on me though oil light never came on. Had to bore it up to fix it and it sounded way better afterwards. I ended up getting a CB250 hornet afterwards what a jump up that was. The engine on that hornet was immense redlined at 19000 rpm and sounded like an F1 car

[@fokinellmate7468]

Ah man, this was my first bike back in 2006. The sound was amazing, riding to school every morning feeling like a boss 😎

[@mrpantur7280]

nice Yamaha profile pic lol.

[@hathaway.1166]

ya lucky sob

[@bustjanzupan1074]

Amen 🙂 But, have you forgot the Excellent Gilera Sp 01 & 02 and the CX ? 🙂 🙂 🙂

[@GrandSolarEclipse]

Hopefully you are a boss now and ride a 1290

[@leecutler1527]

I had a 1993 cagiva mito at the same time, full power... of course 🤫

[@PapukaijaPelaa]

These are still very popular in Finland, as basically everyone who gets an A1 license here is a wrencher and loves two-strokes. There's a lot of surplus from when these were made, so the used market and parts market is still huge.

[@libingmeme8474]

Yep, these and the NSR125s are hot shit around Europe.

[@Juustomopo]

Lot of people drive 2-stroke supermotos not like sport bike looking

[@rithikpramod3727]

Im coming to finland. haha. I'm from India. Today, We get only single cylinder, 4 strokes to begin with. We did have legends like Yamaha RD350, RX100 and even yezdi in the 90s.

[@alby46intro]

Is there? I can't seem to find many in Italy, apart from the obvious spare parts

[@libingmeme8474]

@@alby46intro I wouldn't really call it a surplus, but you can always get one or two in the czech republic at least

[@RepairandRideout]

Totally agree with every word. These high output 125's have been outlawed in Europe. However, the kids around here at least, are riding around on "big bore" heavily modded 50cc 2 strokes just as I did 40 years ago. Great to see

[@martux6815]

i can confirm, now i have 21 yrs old, but i still have my first bike, a piaggio ciao 50, well...not stock obviously, i take it up to 75cc, every part of engine, transmission, and more is modified, i even tuned some of my friend am6 blocks, now mi ciao reaches up to 90km/h and it literally won't stay down the bad part is that even here in italy this culture is diyng, nowadays kid only thinks on smoking, doing drugs and alchohol

[@TommyCraft5]

​@@martux6815my am6 didnt gain much power from a 70cc kir and a 19mm carb 😔

[@martux6815]

@@TommyCraft5 tell me, you changed the expansion chamber? Che collector between carb and Reed valve? The Reed valve itself? And the cylinder? Stock or not.. Not to offend you in any way, only curiosity. What bike do you have

[@TommyCraft5]

@@martux6815 yamaha tzr 50 I have changed the cylinder and head along with piston and a carb from 16mm to 19mm

[@martux6815]

@@TommyCraft5 well, that isn't enough for the engine itself, you need to change the expansion chamber, Reed valve and collector, for the expansion chamber buy a yasuni R1 and remove the cone on the cilynder collector on the expansion itself, then buy a stage6 "bipetalo" that is the best to have a linear and good torque, and then the collector, buy a Polini with 21mm intake, you will feel the difference The only thing is, if your bike is from 2017 till now, you will need to change the entire rotor and stator because the 12 poles has a limitator, to remove it you need to change everything

[@onebig8828]

im currently 16 in the uk and so only allowed a 50cc, but my 2014 aprilia rs4 50cc (2t) is the best. Reached 67mph on it and all its had done is an exhaust, such a dream to ride. And the best part is i paid £1400 for it back in march

[@fenrir7969]

Naughty, you're only allowed to do 28mph! Though to be fair, that 28mph rule is stupid and puts you in more danger on faster 60mph roads than if it were unrestricted. Backwards Britain at its finest.

[@n116gtr]

Not saying you should.. but.. if you've got a spare £1500, the willingness to learn,.. and time to invest.. 25hp+ is no problem, check, Bidalot, TPR, etc. There's a lot in it and it'll send you down a crazy rabbit hole... if you do, build it to manufacturers specs, run it in and tune accordingly and don't run it too lean, don't use it every day and don't get caught!!... you'll be pissing on kawasaki ninja 300's.... this message will self destruct in 3 seconds

[@maclaurent1]

​@@n116gtr😂

[@uhtred7860]

When i was a teen in 80s in NZ, we could get our learners at 15, and were then allowed to ride anything up to 250cc. Most of my mates had either Yamaha RZ250s (RD250 YPVS in the UK) or Suzuki RG250s, I choose Kawasaki's KR250 as they just looked so good and were far more trick than the others. Honda's 2 stoke effort was the god awful MVX250 a V3 design that would blow up with alarming regularity😆. If i had been forced to ride a 50, I probably would have bought a car.

[@goon_eg1089]

​​@@fenrir7969almost got turned into at squid a 59 mph, I fit a 140 .i'v had a 2 stroke sumo for 2 years now, 28, 30 hp. I'v not had a single close call.

[@nico5179]

This Aprilia RS125 and the Cagiva Mito 125 where the kings for young guys back in the day. What incredible beasts.

[@uhtred7860]

Glad I grew up in NZ, where in the 80s & 90s you could get your licence at 15, and as a learner were restricted to 250cc, which meant RZs TZRs RGs etc for the road guys, or XR's, TTs & ITs (they were all road legal here) for the dirt bike guys. I had a KR250, wish i still had it, they are worth a fortune now.😆

[@rimantasltu5747]

a bit late, but my dad grew up in the tail end of the soviet union, and he got his full A license (basically allowing him to ride anything on 2 wheels) at 16 lol

[@uhtred7860]

@@rimantasltu5747 Pity there was no decent bikes to ride there then. When I was working in the UK in 88/89, I couple of guys and I rode into the eastern bloc on a GSX-R750 a GPZ900R and GPZ500, every time we stopped a crowd would gather to look at the bikes, they couldn’t buy those bikes there then, all the other bikes we saw were Soviet made Urals, copies of old BMW boxer twins from the 40s.

[@jamiedouglas125]

Another great chat about your 2smoke, well done fella 👍🏼 Keep them coming! Just got my Suzuki RG back from set up and dyno today😊

[@StewartWild]

This was my 2nd bike, one that looked exactly like yours does. I installed the de-restriction weights, put an arrow exhaust, did all the go-fast mods and riding it taught me so much. I became an incredible rider due to this bike. I learned all the skills for riding bigger bikes, faster, on this. I can't rate it highly enough.

[@yonniboy1]

Your video takes me back to my youth when I had the RS250 (Biaggi replica) one of the best handling bikes ever but it's so important that the 2 stroke oil is fully synthetic.

[@seshelbow336]

I had the 125 Chesterfield. I still dream about a 250. Although I did ride my mates RGV250 a few times with same engine.

[@slashbl]

Don't sell it... In 10 years price skyrocketed

[@thomasvandervlugt3000]

I've recently bought a RS 125 out of 2011, the bike had an accident and needs a full rebuild. The 140cc italkit has just been purchased and she will shine again next season.

[@goon_eg1089]

Get a lectron and the the airbox mod, i'v been told 34 hp.

[@scottnunya2441]

Good vid and nice history lesson. While the US pretty much missed out on the 2 stroke 125 street bikes, we still had the 2 stroke dirt bikes. I raced with a '90 Yamaha 125 YZ, bored and stroked, pushing a bit over 40 hp. Put quite a few 4 stroke 125 street bikes to shame back then. I still chuckle at how many times my friends would ride it, not understanding the power wack you get around 6-7K RPM. I would just wait and watch for the inevitable wheelie followed by them falling off the rear in shock. Had to replace clutch, throttle and rebend handle bars a few times due to this, but it was worth it.

[@Vauzwo]

I remember my brother had a Yamaha TZR 125 Belgarda around 1998. It had around 34 hp - it was a true two stroke beast 🚀

[@GTFC_]

Easy do 90 mph the old 2 stroke 125s

[@nickgandy3]

Had one of these 16 years ago when I was 17 as a fledgling learner. Great little bike and very fun to ride but get use to knowing your toolbox because maintenance and rebuilds are a must and surprisingly regular especially when the power is upped to 34bhp like mine was🤣. Nowadays though people who buy them do so for nostalgia.

[@deadahead6775]

I don't quite agree. You have a point for the mechanical side of things, but I disagree on the riding part. I spent 2 years on a 4T Tuono 125. Slow tractor engine, ehh brakes, slippery tyres from the factory. I live right next to mountains though, so I was constantly out on twisties. Having such a slow bike forces you to learn the optimal way around curves if you want to keep up with people. The powerband is less of an issue, but you're still playing from 2nd to 5th all the time, especially if you shorten the gear ratio. It made me a better rider than my father because I didn't have the luxury of stopping in a corner, turning, than re-accelerating. I had to do everything smoothly to keep up with him, and that made me a better and honestly safer rider. I will say though, I've always loved the RS125 and 250. Yours looks great, keep it that way.

[@niklask3696]

This. Exactly this is what I’ve been trying to explain to people. Still would’ve preferred to jump on an A2 after 6 months at max on my A1 since now after 1.5 years its gotten SO BORING sadly.

[@zholat7824]

the only reason i can justify to buy a 2 stroke and not a 4 stroke is that its more fun (300cc and below) as a 2 stroke 88cc tuned 50cc bike owner I can say it gives alot of headache but thats part of the experience for me@@niklask3696

[@LuckySyke]

Nice bike ! I can vouch for this, i had a Honda NSR 125-R, no restrictions, jollymoto exhaust, larger injector, more aggressive reed valve, aggressive tune coilpack and exhaust valve. It dynoed 28hp at the wheel and 32hp at crank. Did 172 km\t with me as 85kg on it. Awesome bike with awesome sound :D

[@henryairconcepts2999]

I miss seeing NSR and RGV like back in the 90's

[@GTE_Channel]

Bikes like this (Cagiva Mito) for example are way underrated. You really learn to ride on these awesome machines. Put a 160cc Polini kit on there, large carb and custom exhaust and these things are an absolute blast.

[@ponytrishpip]

From someone who grew up riding RD250LC’s I could not agree more

[@tjaartjacobs5546]

2008 I was 16 I had a Honda NXR125 Dual Sport with around 12hp. Imagine the Shock I got riding my friends Aprilia 125 for the first time. The power band really does give a noticeable shock throughout the bars making you grip them tighter and causing adrenaline rush. Great vid!

[@michaelswanson7881]

I once had a 1981 RD350LC with "some" work done and a nice set of pipes, power band was from 7k-11k with around 60hp, lots of fun, wish I still had it. My 05 Sprint 1050 is more my style these days, also have a 1994 YZF600R in the shed.

[@jugirider]

I started on this bike, really fun bike! All my 125cc 4 stroke friends wanted one after I absolutely destroyed them with it 😂

[@AlessandroGenTLe]

I lived that era, and had a 28.5HP Honda NSR 125 (later moved to 35HP with 37mm carb, and tuning to the cylinder, head, carter and with a Jolly Moto expansion exhaust system). My friends had the RS Extrema from Aprilia (even nicer than this), Cagiva Mito, Gilera SP02, Yamaha TZR 125 and so on. Those were GREAT little bikes. They were typical Italian products as here was the main market. I tried recently one of the new 4 stroke and it was like my former Malaguti Fifty Top 50cc (heavily prepared) was WAAAAAAY more exciting...

[@duncanhamilton5841]

I had the AF1 Sintesi, which I loved. My riding buddies had early Mitos, which were quick. But one guy had a Gilera... that thing was beautiful, and fast (for a 125).

[@paradiselost9946]

i got an r15 for work, courier. given the choice, the FZR250 is far more interesting. except you walk out the shop with an armful of groceries and "ahhh, shit! wrong bike!" gotta get my nsr150 going again. 43HP with a custom pipe and some internal work... used to put all the R1s and fireblades to shame up the twisties...

[@gregsmith7821]

Am I the only one who remembers the constant rebuilds that riding these things fast meant?😂

[@THECONTROVERSIALCYCLIST]

There is nothing like the smell of a 2 stroke in the morning.. Awesome video mate 👍👍👍👍👍

[@GamingHelp]

Here in Canada, 2 stroke bikes are insanely rare too. I've seen exactly four 2 stroke streetbikes in my life, one of which is in my back yard at this very second. After buying it, I spent the next two years stripping everything I could, piped, ported, polished, head work, av-gas and dual pyro's. Oh, and a new clutch pack and springs because after all that work, my RD350 would hit 6K, spike to 9.5, heat the clutch pack, grab, drop back down to 7, then finish the gear. Over and over and over. I've never has as much fun though. A peaky 2 stroke is like riding a moody dragon. That bike actually scared a LOT of people because nobody seems to have the ability to understand english. "When you're getting close to 6K, ROLL OUT OF THE THROTTLE! If it's wide open, somethings going to give. Either traction or physics.". And of course, people would laugh. "Ha ha, little 350", roll into it at 3-4K, get nothing, then whack it open and hold it there and suddenly they're wondering where the horizon went or why the back tire stepped out on them. Ah, to be young again. :) I'm very very lucky to have found that bike and I doubt I'll ever sell it.

[@johnlambert3273]

To recover from a wheelie going over backwards, simply apply the rear brake. (I've done it many times)

[@GamingHelp]

Yuppers.

[@bobbychills37]

So I’m 26, my first bike was/is a carbureted Ducati Monster, I ride my CBR600RR on the track and my Passion is Motocross so I also own a CRF250R. But when I had the chance to buy an Aprilia RS125 ‘05 from a friend I couldn’t resist … You don’t have to be 16 to want one of these beauties, they may lack in power compared to a similar priced superbikes but hell yeah they don’t lack in being fun👍🏻

[@der_nona_275]

Im 16, and owner of a Yamaha DT 125 2 stroke which is from 2000 and makes about 24 hp, it is very reliable, never had problems with the Bike. I always wanted a RS but these are to unreliable. Greeting from Germany.

[@Troy-McLore]

I had a 7 speed Cagiva Mito (mk1) running 33bhp for my first 3 years. It was fantastic & taught me a hell of alot about riding bikes, my capabilities and lack of them & also mechanics (because it broke lots) I then progressed up through V4 400cc, inline 600cc, inline 750cc & onto 1000cc. I have owned over 30 bikes now of all CCs & engine layouts but still crave that sweet 2 stroke smell.

[@malcolmabram2957]

Several 125s from this period were designed for extraordinary performance. The only trouble was the engines wore out real fast. I had a friend who had I think a 125 cc Laverda, but he had to rebuild the engine after 10,000 miles. But then he was in o that sort of thing. It was part of the fun of owning these bikes.

[@rrrrrrrr_0]

If you want a good two stroke 125 get an nsr. They're a bit slower (not noticeably enough) but they're far more reliable and prettier in my opinion

[@kaw420TSVR]

Chassis wasn't as good in my opinion

[@corsarogonzalez9831]

Buying a 2 stroke and asking for reliability...lol Ive had the RS125 and test a NSR. It was ASS compaired to RS

[@androiduser457]

@@corsarogonzalez9831 try kawasaki krr zx150. Full throttle all the way at 12k rpm until the fuel run dry, thats how reliable it is. You can't achieve that with rs125. You may find this bike put the 2023 kawasaki zx25r to shame on the track, check out kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3bFlIKwfNyIjck.

[@Caluma122]

@@corsarogonzalez9831 I'd probably go to say that not all NSRs are equivalent. Most likely the SP's are probably faster than the normal NSRs. For me, availability comes into it and if you simply can't get the NSR SP, then that makes the RS the better bike. Especially when it comes down to mods and tuning parts. For me, you can't beat the RS in just overall quality. Amazing components, fantastic used market and tuning scene and plentiful. The Cagiva, while faster, lacks the tuning scene IMO, and the availability of parts is a lot more scarce. I struggle to find parts for my Cagiva vs my RS's. That said, I NEVER ride my RS and daily my Cagiva...so go figure.

[@Mean-bj8wp]

I had a full power NSF which would do 95mph and was solid and easy to ride but my previous bike a TZR YPVS was quicker about 105mph but handling was so much sharper and a much much more aggressive powerband.

[@sonix7119]

Quality vid and comments and vid comments - Cheers for sharing man !!! :)

[@jpatt5825]

I have 1 now 😊 Getting it ready for the MOT in the next few days. Cant wait 😊😊😊

[@lorditsprobingtime6668]

I like your thinking here. I'm near 70 now but grew up on riding and loving 2 strokes, ALWAYS looking down on 4 strokes too lol. Sure, I ride 4 strokes these days but, that's because it's pretty much impossible to find any 2 strokes and even if I could find a half decent old 2 stroke, I'm too old and boogered to do the sort of work they need to stay fun. I'll also admit some of the modern 4 strokes are pretty amazing too. Till some young fool in a car took us out a while ago I had a BMW S 1,000 R which put out 165 hp and revved to 12,000 rpm and didn't try and kill me every time there was the slightest bend, or I gave it a bit too much throttle while in the powerband anywhere below about 110 mph like the race prepped Kawasaki 2 stroke tripple a mate owned did. I don't think the biggish 4 strokes learners here in Australia are allowed is a good idea either. I had a DL 650 Suzuki which was a really pleasant, torquey bike that "could" rev to something like 11,000 rpm but I rarely did because it had such a progressive power curve you just never got that, somehow very satisfying "boom, I'm alive now" from the engine as it hit, it just slowly built up. The thing is, it was a pretty torquey 650 V twin and THEY have a learner approved version which IS exactly the same bike but limited till you get that removed. They are still going to have what to a learner will be pretty brutal torque off the line that's likely to get some in trouble in tricky situations. A little 2 stroke like that absolutely would teach them a lot more, in fact you've got me wanting one now too, they sound like a really fun little bike, even for an old but silly fart like me.

[@leanspo]

I own a Chinese 125cc, 4T. I bought it 0Km and I had it for 6 years now. I've learned a lot of mechanics and it forces me to adjust and tweak it constantly to get the right performance every day. I had another before this one wich was older and tricky, same specifications, same engine and I couldn't had a better first experience. Thanks to having a bad old bike I get to understand and appreciate the new one. New sub here! Greetings from Uruguay! ✌️

[@stefanmuller689]

I had a 2003 Honda LS 125 R Wow! Loved the machine. Until it was shopped from the yard at night. Dropped everyone with the CBR 125's. The sound and smell is an absolute treat. I dreamed about these Aprilia bikes alot.

[@KF1]

That looks like a fun one. You pinned it that the next segment up is way more appealing tho. Thinking about a Kawi 300X for a high-revving scoot n boot. The stroke length on the 300x is only like 49mm, so it can also go up to 12K+ RPM for that zing feeling.

[@katywalker8322]

At 4:45 it looks like the cut out in the power valve housing (under the rubber cover) is pointing down. This suggests that the housing is upside down (which either means the valve can become unhooked from the cable easily, or the valve blade is upside down)

[@dirkmohrmann8960]

it's super common to see these valves installed upside down on the RS. Contrary to popular myth, putting them in the wrong way will not cause them to hit the piston though, it just means that the port will be slightly restricted.

[@katywalker8322]

​@@dirkmohrmann8960, yes, even saw main dealers install them upside down on new bikes.

[@Sorath_gr]

The Aprilia was my dream bike when I was 18. But I really loved my TDR125 Belgarda with 28hp!

[@Caluma122]

TDR Belgarda was not 28 BHP. They weren't even close. The 4FU configuration made more like 20 HP on a good day. That said, TDRs were a cracking bike, especially if you had the 3SH model with the Brembo brake setup and wire spoked wheels. The non-Italian ones were a bit lack in the overall chassis department. The TZR 125 RR SP Belgardas were probably close to 28 HP though. They ran the same bottom end as the TDRs, but the cylinders were more akin to a Gilardoni (RS/Cagiva) barrel. I heard that Polini designed those barrels. Either way, the porting on those was something special.

[@Sorath_gr]

@@Caluma122 Official specs were 25hp. I had it with aftermarket airfilter and full exhaust and I saw on dyno 28hp. 140Km/h were really easy to hit 😉

[@stilgaahr]

@@Sorath_gr the tdr bellgarda had nothing different than a DTRE motor wise, she just had different fork/suspension , nothing else . Official specs were at the crank not at the wheels , and most of the time over rated to please young customers ego, most of the yamaha from this era made around 22/23hp at the wheel unrestricted , even my last Dt125x unrestricted and perfectly tuned with a full arrow exhaust barely made 23 hp at the wheel, 2 strokes exhaust just move the powerband up or down the curve depending on the exhaust type, it doesnt make power , i highly doubt you got +5hp with just an air filter and an exhaust, even with a full preparation on a 125 yz including high compression cylinder head a full aftermarket exhaust and a few other high end parts you barely get +2hp on the dyno

[@Sorath_gr]

@@stilgaahr Well, we can agree that that damn small bike, was really fast and fun to drive, especially when considering that it was just 125cc. I mean, my daily drive is a SH300 now, and althought on paper have almost the same hp, there is no comparison between those two. It feels like it's half hp.

[@Niro.C]

I had a 1994 Cagiva Mito 125 2-stroke, it was a little rocket with 7 gears and a sexy design 🤩

[@Arieoorsmeer19]

Started on a RS250 '98 challenge. Still miss it this very day. Lovely bike to ride, the fume.. the valves the sound.

[@andriesdupreez4170]

I had the 2009 Aprillia rs125 as a 16 year old and it was amazing I loved it it was sexy fast loud it was everything And then always having other kids in school saying the Honda cbr150 was faster and then just proving them wrong was a joy as a kid That aprillia rs125 also taught me proper throttle control when in turns due to the power band And with basic upgrades gave you so much power rewards like I took out my cat and put a fmf pipe in and bought a after market carb and did did a piston with more compression it made such big difference in power it was the best

[@littl3spy]

This is a bike is for real motorcyclists, real fans of speed and engineering. Modern 4T are pretty much maintenance free and burn 3x less fuel but there is nothing more rewarding than hitting the redline on an engine you rebuilt yourself. This bike will teach you everything you need for a bigger bike, i can confidently say that if you rode this for 2 years you could easily hop on an R6 or any other 600cc supersport and be perfectly fine. It will teach you proper maintenance so you wont frick up your much more expensive bike when you get a bigger one. I am still considering keeping my RS125 because it gave me so many good memories.

[@Caluma122]

They are only going one way in value...

[@stop-the-greed]

Keep it .I am in my 40s now but still have my rs plus another one I bought after a big high side ..so much fun .and more involved riding.sold my zx 4 sold my vfr , stupidity sold the 250 gamma , but never will I part with my first bike . I have had it for for almost 22 years

[@kinglouiesshed8995]

I grew up on one of these and 25 years later I’m looking for its big brother to restore and ride again 👌🏼👌🏼

[@jamesvandemark2086]

Yes- we all started on 2*strokes in the 1970s! Such fun! And club racing with a triple was a blast......

[@kochen1487]

i used to race theese bikes in 07 to 09 in a german championship. You need to remove the CDI restriction and it will get much more responsive you can find some guides arround google. they made a rpm restiction to get into emission range. Mine made arround 34 HP at the wheels with the same exhaust and some other reed valves and the CDI mod

[@MC-Racing]

Back in 2000 i had an RS50 that did around 95 km/h. i have lots of bikes now from a GSXR 250 (the 90's version) up to a BMW S1000R and a Tuono V4. but i really want a two stroke bike again, gladly an RS 125. but it's not A1 compliant.. not that it matters to me. my problem is, my garage is full at seven bikes!

[@VCC1316]

I bet in your free time you go in front of poor people and wave a bunch of money in their faces

[@ValentinoB96]

when I was 17, I had CAGIVA MITO Evolutione. It was 7 gears beast

[@amiridris5782]

Used to be on the road when i was young, dont even have a license yet..

[@HeyaGarage]

Good video, We also really love our two stroke RS125!

[@marshallmyers6933]

It just all honestly depends what you do to them… how you maintain them and if you wish to upgrade them do it properly…. I had an 03 RS125, big bored it to 140cc, running 34mm carb, top end sprockets and lots of upgrades, hit 117mph, on the other hand I’ve also had a 4 stroke Chinese chopper which I fully upgraded, the only thing left standard was the engine itself, the bike topped out at 95mph it was a Lexmoto Lowride 125cc air cooled 4 stroke, you can have fun with any bike you just need abit of knowledge and most importantly patience, I am liking these videos… should think about showing off different 125s maybe even the 4 stroke comparison.

[@tomvanooteghem11]

95mph for the chinees bike?euhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@simondo2286]

There are only 2 better bikes. First: this Aprilia as an 2 cylinder 😅 And the Caciva Mito with a 170 CCM. This bike looks so amazing like a 916.

[@esweevanrooyen9077]

I actually bought this bike from Justin for my 16y old son a few months ago (he’s been riding since he was 3y). Here is South Africa you can ride any horsepower 125cc with a learners licence, as long as its road legal. The bike ran great but just to give it new life we put in a new top end, new powervalve, new jetting, de-carbed the exhaust and then had it tuned by an Aprilia 2 stroke expert. This little RS goes like a fkn rocket now!

[@user-yq3mv2qu3c]

I spent the 80s on loads of 2 strokes , the best times

[@L4Z1C.]

Us in europe have limit of 15hp for 16yrs old until we turn 18 then the limit is 48hp

[@drtyhay]

That sounds absolutely miserable

[@MarkWasTaken]

@@drtyhay no, it’s pretty smart actually

[@L4Z1C.]

@@drtyhay i mean its for a reason but its pretty slow

[@mark675]

​@L4Z1C. Yeah and slow is the reason they do it 😂

[@gbone7581]

Is Europe not on the metric system?

[@Tacoo1]

16y olds in USA cus in Europe there is a limit for hp

[@2strokehatza]

Yeah but its very rarely controlled

[@vaenii5056]

@@2strokehatza Depends on the country. Here it is not, but judging by the comments in some other countries it is.

[@vaenii5056]

However what I find really ironic is that you can register 2 stroke bikes in Europe, but in the States you can't because of emission regulations - unless were are talking about vintage bikes of course. 😄

[@BlindingSun_]

It’s not regulated much in the Uk either, I rode a Mito for years at full power with only a provisional license 😂

[@juliannl9492]

In The Netherlands you need to be 18 for a1💀

[@6AlphaMikeCharlie9]

Great Video Dude😎

[@skaro85]

I had a 2003 model with the power valve installed. 33bhp 105mph. Awesome bit of kit. Loved it.

[@SH1974]

Friend of mine had a slightly tuned Cagiva Mito, that made around 40HP. And I remember when the Yamaha DT was a 2-stroke too (and when Moto GP and sidecar also was 2 stroke) The first DT with the power valve system was a real beast for "just" 125cc.

[@DuBstep115]

No "slightly tuned" mito makes 40hp. My mito had 35mm mikuni, 73037, 200H, 1-ring flat top + jollymoto exhaust and made about 37hp

[@SH1974]

@@DuBstep115 37hp is "around 40" ;) I don't know what he made (it's long ago) , certainly the carburator, exhaust and other things - but as far as I remember, he still had 125cc.

[@michaelhenry4405]

back in the day suzuki made a 16 gear 50cc... doing 100miles per hour. Now that was a bike with the most interesting engineering! Learning how a 2 stroke works is one of the most educational pieces of engine engineering that one can go through. I will definitely show my kid how this works.

[@savagememes873]

learning how a 2stroke works is not that educational. it's meh good to know and good to learn but it ain't nothing special that will give you any crazy skills.

[@CBCycles]

Here in the US if you were to light up a cigarette in a public building you would be tackled by 50 people before the police came to arrest you, so there’s a pathological mentality about keeping the air clean, two strokes didn’t stand a chance. I would love to see a modern clean-burning Ski-doo two stroke snowmobile engine dropped into a bike frame, that would be amazing!!

[@prophetzarquon1922]

I remember seeing a 50cc Aprilia owner lift it out the back of a trailer & set it down, with me thinking "OK, that's a pretty hot 'scooter'." He'd done some ECU & intake tweaks, wider exhaust, & an aftermarket rear end. It could hit 49 MPH & was still able to wheelie. Great mileage too. Loud though: _"BRAAP!! BRAAAP! BRAAAAP!!!"_ (He couldn't hear _anything_ around him.) OMG that clutch must have gotten so crispy

[@browniesbear]

need to protest to get this motorbike in the market again.

[@derekcable]

I can totally agree having started out on Yamaha RD250 air cooled, then the mad RD 250/350LCs,YPVS350LC and a IT175J loved a two stroke. Blew them up rebuilt them sure learned my way round an engine and how to ride fast. The iPhone generation really don't know what they've missed out on 😂

[@sargera1]

,YPVS350LC , even a stock 600 ninja wont win agaisnt it, on a tight V turn

[@AK-in3qm]

Here in India we didn't get such beautiful motorcyles but we did get a lot of 2 strokes. The one I am currently riding is a Yamaha RX135 with a lot of modifications, its loud and obnoxious to some people but the person on the seat get the charm of it.

[@chadenham]

This was my first bike in early 2000s. It was unreal and learned a lot riding it and working on it.

[@andykerr3803]

Aprilia got over 50 hp out of one of their 125 motors when working on the tunepipe. It went down to ⅓ that whem they put on a straight pipe. Not sure which model it was, but figured it must have been ½ of their 250 twin, actually the Suzuki rotary valve RG 250. Yes, that would really help a 16 year old 'learn' 😊

[@ozzyp97]

Well yes, putting a straight pipe on a 2-stroke would be an awful idea. They don't have an exhaust valve, so they have to rely on precisely controlled pressure waves to try and keep the fuel mixture from escaping.

[@jiboo6850]

big core diameter + short length = high rpm power. smaller core diameter + long length = more torque. the thickness of the metal sheets and their nature used to build them impact the resonance and the back spit of gas in the exhaust. which improves fuel efficiency/consumption. creating the perfect match exhaust is the most difficult thing on a 2T engine. but if you end up getting it right, it's really rewarding. and they look so beautiful. real work of art.

[@Robert-vk5nu]

In Europe (Sweden in my case) you're not allowed to ride these things on a A1 license (light motorcycle, this is the licensen you can acquire at age 16). Top specs allowed are 125cc and 15hp. Any bigger/more powerful than that and you need an A2-license which you have to wait until you are 18 years old for. And the A2-license allows you to drive any motorcycle producing up to 95hp. So no matter how fun this bike seems (and how much I personally would like to try it out) there really is'nt a market for it here. And since it had it's main market here, its really not that strange that they stopped producing it. :/ It is a shame though! Would love to have one of these, or maybe a NSR 125 or 250.

[@basicallyedward]

I'm planning on getting a A2 license here at Finland, and I'll first get a bike on what I can learn on, after that I'll get a Bike that I can die on. After that I'll get a Cagiva Mito. The newest model. 2010 model

[@einoro6816]

I'm from sweden and of course you can ride it with A1. Same with all other 125 2T. Love them 🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍

[@Robert-vk5nu]

@@einoro6816 No you cannot. A1 license covers up to 15hp (11kw) and this bike has 35hp, so it classified as a medium bike. www.transportstyrelsen.se/sv/vagtrafik/korkort/ta-korkort/motorcykel/a1-latt-motorcykel/

[@2strokerides]

​@@Robert-vk5nuyeah but thats the thing. Alle these bikes are registred with 11kW but produce way more. So all the paper work is 11kW but you're riding with more than double. I have one too and its also that way

[@Robert-vk5nu]

@@2strokerides Oh? That I did not know. I just went with the number mister Chaos said in the video and assumed it was registered with the right effect. Well if it's registered with 11kw then Yes, you can ride it with an A1 license.

[@RS-nl2lp]

Awsome video on this! - Love 2-strokes. As I am old (30 years) and had access to a huge motorcycle collection primarily Japaneese sports bikes, I've ridden 1, 2, 3 and 4 cylinder 2-strokes and I feel very privileged to have had that chance. They are amazing and the turbine sound of multi cylinder 2-strokes is breath taking. I've ridden the RS250 too, this is a very special thing, but af for myself i only owned the latest iteration of the RS125 and it was amazing. Tuned it with Polini 154cc big bore, Gianelli exhaust, open airbox, and big carburetor. Never dynoed it, but it went like stink. Same top speed as my modern Duke 390 today.

[@Caluma122]

Noice! I got the Italkit 140 on my RS and the 154 kit on my ETX. Plus a bog standard Spains No 1. A Cagiva Raptor (Cagiva's response to the Tuono), which I'd argue out performs Aprilias engine, but I adore the tuning possibilities of the Rotax motor :)

[@cazrealist1]

​@@Caluma122shame it was made out of cheap chappy metal got sick of the rs blowing up so swapped for the yamaha tzr125r not as quick as the rs but it is sat in the shed reliable as anything and will still pull 100 mph with a 14 stone 50 yr old on her 😅 she is just for Sunday afternoons now I have a Triumph for everyday riding , the young uns got screwed over when they killed the two strokes off

[@tomboxyz5564]

My current bike (being my 2nd one, after the chinese 139fmb bike with a 72cc big bore that I modified to the point it only runs on 98RON fuel) is a 1998 Yamaha DT125R, it's a liquid cooled 2 stroke enduro, when I bought it, it would barely start. I rebuild the bike completly, also changing the ignition to a DC-CDI and building a controler for the YPVS valve from scratch and tuning it for my engineering degree thesis. I got it dynoed at the shop that resleeved the cylinder and fixed the ports (which that one shop does to every single cylinder they rebuild). They have a pretty well calibrated dyno and they build some of the very best 2 stroke engines in Poland. The DT which has 11hp in the registration papers, dynoed at 26hp and with the power valve tuned it had a very wide poweband, with a fully open valve it would dip at 4hp before getting into the powerband. The person running that shop said most DTs they saw were around 21hp when fully unlocked. He also has an RS125, which he races in the 300-400cc class while hiting over 180km/h on the track. Rebuilding everything on my bike made me realise how much of a difference everything makes, from the seals in the engine to the suspension. I can't do all the things on the DT that I can on the small bike, like engine braking due to the premixed oil (removed oil pump and reservoir because it was in the way of installing 2 big radiators from a YZ125) but that bike is really fun to ride... and running perfectly after 5000km since the rebuild. I didn't like 2 strokes before buying the DT, but a good 125cc 2 stroke is something that I can recomend to anyone who enjoys working on their bike.

[@nft1693]

Nice video, 2 stroke is something special. But you forgot to say a few things. Unrestricted 125 with 30hp uses 3-4 times more fuel than 4stroke. Also it's not all that simple like changing the piston sometimes. What about crankshaft and bearings that require full engine and transmission apart? Small issues with oil mixer and good bye engine. Also the price and availability of those parts. Easily could cost you like half of the price of the bike or even more plus you will need someone experienced to do it. So if you are a 16 year old beginner do you have that money or experience to do it yourself? Don't get me wrong i love and have own a few of 2 stroke machines but they require a lot of care and maintenance. Especially something older like this one.

[@bapr3887]

Unrestricted 125 usually have 23-25 rwhp for 500 rpm powerband and fuel consumption higher than 190 rwhp 1000cc superbike. In short, 2t for road use is TRASH.

[@savagememes873]

@@bapr3887 yeah specially sins half that fuel consumption ain't even spent on power but rather just unburnt fuel that get's spit out the exhaust. 2stroke is good for simple stuff like small 50cc scooters and dirtbikes and tools like chainsaws

[@jiboo6850]

for the oil mixer, we (2T lovers and riders) recommend to take the pump off the engine and run straight mix in the tank. way better and safer. i also recommend to use extra lubrication oil in the mix like P18 from Mecarun or similar. it will make the engine cleaner and last waaay longer. it also helps when you build the entire engine as a 1st start lubrication. engine starts better and faster with less grinding. otherwise, yeah better not chose that. Mecarun also offers few additives for the gas to recreate a similar effect to lead gas. which helps to preserve the engine too. better reading on the spark and easier to tune the carbs along the seasons. there are so many things to do now to improve the life of a 2T engine it's actually crazy! in EU we still have a lot of parts available and brands that pop out and revive some old parts. 2T is not dead in EU. and i'm so glad. the only real downfall of this engine, at leats to me, is the fuel consumption. that is a real thing. but for me 2T is a passion thing. i don't ride this much so it's ok. my wallet is not screaming at me lol. the wife either btw... 😅

[@jiboo6850]

@@bapr3887 you clearly don't know what you're talking about but mmmmkay dude... 🙄

[@jiboo6850]

@@savagememes873 oh my... that happens on a badly tuned engine yes. not a proper and well built engine with good knowledge. you lose a bit of gas yes but not this much. calm yo tits down dude. 2T is being part of my life for over 25 years. if tha twas this horrible, never i would've landed my ass on this. but 4T tech is of course on many aspects superior. that's undeniable.

[@defdaz]

Used to love my NS125. Redlining it away from the lights was insane fun.

[@Donuts_random_stuff]

I am 17 and always wanted a bike, I love that bike and those sound like the most amazing machines to have I also love working on stuff like bikes I just can’t afford them

[@memy4460]

Very cool video, thank you for making it. Liked and subscribed immediately.

[@vfr-andy3133]

This was my first bike. 1997 RS125 in yellow :-) loved it.

[@sas1deep]

I have grown-up riding two stroke bikes, what a pleasure they were. simple yet rewarding. RX100, RXZ, RD350, KB100, Suzuki Shogun, Samurai exceptional bikes. there used to be special connect with the bikes, as you are involved in maintaining them, unlike current ones which are very reliable but take away the connect in upkeeping them.

[@doodskie999]

I miss 2 stroke motorcycles, damn emissions killed them. Gotta love that burnt fuel/oil smell when you arrive lol

[@rossdavis2654]

My first bike was a Suzuki RG150 that I did 11,000 km on all over New Zealand. It would do almost 100mph with saddlebags. Other than being hard on the shoulders on long rides it was awesome

[@Franky75ify]

I had this exact model for 2 years when young.. I believe it was rated at 33HP.. the engine noise makes a lot of memories. Absolutely loved it.. I sold it for more than I gave for it brand new :)

[@superiro]

Man.. I miss these bikes. Used to have one when I was 18. Had it for about 3 years. I’m 33 now and I will love to have one again. I hate 125cc in 4 strokes.

[@user-jb7uz4hs2i]

Before it all changed, I rode two stroke bikes during the 1970's/80's! When you were restricted to an engine displacement of 250cc at the time (now 125cc), a two stroke was the logical engine to select given its greater power and acceleration! Notable were your observations that learning the mechanics of motorcycle engines had greater opportunities, in these days it was an inevitability you would at some point be stripping and engine down and learning as you go. This all made for the motorcycling experience we enjoyed during these golden eras and I'd never swap it for anything!

[@Chrissurfs]

Thank youuuuuu !! I have a pal with a 125 Mito which came with 7 gears. Looks like a Ducati. On curves he leaves any 4 stroke behind. Bikes today compensate with lights and screens. 😉 All GP riders start on 2strokes.

[@Biercules151]

I'm 15 and ride a Honda xlr 125 4 stroke and a Honda crm 125 2 stroke and I love them both. The disadvantage of a 2-stroke engine is that you often have to repair something, but you learn a lot that way. Regards from Germany.

[@JakobVarming]

You earned a new sub with your great explanation on WHY people should love these bikes!

[@Arphalmegan]

As an Italian I can only be happy to know that this wonder is also being talked about in the States. The forbidden dream of any 16 year old of my era, together with the Cagiva mito 125 of course ❤️🇮🇹

[@Cullz.182]

I bought a mito at 17 I went to go look at a older yamaha tzr and notice the mini ducati with a strange name I had never heard off I bought it instead of the tzr. It was a fantastic bike and never had a problem with it mainly as it was well looked after and I looked after it and serviced it regularly unlike most the other 17 year old did. This is what gave 2 stroke 125s a bad rep for reliability and blowing top ends all the time.

[@corsarogonzalez9831]

My first bike when I was 16 was a 2004 Aprilia RS125! It was fucking amazing, crashed it heaps and learnt so much on it. Burnt through the clutch. Vfr400 street fighter (modded) after that.... Ive had ALOT of bikes now lol....Best bike? Nc750x (I live in Japan so fuel, hill munching torque and all the storage as super useful) Rs125 was a VERY difficult bike to learn on I wont lie.

[@chrisgermann6658]

Had an RS50 decked out then went up to the mito 125. Golden age of small bikes.

[@steve_wilson]

Geez, Justin - wish I could be 16 again to validate your assertions! My first steed was a 125 - but a dual sport machine without nearly the zing that your Aprilia has. Still - great machine to learn on and prep for bigger and better things!

[@hbsupermage]

I had a Mito when younger, the i went through some of the fastest 4strokes like yamaha r6, r1, panigale. Not long ago found a cagiva planet (naked version of the mito) in very rough shape, got it up running now, and i tell you, even if far from blazing fast in comparison, riding is such a thrill, the nimbless and handling are on another level, and the sound and feel of the engine is still as adicting as it was 20 years ago

[@starchaeser]

the last 2-stroke motorbike to come out of the factory in Indonesia was the Kawasaki Ninja 150RR in 2013, since then the demand for 2-stroke sportbikes has increased crazily and so have the prices, I'm happy that one of our family member still keep his 90s Suzuki RG150 and Raider 120RR so we can still enjoy it until today😁

[@leecutler1527]

In the early 2000s I had a 1993 cagiva mito (full power) and also a honda nsr 125... they were dam quick. It's not about how fast you go in a straight line, It's how fast you are in the corners, and that's where they excelled

[@masonbeaumont8633]

I was fortunate enough to buy my grandfathers 1999 Yamaha Virago XV125 off of him after passing my CBT. Not only did it teach me how to live without basic features like a fuel gauge, rev gauge, ABS and fuel injection, but it also packs a robust little V-twin and sounds awesome. The ride is so smooth. I ended up caving in and buying a yamaha MT125. The 6th gear makes it great for longer journeys on dual carriageways, but it doesnt beat the virago in comfort, smoothness and sound, the XV125 sounds phenomenal, probably one of the best sounding 125's youll ever hear. Fortuntely, i didn't sell my virago so i still use it for general day to day use. Unique little 125's are out there, just gotta know what you want. For me, i wanted beefy sound, and thats what i got.

[@weaselman24]

Still got my RS125! 2005 model and still hanging in there.

[@Randy-lg1qo]

I’m in my 40’s and bought the last model “40 world championships” model to just use as my city bike. Great motorcycle

[@WWRTheJudge]

I had one Aprilia RS 125 and Gagiva Mito 125, i love both ♥️ Greets from Finand 🇫🇮

[@hardtailharry6812]

Only had 1 two stroke before getting my full licence which was a gilera runner 125 upgraded to a 172 malossi kit that thing was a rocket for a scooter 😂 Always wanted an rs 125 in my youth.

[@stop-the-greed]

I got a 99 aprilia rs in 2002 and I still have it . Still love it .

[@demetriosabatini3804]

As an italian this is the dream of most 16 yo... but its expensive. but i agree, everobody should own a 2 stroke at one point or another