Suzuki DRZ125L REVIEW (10+ Year Ownership)

[@benjaminminty9602]

These things are bulletproof. Fun little bike. Miles of smiles. Bought one for my son when he was growing up. I rode it as much as he did. Maybe more.

[@janpow331]

I have the one with small wheels. A rough ride but will go anywhere including difficult enduro course trails and difficult mountain passes here in the San Juan Mountains. It's an absolute blast for a mediocre rider like me. 73 years.

[@trevorjameson3213]

I have one too, but it's the large wheel model. Really great bike and I also use it on mountain trails in Colorado. I'm over in central Colorado (Salida area) so we do a lot of riding in that area and in the mountains north of the Arkansas river. Awesome bike, very fun, very tough and climbs anything. Light enough to get into the tightest areas and lift over logs when needed. Great on gas too, ride all day on a tank of gas no problem. I changed the carb to a Mikuni 26mm, made a huge difference in power. I'm 54, also a mediocre rider but love riding off road.

[@janpow331]

@@trevorjameson3213 Sounds great! I'm by South Fork. Look up Shady Burro Enduro videos to get an idea of the harder trails in our back and front yards. They run that every year here in SF.

[@janpow331]

Where did you get your carb?

[@trevorjameson3213]

@@janpow331 Bought it online from a guy on ebay. But I have since switched back to the stock carb. I could never get it to run right with the bigger carb. It would run ok up to about 3/4 throttle, but would cut out badly at full throttle. The small 125cc engine just couldn't pull enough air velocity on the big carb to fuel the engine correctly, at least that's my theory, it ran way too rich no matter how I jetted it. The smaller stock carb works perfectly just not quite as much power but that's ok, I put an FMF pipe on the bike and helped the low end power a little bit and of course sounds much better too. So just stick with the stock carb and get a nice pipe for the bike.

[@miller1]

I have a 2006 DRZ 125 standard and love it. I bought it used in 2013 and all I've done with it is oil changes and air filter cleaning. I like it so much I just sold my Yamaha WR250X as it was a bit big/heavy for me on the trails, and now ride the DRZ 125 exclusively. It is perfect for me.

[@Иванпонимаете-г4ш]

How is it for someone around 5 feet 9 inches in height?

[@miller1]

@@Иванпонимаете-г4ш I am 5'9" and it works well for me, especially on more difficult technical offroad trails. The DRZL Big Wheel version might be a bit better but I can make due with the DRZ standard I have for awhile.

[@Janawhitej1]

​@@miller1 is it 4 stroke how often do you service it and What petrol should I use and how about cleaning or flushes if you go in mud is it hard to clean

[@islandrider91]

If you hadn't said it was an '03 I wouldn't have thought it was more then a couple years old. That bike is in great shape! Awesome video, I'm doing some research for my first dirt bike as well as one for my daughter, this definitely made me consider going Suzuki.

[@mitchelspiteri3796]

I just sold my suzuki drz400 a few weeks ago as it was too tall and heavy for me i had it for years. I just bought a suzuki drz125 small wheel the other day and ive never had soo much fun on a bike

[@dt2mp3]

I’m 12 years old and I’m getting a 2019 drz 125L, seems fun! Cant wait to get the bike

[@colinsview]

Caspian Scura hope you have a great time and I hope it lasts you many years!

[@lukewaggy3655]

Is a drz 125 a good first dirtbike

[@colinsview]

Luke Waggy it depends on you’re height, weight and confidence on two wheels, it’s a bigger starter bike but not as big or powerful as a racing bike like a rmz 250

[@lukewaggy3655]

Colins View well I just rode my friends drz 125 which is the first time I’ve ever ridden a dirt bike it

[@lukewaggy3655]

Just sorta lookin around and I’m about 130ibs and about 5’3ish

[@tmurphy390]

As a short guy in his fifties, I'm going to pick up my new DRZ 125L this week. I bought a used 2 stroke Honda 125 and my feet couldn't touch the ground so I'm getting rid of it. Thanks for this information.

[@payitforward7719]

Thanks for the insight. I saw one on Facebook marketplace and definitely feel more comfortable moving forward with it. Thanks again.

[@colinsview]

Glad to hear! thanks for the feedback!

[@joshuasantiago5732]

Same here! Saw a 2004 pop up on marketplace for $1000, going to check it out and likely buy tomorrow. I figured, you can get smaller bikes for the same price, or more! A 125 for $1000 seemed like something I should jump on. lol

[@brandonholland9732]

@@joshuasantiago5732 lmao I just found mine for 500

[@joshuasantiago5732]

@@brandonholland9732 Nice! I ended up with that one...not a bad bike to get my feet wet on, coming from quads my whole life. Even beat the hell out of it on a MX track already, didn't do bad at all! Haha

[@Kate-hs7gb]

Just bought my son a 2012 model. Thanks for the review

[@mindjeromebiz]

I have a 2006 DRZ125L got it in 2006 and haven't changed the oil once. Still starts right up and is fun to scoot around on.

[@ghsfdl4350]

odd flex

[@mindjeromebiz]

@@ghsfdl4350 old flex

[@oscarschiff9180]

Poor bike. Change the oil regularly fool!

[@xxstarlordxx1419]

i own the exact model, only problem with mine would be the oil ring, but i go hard on it and the other day i was racing my brother on his rm100 and i would be right with him most of the time (granted i was sliding and trying my hardest), its an awesome bike and can do anything you want to do with it

[@curtisrichardson125]

Remove the shifting linkage and replace with a direct shift. my linkage was really sloppy where it connects at the peg. I got an aftermarket one but one from a dr200 fits I think. The same one was used in a bunch of other bikes too. fixed the neutral problem for me

[@jeffreydonald5252]

i have the same bike. just pulled it out of the shed after my daughter stacked it and broke her knee 6 years ago. cleaned the carby got my daughter to tow start me , went after a while, but still wont kick start.

[@_kuratchi_267]

Great review! Looking into getting one of these and this sold me on it. Thanks!

[@colinsview]

Glad to help!

[@trevorjameson3213]

Replace the clutch pack and you should be able to get it into neutral easier. Sometimes the steel clutch plates (not the friction plates) get warped and cause it to drag a little, when that happens, neutral is nearly impossible to find. Or, it could be bent shifter dogs, but probably not, those are pretty hard to damage with a lower powered bike. I have an '06 Honda CRF100 that I bought new (adult rider like yourself), and still have it and ride it, but I'm going to the Suzuki shop tomorrow to see about buying a new DRZ125L ! I really like the size of the DRZ and the light weight. But, I will still keep my CRF100 since my wife loves to ride it too. Anyway, nice video, I'm glad I found a video with an adult rider on a DRZ125L, that's cool. A lot of people don't seem to understand just how much fun a smaller size dirt bike really is!

[@colinsview]

Trevor Jameson thanks for the feedback, that makes sense and I really appreciate it, I might just have to adjust the clutch cable, thanks again and I love the CRF100 too! Just posted a review on that one

[@trevorjameson3213]

Colins View awesome, I’ll check out that review!

[@ggilesy]

Trevor Jameson Great input. Im having trouble finding neutral on my YZ450F while its running. Definitely something worth looking at! Cheers brother.

[@trevorjameson3213]

@@ggilesy I had an '03 XR400 that got to where the thing was grabbing with the clutch pulled in, and I couldn't get it into neutral. I took the clutch apart and the steel plates were blue in places (overheated) and slightly warped. Lay them on a flat piece of glass and tap on them. If they are warped you'll notice they aren't lying exactly flat. Anyway, I replaced the entire clutch pack with a Barnett clutch (recommended) that comes with new steel plates and friction plates. Problem was solved!

[@Davido50]

Do Suzuki a solid dude & be sure to buy a brand new machine from them in near future. Yeaaaaa. '22 RMZ450? Sweet ride.

[@cranerigging3604]

I like it and looks like a "Keeper" !

[@intellmove8431]

I took a stock small wheel 2012/2013 DR-Z with a handful of racing experience to a track and managed to keep up with 85 2T's

[@DustinFlu]

I just got this same bike same year and am stoked to ride some trails with it. Great video 👍

[@Davido50]

Take good care most any machine an it will last long time. Dont rev it like crazy all the time either. Just ride! #Yamaha #Suzuki #Fox #MaximaOils

[@thedanester4101]

13 year old here, been trying to get my hands on a dirtbike for a looong time. Wanted a suzuki bc i have a 1983 lt125 and still runs great. Wanted something smaller so figured id go with 125. Wanted a 4 stroke bc i know 4 stroke engines better. This is the best bike for me i feel like. Probably never gonna get it tho 😢

[@chrisswezy5506]

Good job buddy well done Good content great information I might have missed it did you say you did any jetting If so what size did you go up to

[@colinsview]

I really apreciate it, I left the carb totally stock, had to clean it once and other than that it was never touched

[@bikegunexpert6010]

I’m 42 years old and have the whole nieghborhood mad at me lol

[@JZX100CH4SER]

Just come across your channel and loving it mate, definitely subbed 👍

[@colinsview]

QuAdZa GaMiNgTv thanks a lot! I really appreciate it!

[@SF_OOGWAY]

im planning to get this but u dont know how to drive manual its my first bike can u make a video on how to drive manual?

[@dvine66]

I have the neutral problem as well , it always skips it from First , have to be in 3 rd get it in neutral one push down

[@BrianInnis25X]

I had a 2002 it was good trail bike throughout the years but sadly last year me and my dad had to get rid of it

[@geoffstewart9355]

Helpful review. Thanks

[@colinsview]

Geoff Stewart I am very happy to help! Feel free to subscribe for more content! :)

[@pat2041]

Asking a silly question - just getting into biking - is this road registerable in nsw, Australia?

[@issacnunez9756]

I had just seen an 09 drzL for 1300 is that good for a starter bike for me ??

[@Jim-lv6jc]

I need a new muffler on mine because it hasn’t had one in years and my neighbours hate it

[@Toki-bo2kl]

How can it be a trail bike without 2 stroke motor? 4 stroke gutless

[@tristanlagrange8727]

Does it have adjustable suspension? When I ride my Drz125 L the suspension is very soft. Is there any way to make it stiffer ? Love your vids

[@trevorjameson3213]

Not adjustable except for spring preload adjustment on the rear spring. Otherwise, try heavier fork oil for the front, and/or stiffer fork springs. The rear suspension is pretty darn good as it is, but I think you can get a stiffer rear spring for it, or possibly a Chinese aftermarket shock/spring assembly. But just keep in mind the stock Suzuki rear shock and spring are pretty good for this type of bike.

[@killerofbmore4156]

Is this a four stroke

[@colinsview]

Yes, it is a four stroke trail bike

[@jaiveerbajwa928]

Have you ever had any reliability problems?

[@wyattschultz6159]

I’m 11 and I might get one

[@Petevillegas1980]

Choke off is lever down position right.and on is lever up position right

[@trevorjameson3213]

No, choke is on when the lever is Down, and choke is off when the lever is UP. Hope that helps.

[@tomfoley5041]

Are those the same plastics that came with your bike if not where do you find them. I have a drz 125 not the L but I think the are the same

[@cd-jo6yv]

I have a DRZ 125L and the engines worn out whatever and I need and I need to find parts Any suggestions?

[@mikeburke1509]

Thank you sir

[@NicholasKaye]

Hey bro have you ever redone valves and rockers and did u ever get a ticking sound from valves i dropped the intake twice im trying to figure it out

[@vanosawufo]

realy nc enduro)

[@tiny3785]

What should I do to get one of this running after sitting for about 8 years

[@colinsview]

That’s tough, cleaning out the old gas tank and cleaning or rebuilding the carburetor might do it, make sure the check the air filter and maybe replace it and the oil too, I’m sure there’s a huge checklist the follow but that could be a good start, I’m sure there’s a forum online too that could be more helpful than me, make sure the brakes work well too, thanks for the comment!

[@austinshoemaker1553]

Start off with a compression test, Change fluids, replace chain, possibly rebuild/oil forks, grease pack steering column bearings, grease pack suspension bearings, you can check for leaks but that old and sitting that long I would replace probably most if not all gaskets, if you’re going to be replacing the head gasket it’s worth it to replace the cam chain while you’ve got it apart, and know it’s timed correctly, possibly do a top end rebuild while you’ve got the head apart, spark plug, the caliper is probably seized so either work on that and grease the guide pins or buy a rebuild kit because the rubber boots are probably destroyed by now. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head.

[@kaloyanstoyanov6989]

can u slap the wheels on the standard version with bigger

[@Rexplanet]

My timing chain just snapped, do you think it’s worth the rebuild? mine too is also hard to get into neutral

[@colinmusgrave]

im 5'7 is this a good starter bike and i also weigh 120

[@0214Bub]

do you think a 125cc trail bike is big enough for adult individuals to use for trail riding?

[@colinsview]

The big wheel 125 (also called 125L) was big enough for me as an adult but I’m not a very picky rider, I liked that it was quiet but full a sized dirt bike would handle the rocks and terrain a little better

[@trevorjameson3213]

Most definitely it's big enough for the average adult. I'm 5'11, 180lbs and in my opinion it's the perfect size. The suspension is really good on this bike as long as you're not over 180. I adjusted the rear spring pre-load a little bit stiffer to get the right sag, but other than that, it's fine. I ride pretty hard and fast on single track and the bike does great, it will not beat you up, it's nice and smooth. The brakes are superb once they are bedded in, which takes a few hours of use. The only bad thing is the tiny carb, which needs to be replaced. I re-jetted mine per the forum suggestions, and it was better, but still weak and lame. It's just way too small (20mm). I trashed it and installed a Mikuni 26mm which seriously wakes up the power, very happy with that.

[@professorprimate1]

Would this bike be good for a 6ft 2 guy

[@colinsview]

Great question, it would have a pretty low seat height for your height and probably look pretty small with you on it even with the big wheel version in this video. I would try test as many bikes out and see what feels right for you. Experience, age and weight would play a big role too, it could always be a good bike to learn on.

[@professorprimate1]

@colinsview Thanks, Colin. I did some more research and it has a pretty low seat height for my liking. I am now looking at some 230s and 150s. Thanks for the heads up

[@pdgeyy]

do you know where i could find parts online for this bike? mine needs new plastics, and the rear rims bent. I've found a rim, but i cant find any plastics.

[@colinsview]

Sadly trail bikes are so hard to find plastics for, every racing bike has plastics in every catalog but in my experience I have bought some new off brand or used OEM plastics on ebay and local marketplace. I hope that helps but you're not alone having trouble searching for trail bike plastics.

[@Parker4321]

Is it made in Japan?

[@trevorjameson3213]

Yes, it is made in Japan. Very reliable bike and well-built with good quality components.

[@MonsterYZFR3]

Do you know where I can find plastic at? I bought one and the plastics need replaced and i’ve looked everywhere for aftermarket kits

[@colinsview]

Imma Disappointment it’s a shame but I’ve looked everywhere for years and have never found any, I have found some on eBay used but people have the prices very high

[@jmorphis9073]

They only make oem ones

[@nicki3305]

Is this good for a 5'5 beginner?

[@Knowlsy0]

Yes! I'm 5'6, just got one today for my first dirtbike and came back from riding it. Feels so amazing, clutch is easy and suspension is soft. I was nervous at first but within 5 min I'm in 2nd and exploring my paddock.

[@nicki3305]

@@Knowlsy0 thank you! You're so lucky!😂

[@jaiveerbajwa928]

Yea it’s perfect

[@nicki3305]

@@jaiveerbajwa928 thx

[@jaiveerbajwa928]

Nicki Kantor I’m 6’1 190 lbs you will be fine

[@renzi468]

Mine won’t start please help me

[@EthanAlcoranMusic]

What age do you think is the best for this bike

[@colinsview]

Ethan James I think it’s more about height, weight, and confidence on a bike than age

[@EthanAlcoranMusic]

Colins View so I’m around 5,6 105 weight?

[@leandracohen4047]

@@colinsview What is your height?

[@icyrc]

Needs a valve adjustment

[@EthanAdey]

There’s a $500 one I might get since I don’t have the money (or a job 😂) for a DR650.

[@Alex-pd4dk]

Isn’t that the 2020 model

[@TyishaLanglais-x4o]

Bahringer Shores

[@MartinHeloise-u4r]

Buckridge Islands

[@pinnymoseson4018]

Could I buy this off you?

[@dereckrodriguez9688]

How does this compare to a ttr125

[@trevorjameson3213]

Very similar, not a lot of difference. Performance is basically the same from what I've read about them.

[@GeraldDixon-o4i]

Schmitt Lodge

[@HueyRoss-u8f]

Abbott Valley

[@PopeTernence-s5p]

Candice Hill

[@WheatleyEarl-c1w]

Florence Locks

[@EllisMaurice-f6l]

Considine Springs

[@NathanClevenger1337]

Anyone know where to get a stator for this bike to run a headlight for night riding? Also what carb can you bolt onto this bike to crank out some more power?

[@trevorjameson3213]

I used to have a 26mm carb I put on mine, but it never worked right, too big for the engine. Then I read you should use a 24mm carb for best results if you upgrade the stock carb. But I went back to the stock carb and installed an FMF pipe and it runs perfectly for me now. Anyway, try a 24mm Mikuni or one of the Chinese copies.

[@MargaretBarbara-e3y]

Kris Plains

[@HugginsRichard-w2t]

Ferry Well

[@NehemiahEdwiin-z5h]

Meggie Canyon

[@BloorAlva-d1r]

Lionel Village

[@BarrettKelly-r7g]

Lexus Port

[@BASICREPAIRCHANNEL]

When honda crf got L its street legal When suzuki got L its has larger tire? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@josephfulton4002]

Yeah, Same for Yamaha’s TTR’s

[@jmorphis9073]

Mines same year it’s clapped 🤣🤣

[@colinsview]

J Morphis907 can you drop a link for the plastics? I’ve never seen them before and searched endlessly haha

[@ENDOPRYSMyt]

@@colinsview you can get them straight from Suzuki web sight. But they are super expensive. 80 dollars a piece. There are probably some aftermarket stuff that’s better.

[@colinsview]

@@ENDOPRYSMyt great to know, very expensive though, thanks!

[@mustknowinfo2001]

If you put exhaust and re geared it would it cruze on a sand track smoothly?

[@trevorjameson3213]

It's not bad on sand actually, a little slow but not bad. I put an FMF pipe on mine and one smaller tooth on the front sprocket for riding in sand. It pulls ok, but don't expect a whole lot of power in sand.