YBR 125 not built for the cold?
Discussion
I’ve had my ybr 125 from new in 2014. After the 2 year mark it has had (4 year period):
2 new ignition systems.
2 new batteries.
New front brake callipers.
2 new headlights
Dash and headlights intermittently turning off or flashing while riding.
Condensation within the tach.
New starter.
New foot pegs as the right on fell off.
Seized throttle
Battery holder plastic went brittle and broke.
Powder coat paint flaked off front forks in 1st year.
The bike has 15k on the clock, cost 2600 new and I have spent 1500 on replacement parts and labour over the past 4 years.
The issues always have happened at the end of the year. Bike runs perfect in the warmer months.
Serviced and MOT every year and kept in a garage. The bike is also regularly cleaned.
Is that a normal amount of maintenance for a Yamaha?
This is my second ybr and the first never had a single fault over the 3 years I had it.
2 new ignition systems.
2 new batteries.
New front brake callipers.
2 new headlights
Dash and headlights intermittently turning off or flashing while riding.
Condensation within the tach.
New starter.
New foot pegs as the right on fell off.
Seized throttle
Battery holder plastic went brittle and broke.
Powder coat paint flaked off front forks in 1st year.
The bike has 15k on the clock, cost 2600 new and I have spent 1500 on replacement parts and labour over the past 4 years.
The issues always have happened at the end of the year. Bike runs perfect in the warmer months.
Serviced and MOT every year and kept in a garage. The bike is also regularly cleaned.
Is that a normal amount of maintenance for a Yamaha?
This is my second ybr and the first never had a single fault over the 3 years I had it.
Nope, they are known to be reliable and you have been unlucky.
I bought my 2009 one for £950 with 9k miles on it 5 years ago.
In the 15k miles I've done on it it has only needed a new battery and the front brake rebuilt.
It has been the most reliable vehicle I've owned.
Best thing to do to save money is to work on the bike yourself. They are really simple so are ideal for learning.
Spending £1.5k on maintenance is madness.
I bought my 2009 one for £950 with 9k miles on it 5 years ago.
In the 15k miles I've done on it it has only needed a new battery and the front brake rebuilt.
It has been the most reliable vehicle I've owned.
Best thing to do to save money is to work on the bike yourself. They are really simple so are ideal for learning.
Spending £1.5k on maintenance is madness.
Edited by Donbot on Wednesday 28th October 13:34
You've either got a lemon, or you're not looking after it too well.
Despite being garaged, i's a really good idea to keep it rinsed down and also take on servicing yourself. Things like brake calipers are easy to keep on top of, stuff like electrics you can go through and put on dielectric grease on connectors to keep out moisture, that sort of thing.
Are you sure the mileage is correct?
Maybe it's a good idea to ditch it and buy something else. I had an SV650 which I rode through 5 winters and the worst effects of winter I had was needing to replace a chain and sprocket set much earlier than usual one year. I think you've likely got a bit of a lemon not really looked after by the previous person.
Despite being garaged, i's a really good idea to keep it rinsed down and also take on servicing yourself. Things like brake calipers are easy to keep on top of, stuff like electrics you can go through and put on dielectric grease on connectors to keep out moisture, that sort of thing.
Are you sure the mileage is correct?
Maybe it's a good idea to ditch it and buy something else. I had an SV650 which I rode through 5 winters and the worst effects of winter I had was needing to replace a chain and sprocket set much earlier than usual one year. I think you've likely got a bit of a lemon not really looked after by the previous person.
Jaetten said:
I’ve had my ybr 125 from new in 2014. After the 2 year mark it has had (4 year period):
2 new ignition systems.
2 new batteries.
New front brake callipers.
2 new headlights
Dash and headlights intermittently turning off or flashing while riding.
Condensation within the tach.
New starter.
New foot pegs as the right on fell off.
Seized throttle
Battery holder plastic went brittle and broke.
Powder coat paint flaked off front forks in 1st year.
The bike has 15k on the clock, cost 2600 new and I have spent 1500 on replacement parts and labour over the past 4 years.
The issues always have happened at the end of the year. Bike runs perfect in the warmer months.
Serviced and MOT every year and kept in a garage. The bike is also regularly cleaned.
Is that a normal amount of maintenance for a Yamaha?
This is my second ybr and the first never had a single fault over the 3 years I had it.
The thing that stands out for me in there is 'REGULARLY CLEANED' ... How ? 2 new ignition systems.
2 new batteries.
New front brake callipers.
2 new headlights
Dash and headlights intermittently turning off or flashing while riding.
Condensation within the tach.
New starter.
New foot pegs as the right on fell off.
Seized throttle
Battery holder plastic went brittle and broke.
Powder coat paint flaked off front forks in 1st year.
The bike has 15k on the clock, cost 2600 new and I have spent 1500 on replacement parts and labour over the past 4 years.
The issues always have happened at the end of the year. Bike runs perfect in the warmer months.
Serviced and MOT every year and kept in a garage. The bike is also regularly cleaned.
Is that a normal amount of maintenance for a Yamaha?
This is my second ybr and the first never had a single fault over the 3 years I had it.
Get a full licence and get something a bit better made, the difference between most 125's and something a bit bigger is night and day.
I bought a second hand NC750X (2014 model) and in 2 years it has only needed consumables. Granted there is condensation in the speedo in the winter, but I can't be bothered to do anything about it.
I ride about 8,000 miles a year into London on it, all year. I have washed it once in that time (during lockdown as I was bored) and put oil on the chain once as well. Works absolutely perfectly and asks for nothing in return.
I bought a second hand NC750X (2014 model) and in 2 years it has only needed consumables. Granted there is condensation in the speedo in the winter, but I can't be bothered to do anything about it.
I ride about 8,000 miles a year into London on it, all year. I have washed it once in that time (during lockdown as I was bored) and put oil on the chain once as well. Works absolutely perfectly and asks for nothing in return.
I think you need to change your mechanic and if possible learn to do things yourself. That's not normal, but you can get stuck with sunk costs. I spent a lot on my bike this winter, only for more issues to hit and financially I'd have been better trading it in.
Also, how are you washing it?
Also, how are you washing it?
Thanks for the replies. It is/was an all year ridden bike.
Learning to do maintenance myself would be a good idea.
It is my second YBR. The first one I had never had an issue. I only sold as I lost my job in ‘09.
Was meant to do A license, but wasn’t able to due to COVID. On cbt no. 4 at the moment. Would love a bigger bike, but that’ll be next year now.
Learning to do maintenance myself would be a good idea.
It is my second YBR. The first one I had never had an issue. I only sold as I lost my job in ‘09.
Was meant to do A license, but wasn’t able to due to COVID. On cbt no. 4 at the moment. Would love a bigger bike, but that’ll be next year now.
For the experience you now have and for the cost of 4 CBT's you could most likely have passed your full licence by now. The sooner you do you will have cheaper insurance etc. and you will wish you did it sooner. Going from a 750 back to a 125cc I thought my bike was broken!
You'll be able to get a better quality bike for less money too.
You'll be able to get a better quality bike for less money too.
hyphen said:
On my CBT was a guy who was doing his for the 3rd time.
His argument was that he only commuted to work via a scooter and was not into bikes.
Never mind the cost, he was bored out of his mind amongst all us learners for 4 hours, that alone is a reason to take a licence.
When I did my CBT there was a bloke who turned up on his own vespa who was doing it for the 8th time, said very much the same thing. He was a nice chap though and 2 guys who were due to do it with us didn't show up so the instructor convinced the guy to learn a new skill and do the manual CBT with me which he seemed to really enjoy. We had a good day and the bloke joked we'd both be back to do our DAS. I'm not sure if he ever did, but I went back to that school within a few months and did my full licence.His argument was that he only commuted to work via a scooter and was not into bikes.
Never mind the cost, he was bored out of his mind amongst all us learners for 4 hours, that alone is a reason to take a licence.
TheInternet said:
Was there not a proposal to change the rules preventing people riding continuously on CBTs? Just go and do the test on a 125, it's not that hard and can be done without paying for any training.
I'd actually advocate that as it might reduce the number of deliveroo nutters out there but it would be very hard to enforce. Devils advocate people could argue they ran out of money to do the test and so it lapsed or even people could be so incompetent they fail their test repeatedly. It would be similar to having an expiry on a provisional licence.I don't know how anyone can be happy riding around on a 125 for years on end, getting some experience on one before doing DAS at the moment and how much you have to rag it to get anywhere gets tiresome very quickly. Am used to driving decent grunty diesel cars though so opposite ends of the spectrum I guess
Alimarsh said:
I don't know how anyone can be happy riding around on a 125 for years on end, getting some experience on one before doing DAS at the moment and how much you have to rag it to get anywhere gets tiresome very quickly. Am used to driving decent grunty diesel cars though so opposite ends of the spectrum I guess
To be fair I thought my 125 was nippy enough until I had a go on something bigger. I had initially thought I'd keep my 125 forever hence I bought brand new, I did my test primarily to lower my insurance and gain some more experience. Little did I know that the moment I got on a bigger bike was a point of no return...Bumblebee7 said:
Alimarsh said:
I don't know how anyone can be happy riding around on a 125 for years on end, getting some experience on one before doing DAS at the moment and how much you have to rag it to get anywhere gets tiresome very quickly. Am used to driving decent grunty diesel cars though so opposite ends of the spectrum I guess
To be fair I thought my 125 was nippy enough until I had a go on something bigger. I had initially thought I'd keep my 125 forever hence I bought brand new, I did my test primarily to lower my insurance and gain some more experience. Little did I know that the moment I got on a bigger bike was a point of no return...Alimarsh said:
Bumblebee7 said:
Alimarsh said:
I don't know how anyone can be happy riding around on a 125 for years on end, getting some experience on one before doing DAS at the moment and how much you have to rag it to get anywhere gets tiresome very quickly. Am used to driving decent grunty diesel cars though so opposite ends of the spectrum I guess
To be fair I thought my 125 was nippy enough until I had a go on something bigger. I had initially thought I'd keep my 125 forever hence I bought brand new, I did my test primarily to lower my insurance and gain some more experience. Little did I know that the moment I got on a bigger bike was a point of no return...Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff