Retro 125 vs. Modern 125 | Motocross SHOOTOUT! 

I’m going with the 89 easily. One of my favorite bikes of all time

From my years of MX experience a PRO rider on a shit bike will ALWAYS beat an AVERAGE rider on a great bike..Its more to do with rider ability than the machine itself..But a PRO rider on a modern bike will be lethal.

This is so cool to watch! Just goes to show why old heads like myself love bringing these old bikes back to life!

I am currently waiting for parts to restore my old race bike. It’s crazy the feelings that I go looking at the back tire on the cr it used to be a Dunlop D-752 now it’s a different number but I’ve got two frescoes on the way for my cr man please keep up the awesome work you have rekindled a fire of monstrous proportions buddy thank you very much and god bless

Honda’s engineering dept in the mid to late 80’s was so far ahead of its time it took over every market ... trikes,quads,bikes and stood alone with the odyssey and pilots. It was and is legendary.

Love seeing some good ol’ 2 stroke action. Getting me hyped for finishing my CR125 build 🤙🏼. Might have just become my fave Mx channel 👌🏼

Seems to me it was a huge win for 2strokes ! Great video keep up the good work.

I figured there wouldn't be a drastic difference. Sure, frame geomety, brakes and engine tech have evolved, but wringing one out, keeping it buzzing is part of the puzzle to being fast on a 125, along with cornering speed. BTW- with you going wide on the outside in turns, is usually used by 500 riders. Square off a corner, then pull the trigger on the engine and watch the straight dissappear at an alarming rate.

Good detail here Max! The 'pure' fun of racing an old skool 125 was that concentration- it made winning anything such a reward. My '21 bored me to death.Love Sean's tight lines. Thanks for sharing👍

I had the great fortune of growing up with the 1980s MX machines and the two bikes to have during that time was a Honda or a Kawasaki in anything above an 80cc. I rode the 80cc class on a Kawasaki but when I went to 125 class Honda was the machine to have. They rev to the moon and if you rode it like you stole it all anyone seen was the back of your jersey. They did not have the bottom-end grunt that the other bikes did, which forced you to be a more aggressive rider because their mid range and top-end were insane. The trick is to learn where its sweet spot is so that you can still come off a corner with explosive attack which means railing berms, keeping it in the mid revs, and flicking that clutch coming out on the pipe and rear wheel. The Kawasaki wasn't near as plush but you could lug it more and it would growl at you coming out of tight technical stuff but I never found it to have the top-end ability of my CRs. The KX and RMs were very grunty as I recall and the YZ and the CR were like Singer sewing machines there is no sound like a Honda on the pipe in the straights it is symphonic. Glad you all had fun and if it were me an 1989 CR125, 250, 500 with modern suspension and braking is the machine to have if you are looking for the ultimate thrills machine. Once you grab a fist full, let it eat, and pin one you'll understand why trust me your heart beat will explain it all 😉😉😉. Thanks for sharing and be safe out there.

Bloody loved the video max, looked like you had fun on the Honda,. I think everything has improved on newer.bikes,especially suspension and brakes, loved the sound of you two ripping round,great work again on your top quality videos I'm looking forward to your next masterpiece, Best wishes pal.

I'd take the Cr and I don't care if it wins or not lol

British boys getting their MX on! Get it! Enjoy. -Ohio 🇺🇸

I think MX bike innovation and technology has stalled out. Growing up in the 80’s things progressed at an incredible rate. The bikes from the 70’s looked like relics. Nowadays, aside from the plastic the bikes look the same as they have for the past 20 years. Maybe when things switch to electric some crazy new innovations will take place?

From 1981 to 1991 dirtbikes went through the most massive evolution imaginable. Every year some manufacturer came out with something new. Disc brakes, liquid cooling, mono shock, upside down forks, power valve, to name a few.

Another cracking video👌🏻,love both those bikes

It’s crazy how much dirtbikes chsnged from day 89 to like 91-93. This makes me feel old though. My first bike was an 86 pw80. Then in 91 I got a new kx80. My last new bike was a 95 RM125 when I was 15. Been thinking of getting a bike again to ride

It’s got to be the CR mate, great content 👍🇬🇧

Two beautiful bikes! Cheers from America!!

I'm glad to have both in the garage. Yamaha YZ 1983 and 2019

I love the old CRs. The 80, 125 and 250s of the late 80s to mid 90s had my favorite type of powerband. Nothing down low and screamer up top. Hold it wide open or its gutless. Ah the good old days..

That Cr is a little ripper ! But, you can definitely hear that the newer Yz is snappier and is constantly buzzing on the pipe. The Cr you really have to work to get the most out of it. Being a taller rider (6ft2) I'm a bit too tall for the Honda chassis. Love them both thanks for sharing them Max !

Thank you so much for your fantastic videos and awesome work! My son name is also Max and he is 12 year's old riding a 2019 Kawasaki 85cc. He's dream bike is a Honda 125cc 2002 with a 2020 KTM 125cc engine. Maby I try to build one 😅 Pardon my English, we are your fan's from Sweden. Dennis and Max

I have a 1987 cr125R and I love it never selling it I've ridden a lot of other dirt bikes too and its still my favorite am looking for a cr500 thow

Love the Japanese for giving us well built MX bikes. Thanks for the vid guys

Wow awesome Bike I raced a 1988 CR250 for six years before buying a 1994 CR250 Love both of them but only regret not ever buying CR125 to race I think it would had made me faster wow hey awesome I see that you know of Kaplan America

Your Content Are Awesome i Mean I like It

Mate with your love on 2 strokes you need to do a piece on Rory Jones doing the bizz on a 150 in the AMCA mx2 champs ,, knocking on the door of top 4s on a regular basis ,, fantastic to watch and keeping the baby 2 stroke alive in such a competitive class ..

I had a 1992 cr250 last summer,it was a monster.

I used to have a 87 cr125 but I had to sell it 4 years ago for extra money while I was a broke student. I regret it every day. Funnest bike I ever had, and is why I ride a yz125x today even though I’m 6’2” 205 pounds

They r both cool bikes I’d have either but if I had a choice I’ve always rode red but have owned a YZ OF MY OWN so it’s a WIN WIN MAX

Funny thing is. That cr125 could do so much more. Rookie riders for sure But that yz125 doesn't stand a chance against the cr125 there is a REASON why the cr125s and 250s and 500s are sooooo sought after

Great video Max, be good to see more of these two 125’s going at it ✊🏻🤙🏻 what track is that.?

I'd pick the 89. But my first bike was a 89 CR125

way back in the day I owned a ticked out YZ 125 with tons of go fast parts. Talk about FAST it was sporting just under 37 at the rear wheel.

Yz and cr both awsome bikes.

I enjoyed this one guys. Both bikes would be very welcome in my shop.

I have an Evo CR - can the power be brought down lower by adding a tooth or 2 to the rear sprocket ?

Nice one. CR125 was always potent

The 89 cr's were amazing

Ahhh.. The sound of 2 stroke engines racing :P

Awesome!

I had both...an 89 CR125 stock and a 97 YZ125 pro bike..extensive mods. There was a huge difference in ergonomics. The CR had a sit in it feel which made the bike feel heavy...The YZ felt like you sat on it ..Felt much thinner and lighter. The Honda also had terrible head shake

The 1989 Honda CR125 still had the ATAC system on the exhaust (no power valves) whereas the 1990 which had a real power valve (HPP system) was smoother and stronger bottom end torque.

as long as its 2 stroke !! red is nice

I'm thinking of buying a CR 125 89! Could you help me? What % of mix does your friend use in his? Is that 2t oil he uses. Thanks from Portugal

Another old video l had to watch and make me laugh would love to see you two ride and race my brand new 76cr125 Honda nothing below 5000rpm no brakes and when when you saw a jump you slowed down no suspension 6/7inchs claimed and 25 hp.but l loved that bike apart from the amount of pistons l went through and pipes as they were still using down pipes and they were smaller than the the RMS and was vertically challenged when l moved up to the seniors.

Before watching I want the cr so badly and hope it wins 🤞🏼

That cr is rippin,yz sounds good too

I think it will be a close one both bike are capable of winning

By the way max! I don’t think you gave us the run down on what has been done to the CR in respects to mods! Cheers

Both good bikes already seen the Honda on Tommy’s channel but I wouldn’t want either of them

I'm american so uis accent is so funny like when he talks about European bikes im like what??? But i love the videos dude

Just to be clear I have an 1982 125 powered shifter cart it tops out well over 100 mph so these bikes are no joke

The pro link is the best hands down" I have a 2001 yz250 now..great bike! However, in 1999 I had a 1983 CR250 left hand kick start! A fellow rider..shopped around and bought the trickest yz 250 piped, ported,polished, jetted it was awesome. .. my 1983 kicked his a.. at everything. .but throttle response" the throttle response on the yz was crazy awesome. . . pro link&airshocks"all day long baby! Brapp!✌ Great video man!👉💪✌

Without making it all the way through the video yet: I would want the CR125R in my garage - I used to own a 1990 CR250R and I miss the bike. I think the newer technology in suspension and brakes would put the Yamaha ahead on lap times at the track. Now back to watching the video...

It's not the year it's what you can ride better. Ronnie Mac beats a lot of brand new bikes on his old 250.

I'd be interested to see lap times on a ridden in dry track.

I raced a 1987YZ250 all the way up to 1992 and had no issues smoking the guys in my classes on their newer bikes, it is about the rider not the bike..

Anyone know what kind of wrist brace smith is wearing?

I remember in 2008 my friend shooting his beautiful 89' cr125 with a shotgun haha

The camera man was on the jump. You should have given him a kick in the tripod

Now can we compare modern English with the UK version?

Big ups the cougar girlfriend crew

I had 93 cr125 and I struggled with it's peaky powerband went a 93 kx125 and suited my lack ability much better 🙂

The cr its a beast

Winners ride RED. I raced the CR250, back in the day, so I’m partial.

I'm a honda man BUT I think the yam might pip it to the post!👊✊💨💨💨👌

Id want a KTM 300xc but as far as your test why not a KTM 125sx?

Good good vidéo 👍😉👍

I think the updated chassis will pull out a win.

I'm a believer that Bikes performance hasn't really improved very much. modern bikes are much easier to ride to their potential vs old bike it takes a real rider

max i would have either both nice bikes

Both sick rippas

Yeah that's a pretty old bike lol Mid 90s are some of my favorites

I believe that's 19 88-89 head upside down forks

ok I'm into this at 0:28 sec ..lets see if my predictions are close ..the brake tech peek out on the earlier with SINTERED pads along with suspension travel per AMA rules ..and frame rigidity was a toss up between heat treated aluminum and Chromebox with the heated arguments of Jeremy Mcgrath to his team Honda as Jeremy didn't like the aluminum frames and as far engine horse power pop Yoshimura already had Proven the technology of building boost into the lower end of a two stroke as they are all internally supercharged then and now ...so who won the shoot out ? the fastest rider of course

Let the bees buz

Ill take the honda just because theyre always my first pick. That yammy is a nice bike though! 😂😂 when you said thats the oldest bike youve rode!! I have me a milf too 😉

I have both

You can be competitive on an old bike. The problem is, it will cost you as much getting it there, as a new bike! 🙄

I love the cr 125! And i Think it will win.

I would own the Honda with a pwk 38 and a Stic if I had a choice

if your going to give me one im not fussy but your yz is pretty trick, and 12 years younger shame its a wet track and no one really want to get muddy

What track is this mate

my brother used to ride yz80 stock bike ,bar boysen reeds, week after week he would show up the 125, its more rider than bike,

What’s he got on his wrist 7:21 ?

The YZ , 👍

CR for me.

The early 80s Cr Al had more power. They built them down over time. The new Cr 450 or whatever they are are now 4 stroke. Those 89s Crs are the most powerfull Crs ever made

Gairrage, Lol, Garage more like it. LOL! Luminum not ally luminum. LOL, Dude, that is one good looking 89. If it were dryer out side you 2 would have really been tearing it up. That 89 flat out hauls mail......ha, interesting....

Honda any time

I would take a 94-98 honda CR 250 over any newer model

Honda

Old bikes get more traction in the mud because of their soft shocks.

Wooow my dreams bike I am number one fans

🤔 Does a Yamaha really qualify for modern ?

All I see with the helmet cam is way early braking and taking the inside line when there are banked up tall berms you should be squaring off the apex throttle pinned as what is here the the engine is not even "on the pipe" when he exists a turn on the inside line when he could have been on the power ban busting berms in the fast lane .. But then want would I know 3rd overall in the illiana 30+ supercross championship open class. Riding a stock 1982. RM125

89 cr classic!

Honda CR motor sounds a hell of a lot better than the Yamaha