[1] The YZ125 has been built with five- or six-speed manual sequential gearbox depending on model year.
[citation needed] For the 2005 year, Yamaha switched to a single backbone frame constructed from an aluminum alloy.
This frame material change dropped the dry weight to 190 lb (86 kg).
Aluminum-framed YZ125s are notably "flickable" and sometimes this trait is seen as a drawback since they tend to become more difficult to control on rough surfaces.
A number of well known riders have chosen this as their go-to bike, such as AMA Champ Dom Barbuto and his brother Nick Barbuto, X-Games medalist Kyle Ford, and StinkBike Racing's own local Seattle legend Joey Merkin.