It was between the early 90s and the noughties that the 2-stroke 125cc sports motorcycle saw its peak. Full of character and speed but with the need to warm up in its own time and a fear of the cold – oh, how it’s nice to reminisce! – We had our ups and downs with them.

It was all about the engine, and though they were fast, most reaching over 25hp when de-restricted (if you had or have the correct licence), some could do over 100 mph, but they weren’t very economical, so it’s been a while since we’ve seen one.

Therefore, to celebrate their glory days, join us in this new blog as we take a trip down memory lane and reacquaint ourselves with 6 of the fastest 2-stroke 125cc motorcycles, but please note, the figures stated are unrestricted numbers. The legal limit for CBT riders currently in the UK is 14.8hp, so you'll either need an A2 or Full Motorcycle Licence to enjoy these machines at their best!

Designed to give the Italian 125cc racers a run for their money, Suzuki’s RG 125 was a pocket rocket that made a name for itself touring the 1984 European motorcycle shows.

This tiddler reached around 25hp (derestricted) and borrowed some of its features, including the graphics and paintwork, from its bigger brothers, the RG250 and RG500, so you can imagine how excited a 17-year-old would have been riding one of these!

But what made it so special was the shape and size of its engine and its 123kg bodyweight. Its engine was incredibly narrow, which meant you could lean in far when it came to cornering, and being so light in weight only helped.

It was launched in 1985, following its introduction at the International Bike Show in Cologne in 1984, and because of its sports bike characteristics and good looks, it became very popular and stayed popular until it was discontinued in the mid-1990s. Nowadays, though, if you’re lucky, you might be able to find a restored or used option for around £2,000–£2,500.

With its signature single square headlight, the TZR 125 was first released in 1987. It went on strong until production ended in 1992, when Yamaha replaced it with the TZR125R and later the TZR125RR.

From the race-ready graphics to that sweet 28hp unrestricted output, it seemed to tick every single box. It was a desired bike that didn’t come cheap, so if you were a teen back in the '80s, it would have definitely been one of your biggest wants. 

Just like the RG 125, there are people out there restoring them for fun, so you could find one of these beauties for anything between £2,500–£5,000.

For the Derbi GPR125, production didn’t end until 2009 for the 2-stroke version, so when compared against the others, it’s one of the ‘newer’ models on the list.

There’s no denying that this was a beautifully built bike. I’d even go as far as saying that if you saw it from a distance, at speed or squinted, you could mistake it for a mini-Ducati.

It was nicely equipped with all the 125cc sports motorcycle essentials, including 17” wheels, a 6-speed gearbox, and dual-piston front caliper brakes.

If you wanted one now, the original 2-stroker might be hard to find, so you may need to settle for the more modern 4-stroke, which replaced it, but could you bring yourself to it when its former self reached 30hp?

First released in 1988, the inspiration for Honda’s NSR125 was taken from its road racing big brother, the NSR500 GP.

It was categorised into the JC20 and JC22 (AKA the ‘fox eye’). Each could be recognised by their different headlight styles, with the JC20 featuring a double round and the JC22 a fox-eye headlight, hence the nickname. Both featured a 2-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that could see a power output of around 28–30hp.

With Honda’s renowned reliability and build quality, you won’t be surprised to hear that there are more NSR125s knocking around than others.

Born in 1989, Cagiva’s Mito was inspired by the GP500.

At its heart lay a 2-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that could hit 33hp. Looks-wise, it was restyled by Massimo Tamburini to resemble Ducati’s 916, so featured full-fairing, dual headlights, a small windscreen, die-cast aluminium wheels and a bright red paint job which really did make this entry-level sports bike look the business.

That promised power and stunning Ducati styling was the reason the Mito was at the top of all learner riders’ wish lists!

A little fun fact before we move on, this was the very first motorcycle Valentino Rossi raced on back in 1993 – you never know which pub quiz that could come in handy for!

Excellent performance, a high level of equipment and bright styling, Aprilia’s RS 125 was a sought-after model in the ’90s and, still to this day, is considered a class 125cc option.

It wasn’t just popular because it looked fantastic – with a claimed 28–33hp, owning one of these as a teenager was your golden ticket to finding out what riding a real sports motorcycle was all about!

Originals are hard to find, but the RS 125 is one of the few to be given a modern reboot. Whilst it may have kept its pretty exterior, the 2025 model now features styling taken from its bigger brother, the RS660, but is now a four-stroke, making around 15hp, so it’s still a pretty good two-wheeler to ride.

Though we don’t see much of them anymore, the 125cc 2-stroke motorcycle will hold a special place in a lot of people’s hearts, and because of this, they’ve turned into a bit of a collector’s item.

Last but not least, if you have a two-stroke of your own, you need to insure make sure to get a motorcycle insurance quote direct with Lexham!