What: 1994 HUSQVARNA WR125
When: March 1994, Issue No.174
Purpose: Enduro
How Much: $8,295
The subhead for the original test read, “Good things do come in small packages,” and that summed up the WR125 perfectly. The little Husky was pure fun – light, fast, and surprisingly capable. Ease of starting was the first thing praised, firing up midway through the first stroke of the lever, hot or cold. “It didn’t really take a kick either,” the test noted, “more a woosy wave of the boot over the lever. Lucky none of our thumper-riding mates were around to see it.”
Next up was the lack of vibration and noise: “The mill is smoother than a revivalist preacher on Sunday and quieter than his congregation during the service.”
So how did it ride? The engine was crisp off the bottom thanks to sorted jetting, pulling strong from down low into a healthy midrange before taking off into the top end. Traction was the name of the game – it didn’t spin up at a wrist flick, but that helped it go faster with less power. The WR125 could carry momentum in tight single without relying too heavily on the clutch, and showed no signs of stalling or snatching.
Suspension was described as plush yet race-firm, and more progressive than earlier Huskies. It steered “like a dream,” reacting quickly to rider input and staying stable at speed, even through angled logs or deep holes. The brakes – Nissins – were sharp and effective thanks to the lightweight chassis.
At $8,295, the WR125 was more expensive than a 250 trailbike at the time, but the testers felt it was worth the premium. With top-shelf suspension, quality controls and proven reliability, it earned praise as a legitimate racebike – and a reminder that 125s are still serious fun. “Big strapping macho Aussie blokes who don’t seem keen on riding small capacity bikes,” the test concluded, “don’t know what they’re missing.”
