Small-displacement two-strokes aren’t the most common choice for off-road riders and racers, but there are youngsters and those who like the challenge of keeping rpm high and maintaining momentum. Racing organizations realize this, and some have given 125cc two-stroke riders a dedicated class to compete—one example being the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series with its FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am division.
Related: 2024 KTM 125 SX First Ride Review
One of the most popular 125cc two-stroke off-road motorcycles is KTM’s 125 XC, which has been on the market since 2021 and saw a complete overhaul in 2023. It’s been fuel-injected via a Keihin 39mm throttle body since 2023 and the 2025 iteration enjoys a mid-generation update, which is mostly chassis-related. The 2025 model is also the first 125 XC that Dirt Rider has tested. The first order of business? Running it on our in-house dyno. In terms of peak figures, we documented 33.0 hp and 15.8 lb.-ft. of torque.
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