2003 CR125R

[Fitz]

Just picked one up off the board for cheap. Low hours. Needs a top end which appears simple enough and possibly a cylinder. Having zero two wheel experience before last year and no two smoke experience ever, school me on what I need to know.

Honda Service Manual on order as we speak. Bike will be used for playing around in the yard, maybe some time at Clough and to learn how to slide a bike on the (hopefully) frozen river this winter.

Thanks!
Fitz

[breakdirt916]

...no two smoke experience ever, school me on what I need to know...

hold on tight!

[Paul_E_D]

Nice score. The manual has all you need to know. Don't be at all worried about working on it. It doesn't get any easier than this. If you have specific questions, post em up. There's a few 2stroke tuners on here.

[lrrs313]

Only one bit of advice: if you're going to ride it in cold temps (on the ice) you're going to need to rejet. Not a big deal, probably just richer on the main jet, but DO NOT ride it with warm weather jetting (unless you really like rebuilding it).

Otherwise, like Paul said, working on it doesn't get any easier. Or, for that matter, cheaper.

[seth399]

yup, top end is easy shmeezy. Only thing really to be careful/slow with is putting the circlips in the grooves of the piston to hold the piston pin in. Make sure you have good pliers and don't gouge the side of the piston.

[Rambunctous]

yup, top end is easy shmeezy. Only thing really to be careful/slow with is putting the circlips in the grooves of the piston to hold the piston pin in. Make sure you have good pliers and don't gouge the side of the piston.

We have circlip installer tool right in G22

[Bgcj5]

Nice score fitz, now that my shoulder is healed up I just need to get my dirty bike back up and running and we can go do some riding. The top end is pretty simple on that. Let me know if you need a hand.

[seth399]

We have circlip installer tool right in G22

nice, even better

[Rambunctous]

Look like this.http://www.accu-products.com/accu-pr...prod_3288.html...... And we have leak down testers too

[Rambunctous]

http://www.accu-products.com/accu-pr...prod_3019.html
Though it looks like a leak down tester Bob #22 uses it to check his blood pressure when I ask him for the 5th time how much gas do I need for practice.

[Rambunctous]

Also have bore gauges for checking cylinders.

[Rambunctous]

And micrometers for checking pistons. Oh, and Tim #2 for picking his brain and its vast knowledge of the castrol world.

[csmutty]

And make sure that the arrow on the top of the piston is facing towards the exhaust port. You might want to clean the powervalve while you are in there too.

Edit: One other thing I would check is the reeds too to make sure that there isn't a gap between the reed block and the reeds and that they aren't cracked.

[Rambunctous]

I think he needs to match the CR with another 125 in the garage. A RS. Maybe they will mate. Hey, think of the money saved having only one gas can.

[a13x]

Use the clutch alot!

I had a 2002 CR125. Nice little bike.

[union]

Use the clutch alot!

I had a 2002 CR125. Nice little bike.

+1 on the clutch. Im all over mine especially on the hills. Its a hard concept to grasp at first coming off street bikes. Also keep it screaming. If the engine isnt wound up youre not going anywhere. And the faster you go the smoother the trail is.

[breakdirt916]

if you go slow, do you use the clutch less?

maybe it's because I'm the slowest guy out there

but all I did down in franklin was stand up, let the bike bounce around below you, and just vary the throttle...I hardly used the brakes or the clutch (except to shift...if that)

[DBB]

Use the clutch alot!

I had a 2002 CR125. Nice little bike.

+2

I miss my '91 CR125.

[TheIglu]

I tend to use my clutch very little during normal woods riding. It's all about keeping your momentum up and keeping the engine where it is happy.

My 2001 CR125 is identical to your new bike. If you need any help, let me know.

[seth399]

Use the clutch alot!

I had a 2002 CR125. Nice little bike.

true, on the other hand, trying to not use the clutch really helps with your speed/momentum. I used to try not to use the clutch while practicing (just to preserve it as I was poor) when I was racing 80s and 125s and it really helped me with corner speed as if you slowed too much your bike bogs big time and that is annoying as shit in a sandy berm.

[Paul_E_D]

if you go slow, do you use the clutch less?

maybe it's because I'm the slowest guy out there

but all I did down in franklin was stand up, let the bike bounce around below you, and just vary the throttle...I hardly used the brakes or the clutch (except to shift...if that)

I still don't use the clutch on my 125. I shift alot though. I need to train myself to use the clutch though... there are definitely times when I fall off the pipe.

[seth399]

O ps- I have brand new skid plate and radiator gaurds for a 2000 cr125, not sure if they will fit this bike but if you might be interested I can look into it

[typeone]

yup, top end is easy shmeezy. Only thing really to be careful/slow with is putting the circlips in the grooves of the piston to hold the piston pin in. Make sure you have good pliers and don't gouge the side of the piston.

yeah, and dont let the circlip fly INTO YOUR EYE!

i was doing piston and rings on my '87 CR125, focused on being careful as you describe, clip slipped and shot right into my eye. the open end lodged under my eyelid. i freeked and thought i was gonna be blind, hahaa. had to slowly TURN it out of my eyelid to remove. AWEsome. uh, safety glasses mighta been good.

congrats on the bike! loved my CR's

[Paul_E_D]

Ooow! That's a good one. Those little buggers fly everywhere!

Speaking of eyes, One time we were fixing something on my racebike with some super duper 2 part epoxy that Graham had (he always has the coolest stuff) and the hardener was in a separate spray bottle. I was on one side of the bike and he on the other and he sprayed the hardener straight into my eye! I'm sure to die a few years early from all the chemical mishaps and exposure at the track.

[seth399]

^aha, my favorite mishap is when I got my face close to cylinder/radiator hose and my bike shot coolant right into my open mouth